The Cunningham C-1 is a sports car that was designed and built by the B. S. Cunningham Company in 1950.
38-469: American sportsman Briggs Cunningham entered two cars based on the Cadillac Series 61 in the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans . Brothers Cowles "Miles" Collier and Sam Collier partnered to drive a lightly modified car nicknamed "Petit Pataud", and finished in tenth place. Cunningham and co-driver Phil Walters were in another car with fully custom bodywork, dubbed "Le Monstre", and finished one place behind
76-484: A Cunningham downhaul , an improved downhaul invented by Cunningham that has come to bear his name. Cunningham was part of the syndicate that commissioned construction of the 12 meter sloop Columbia to contest the first post-war America's Cup race in 1958. The original choice to skipper Columbia in the America's Cup was Cornelius "Corny" Shields , but when he was sidelined by heart troubles Cunningham stepped in and led
114-456: A Jaguar D-Type . Cunningham entered a 750 cc Stanguellini in the 1954 race at Watkins Glen, with driver Marshall Lewis. The car won its H Modified class, while John Gordon Bennett was second in a Cunningham O.S.C.A. MT4 1450. Star (keelboat) The Star is a 6.9 metres (23 ft) one-design racing keelboat for two people designed by Francis Sweisguth in 1910. The Star was an Olympic keelboat class from 1932 through to 2012,
152-714: A 331 cu in (5,424 cc) Chrysler FirePower V8 for the Cadillac in the C-1. The C-2R first appeared at Le Mans in 1951. To be homologated as a manufacturer for Le Mans, Cunningham undertook to build 25 examples of the C-3 road car. The C-3s used an upgraded version of the Chrysler FirePower V8. Production of the C-3 is variously reported to have been twenty-five (twenty coupes and five convertibles) or twenty-seven (eighteen coupes and nine convertibles). The next racing car for
190-474: A Fairchild and later a Sikorski S39B amphibious airplane, both paid for by himself. By building and sailing his own ships, and building and racing his own cars, he epitomized the definition of the American sportsman. Owing to his mother's concerns about the dangers of automobile racing, Cunningham did not pursue a driving career until after her death, but did race sail boats competitively. At seventeen he joined
228-415: A maximum total sail area of 26.5 m (285 sq ft). The Star class pioneered an unusual circular boom vang track, which allows the vang to effectively hold the boom down even when the boom is turned far outboard on a downwind run. Another notable aspect of Star sailing is the extreme hiking position adopted by the crew and at times the helmsman, who normally use a harness to help hang low off
266-551: A new 6 meter, also to be named Lucie . She was built at the Henry B. Nevins Boatyard in New York in 1931. He spent part of his honeymoon sailing the new Lucie . Cunningham won 6 world titles in 6 meter yachts. F.T. Bedford commissioned the 12 meter Nyala as a gift for Cunningham and his daughter Lucie when they married. In 1931 Cunningham was a crew member aboard the Dorade when it won
304-579: The 1958 America's Cup race, and for his efforts as a driver, team owner, and constructor in sports car racing , including the 24 Hours of Le Mans . Cunningham was born in Cincinnati , Ohio on 19 January 1907. The family were long-time residents of the Cincinnati area. Cunningham's grandfather had been involved in operating river boats and in shipping, then had gone into the meat packing business with son Briggs Swift Cunningham Senior. The meat packing business
342-499: The B.S. Cunningham Company was designed by G. Briggs Weaver . Two C-4R roadsters were built, as well as a single C-4RK coupe with truncated rear bodywork. The cars debuted at the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans . For 1953 a single all-new C-5R was prepared for Le Mans. The Chrysler V8 engine remained, with power increased by 10 hp (7.5 kW). When the car arrived for the 1953 Le Mans, French observers named it "Le Requin Souriant" —
