Leslie Allen (racing driver)
| Leslie Allen | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | Leslie Charles Allen March 5, 1892 Odell, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||
| Died | May 19, 1946 (aged 54) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||
| Champ Car career | |||||||
| 1 race run over 2 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 34th (1930) | ||||||
| First race | 1930 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) | ||||||
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Leslie Charles "Bugs" Allen (March 5, 1892 – May 19, 1946) was an American racing driver.
Career
Allen first found racing success as a record-setting[1] and "fearless" motorcycle racer.[2][3] He suffered a "severe scalp wound" in a 1913 on-track collision in Rockford, Illinois.[4]
Allen moved into auto racing after surviving an accident in motorcycle racing.[5] His rivalry with driver Cliff Woodbury was promoted in press reports.[6][7] He drove a Frontenac to win and break records[8] at Roby Speedway and Bedford Speedway in Indiana in 1924 and 1925,[9][10][11] and at Thornton Speedway in 1926.[12] He attempted to qualify for the 1927 Indianapolis 500 but failed to qualify. He successfully qualified for the 1930 Indianapolis 500 driving a Miller and started and finished ninth. He was described as "the last word in daredevil drivers" in 1928.[13] He won a race at Evanston Speedway in 1933.[14]
Motorsports career results
Indianapolis 500 results
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References
- ^ "Sets New World's Record". The Fairbury Blade. 1913-06-20. p. 5. Retrieved 2026-03-02 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Match Race Feature at Big I.R.A. Meet; Leslie Allen and E. G. Baker in Five-Mile Event". The Indianapolis News. 1913-08-25. p. 14. Retrieved 2026-03-02 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Two Seriously Injured When Racing Motorcycles Collide". The Vincennes Commercial. 1915-09-10. p. 7. Retrieved 2026-03-02 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Five are Hurt in Race Meet". Rockford Register Star. August 18, 1913. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Allen Enters Auto Race Here". Chicago Tribune. 1924-05-05. p. 24. Retrieved 2026-03-02 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Allen After the Scalp of Woodbury". The Times. 1924-07-11. p. 17. Retrieved 2026-03-02 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Noted Race Trio Compete at Roby Sunday". The Times. 1925-05-15. p. 21. Retrieved 2026-03-02 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Allen Wins 100 Mile Race at Roby Speedway". The Times. 1925-10-19. p. 11. Retrieved 2026-03-02 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Allen Betters Records, Wins Titles at Roby". The Times. 1924-07-14. p. 8. Retrieved 2026-03-02 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Favorite Drivers at Roby Sunday". The Times. 1925-05-14. p. 13. Retrieved 2026-03-02 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bedford Races Attract Stars; Twenty-Two Cars Entered in Today's Auto Classic, 'Bugs' Allen Favorite". The Republic. 1925-07-25. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-03-02 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bugs Allen and Morris at Thornton". The Times. 1926-06-25. p. 26. Retrieved 2026-03-02 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Roby to Open Next Sunday; Leslie 'Bugs' Allen, Dare-Devil Driver, to Pilot Fast Car". The Times. 1928-05-04. p. 28. Retrieved 2026-03-02 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Andres Takes 4 of 5 Evanston Auto Events". Chicago Tribune. May 29, 1933. p. 14. Retrieved 2026-03-02 – via Newspapers.com.