Kuzma

• Name — Eddie Kuzma • Birth Name — Edward Leo Kuzma • Born — 18 September 1911 • Birthplace — Portland, Oregon, U.S. • Died — 12 October 1996 • Place of death — Tigard, Oregon, U.S. • Occupation — Auto racing builder

Kuzma was born in Portland, Oregon, where he was raised on a farm. He moved to Vancouver, Washington, where he established an automobile repair shop. In the 1930s, Kuzma had seen midget race cars at the Jantzen Beach Amusement Park, and had built and raced his own car. A second car was fitted with a four-cylinder Offenhauser engine, making it faster than other local competitors. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. After he was discharged from the service, sold his car and moved to Los Angeles, California. • Illustration — Ruttman's winning Kuzma from the 1952 Indianapolis 500 In California, Kuzma continued to build midget race cars. He was hired by J. C. Agajanian to build the Agajanian Special, which won the 1952 Indianapolis 500, driven by Troy Ruttman. A. J. Foyt won the Indianapolis 500 twice driving Kuzma's cars, and Mario Andretti won in one of his cars in 1969. Kuzma also rebuilt race cars. In 1968, he bought a farm along with his wife Edna. • Illustration — A Kuzma-Offenhauser driven by Jimmy Bryan, which won the 1957 Race of Two Worlds Kuzma died on October 12, 1996 of kidney failure in Tigard, Oregon, at the age of 85. In 2003, he was posthumously honored in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

Kuzma cars competed in the FIA World Championship (Indianapolis 500 only) from 1951 to 1960. They won the 1952 Indianapolis 500 with Troy Ruttman. Note: all cars were fitted with Offenhauser engines. • Season — Driver — Grid — Classification — Points — Note — Race Report • 1951 — Walt Faulkner — 14 — Ret — — Engine — Report • 1952 — Troy Ruttman — 7 — 1 — 8 — — Report • 1953 — Tony Bettenhausen — 6 — 9 — — Accident — Report • Manny Ayulo — 4 — 13 — — Engine • Bob Sweikert — 29 — Ret — — Suspension • Pat Flaherty — 24 — Ret — — Accident • Chuck Stevenson — 16 — Ret — — Fuel Leak • 1954 — Jimmy Bryan — 3 — 2 — 6 — — Report • Chuck Stevenson — 5 — 12 — — • Manny Ayulo — 22 — 13 — — • 1955 — Johnny Thomson — 33 — 4 — 3 — — Report • Duane Carter — 18 — 11 — — • Jimmy Bryan — 11 — Ret — — Fuel Pump • Rodger Ward — 30 — Ret — — Accident • 1956 — Bob Sweikert — 10 — 6 — — — Report • Gene Hartley — 22 — 11 — — • Eddie Johnson — 32 — 15 — — • Billy Garrett — 29 — 16 — — • Jimmy Bryan — 19 — 19 — — • Johnny Thomson — 18 — Ret — — Spun Off • 1957 — Jimmy Bryan — 15 — 3 — 4 — — Report • Johnny Thomson — 11 — 12 — — • Chuck Weyant — 25 — 14 — — • Eddie Sachs — 2 — Ret — — Fuel Leak • 1958 — Johnnie Tolan — 30 — 13 — — — Report • Dempsey Wilson — 32 — Ret — — Fire • A. J. Foyt — 12 — Ret — — Spun Off • Eddie Sachs — 18 — Ret — — Transmission • Art Bisch — 28 — Ret — — Accident • 1959 — A. J. Foyt — 17 — 10 — — — Report • Gene Hartley — 9 — 11 — — • Eddie Sachs — 2 — Ret — — Spun Off • Al Keller — 28 — Ret — — Engine • Bill Cheesbourg — 30 — Ret — — Magneto • 1960 — Duane Carter — 27 — 12 — — — Report • Bill Homeier — 31 — 13 — —