Auto Race Car Driver. Iowa's best known pioneer race car driver, he and his riding mechanic, Robert Bandini of Los Angeles, lost their lives in the 1919 Indianapolis 500 when their Roamer race car crashed and burned on the 97th lap. Louis LeCocq began his racing career with the Duesenberg brothers in 1914, initially working as a riding mechanic for Ralph Mulford, Tom Alley and Eddie O'Donnell. In 1915 he joined the J. Alex Sloan touring group of racing drivers. The Sloan drivers barnstormed across America and Canada, racing on dirt tracks at state and county fairgrounds. For the next two years, LeCocq honed his driving skills primarily at the wheel of the #22 Briscoe racing car. In 1917 he joined with Eddie Hearne to campaign the AAA championship trail with Hearne's brand new Duesenberg. Once again working as a riding mechanic, LeCocq aided Hearne as they finished fourth in the National Driving Championship with two wins and $9,250 in earnings. 1918 saw him entering the military service in mid year. Prior to his service, he had the chance to handle Hearne's Duesenberg, now renamed a Roamer. LeCocq posted wins at Bakersfield and Santa Rosa, California as well as a strong showing at Ascot Speedway in Calif. and the 2 mile board track in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Following his stint as a Landsman in the United States Navy, he resumed his driving career, posting a fine third place finish in the prestigious 1919 Santa Monica road race and a solid sixth place back at the Uniontown board track. Louis LeCocq’s final race was the 1919 Indianapolis 500, dubbed the 'Victory Sweepstakes'. He posted a 25th place qualification lap. On the 97th lap of the race, while running in 4th place, LeCocq's Roamer blew a tire in turn 2, slammed the wall and rolled three times, bursting into flames. Both he and his riding mechanic, Robert Bandini, succumbed. Although often billed as a Frenchman, he was born 1/2 mile west of Pella, Iowa. In his five year career, LeCocq raced on every type of race track; from dirt tracks to street courses and from board tracks to Indianapolis.