Joel Thorne

Joel W. Thorne (16 October 1914 New York City – 17 October 1955 North Hollywood, California) was an American racecar driver, engineer, and playboy. He died when he crashed his private plane, after what witnesses described as "stunting",[1] into an apartment building, killing three residents including a two-month-old baby.[2][3] Thorne raced his own cars is the Indianapolis 500, and later went on to attempt to design aircraft.

The 1946 Indianapolis 500 was won by a car built by Thorne and driven by George Robson.[4] One of Thorne's cars also won the pole position and finished second in the 1939 Indianapolis 500 with Jimmy Snyder behind the wheel.[5]

Indianapolis 500 results

See also

References
  1. Big Spring Daily Herald, "Crash Victim made many headlines with escapades", page 16, Oct. 19th, 1955.
  2. Mason City Globe-Gazette, "Plane Hits Apartment, Three Die", October 18th 1955, page 21
  3. The Independent (Pasadena, California), "Playboy Plane Crash Ruled Not Fault Of Government". June 7th, 1957, page 22
  5. "Prominent Racing Figure Is Injured". The Indianapolis Star. February 23, 1946. p. 14. Retrieved April 5, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.


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