Len Zengel Explained
Leonard Joseph Zengel (March 15, 1887 – September 24, 1963) was an American racing driver.
Biography
Zengel was born on March 15, 1887, in Dayton, Ohio, to Leonard A. Zengel (1857-1930). He had seven siblings.
On October 8, 1910, Zengel won the annual Fairmount Park road race in Philadelphia driving a Chadwick Engineering Works auto.[1]
In 1911 he won the Elgin Trophy.[2] [3]
He participated in the 1912 Indianapolis 500.[2]
He married Mary L. Howell and had a son, Leonard Joseph Zengel Jr. (1915-1944) who died in a car accident when he fell asleep at the wheel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[4] He had a daughter, Betty Jean Zengel.[5]
He operated a Chrysler and Plymouth dealership.
Zengel died on September 24, 1963, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, at age 76.
Motorsports career results
Indianapolis 500 results
| Year | Car | Start | Qual | Rank | Finish | Laps | Led | Retired |
|---|
| 1912 | 2 | 2 | 78.850 | 19 | 6 | 200 | 0 | Running |
|---|
| Totals | 200 | 0 | | |
| Starts | 1 |
|---|
| Poles | 0 |
|---|
| Front Row | 1 |
|---|
| Wins | 0 |
|---|
| Top 5 | 0 |
|---|
| Top 10 | 1 |
|---|
| Retired | 0 | |
|---|
Notes and References
- News: Zengel Road Race Winner. Contest Closest one in Motor History. Nine Cars Finish. . https://archive.today/20130201063112/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/387592931.html?dids=387592931:387592931&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+09,+1910&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=ZENGEL+ROAD+RACE+WINNER&pqatl=google . dead . February 1, 2013 . Watched by a half a million people, Len Zengel, driving a Chadwick six, this afternoon won the third annual Fairmount park road race by the closest margin ever recorded in any motor road race in the world, beating Ralph.... . October 9, 1910 . 2012-10-04 .
- News: Sutz Driver Wears Smile While Speeding . Len Zengel, driver of the Stutz entry number two in the second annual 500-mile International Sweepstakes race to be run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway next Memorial Day. Zengel was a member of the National racing team and won the Elgin National Stock Chassis road race in 1911. In 1910 he won the Fairmount Park race in Philadelphia in a Chadwick "Big Six." Billy Knipper will act as relief driver to Zengel in the 500 mile race. . . May 25, 1912 . 2012-10-04 .
- News: Len Zengel Wins Elgin Trophy. Pilots His National Car Home in the Front Grant, in Alco, Was Second; Hughes, in Mercer, Third. Dave Buck and Sam Jacobs Crew of Pope-Hartford Killed . https://archive.today/20130131164515/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/ajc_historic/access/551118722.html?dids=551118722:551118722&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Aug+27,+1911&author=&pub=The+Atlanta+Constitution&desc=LON+ZENGEL+WINS+ELGIN+TROPHY&pqatl=google . dead . January 31, 2013 . Elgin's 305 mile cup race today, won by Len Zengel, in a National, with Harry Grant second and Hughie Hughes third, was not run without its toll of death and injuries. . . August 27, 1911 . 2012-10-04 .
- News: Auto Strikes Pole, Sailor is Killed . Gunner's Mate 2/C, Leonard J. Zengel, 33 ... . . October 2, 1944 .
- News: Marriages . Miss Betty Jean Zengel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Zengel of Rockwood Farm, West Chester, was married yesterday in the Church of the Good Shepherd ... . . September 13, 1942 . 2012-10-06 .
