Description:

Wilbur Shaw's 'Champion 100 Mile an Hour Club' Jacket. The coveted leather bomber jacket awarded to Indianapolis 500 drivers who had finished the entire 500 miles without relief at an average speed in excess of 100 mile per hour - (rare in that era); "The most exclusive club in the world" at that time.

Shaw's name embroidered in the lining.

In 1934, M.C. deWitt, the advertising manager for Champion, had a conversation with driver Dave Evans. Evans had finished 6th in the 1934 "500", and in doing so, had become the twelfth driver in history to complete the full 500 miles solo, at an average speed of 100 mph. Immediately deWitt envisioned an idea to create an honorary "club" for the drivers who had accomplished the noteworthy feat. In 1935, the 'Champion Spark Plugs 100 mph Club was born.

The inaugural class would consist of the 12 drivers who had accomplished the feat thus far. The first member retroactively being Billy Arnold, along with Fred Frame, Howdy Wilcox, Cliff Bergere, Bob Carey, Russ Snowberger, Louis Meyer, Chet Gardner, Wilbur Shaw, Lou Moore, Stubby Stubblefield, and Dave Evans. An annual banquet would be held in the drivers' honor, and each inductee would receive a leather jacket. Carey and Stubblefield were deceased, and Arnold did not attend, but all of the other nine living members were present at the first banquet.

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May 24, 2013 2:00 PM EDT
Indianapolis, IN, US

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