Ira Vail

Ira Malcolm Gardner Vail (November 22, 1893 – April 21, 1979) was an American racing driver and auto racing promoter.

Early life

Vail was born in Montréal, Québec. When he was three months old, Vail's mother emigrated with him to Syracuse, New York, where he was raised.

Racing career

Vail raced sprint and championship cars in the AAA-sanctioned racing series. He competed in five Indianapolis 500s, with a best finish of 7th in 1921, before retiring in 1925.

In a quote about his career for a book, Vail stated:

"The car I drove, I bought it from Harry Miller for $10,000. That's what they all cost, a Miller or a Duesenberg, from $8,000-$10,000, which was a lot of money at a time when a good passenger car cost only $1,000. But you could win $30,000 or more at Indianapolis and as much as $5,000 at a cement track in Minneapolis or tracks in Hartford, Boston, everywhere. You'd be guaranteed (cash) even if you didn't win, depending on the deal you made with the promoter. It depended on how many people you could draw. I got guarantees at most tracks and I'd drive at 15 or 20 tracks a year."

After his retirement from driving, Vail promoted AAA and USAC sanctioned auto racing in the Northeastern United States. From 1925 until 1971, Vail promoted the New York State Fair Championship race at the Syracuse Mile. He nicknamed the race track "The Moody Mile" after driver Wes Moody turned a 100-mile per hour lap in 1970.

Vail died in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Award

Vail was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in the United States in 1993.

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 500 results