Chapter 10

From Mechanic to Auto Racer

Eddie quickly got a job as an apprentice mechanic in the Pennsylvania Railroad shops. He enjoyed his work and learning about machines. After a few weeks, however, he injured his leg and had to stay at home for a few days.

One afternoon while he was recovering, he limped down the street for exercise. Soon he came to an old run-down building with a sign in front which read, “Evans Garage. Bicycle and Automobile Repairs.” He peeked through the dusty front window and saw some automobiles standing inside the building. Suddenly he decided, “I should like to work here where I can learn about automobiles.”

He stepped inside and found a man lying on his back under one of the automobiles. “Hey, Mister,” he called. “Are you Mr. Evans?”

The man wriggled his legs and slid out from under the automobile. “Yes, but I’m mighty busy right now,” he said. “What do you want?”

“I’m looking for a job,” replied Eddie.

Mr. Evans rubbed his face and left a streak of grease on his cheek. “Well, I could use a boy to keep the place clean and to look after things when I’m away,” he said.

“That sounds exactly like what I want,” cried Eddie. “Mostly I want to learn about automobiles and their engines.”

Eddie had a new job, and as he had hoped, he learned many things about automobiles. He learned how to repair gasoline engines. He learned how to repair motors and charge batteries for electric automobiles. He even learned how to drive automobiles forward and backward a few feet inside the garage.

From time to time he told the members of his family and some of his neighborhood friends about driving automobiles. Some of them were amazed and others didn’t believe him. “We don’t see you driving anywhere along the streets,” they chided him.

Before long Mr. Evans left Eddie in charge of the garage while he made a short trip away from the city. Eagerly Eddie looked at the Waverly Electric which was stored in the garage. “Now will be a good time to show everybody that I can really drive,” he said to himself.

Promptly he started the motor and drove the electric car out into the street. At first he felt a little nervous guiding it in and out of the slow-moving traffic. By the time he got home, however, he felt sure of himself. He swung down proudly from the high seat and strode into the kitchen. “Mama,” he called, “I have an electric automobile out front. Let me take you for a ride.”

Mama was startled. She put on a coat and fastened her hat tightly on her head. Then, half-afraid, she walked out to the street and climbed into the small car.

By now the neighbors were coming out to see young redheaded Eddie Rickenbacker taking his mother for a ride in a fancy automobile. He drove about the neighborhood at the high speed of ten miles per hour. “Please don’t drive so fast, Eddie,” cried his mother, waving proudly to one of her neighbors.

When Eddie stopped to let out his mother, he found a crowd of people waiting. They asked many questions about the electric automobile and were surprised by how much he knew. Never had he felt more important.

Not long after that, he met one of his old Horse-head friends. Eddie and his friend talked and laughed about some of the good times they had had together. Finally the friend said, “I hear you’ve been working in a garage.”

“Yes,” said Eddie, half ashamed. “Are you still going to high school?”

“Yes, and I’m going to keep going until I graduate,” replied his friend.

“You’re certainly lucky to be able to get an education,” said Eddie. “I wish I had gone to high school.”

This conversation made Eddie wonder if he still should try to go back to school. He talked about it with one of his former teachers. “It might be better for you to take a correspondence or home-study course,” said the teacher. “I’ll give you the names of several schools that offer correspondence courses so you can write to them.”

Eddie was most interested in a course in mechanical engineering, which would include special instruction on gasoline engines. He investigated all the schools his former teacher had suggested before choosing one. He studied the lessons the school sent him in all his spare moments.

About this time more automobile companies were springing up. One was the Frayer-Miller Company, which was near the Evans Garage. One of the owners, Lee Frayer, regularly worked at the factory every Sunday, and Eddie started to go to the factory to watch.

After a few Sundays Mr. Frayer called to him. “Hey, boy, who are you and what do you want?”

“My name is Eddie Rickenbacker,” replied Eddie, “and I would like a job helping to build automobiles here in your plant.”

Mr. Frayer shook his head. “You’re too young to help build automobiles,” he said. “There’s nothing you can do around here.”

