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 13.-When chips fall off the
Duesenberg block, it means speed
in automobile racing. ~.
Denny DuesenberF. l6-year-olo
son Of Fred Duesenberg, famous
builder OF racing cars. IL serving
his apprenticeship as mechanic on
the cars Peter DE Paolo. two-time
American champion. IS preparing
for the international 500-mile race
for 100000 here May 30.
"I hired him because ne IS tne
snartest kid I've ever seen around
motors" declares De Paolo. VINO
served as mechanic TO his uncle
Ralph De Palma, before ne Won
the 1925 5oo-mile race at indian
apolis. establishing a record OF
f0i.l3 miles an hour for the as
lance. which still stands.
IL have a terrible time keeping
that boy IN school around race
time means Denny's father only
the other day the nurse IN the
school he attends called me and
explained that Denny hac some
thing in his eye and would nave
to be sent to a doctor. Denny left
school and in half ar hour was at
De Paolo's garage. j think 10 was
a piece Of De Paclo's car he had
in his eye"
rntinnates rush forward with the
information that young Dnesenberg
IS an honor student IN the nign
school which he attends Nothing
is less than 3 on his report card
and always there Is "a generous
sorinkling 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 shop.
II didn't want hin 20 be an en-
gineer," explains the miracle maker
OF motors. but his mind seems
made up. He Is old for his years. !
want him to DO what he wants.
After he has graduated from high
school, 7 will send him 70 Purdue
University for two years and then
to Boston Tech for two more"
Fred Duesenberg did not 60 70
college.
II 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.
Il 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
I enjoy the mechanical side OF
| racing much more than I Go 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
to a championship. That really Is
my ambition"
Four years ago, young Duesen-
berg surprised hts father by blast
ing the sides Of his dime bank and
purchasing q second hand motor
cycle engine. Weeks later. after
much secret hammering, 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 r~ecollecting the
instance.
When Christmas comes 10 the
Duesenberg home. Santa Claus
scampers down the chimney with
welding outfits. tools drawing board:
and instruments instead Of useles:
toible.
With the proceeds OF his first
two weeks pay as mechanic for Dt
Paolo's 500-mile race cars. young
Duesenberg added his allowance
and purchased an electric grindel
for the De Paolo gtrage.
That's the final proof he Is [;
born mechanical crack brain" sail
his father when he was appraised o
Denny's act. He'll be spending ev'
cry dollar he gets his hands on Il
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 something
that Is different-and works N
viii Be happier than most peopl