380-577: The Bu-Merc at the inaugural Watkins Glen Grand Prix in 1948. Driven by Haig Ksayian, the TC finished first in class and third overall. Cunningham had originally planned to enter a team of "Fordillacs" at Le Mans. The cars were 1949 Fords with Cadillac OHV V8s installed. The conversion had been designed by Bill Frick and was built by Frick-Tappet Motors. In 1949 Cunningham partnered with Alfredo Momo, and bought Ferrari 166 Spider Corsa 016-I from Luigi Chinetti . This
418-673: The Buick chassis by Byron Jersey. In 1940 the Bu-Merc appeared at the Worlds Fair Grand Prix at the New York Fairgrounds. Driven by "Miles" Collier, it did not finish due to an accident. Cunningham drove the Bu-Merc at the first Grand Prix held at Watkins Glen in 1948, where he finished second. After receiving a 1949 version of the Straight-8 and chassis modifications suggested by Buick's vice president of engineering Charles Chayne,
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#1732875915852456-449: The French dubbed "Petit Pataud"; possibly a reference to a puppy in a French children's book from the 1930s. Changes to the car were minimal, and included a dual-carburetor intake manifold, brake cooling ducts, a second fuel tank, and extra lights. While engine swaps were illegal, body modifications were permitted, so a second Cadillac had its stock body removed and an entirely new body that
494-539: The Frick-Tappet Motors company and relocated the operation from Long Island, New York to West Palm Beach, Florida, renaming it the "B.S. Cunningham Company". The first product of the new company was the Cunningham C-1, powered by a 331 cu in (5,424 cc) Cadillac V8. Only one was built. Very similar to the C-1 were the three subsequent C-2Rs, all built to racing specifications. Cunningham substituted
532-636: The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. His university days were spent at Yale. He was also a brakeman on the Olympic bobsled team. On 2 October 1929 he married Lucie Bedford, the granddaughter of E.T. Bedford , a co-founder and director of Standard Oil . The couple spent an extended honeymoon in Europe, where Cunningham won a concours with a Mercedes Benz SS delivered to him personally by Rudolph Caracciola . It
570-462: The Pequot Yacht Club and began to race Star Class boats. He said that it was his wife who taught him to sail. Cunningham partnered with his father-in-law Frederick T. Bedford to purchase the eight meter Loke in 1928. In 1929 he bought the six meter Akaba , and renamed her Lucie — the first of two of his boats with that name. In 1930 Cunningham commissioned Clinton H. Crane to design
608-610: The Star was replaced by the Tempest for keelboat competition. In 2011 keelboats were removed from sailing at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro . The last keelboat Olympics competition was at the 2012 London Summer Olympics . The Star World Championships has been held annually since 1923. Most titles has American sailor Lowell North won, with five titles between 1945 and 1973 and another seven podiums. The most crowned skipper-crew combination
646-610: The boat and crew to victory. Cunningham began racing internationally in 1930 with brothers Cowles "Miles" Collier and Sam Collier . These college friends of Cunningham's established the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) in 1933, which became the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) in 1944. Cunningham took part in the first ever SCCA race. He was described as one of the most successful drivers in SCCA sports car racing at
684-464: The car appeared at Watkins Glen the next year with Cunningham driving to a third-place finish. In 1950 Cunningham raced a cycle-fendered Healey Silverstone that he had one of Cadillac's new V8 engines installed in. The car appeared at Palm Beach on 3 January 1950. Driven by Cunningham, it finished second. On 23 September that year the car was driven by Cunningham again at Watkins Glen, and finished second. At this race Samuel "Sam" Carnes Collier
722-472: The car in 1933, and the next year sold it to Gil Pirrung of Missouri. This special was based on the chassis, drivetrain and running gear of a 1939 Buick Century . Cunningham had Phil Shafer modify the car by lowering the Buick Straight-8 engine and moving it back in the chassis. The engine's compression ratio was raised. The body and radiator came from a wrecked Mercedes Benz SSK , and were adapted to
