James Allison: A Biography of the Engine Manufacturer and Indianapolis 500 Cofounder

Product Description

Among the engineers fueling the rapid rise of the automotive industry at the dawn of the 20th century was James Allison, a fountain pen maker who joined with Carl G. Fisher in 1904 to found Prest-O-Lite, an early manufacturer of the power source for automotive headlights. This biography tracks Allison’s involvement in the Indianapolis 500, which he cofounded with Fisher and two others, as well as his machine shop’s construction of the Liberty engine, the first mass-produced aircraft engine, and also the V1710, the workhorse of World War II military aircraft. Through his unique ingenuity and perseverance, Allison created a legacy that still resonates today at the Indianapolis 500, Rolls-Royce, and Allison Transmission.

Review

“this biography of the self-made millionaire details Allison’s role in the Indianapolis 500 as well as his machine shop’s construction of the first mass-produced aircraft engine and production of other aircraft milestones during both World Wars”―
Reference & Research Book News; “Having been the motorsports editor of a national automotive magazine and before that the auto racing reporter for a significant Midwestesrn newspaper, I thought I knew a lot about the early history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway…. But now that I’ve read Sigur E. Whitaker’s biography of her great aunt’s husband, one of the Speedway’s co-founders, I’ve discovered some huge holes in my knowledge, holes delightfully filled by Whitaker’s well-researched work”―
izoom.com.

About the Author

A native of Indianapolis, Sigur E. Whitaker, is the great-great-niece of James Allison, one of the founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A retired banker, she lives in Norfolk, Virginia.