Eddie didn’t give up easily. He saw piles of trash and dirt scattered around the main room of the plant. “Mr. Frayer,” he said, “you’re mistaken. I can see a job here for me. I’ll come early in the morning and hope you like what you find I have done.”

Early the next morning he went to the building and hunted up a shovel and broom. Then he started at one end of the room, hoping to finish his cleaning before Mr. Frayer arrived. Before long, Mr. Frayer came in and was surprised to find Eddie there. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I’m cleaning the room to show you that there’s work here for me to do,” replied Eddie. “How do you like what I’ve done?”

Mr. Frayer stared in amazement at the clean end of the room and frowned as he glanced at the dirty end. “I like what you have done, and you have won yourself a job,” he replied. “Finish your cleaning and I’ll put you to work in the factory.”

First he placed Eddie in the tool-making department to help make and assemble carburetors for gasoline engines. Later one afternoon while Eddie was studying his correspondence lesson, he stopped to talk with him. “I can see you want to get ahead,” he said. “I’m transferring you to our engineering department.”

Eddie was delighted. Now he would have a chance to draw and design various parts for automobiles. The company built only one gasoline automobile a month, but now it was building three little racing cars to enter the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Races on Long Island, New York. Many workers were excited about these races, which were to be held on Long Island in September. One of them explained the races to Eddie. “They were started by William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., a wealthy sportsman,” he said. “So far French cars have won every year, but this year we hope that some American car will win. If one of our Frayer-Miller racers can win, it will help to make our company famous.”

In September Eddie went to the railroad yards to help load the three racers on a freight train. As he worked, Mr. Frayer came up to him. “I plan to drive one of these cars myself,” he said. “How would you like to go along to be my mechanic?” (Image 10.1)

Image 10.1: Mr. Frayer handed Eddie some racing goggles and a leather helmet. He explained exactly what he wanted Eddie to do during the race.

“Oh, sure!” cried Eddie, caught by surprise. “Of course I would like to go.”

When they reached the racetrack, Mr. Frayer handed Eddie some racing goggles and a leather helmet. He explained exactly what he wanted Eddie to do during the race. “If the oil pressure falls, be ready to use a hand pump to force oil into the engine. Watch the tires to make sure they aren’t beginning to show signs of wear. And last of all tap me on the knee when somebody wishes to go around us.”

Eddie listened and repeated what he had heard to show that he understood what to do. The race, which was to be 300 miles long, was held on a stretch of dirt road. Only five cars from each country could enter. Trials were held first to select the five American cars.

On the day of the trials, Eddie excitedly sat beside Mr. Frayer, waiting for the signal to start. Their car took off like a streak and jumped into the lead. “We’re going to win!” shouted Eddie. “We’re going to win!”

Almost at once the engine began to heat up and to pound. Mr. Frayer had to slow down and pull off to the side of the road. “Well, I guess we’re through,” he said calmly.

Later that day Mr. Frayer’s other two racers also lost out because of engine trouble. Much to Eddie’s surprise, he neither flew into a rage nor shed tears over the matter. His calmness led Eddie to adopt the following motto for life, “Try hard to win, but don’t cry if you lose.”

In 1907 both Mr. Frayer and Eddie joined the Columbus Buggy Company, which now was manufacturing automobiles. After working in the factory for a couple of years, Eddie began to demonstrate and sell automobiles for the company in Texas and several other states. One day the company sent him a new sports car. This new car had a left-hand drive, the first ever built in America.

Eddie painted the car white and made minor improvements to the engine. Then he decided to drive it in auto races being held at state and county fairs across the country. In his first race he had a wreck, but he repaired the car and went on to win many races.

In the spring of 1911, Mr. Frayer called him back to Columbus. “I have a new race car, my Red Wing Special, which I’m going to enter in the new 500-Mile race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Memorial Day,” he said. “I want you to go to Indianapolis with me and help me drive it in the race.”

“Thanks!” cried Eddie. “Of course I’ll go.”

On Memorial Day they entered the Red Wing Special in the Indianapolis race against some of the most powerful cars ever made. They had to settle for eleventh place, but by now Eddie knew racing was what he wanted to do.