J. Walter Christie

6/5/1865 - 11/1/1944

Record updated

He helped build first submarine and designed tanks used by Britain in WWII. In 1906 he entered the Vanderbilt Cup in a 7.7 liter 50 hp Christie touring car. He had wrecked his regular racer and rather than having to go home he decided to race his personal car! His WC-5 Grand Prix racer of 1907 was the first to use 4-cylinder engine, front-wheel drive, and a transverse engine.