Tragedy at Lakewood: Remembering Tex and George
Additional Photos, Page 1
(Pictured left) Wilbur Shaw won the 1937 Indy 500 in the same car George Barringer died in at Lakewood in 1946. Shaw's win was the last time mechanics rode with the drivers (probably a happy day for many of them). He finished second in this car in 1938. Shaw sold the car to Ervin Wolfe after the war. (Pictured right) Last known picture of George "Tex" Barringer before his accident. Here he is on the front straight in some pre-race laps. The wreck occured on the backstretch approaching the third turn (near the very top of the right picture). This is the same car seen on the right driven by Wilbur Shaw. Barringer photo courtesy Bill Barringer
Floyd Roberts (pictured left) drove the same car to his 1938 Indy 500 win that George Robson (pictured right) died in at Lakewood in 1946. Unfortunately, it was the same car Roberts himself died in at Indianapolis in 1939, one year after his win. The former Lou Moore machine was later bought by Cliff Bergere.
The remains of George Robson's car. The same old Lou Moore car Floyd Roberts drove to victory at Indy in 1938 and died driving in 1939. Later, tne new car owner, and former driver Cliff Bergere took the car back to his shop and chopped it to pieces. The car was sponsored by Burd Piston Rings in 1938 and Noc-Out Hose Clamps when Robson drove it in 1946. In the upper left corner you can vaguely see the Lakewood Grandstands. Photo courtesy Eddie Samples