Norman Batten Explained

Norman Batten

Birth Name:

Norman Kirkpatrick Batten

Birth Date:

30 April 1893

Birth Place:

East Orange, New Jersey, U.S.

Death Place:

200 miles off the coast of
Hampton Roads, Virginia, U.S.

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Embed:	yes
Total Champ Races:	29
Years In Champ:	5
Best Champ Pos:	7th (1928)
First Champ Race:	1924 Syracuse 150 (Syracuse)
Last Champ Race:	1928 International Motor Classic (Rockingham Park)
First Champ Win:	1926 Sesquicentennial Classic Heat #2 (Atlantic City)
Champ Wins:	1
Champ Podiums:	4
Champ Poles:	1

Norman Kirkpatrick Batten (April 30, 1893 – November 12, 1928) was an American racing driver active in the 1920s. Batten provided relief for Peter DePaolo in the 1925 Indianapolis 500, before his rookie year of 1926.^[1] He died and his body, along with fellow driver Earl Devore, were lost at sea after the sinking of the ocean liner SS Vestris.

On January 9, 1918, in Juliustown, New Jersey, Batten married Marion Calvin, daughter of Willian John Calvin and Harriet Dimond Kennedy. She was a registered nurse. His wife survived the sinking of the Vestris.^[2]

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 500 results

Year	Car	Start	Qual	Rank	Finish	Laps	Led	Retired
1925	Participated as a relief driver
1926	14	16	101.428	15	7	151	0	Flagged
1927	8	10	111.940	11	30	24	0	Caught fire
1928	22	15	106.585	21	5	200	0	Running
Totals						375	0

Starts	3
Poles	0
Front Row	0
Wins	0
Top 5	1
Top 10	2
Retired	1

In 1925 Batten drove 21 laps of relief for race winner Pete DePaolo.

Notes and References

Indy500 Recaps the Short Chute Pat Kennedy
News: Wilson. Lyle C. Two Women Struggle Vainly To Save Mates. 30 March 2013. Pittsburgh Press. November 16, 1928.