Lester was the son of John Henry Spangler and Nora Blanch Loughridge. He was raised with siblings Floyd, Elva, Lucille and Pearl. Another sister died at birth. Originally from northern Indiana, he moved to Los Angeles, California and found success on the Pacific Coast auto racing circuit.
In May of 1933, he qualified as a rookie driver in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. His qualifying speed of just under 117 miles per hour placed him 7th in a field of 42 drivers that year. After completing 132 of the 200 laps in the race, Lester's car collided with another car which was disabled on the track. He and his riding mechanic, G.L. "Monk" Jordan were killed.
Even more tragically, these two men were not the only fatalities at the Indy 500 track that year. A separate accident during the race claimed the life of a second driver, and seriously injured his mechanic. During the qualifications leading up to the race, yet another driver and his mechanic were killed.
Lester was 27 years old at the time of his death. He was laid to rest in northern Indiana, in the cemetery with his baby sister and maternal grandparents. Upon their deaths years later, Lester's parents were buried there as well.
(Lester was my grandmother's cousin, and the photos I've added are from Grandma's family album.)
In May of 1933, he qualified as a rookie driver in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. His qualifying speed of just under 117 miles per hour placed him 7th in a field of 42 drivers that year. After completing 132 of the 200 laps in the race, Lester's car collided with another car which was disabled on the track. He and his riding mechanic, G.L. "Monk" Jordan were killed.
Even more tragically, these two men were not the only fatalities at the Indy 500 track that year. A separate accident during the race claimed the life of a second driver, and seriously injured his mechanic. During the qualifications leading up to the race, yet another driver and his mechanic were killed.
Lester was 27 years old at the time of his death. He was laid to rest in northern Indiana, in the cemetery with his baby sister and maternal grandparents. Upon their deaths years later, Lester's parents were buried there as well.
(Lester was my grandmother's cousin, and the photos I've added are from Grandma's family album.)
Lester was the son of John Henry Spangler and Nora Blanch Loughridge. He was raised with siblings Floyd, Elva, Lucille and Pearl. Another sister died at birth. Originally from northern Indiana, he moved to Los Angeles, California and found success on the Pacific Coast auto racing circuit.
In May of 1933, he qualified as a rookie driver in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. His qualifying speed of just under 117 miles per hour placed him 7th in a field of 42 drivers that year. After completing 132 of the 200 laps in the race, Lester's car collided with another car which was disabled on the track. He and his riding mechanic, G.L. "Monk" Jordan were killed.
Even more tragically, these two men were not the only fatalities at the Indy 500 track that year. A separate accident during the race claimed the life of a second driver, and seriously injured his mechanic. During the qualifications leading up to the race, yet another driver and his mechanic were killed.
Lester was 27 years old at the time of his death. He was laid to rest in northern Indiana, in the cemetery with his baby sister and maternal grandparents. Upon their deaths years later, Lester's parents were buried there as well.
(Lester was my grandmother's cousin, and the photos I've added are from Grandma's family album.)
In May of 1933, he qualified as a rookie driver in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. His qualifying speed of just under 117 miles per hour placed him 7th in a field of 42 drivers that year. After completing 132 of the 200 laps in the race, Lester's car collided with another car which was disabled on the track. He and his riding mechanic, G.L. "Monk" Jordan were killed.
Even more tragically, these two men were not the only fatalities at the Indy 500 track that year. A separate accident during the race claimed the life of a second driver, and seriously injured his mechanic. During the qualifications leading up to the race, yet another driver and his mechanic were killed.
Lester was 27 years old at the time of his death. He was laid to rest in northern Indiana, in the cemetery with his baby sister and maternal grandparents. Upon their deaths years later, Lester's parents were buried there as well.
(Lester was my grandmother's cousin, and the photos I've added are from Grandma's family album.)
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