Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-05-13
DRIVING DOES
NOT lure HIM
Chip Off Old Block Hired
By De Paolo As
Mechanic

INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDWAY.
MAY l3.-When chips fall off the
Duesenberg block. it means speed
In automobile racing. -.
Denny DuesenberF. i6-year-old
son OF Fred Duesenberg, famous
builder Of racing ars. Is serving
his apprenticeship as mechanic on
the cars Peter De Paolo, two-time
American champion. T. preparing
for the international 500-mile race
for 500, 900 here May so.
"I hired him because he Is the
xnnartest kid I've ever seen around
motors" declares De Paolo, VINO
served as mechanic TO his uncle.
Ralph De Palma. before he won
the 1925 5O0-mile race at Indian
apolis. establishing a record OF
l0i.13 miles an hour for the as
lance, which still stands.
"I have a terrible time keeping
that boy in school around ace
time" means Denny's father. only
the other day the nurse IN the
school he attends called me and
explained that Denny had some
thing in his eye and would have
10 Be sent to a doctor. Denny LETT
school and in half an hour was &C
De Paolo's garage. 1 think it was
a piece Of De Paolo's a he had
in his eye"
In~ttrnates rush forward with the
information that young DueSenberg
is an honor student in the hign
school which he attends Nothing
4 less than . on his report card
and always there Is a generous
sprinkling OF A Plus.
But his English and foreign
language teachers are forever COM
planning about him." criticizes his
father. who secretly Is elated over
the fact that his son IS naturally
proficient IN arithmetic. ALGEBRA
geometry, engineering and snop.
Il didn't want hin 20 De an en-
rineer." explains the miracle maker
OF motors, but his mind seems
made I'D. He is old for his years. ]
want him TO do what he wants
After he has graduated from high
school. I viii send him TO Purdue
| University for two years and then
10 Boston Tech for two more"
Fred Duesenberg did not 90 70
| college.
IT don't ever want TO be a race
driver" confides young Denny, de-
spite the fact that he has been q
mascot for Duesenoerg racing teams
since he was IN swaddling clothes
IT had rides with Jimmy Murphy
in his cars almost before I could
walk and since then ] have ridden
with many Of the other stars. But
7 enjoy the mechanical side o.
racing much more than I do driv-
ing. I'd rather tinker with a motor
than be the speedway champion
But some day I viii try TO build
the car that viii carry some driver
10 a championship. That really L
my ambition"
Four years ago. young Duesen'
berg surprised his father by blast
Ing the sides OF his dime bank anc
purchasing q second hand motor
cycle engine. Weeks later, aftel
much secret hamme-ing. grinding
and saving In the garage behind
his palatial home here. Denny drove
out the big garage doors and park
ed his conception Of a boys auto
mobile before the doors Of his home
for his fathers inspection
The darned thing ran. too
laughs his dad IN recollect!ng th'
instance.
When Christmas comes 10 th'
Duesenberg home. Santa Clau'
scampers down the chimney witt
welding outfits. tools drawing board
and instruments instead Of uselesl
foible.
With the proceeds Of hts frs
two weeks pay as mechanic for d
Paolo's 500-mile race cars, younl
Duesenberg added his ALLOWANCE
and purchased an electric grinde
for the De Paolo garage.
That's the final proof he Is
born mechanical crack brain sal
his father when he was apprised Q
Derny's act. Hell be spending ev
cry dollar he gets his hands on {
f, purchase some new tools or TO tr
out some new idea, instead Of hav
ing some pleasure with his earn
ings."
But II he does build somethin
that IS differentiated works =
viii be happier than most peopl