Ralph Mulford

Ralph Kirkman Mulford
File:Ralph Mumford 1911.jpg Mulford at the 1911 Vanderbilt Cup
Born	(1884-12-28)December 28, 1884 Brooklyn, New York
Died	Asbury Park, New Jersey
Nationality	American

Ralph Mulford at the Tacoma Speedway in 1922

Ralph Kirkman Mulford (December 28, 1884 – October 23, 1973) was an American racecar driver who participated in the 1911 Indianapolis 500. In 1911 he won the Vanderbilt Cup in Savannah, Georgia.

Biography

He was born on December 28, 1884 in Brooklyn, New York. He once served as a Sunday school teacher.

There is an ongoing urban legend that Ralph Mulford may have won the 1911 Indianapolis 500 over Ray Harroun. However, contemporary newspaper accounts and substantiated research, namely by Indianapolis Motor Speedway historian Donald Davidson, have produced no credible evidence to support the claim.

Mulford was retroactively declared the National Driving Champion for 1911 and 1918. He retired from racing on tracks after 1922 but continued to compete for several more years in hill climbs and, at one time, held the record for both the Mount Washington and Pikes Peak climbs.

He died on October 23, 1973 in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired 1911 33 29 — — 2 200 10 Running 1912 19 16 87.880 2 10 200 0 Running 1913 29 22 80.790 17 7 200 0 Running 1914 23 6 88.210 18 11 200 0 Running 1915 22 18 82.720 18 16 124 0 Rod 1916 10 20 91.090 10 3 120 0 Running 1919 2 15 100.500 5 29 37 0 Driveshaft 1920 33 23 — — 9 200 0 Running 1921 8 21 91.700 12 9 177 0 Flagged 1922 5 5 99.200 5 19 161 0 Rod Totals 1619 10

Starts 10 Poles 0 Front Row 0 Wins 0 Top 5 2 Top 10 6 Retired 3

External links

• Ralph Mulford driver statistics at Racing-Reference
• Ralph Mulford at Champ Car Stats
• Ralph Mulford at Find a Grave