A Strang Mailday

It's been awhile since I've added to my T36 set.  I had to take a look back through my eBay purchases to see that the last one probably arrived in October.  That'll happen when you're not willing to pay for overpriced buy it now eBay items.

1911 American Tobacco Auto Drivers #22 Lewis P. Strang

1911 American Tobacco Auto Drivers #22 Lewis P. Strang

I've already picked up cards from this set of other Indianapolis 500 drivers, including a winner.  Now I have THE card of the pole sitter for the Inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911.  This is the only card of Lewis P. Strang listed on either Sports Card Forum or Trading Card Database.

Strang was relieved during the race and the car finished 29th, completing just 109 of the 200 laps.  He was passed on the first lap and did not lead any laps during the race.  It would be his only appearance in the 500.  In an ironic twist of fate, he was killed less than two months later "while driving along a country road at no more than four miles an hour."

LINK:  Vanderbilt Cup Races - Lewis Strang
LINK:  Hemmings Daily - How Strang met his death
LINK:  The First Super Speedway - Mr. & Mrs. Lewis Strang

This card is my fifth unique front from the set of 25.  I have seven total (out of what I think are 100 cards) now.  If you haven't read my posts from Bean's Ballcard Blog, I suspect that there are four back variations for each card, but I haven't been able to confirm that so far.

I just wish more of these would come up at auction so that I could get them at a realistic price and add to my collection at a much faster pace.  Patience may be a virtue, but it's annoying!