Erwin Rudolph Bergdoll (June 24, 1890 – March 21, 1965)[1] was an American racing driver who competed during the formative years of auto racing. He competed in AAA-sanctioned Championship Cars as well as in the American Grand Prize.[2]

Erwin Bergdoll
BornErwin Rudolph Bergdoll
(1890-06-24)June 24, 1890
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMarch 21, 1965(1965-03-21) (aged 74)
Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
Champ Car career
8 races run over 6 years
First race1909 Founder's Week Trophy
(Fairmount Park)
Last race1914 Kalamazoo 100 (Kalamazoo)
First win1911 Philadelphia Race #1
(Fairmount Park)
Wins Podiums Poles
1 4 0

Racing activities

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Bergdoll was born into a wealthy brewing family.[3] For a period of time his racing activities were managed by fellow Philadelphian Willie Haupt.[4]

Personal life

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Bergdoll, along with his younger brother Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, dodged the draft during World War I. While Grover escaped to Germany, Erwin Bergdoll was apprehended and spent three years in prison.[3]

A resident of Haddon Heights, New Jersey, Bergdoll died on March 21, 1965, at Cooper University Hospital at the age of 74.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Settlement of Bergdoll Estate Gives Widow Bulk of Fortune". newspapers.com. Ancestry®. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Erwin Bergdoll". www.champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  3. ^ a b Brown, Allen. "Erwin Bergdoll". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  4. ^ Brown, Allen. "Willie Haupt". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  5. ^ "Erwin Bergdoll, 74; Draft Case Principal", Courier-Post, March 22, 1965. Accessed August 14, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Erwin Bergdoll, who with his brother. Grover, was a principal in this country's most prominent World War I draft dodging case, died yesterday in Cooper Hospital. Bergdoll, 74,, of 304 7th ave., Haddon Heights, had lived a relatively quiet life in recent years, although a law suit instituted against him this year by his son, Erwin R. Jr., still is pending."