The Seduction of Speed.(Escape Roads)(Frank Lockhart)

Byline: TOM TRACE

Turner Woodard, the owner of the historic Stutz building in Indianapolis, felt compelled to add to his collection a replica of the famous Stutz Blackhawk Special, because the story of its pilot, Frank Lockhart, is filled with a Hollywood screenplay's worth of triumph and tragedy.

Lockharts's story began on the dirt tracks of Southern California, years before he made his way to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He had carved a name for himself on the bullrings with a natural ability to turn fast laps but was equally gifted at turning wrenches.

Indy eventually beckoned him eastward, where he arrived in 1926 with talent, a strong reputation and fiery determination-but no race car to showcase his life's passion.

Car owner Harry Miller offered Lockhart the opportunity to take some laps as a relief driver for Peter Kreis. Lockhart's practice efforts were so impressive that when Kreis couldn't make the big race due to an illness, Miller asked Lockhart to take the wheel.

Lockhart started in 20th position for the 14th running of the Indianapolis 500, but quickly shot his way through the field. The race was rain delayed and eventually shortened to only 160 of the 200 laps, but Lockhart had fended off the field long enough to take the coveted checkered flag. At the tender age of 23, Lockhart became only the fourth rookie, including Ray Harroun in the first 500, to take home the bragging rights.

Two years later, with a fattened racing resume that included nine more AAA wins across the country, Lockhart was summoned back to the Midwest for another chance to enter the record books. This time, Indianapolis-based Stutz Motor Co. desperately needed help. The company had enjoyed success building high-performance luxury vehicles since 1911, but by 1928, sales were waning.