While reading through H.A.M.B. comments about the Vanderbuilt Cup, I stumbled across an incredible archive of American race winners called Rumbledrome. It is full of photos and details of American racing history. It got me thinking that there is a bit of my family’s history that I don’t think I’ve shared.
The photo above is of 1946 Indianapolis 500 winner, George Robson. Mr. Robson was my grandfather’s cousin. Robson died in a racing crash in September of that same year. As a 40 year old, this was 41 years before I was born but there is still a bit of living history. My grandmother remembers visiting England as a newlywed to visit the Kirkland and Robson families. Apparently the Robsons were quite well off and had a magnificent country home. she remembers George as a handsome and very charming man. This lifestyle made quite an impression on a young girl from Pennsylvania. Unfortunately is wasn’t too long after that George was killed.
On the Labour Day Weekend race in Atlanta, Robson crashed into the ailing car of Billy De Vore, likely as a result of the heavy dust in the air. Following the initial collision, George’s car was hit by George Barringer and Bud Bardowski. Robson and Bardowski Barringer (corrected April 08) both died as a result of their injuries.
I’ve never had any connection with oval track racing and I’ve never even been to Indy, but it’s still pretty cool to know that there really was an Indy 500 winner in the family!
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22 comments ↓
I have a lot of old photos of board tracks. In some cases they could actually change bords from under the track while the race was in progress!
Gary
I knew there was some Brickyard blood in you … obviously, some genetic leanings to go fast. That’s a very neat family story. I’ve love to say I had some relations to the Chenard & Walcker of Le Mans fame, but no such luck.
Cheers!
Paul
[...] The Garage Blog went just a little nutty over vintage race photos recently. And by vintage, we mean early Indy, board track racing, Vanderbilt Cup racing and road racing in San Francisco in the 1950s. Plenty [...]
Dear Sirs,
My name is “Joest” Jonathan Ouaknine and I’m a French journalist. I am preparing a book about the story of Indycar from the beginning until today. it will be published as a book, in France, in 2009.
I am getting in touch with you, because I would like to know if you could give me some pictures and the right to use them within a book.
I’m looking forward for your answer.
Regards.
“Joest” Jonathan OUAKNINE
Hi. Uhm, I was looking up information on Mr. George Robson and I found your blog. See, I’m trying to find out info b/c he’s my great great either grandfather or uncle (it’s unsure b/c my mom never knew him, but he’s related to her father and so on) My mom has a newspaper article on him from when he won the race. I just wanna thank you for having the information and pictures that you did b/c it helped me out a lot.
Sincerly, Brianna
Hey cousin Brianna!
Where are you from?
I too came across this blog looking for information on George Robson.
How is George related to me?….he is the brother of my wife’s grandmother; Amy Donaldson, the mother of my wife’s mother; Sherry Donaldson.
If anyone has any information, pics etc. please send.
Hmmm…haven’t heard the Donaldson name. My grandmother is a Kirkland. I’ll ask her all these questions the next time she deems me worthy of a lunch!
Amy (Robson) Donaldson is the younger sister of George and Hal Robson.
Cool….I’ll ask. I’ll be out near the family matron on the 28th, I’ll see if she’ll grant me an audience!
Had your Grandmother so kindly honored you some of her time?
I ended up not having time on the 28th. I’ll be there in a couple of weeks, so we’ll give it a shot then.
hello … I recently acquired a matching set of wedding photos in antique frames. While cleaning them to prepare for resale, I found a stamp on the reverse of both that read “Mrs. George A. Robson”. I remembered the name from somewhere and did a quick Google. I found the info on the driver of the 1946 Indy 500. I did some further research and found a photo of a grave or memorial shaped like a car with the name George A. Robson. I intend to list these frames on eBay and make reference to the “possibility” of a historical / Indy 500 connection. If you are interested, you may check them out on ebay.com. My user name is c_roseville.
I am George Robson’s Great Nephew. Hal Robson was my grandfather.
I read your blog, but discovered that your facts are incorrect.
The Robson’s from Newcastle moved to Toronto in 1910. When WWI started they went back to the UK to support the war (My great grandfather was a machinist). They went back to Toronto, and eventually to Los Angeles. In LA is where George, Hal, and Jimmy learned the machinist trade at the family shop, and raced cars. George and Hal became champions and raced the 500.
Our family was from the working class, and was not well off. Just a bunch of hard working geordies!
Yes Amy Donaldson is the youngest sister. Albert Robson (youngest brother) is still alive as well.
I worked in IndyCar racing for 14 years and can answer any and all facts about the family. My Grandmother is 92 and recalls all the memories of the family. She traveled with my Grandpa throughout his career.
Regards,
Brian Robson
Colorado, USA
Speedway16@qwest.net
Welcome to The Garage Brian and thanks for contributing. I’ll send you a message to see what we can come up with between the two grandmothers!
Re: George Robson. I don’t know much of anything about George, but I do have a little information and some photos of the car his brother Hal drove in the 1947 Indy 500, called the Palmer Special. My dad, Dave Schnable, helped to build that car. I have a few photos, and a bunch of photos of other cars from that year. I don’t have information about those other cars, just the photos. Anybody interested?
Hey Dave,
I’ll send you a message in private, I’d love to post the photos and I’m sure Brian would love to see them.
Hey Dave-
reading that note you wrote about photos of George Robson-I am on of his grand-daughters, and Marjorie, his wife, died Wednesday, at 96 years young. Her second husband destroyed all photos of George-much to my GASP and would love to get any photos at all. My mom and we kids love to look at the old newspaper clippings we have.
Please e mail me if you get this msg-and anyone else as well with any memorabilia available-it would be nice…
And Cundy Kuc-
I am so bummed! I looked at your msg about wedding frames-with George Robson on it-and a grave photo or the liking. did you sell these? I wouldv’e loved to get my hands on them. My mother Beverly and her brother George were Marjorie and George’s two children. Marjorie passed away last Wednesday at 96 years young.
I have just stumbled onto this website, apparently…I love it
Hi Julie…nice to meet you, another oh so distant cousin!
Hi Gary-
nice to meet you too! It’s a wonder how people find out they’re connected!
I cannot get the images to open on the website-any advise or suggestions?
Thanks so much for the return note
I am a freelance automotive journalist living in the UK. I am currently writing a book on the British involvement in the Indianapolis 500 which has the approval of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and which is a follow up to my ‘British at Le Mans’ published in 2006. As he was born in Newcastle, George Robson naturally deserves a chapter to himself in this book. I have just been writing up my notes on him from my research in the Indiana State Library. Needing to check something I turned to Google and then stumbled across the comments from the family on ‘Thegarageblog.com’. I obviously want to ensure that the chapter on George is as complete and as factual as possible and so I wonder if any of you could assist with anecdotes or information that is not readily available. My e-mail is ian@wagstaff.fsbusiness.co.uk
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