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Berna Eli "Barney" Oldfield (January 29, 1878 – October 4, 1946) was a pioneer American racing driver. His name was "synonymous with speed in the first two decades of the 20th century". [1] He was the winner of the inaugural AAA National Championship in 1905 .
Barney Oldfield, American automobile-racing driver whose name was synonymous with speed in the first two decades of the 20th century. In 1903 he accomplished the first mile-a-minute performance in an automobile, and in 1910 he set a world speed record of 131.724 miles per hour.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Learn about the life and achievements of Barney Oldfield, the first American racing star and a pioneer of speed and daring. From his debut in a Ford 999 to his rivalry with Henry Ford and Louis Mooers, Oldfield was a legend of the early motor sport era.
Barney Oldfield was one of the most famous and colorful figures of the pioneer era of automobile racing, driving cars like Ford’s “999,” the Winton Bullet, and the Blitzen Benz. He set the world’s land speed record in 1910 and competed in several major championship races, including the Vanderbilt Cup.
Mar 29, 2022 · "You know me, Barney Oldfield" was the classic catchphrase of one of America's earliest celebrity sports figures. Indeed, during the nascent period of the automobile, most every American knew Berna “Bernie” Eli Oldfield (1878–1946).
Nov 20, 1999 · For years, some highway police pulled over speeding motorists and asked: “Who d’ya think you are, Barney Oldfield?” Oldfield was 68 when he died in Beverly Hills in 1946.