Spencer Wishart

American racing driver (1889–1914)

Spencer Wishart

Wishart in 1912

Born

Spencer E. Wishart
(1889-12-03)December 3, 1889
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Died

August 14, 1914(1914-08-14) (aged 24)
Elgin, Illinois, U.S.

Champ Car career

26 races run over 6 years

First race

1909 Vanderbilt Cup (Long Island)

Last race

1914 Elgin National Trophy (Elgin)

First win

1912 Columbus 200 (Columbus)

Wins	Podiums	Poles
1	7	0

Spencer E. Wishart (December 3, 1889 – August 22, 1914) was an American racing driver. He was active during the early years of Indy car racing.

Biography

Wishart was born on December 3, 1889, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Wishart was killed on August 22, 1914, at age 24 when he clipped another car during a 1914 AAA Championship Car season race in Elgin, Illinois.^[1] Wishart's car hit a fence and flipped, he was pinned beneath it and suffered a skull fracture and other injuries, dying in the hospital shortly thereafter.^[2] His mechanic John C. Kenter was also mortally injured in the crash.^[1]^[2] Wishart is interred at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York.

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 500 results

Year	Car	Start	Qual	Rank	Finish	Laps	Led	Retired
1911	11	11	—	—	4	200	5	Running
1912	7	6	83.950	9	15	82	0	Water line
1913	22	19	81.990	13	2	200	0	Running
1914	19	25	92.690	8	17	122	0	Camshaft
Totals						604	5

Starts	4
Poles	0
Front Row	0
Wins	0
Top 5	2
Top 10	2
Retired	2

Images

The footstone of Spencer Wishart
The tombstone of Spencer Wishart

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spencer Wishart.

^ ^a ^b "Wishart Killed In Elgin Auto Race. Driver and Car Crash Into a Fence When Speeding at 80 Miles an Hour. DePalma Wins Contest. Second Victory for Motor Pilot in Two Days. Jenter, Wishart's Mechanician, May Die". New York Times. August 23, 1914. Retrieved October 6, 2012. Spencer Wishart, driver of a Mercer car, was killed here today and Joe Jenter. Wishart's mechanician, and four spectators were injured in the annual Elgin national road race, which was won by Ralph DePalma in a Mercedes in the fast time of 4:06:18, an average of 73.5 miles per hour. ...
^ ^a ^b "Wishart Killed in Big Auto Race". The Leavenworth Times. 1914-08-23. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-01-29.