Ed Elisian's Fatal Crash @ Milwaukee Mile 1959 (Aftermath)
- 7 months ago
Born Edward Gulbeng Eliseian, Ed Elisian was an aggressive, scruffy but very quick competitor. His driving style was reminiscent of Bill Vukovich's style, the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and Elisian's great friend and idol.
After missing the 1959 Indianapolis 500, on Sunday, 30 August 1959, Ed Elisian was killed as a result of a huge accident during the USAC 200 mile race at the Milwaukee Mile, better known at the time as the Wisconsin State Fair Park, in West Allis, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. At the wheel of a metallic green Christianson-Offenhauser roadster, named "Travelon Trailer" and owned by Ernie Ruiz, he spun in oil from A. J. Foyt's engine on 29th lap, the car hit the wall and turned over. The fuel cell was ruptured, and the car erupted in flames, taking over nine minutes to be extinguished. Elisian perished in the fire.
Ed Elisian is buried at the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, Alameda County, California, in a family plot under his original family name Eliseian. He was survived by his parents, Daniel and Mary Eliseian, and his two brothers, Alexander and Leon.
The wreckage of the car in which Elisian was killed was rebuilt. In 1960 Jim Hurtubise drove the car, then painted pink pearl and purple, to 18th place in the Indianapolis 500, being awarded Rookie-of-the-Year.
R.I.P
After missing the 1959 Indianapolis 500, on Sunday, 30 August 1959, Ed Elisian was killed as a result of a huge accident during the USAC 200 mile race at the Milwaukee Mile, better known at the time as the Wisconsin State Fair Park, in West Allis, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. At the wheel of a metallic green Christianson-Offenhauser roadster, named "Travelon Trailer" and owned by Ernie Ruiz, he spun in oil from A. J. Foyt's engine on 29th lap, the car hit the wall and turned over. The fuel cell was ruptured, and the car erupted in flames, taking over nine minutes to be extinguished. Elisian perished in the fire.
Ed Elisian is buried at the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, Alameda County, California, in a family plot under his original family name Eliseian. He was survived by his parents, Daniel and Mary Eliseian, and his two brothers, Alexander and Leon.
The wreckage of the car in which Elisian was killed was rebuilt. In 1960 Jim Hurtubise drove the car, then painted pink pearl and purple, to 18th place in the Indianapolis 500, being awarded Rookie-of-the-Year.
R.I.P