What caused Pete Kreis’s fatal crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1934? William Walker, a cousin of the driver, seeks the answer in this biography of Kreis. The accident is called the “strangest death in auto racing history.”
Walker builds the story through research and talks with Pete’s sister Hazel, the last of the Kreis line.
Albert Jacob “Pete” Kreis is the youngest son of John Kreis, who owns a railroad construction business and a dairy farm. The elder Kreis is a local legend who as a boy swam through a strong current in a river near Knoxville, Tennessee. His father is the sheriff of the community who brings law and order to the town in the late 1800s. John’s sons, Harman, John, and Pete, all strive for that one heroic act to emulate their father. Pete’s racing career comes the closest to achieving the hero status they all seek.
The Kreis sons convince John to purchase a Marmon. The boys commandeer the auto, and soon Harmon begins racing on a short dirt track. Pete soon begins his racing career at the age of fourteen. Pete’s racing skills continue to improve, and his father begins to explore how to advance his racing career.
In 1924, Pete drives a neighbor to town on an icy road. In his quest to get his friend to his appointment on time, the car slides on the ce, the car rolls over, and the neighbor dies.
Later that year, Pete gets a test to race for the Duesenberg brothers, who have the best race cars at the time. He joins the team and meets Peter de Paolo, who becomes his teammate and mentor.
The 1925 Indianapolis 500 established Pete as an up-and-coming talent. He qualifies ninth and finishes eighth. De Paolo wins the race at a record speed of 101.127 mph. His record stands for seven years.
Pete learns board track racing that summer. He gets off to an auspicious with a fifth place finish in his first start. Board track racing is dangerous, and a fatality is virtually expected at each event. Pete’s reputation is assured, and he heads into 1926 with a lot of confidence.
Kreis seems to have the car to beat as practice begins for the 500. Just before qualifying begins Pete contracts influenza and while in the hospital realizes he will be unable to compete. He allows rookie Frank Lockhart to drive the car.
Lockhart needs all three qualifying attempts to get in the field. He wins the race after starting 20th.
Pete has another decent year, although he has the reputation as a driver who is fast but hard on equipment. Several mechanical failures and crashes thwart good finishes.
Kreis also manages the family business which is beginning to take more and more of his time.
In 1934 Kreis comes to Indianapolis on the first of the month looking for a ride. It is not until May 24 that Harry Hartz offers him a ride in one of his Miller powered roadsters. The next day Pete takes the car out for practice. After several warmup laps, the car hits the turn 1 wall, rides along the top of it for 200 feet, then plunges over the barrier hitting a tree. Kries dies instantly, and his riding mechanic succumbs minutes later.
The cause of the accident is puzzling. There were no mechanical issues with the car, no tire marks indicating the driver lost control, no abnormalities on the track surface. What happened?
Walker begins to explore psychological reasons. Was Pete depressed? Did he lose focus? Could it have been suicide? Except for one missing element, suicide appears to be the cause.
Walker finds the missing piece of the puzzle in his final talk with Hazel before her death. Walker believes the case is now closed/
The biography takes a few chapters to really grab my interest, but I found it a fascinating look into the racing world of the 1920s and 30s. Besides De Paolo, Harry Hartz and Tommy Milton are featured, as well as the Duesenberg brothers and Harry Miiller.
I learned about a driver that I had not heard of before.
If you’re looking for an off season racing read, this is a good choice. The book is available at Octane Press.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 