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Ralph DePalma

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The Resume

    (December 18, 1882-March 31, 1956)
    Born in Troia, Italy
    Won an estimated 2,000 out of 2,800 races
    Won the Indianapolis 500 (1915)
    Appeared in the films 'High Speed' (1920) and 'Racing for Life' (1924)
    Founded the DePalma Manufacturing Company (1923)
    Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1991)

Why he might be annoying:

    In his first race, he inadvertently creeped past the starting line before the race, backed up, and was still in reverse when the starting gun went off.
    He had such an intense rivalry with Barney Oldfield that when Mercer hired Oldfield as a driver, he immediately quit the team.
    He told a reporter, 'There is very little danger in road races or speedways' before adding 'I have a leg and two ribs that were broken in accidents and had my abdomen punctured once.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He built his very first car out of spare parts from his job as a mechanic.
    He joined the Army Air Service during World War I.
    In perhaps his most famous Indy 500, the connecting rod of his car failed while he was leading and he and his mechanic got out and pushed the car to the finish line, ending up in twelfth (1912).
    He served as an honorary referee at the Indianapolis 500 until 1954.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 73.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 43.75% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 30 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 169 Votes: 37.28% Annoying