Stutz Black Hawk

 

Date Location Driver Driver Country Vehicle Power Speed over
1 Km
Speed over
1 Mile
Comments
April 25, 1928 Daytona Frank Lockhart USA Stutz Black Hawk
V-16 Duesenberg
IC     Frank Lockhart made an attempt on the record at Daytona, lost control and ended up in the sea, he was rescued, Keech then broke the record, then Frank tried again blew a tire and lost his life.

Stutz Black Hawk V-16 Duesenberg

The body and undercarriage were completely faired in, with low frontal area. Suspension and wheels were enclosed in sleek aluminum spats for even greater drag reduction. Because the car was intended only for record runs, the spats remained fixed and did not turn with the wheels, which had only a few degrees of lock.

The car weighed less than 3000 lbs (6608 kg).

It was powered by two Miller straight 8 engines set at an included angle of 30 degrees), and having only 181 cubic-inch displacement. Instead of radiators that would increase drag, cooling was achieved using an internal ice container

Owner, driver, constructor, Frank Lockhart made an attempt on the record at Ormond Beach, Florida, on February 28, 1928, lost control and ended up in the sea, he was rescued, Keech then broke the record, then Frank tried again on April 25, 1928 blew a tire and lost his life.

The remains of the original were bought by Riley Brett and the V16 Miller was used in the Sampson Special Indy car that ran fom 1930-1934. In 1937 Riley Brett took the V16 out of storage and planed to build another Indy car around it after the 183c.i. rule change on engine displacement. It was driven by West Coast midget champion Bob Swanson in 1939 and 1940. It ran Indy in 1946 as The Spike Jones Special,diven by San Hanks.Today it is restored as it looked in 1946 and is part of the INDY 500 Museum collection.

The ghost white "Black Hawk," turbochargers whining in full song, speeds down the sand-packed Daytona Beach in 1928.
Frank Lockhart posing in front of the Stutz Black Hawk Special in 1928
With the Bluebird in the background, this photo shows how much smaller the Stutz Black Hawk was
Unloading the car from the train
Front axle of the Stutz Black Hawk