Ralph Kirkman Mulford

Ralph Kirkman Mulford was an American racecar driver who participated in the 1911 Indianapolis 500. In 1911 he won the Vanderbilt Cup in Savannah, Georgia.
== Biography ==
He was born on December 28, 1884, in Brooklyn, New York. He once served as a Sunday school teacher.
== Career ==
1911 Indy 500
There is an ongoing debate that Ralph Mulford, driving a Lozier, may have won the 1911 Indianapolis 500 over Ray Harroun. But back in 1911, it was already decided that Ralph's protest wasn't valid. He finished in what is still a brilliant second place.
1912 Indy 500
This was the race where Mulford showed what kind of racer he really was. A determined one, who likes to finish the job.
Throughout the remainder of the field, only the top ten finishers earned prize money, rules stipulating all entries complete the 500 miles (800 km) to collect. Ralph Mulford, being forced to stop numerous times due to clutch problems in his Knox, found irritation with the requirement but proceeded to drive on, long after all others were presented the chequered flag, and even after Speedway president Carl Fisher and starter Fred Wagner left the grounds (the latter after getting into an argument over whether to flag Mulford off before he had completed the distance, Wagner in favor and Fisher against).
Through numerous accounts of the run, including him reportedly changing shock absorbers for a gentler ride, as well as stopping for a dinner-on-the-go of fried chicken and ice-cream with his riding mechanic, Mulford's finish finally came amidst deserted grandstands and a setting sun over the main straightaway, 8 hours and 53 minutes after the start (approximately 6:53 P.M. local time), and with an average speed of 56.285 mph (90.582 km/h), which remains a record: the slowest finishing speed to date in the Indy 500 history.
But his perseverance would pay off. Since only 10 cars made it to the finish, Ralph could still claim a solid 10th place finish which meant he could still receive the $ 1200 prize money awarded for this position.
Other races
Mulford was retroactively declared the National Driving Champion for 1911 and 1918. He retired from racing on tracks after 1922, but continued to compete for several more years in hill climbs, and – at one time – held the record for both the Mount Washington and Pikes Peak climbs.
== End of life ==
He died on October 23, 1973, in Asbury Park, New Jersey. At the time of his death, Mulford was the last surviving participant of the inaugural, 1911 Indianapolis 500.
Category:Drivers
Category:Indianapolis 500-only Drivers
Category:United States Drivers
Category:1884 births
Category:1973 deaths