13/3/1928 - 4/5/1974
Record updated 13-Mar-23
Marvin Pifer raced sprint cars. His best year was in 1953 when he won 23 out of the 25 IMCA amd CSRA races he entered. He crashed in practice for the Indy 500 in 1956 and was later he was diagnosed with MS brought on by the accident. He died in 1974.
Marvin Pifer was born in Adrian, Michigan and raced sprint cars. His best year was in 1953 when he won 23 out of the 25 IMCA amd CSRA races he entered.
In 1956 he passed his rookie test at Indy but later in the week while practicing, his car got away from him in turn 4 and he hit the wall hard. Apparently parts of his Cromwell helmet wre left imbedded in the cement wall. As a result of that and the severity of his injuries, the Speedway made all drivers switch to the new style Bell helmets.
After two years convalescing, Marvin returned to the Brickyard in 1958, but failed to qualify. He was back again in 1959, and was in the line to qualify on the last day when it started to rain. Unfortunately it didn't stop.
In 1960 Marvin opened a new car dealership in Adrian, Michigan, selling Jeep and Triumph cars.
In 1963 he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis that was brought on by the crash at Indy. By 1968 he was in a wheel chair and four years later he sold the business.
He passed away in 1974.
His grandson, who goes under the same name, also races sprint cars.
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