Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-01

Holy Cross Cemetery in nearby
Culver City.
DePalma's 27-year racing ca
'reer earned him, he said, Sis
million. He won 1851 of 1889
races, probably an all time
record. He retired from racing
in 1884.
Many were the colorful stories
centering around the Italian
born speed lover, but his per-
sonal favorite was about the
shock he and his mechanic gave
to Benito Mussolini. Shortly
after World War l, DePalma re-
turned to his native country
and won an important race, but
was driving French car. Mus
solini. then starting his climb
to dictatorial power. gave De-
Palma. who was expecting praise
for his victory, a verbal flashing.
AS MuSsolini leaned over the
foreign machine. jutting that
later-famous jaw close TO De-
Palma's face. the pilot nodded
to his mechanic, who sent a
charge of electricity through
the wire that surrounded the
car to protect it from souvenir
hunters. Mussolini. who had his
hand on the wire. took the full
charge before he could let go.
DePalma won the hearts of
the entire racing world while
losing the big race at Indianap-
oils in 1912. He led the field for
495 miles and 1873 laps when a
piston broke. Throttling down to
20 miles an hour, he hoped to
crawl in ahead of the pack. but
the machine stopped two miles
from the finish line.
The driver and his mechanic
jumped out and tried to push
the car to victory, but while the
crowd rose and cheered, De-
Palma lost the race to Joe Daw-
son. He won the classic three
years later.
Once DePalma was arrested
for speeding and congratulated
the officer. On another occasion,
the entire Nation laughed at an
embarrassed policeman who used
the line heard by many a speed
ing motorist in those days:
Who do you think you are,
Barney Oldfield?".
"No-I'm Ralph DePalma, u
the driver answered. Oddly, De-
Palma was on his way to Red
wood City, Calf. to compete in
a match race against Oldfield
After proving he was being hon.
est rather than flippant. he was
allowed to continue on his way
and beat Oldfield that day.
DePalma was born in Biccari,
Italy. on December 10, 1882, but
came with his family to this
country as l0-year-old and
spent the rest of his boyhood in
Brooklyn. He was a runner in
track and then turned to BIZ
cycles and motorcycles and later
auto racing.
The AAA national champion
in 1912 and 1914 over such as
Eddie Rickenbacker and Tommy
Milton, De Palma attained q
speed Of l49875 miles per hour
in 1920 to break a record previ-
ously held by Oldheld and BOZ
Burman. In those days that was
travelling.
/ His Indianapolis victory race
was clicked at 89.43 miles pei
hour a record at that time. A
nephew, Pete DePaolo, won Al
Indianapolis in 1925.
DePalma won the Nationa
dirt track championships foul
straight years, 1908-ll; took tn,
Canadian championship in 1929
, the Vanderbilt Cup in 1912 ant
! 1915, and the Elgin Nationa
road race in 1912, 1914 and 1920
He didn't give up the speed trial
until he was So years old.
Still Holds Record
His name still is listed besid,
the record for number OF laps il
the lead at indianapolis, 6l3
though he stopped racing ther,
in 1927. The late Wilbur Shaw
Is second In that department
, with 500 laps.
Research engineering, design.
(, ing, public relations and lecturinI
!, on safety driving in the publ,
schools made up a chief part o
his last 20 years He worked foI
Studebaker, Ford, Cadillac