Duke Dinsmore

Duke Dinsmore (10 April 1913 - 12 October 1985): Carlyle John Dinsmoor, who raced under the nom de course Duke Dinsmore, was an American racing driver from Williamstown, West Virginia, whose career spanned from the immediate post-World War II era through the mid-1950s. Dinsmore served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II before pursuing his passion for racing. Dinsmore's racing career in the AAA Championship Car series saw him compete in 47 races between 1946 and 1960, demonstrating remarkable longevity in a dangerous era of motorsport. He made nine starts at the Indianapolis 500 between 1946 and 1956, with six of these counting toward the Formula One World Championship during the years when the Indy 500 was part of the championship calendar.

His best Indianapolis 500 result came in his debut year of 1946, when he qualified his Adams-Offy in eighth position, showing competitive pace. However, a broken connecting rod forced him out after 82 laps, preventing what might have been an impressive finish. His best completed Indianapolis result was ninth place in 1949. A dramatic incident at Milwaukee on 6 June highlighted both the dangers of racing in that era and the bravery of his fellow competitors.

Dinsmore crashed in the south turn when he hit a patch of loose gravel in his Schoof Special. The car skidded and a rear wheel struck the outside concrete retaining wall, tipping the car up and throwing Dinsmore into the middle of the track. Fellow driver Rex Mays intentionally crashed his own car to avoid hitting the helpless Dinsmore, then left his vehicle to wave other drivers aside, protecting Dinsmore from further danger. In a hospital interview afterward, Dinsmore credited Mays with saving his life, a testament to the camaraderie among drivers in that perilous era.

Dinsmore also competed extensively in sprint car and midget car races throughout his career, building a reputation as a versatile and determined competitor across various forms of oval track racing. He passed away on 12 October 1985 at the age of 72, leaving behind memories of a career that exemplified the courage and skill required of American racing drivers in the sport's formative decades.