Ted Horn

Eylard Theodore Horn (February 27, 1910 – October 10, 1948) was an American racing driver. Widely considered one of the greatest racers of his era, he was the first person in history to win the AAA National Championship three times consecutively, doing so in 1946, 1947 and 1948.

Early life and career

Eylard Theodore Horn was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Horn's family moved several times during his childhood, finally settling in Los Angeles. At 15 years of age, he found work at the Los Angeles Times newspaper.

On his way to work one day Horn was pulled over for speeding. Try as he might, he could not get out of this situation easily. The policeman gave him a fairly unusual punishment for the infraction. The young man was to travel to a race track called San Jose Speedway where usually there were more cars than drivers, then find a willing car owner to let him drive. Once he got all the speed he had out of his system, he could pick up his impounded car. Horn would heed the advice of the policeman and would eventually return to pick up his car. But he found a new passion in auto racing and would never "get the speed he had out of his system."

Championship car career

In 1934 in preparation for the Indianapolis 500, Horn practiced in a car called the Mick Special. However, he did not feel comfortable with the car and decided against trying to qualify it. Throughout that summer he campaigned a sprint car on a rigorous schedule once again in the east and midwest. He was successful enough to attract the attention of Harry Miller. Preston Tucker was putting together an ambitious effort with Miller and the Ford Motor Company for the 1935 Indianapolis 500. When asked by Miller, Horn accepted a ride in one of the new Miller Ford V8 cars. He did make the field for the 1935 Indianapolis 500. He was 38. The Southern Illinois 100 was known as the Ted Horn Memorial from 1952 until 1983.

Awards and honors

Horn has been inducted into the following halls of fame: Auto Racing Hall of Fame (1964) Eastern Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame (1987) National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (1991) Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (1993)

Motorsports career results

AAA Championship Car results

Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Points 1934 INDYDNQ SPR SYR MYF NR 0 1935 INDY16 MINDNQ SPR SYR ALT LAN NR 0 1936 INDY2 GTPDNQ SYRDNQ GVC36 3rd 450 1937 INDY3 GVC17 SYR6 2nd 750 1938 INDY4 SYR4 4th 660 1939 INDY4 MIL14 SYR3 3rd 685 1940 INDY4 ILL2 SYR6 4th 625 1941 INDY3 MIL SYR 2nd 675 1946 INDY3 LAN3 ATL6 ISF4 MIL2 GOS2 1st 2,448 1947 INDY3 MILDNQ LAN5 ATL4 BAI1 MIL6 GOS2 MIL1 PIK SPR2 ARL1 1st 1,920 1948 ARL1 INDY4 MIL3 LAN9 MIL3 SPR1 MIL3 DUQ3 ATL12 PIK SPR3 DUQ17 1st 1,890 1946 table only includes results of the six races run to "championship car" specifications. Points total includes the 71 races run to "big car" specifications.

Indianapolis 500 results

Horn has the best 10-year streak of finishes in Indianapolis 500 history. Over his Indianapolis 500 career, Horn completed 1944 out of a possible 2000 laps (97%). Although Horn started the 1947 race from the pole position, his was the third fastest qualifying speed behind Bill Holland and Duke Nalon. Horn qualified for the prestigious 100 mph Club a record eight times.