760-542: The cars. The team's chief mechanic was Alfredo Momo. On 31 December 1950 Cunningham raced an Aston Martin DB2 in the 6-hour Sam Collier Memorial Race, the first automobile race held at the Sebring Airport race track . Cunningham finished third in class and seventeenth overall. His car, serial number LML/50/21, was one of the first, if not the first, DB2 Vantage built. 1955 was the last year that Cunningham built his own cars,
798-468: The company having run out the five-year grace period that the Internal Revenue Service allowed low-volume manufacturers to become profitable. Cunningham continued in international competition from 1930 until 1963, when he dissolved his Le Mans team. His final professional race was in a Porsche Carrera GTS (Type 904) at Sebring in 1966 with John Fitch and Davey Jordan. His last amateur race
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#1732875915852836-568: The last year keelboats appeared at the Summer Olympics. It is sloop -rigged, with a mainsail larger in proportional size than any other boat of its length. Unlike most modern racing boats, it does not use a spinnaker when sailing downwind. Instead, when running downwind a whisker pole is used to hold the jib out to windward for correct wind flow. Early Stars were built from wood, but modern boats are generally made of fiberglass . The boat must weigh at least 671 kg (1,479 lb) with
874-490: The other Cadillac in eleventh place. In preparation for his next attempt at Le Mans, Cunningham bought the Frick-Tappett Motors company. The operation was moved from Long Island, New York to West Palm Beach, Florida, and renamed the "B. S. Cunningham Company". The Cunningham C-1 roadster was the first product of the new company. On the design team were Cunningham, Walters, G. Briggs Weaver and Bob Blake. Only one C-1
912-624: The race around the Fastnet Rock . In 1937 he was a member of the crew for Harold Stirling Vanderbilt on his yacht Vim . Cunningham bought the schooner Brilliant from the Coast Guard after WWII, and modified it in an attempt to increase its speed. In 1953 he donated the Brilliant to the Mystic Seaport to be used as an off-shore classroom. The Brilliant was the first vessel to receive
950-643: The smiling shark. The final B. S. Cunningham company car model abandoned the Chrysler V8 for a 3.0 L four-cylinder Offenhauser from Meyer & Drake. At the 1955 Le Mans the C-6R retired on lap 202. Among the earliest cars that Cunningham raced or lent to race was a series of MGs. In 1934 he owned an MG J2 that he personally drove in select ARCA events. Two years later he loaned his MG K3 Magnette to "Miles" Collier and George Rand, who campaigned it in Europe. Cunningham's supercharged MG TC appeared alongside
988-477: The time. Cunningham became an early member of the Road Racing Drivers Club, an invitation-only group that honors drivers, officials, and journalists that have made significant contributions to the sport. Cunningham's racing team arrived at the track accompanied by a large transporter that was both extensively and lavishly equipped, along with the drivers, a retinue of professionals and mechanics, and
1026-582: The windward side of the boat with only their lower legs inside. The Star was designed in 1910 by Francis Sweisguth, a draftsman at the William Gardner Marine Architect office. Over the course of his career Sweisguth designed a variety of yachts. A more traditional example of his work is Silent Maid, a Barnegat Bay B-class catboat designed shortly after the Star. The first 22 stars were built in Port Washington, New York by Ike Smith during
1064-433: The winter of 1910–11. Since that time, over 8,400 boats have been built, with more than 2,000 actively racing in 170 fleets. The hull is a hard chine design with a slight curve to the bottom section, and a bulb keel . The Star was originally rigged with a large, low-aspect-ratio gunter mainsail and jib, which was replaced by a short bermuda rig gradually during the early 1920s, before the current tall bermuda sail plan
