Leslie Allen (racing driver)

Leslie Allen
BornLeslie Charles Allen
(1892-03-05)March 5, 1892
Odell, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMay 19, 1946(1946-05-19) (aged 54)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Champ Car career
1 race run over 2 years
Best finish34th (1930)
First race1930 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0

Leslie Charles "Bugs" Allen (March 5, 1892 – May 19, 1946) was an American racing driver.

Career

Allen first found racing success as a record-setting[1] and "fearless" motorcycle racer.[2][3] He suffered a "severe scalp wound" in a 1913 on-track collision in Rockford, Illinois.[4]

Allen moved into auto racing after surviving an accident in motorcycle racing.[5] His rivalry with driver Cliff Woodbury was promoted in press reports.[6][7] He drove a Frontenac to win and break records[8] at Roby Speedway and Bedford Speedway in Indiana in 1924 and 1925,[9][10][11] and at Thornton Speedway in 1926.[12] He attempted to qualify for the 1927 Indianapolis 500 but failed to qualify. He successfully qualified for the 1930 Indianapolis 500 driving a Miller and started and finished ninth. He was described as "the last word in daredevil drivers" in 1928.[13] He won a race at Evanston Speedway in 1933.[14]

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 500 results

References

  1. ↑ "Sets New World's Record". The Fairbury Blade. June 20, 1913. p. 5. Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Match Race Feature at Big I.R.A. Meet; Leslie Allen and E. G. Baker in Five-Mile Event". The Indianapolis News. August 25, 1913. p. 14. Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Two Seriously Injured When Racing Motorcycles Collide". The Vincennes Commercial. September 10, 1915. p. 7. Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Five are Hurt in Race Meet". Rockford Register Star. August 18, 1913. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Allen Enters Auto Race Here". Chicago Tribune. May 5, 1924. p. 24. Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Allen After the Scalp of Woodbury". The Times. July 11, 1924. p. 17. Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Noted Race Trio Compete at Roby Sunday". The Times. May 15, 1925. p. 21. Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Allen Wins 100 Mile Race at Roby Speedway". The Times. October 19, 1925. p. 11. Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Allen Betters Records, Wins Titles at Roby". The Times. July 14, 1924. p. 8. Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Favorite Drivers at Roby Sunday". The Times. May 14, 1925. p. 13. Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Bedford Races Attract Stars; Twenty-Two Cars Entered in Today's Auto Classic, 'Bugs' Allen Favorite". The Republic. July 25, 1925. p. 2. Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Bugs Allen and Morris at Thornton". The Times. June 25, 1926. p. 26. Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Roby to Open Next Sunday; Leslie 'Bugs' Allen, Dare-Devil Driver, to Pilot Fast Car". The Times. May 4, 1928. p. 28. Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Andres Takes 4 of 5 Evanston Auto Events". Chicago Tribune. May 29, 1933. p. 14. Retrieved March 2, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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