Briggs Cunningham

Briggs Cunningham

Briggs Swift Cunningham II (January 19, 1907 – July 2, 2003) was an American entrepreneur and sportsman, who raced automobiles and yachts. Born into a wealthy family, he became a racing car constructor, driver, and team owner as well as a sports car manufacturer and automobile collector.

He skippered the first victorious 12-Metre yacht Columbia in the 1958 America's Cup race, and invented the eponymous device, the Cunningham, to increase the speed of racing sailboats.

He was featured on the April 26, 1954 cover of Time magazine, with three of his Cunningham racing cars. The caption reads: Road Racer Briggs Cunningham: Horsepower, Endurance, Sportsmanship. He became an early member of the Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC), an invitation-only club formed to honor notable road racing drivers.

The October 2003 Road & Track magazine article, "Briggs Swift Cunningham—A Life Well Spent", states that "by building and sailing his own ships, and building and racing his own cars, Briggs Cunningham epitomized the definition of the American sportsman." He was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 1993, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1997, and named to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2003.

Cunningham died in Las Vegas, of complications from Alzheimer's Disease, at the age of 96.

Read more about Briggs Cunningham:  Automobile Manufacture and Competition, Collection, Legacy, Drivers

Other articles related to "briggs cunningham, cunningham, briggs":

1953 24 Hours Of Le Mans - Official Results
... Peter Walker Jaguar C-Type Jaguar 3.4L I6 3 ... S 8.0 2 Briggs Cunningham Phil Walters John Fitch Cunningham C5-R Chrysler 5.5L V8 4 ... S 5.0 19 Jaguar Cars Ltd ... Harry Schell Gordini T24S Gordini 2.5L I6 7 ... S 8.0 1 Briggs Cunningham Briggs Cunningham William Spear Cunningham C4-R Chrysler 5.5L V8 8 ... S 5.0 7 Automobiles Talbot-Darracq S.A ... Roger Laurent Charles de Tornaco Jaguar C-Type Jaguar 3.4L I6 10 ... S 8.0 3 Briggs Cunningham Charles Moran John Gordon Bonnet Cunningham C4-RK Chrysler 5.5L V8 ...
Briggs Cunningham - Drivers
... Cunningham team drivers and Briggs Cunningham co-drivers included Dan Gurney Lake Underwood Ivor Bueb Stirling Moss Jack Brabham Bruce McLaren Mike ...
1950 24 Hours Of Le Mans - Official Results
... Nash Milla Miglia Bristol 2.0L I6 10 ... S 8.0 3 Briggs Cunningham Miles Collier Sam Collier Cadillac Coupe de Ville "Clumsy Pup" Cadillac 5.4L V8 11 ... S 8.0 2 Briggs ...
1954 24 Hours Of Le Mans - Official Results
... Duncan Hamilton Tony Rolt Jaguar D-Type Jaguar 3.4L I6 3 ... S 8.0 2 Briggs Cunningham William Spear Sherwood Johnston Cunningham C4-R Chrysler 5.5L V8 4 ... S 5.0 16 Ecurie Francorchamps Roger Laurent Jacques Swaters ...
6 Hours Of Watkins Glen - Race Winners - First Street Course
... Car Grand Prix of Watkins Glen Non-championship 1951 Phil Walters Briggs Cunningham Cunningham C2R 100 mi (160 km) Sports Car Grand Prix of Watkins Glen SCCA National Sports Car Championship 1952 Briggs ...

Famous quotes containing the words cunningham and/or briggs:

    Like an old brandy after a long rain,
    Distinguished, and familiar, and aloof.
    —James Vincent Cunningham (1911–1985)

    Madam, you’re making history. In fact, you’re making me and I wish you’d keep my hands to yourself.
    S.J. Perelman, U.S. screenwriter, Arthur Sheekman, Will Johnstone, and Norman Z. McLeod. Groucho Marx, Monkey Business, a flirtatious remark while trying to make love to Lucille Briggs (Thelma Todd)