1102-488: Was a 331 cu in (5,424 cc) Cadillac V8 . The C-1 was used in practice at Le Mans, but did not race. In 1951 it appeared at the Mount Equinox hillclimb , where it finished fourth driven by John Fitch . Briggs Cunningham Briggs Swift Cunningham II (January 19, 1907 – July 2, 2003) was an American entrepreneur and sportsman. He is best known for skippering the yacht Columbia to victory in
1140-472: Was adopted in 1930. In 1965, fiberglass replaced wood as the primary hull material. Other changes to the strict design rules for the Star class, include adding flexible spars , an innovative circular-track boom vang , and self-bailers. The Star was added to the Olympic roster for the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Due to World War II , there were no Olympic games held in 1940 or 1944, and for 1976 ,
1178-633: Was also during this trip that he attended his first major automobile race, the 1930 Monaco Grand Prix. When the couple returned to the US they settled on the Long Island Sound. During World War II (WWII) he tried to enlist in the US Navy but was deemed ineligible due to a combination of age and a pre-existing condition. He instead joined the Civil Air Patrol, flying submarine patrols off the east coast, first in
Cunningham C-1 - Misplaced Pages Continue
1216-434: Was built, with serial number 5101. The car was completed in late 1950, and is generally listed as from the 1951 model year . The chassis was made of 3 in (76 mm) steel tubing with a central X-brace. The rear suspension was a custom-made De Dion tube . The tires were mounted on knock-off wire wheels . Wheelbase was 105 in (2,667 mm), and the track front and rear was 58 in (1,473 mm). The engine
1254-533: Was eventually known as Evans, Lippencott & Cunningham. Cunningham Sr. later became founder and president of the Citizen's National Bank, as well as director of the Pennsylvania Railroad, among several others. Cunningham Sr. was also the chief financier of soap company Procter and Gamble . William Cooper Procter would be Cunningham's godfather. Cunningham Sr. died when Briggs was five years old. The estate
1292-531: Was in the same Porsche 904 at Riverside Raceway in September 1966. One of Cunningham's first racing cars, and his only sprint car , was the Number 5 Special . Built by R.T. Jackson of Dayton, Ohio, the car was driven by "Ed" Coffey. The car had a custom frame and was powered by a Ford Model T inline four-cylinder engine with a 16 valve , double-overhead camshaft Frontenac "Fronty" cylinder head. Cunningham owned
1330-439: Was killed while driving Cunningham's Ferrari. The Cadillac-Healey also appeared at the 6 Hours of Sebring on 31 December 1950. Co-driven by Phil Walters and Bill Frick , it finished twelfth overall and third in class. When his plan to enter a Fordillac hybrid in the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans was rejected by the organizers, Cunningham entered two Cadillacs instead. The first was a stock-appearing Cadillac Series 61 that
1368-512: Was lower and narrower than the original fabricated in aluminum over a metal tube framework. The new body was designed and built with the help of engineer Howard Weinmann from Grumman . Another feature was the use of five carburetors. This car was nicknamed "Le Monstre". The Collier brothers partnered to drive "Petit Pataud", and finished in tenth place. Cunningham and co-driver Phil Walters were in "Le Monstre", and finished eleventh. To prepare for his next attempt at Le Mans, Cunningham bought
1406-455: Was structured such that the Cunningham heirs did not receive full control of it until age forty. Cunningham's maternal uncle was Dr. Ashton Heyl, a former Rough Rider . Heyl had installed a Hispano-Suiza aircraft engine in a Dodge touring car. As a boy Cunningham was a passenger during some impromptu street races in the car with Heyl. Cunningham's early schooling took place at Groton and
1444-416: Was the second Ferrari in the US, the first being a Tipo 166 MM Touring Barchetta, chassis 0002 M, sold to Tommy Lee in Los Angeles in the first quarter of 1949. 016-I was the first Ferrari raced in the US. In 1954 Cunningham's 1.5-liter O.S.C.A. MT4 driven by Stirling Moss and Bill Lloyd was the outright winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring . The team won at Sebring again the following year, this time with
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