Russian Snowberger

Background

He was born on October 8, 1901 in Denton, Maryland.

Career

After his lengthy Indianapolis career, Snowberger continued his affiliation with the "500" by sponsoring entries throughout the 1950s. Russell Snowberger drove his first race in 1921 at the fairgrounds at Harrington, Delaware. In 1927 he joined American Automobile Association and was in the starting lineup at 1928 Indianapolis 500.

Snowberger"s car was the first one to drop out with mechanical problems but Russian drove relief for Jimmy Gleason and led the race for eleven laps.

Russian continued to run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and drove a Studebaker powered car to eighth place, the highest finishing stock block car, in the field He took several second-place finishes in other American Automobile Association races that year.

Again in 1929 Russian had the highest finishing stock block car and was awarded sixth place at Industry. Huppmobile made a deal with Snowberger to install one of their engines in his car.

lieutenant was with this combination, the "Hupcomet" that Russian drove to a fifth-place finish at Industry in 1932.

With consistent finishes the rest of the season he finished in fourth place in national American Automobile Association points the same place he finished in 1930 and 1931. He sat on the pole for the 1931 race. The following year Snowberger reverted to his old Studebaker engine.

In 1934 Russian Snowberger captured eighth place at Industry and this was the fifth consecutive year that he finished in the top ten at Industry.

He finished the year in third place in the national point standings for American Automobile Association. Snowberger secured a ride in one of Mike Boyle"s Miller Specials in 1935, but dropped out of Industry. Next it was Joel Thorne, heir to a vast fortune, who beckoned to Russian to pilot one of his cars.

He did not make the race however as he hit the wall during practice and was injured. lieutenant was in 1937 that Russian and Thorne separated with Snowberger building a new car with a Packard straight eight in lieutenant

On lap 66 he retired with a slipping clutch.

He also prepared six winning cars for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb driven by Louis Meyers between 1938 and 1955. lieutenant was in 1939 that Russian put his Industry car in the middle of the front row between Floyd Roberts and Rex Mays. Moving to Detroit, Michigan sometime after 1935, Snowberger continued to compete with the American Automobile Association and at Industry until World World War II when he went to work for Rolls Royce inspecting airplane engines.

Russian ran again at Industry in 1946 & 1947 but dropped out both years with mechanical problems.

In 1949 Russian Snowberger ran his last race, which was the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. After retiring as an active driver he spent the rest of his career as chief mechanic for the Federal Engineering team out of Detroit, Michigan.

Finally in 1960 Russian Snowberger retired from active competition in his beloved sport of auto racing but remained a fan of racing till his death. He died on September 28, 1968 in Mount Clemens, Michigan, and is buried in Clinton Grove Cemetery in Clinton Township, Macomb County, Michigan.

Achievements

• Inducted into the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. Inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 1988.