The History of Air Racing
1932 NAR Photos & Records
1932 National Air Races
1932 Logo
#92 Jimmy Haizlip #121 Roscoe Turner
#44 Jimmy Wedell #7 Lee Gehlbach
Haizlip wins Bendix in 8:19 hours
Jimmy being congratulated by Amelia Earhart
Bendix Trophy Race
A host of new aircraft were introduced this year in the closed-course events.
Benny Howard was back with two almost identical, Menasco powered racers.
Howard "Ike" Benny Howard & "Mike"
Bob Hall chief engineer and designer for the Granville brothers, who designed the Gee Bee
model "Z", winner of the 1931 Thompson Trophy designed the "Bulldog" for the Thompson and
the "Cicada" for the Bendix. Both planes were plagued with engine problems. Bob flew the
"Bulldog to disappointing 6th in the Thompson. The "Cicada" did not start the Bendix.
Sometime after the Thompson the engine and prop were removed and returned to the
manufacturer's. The "Cicada" crashed and burned.
"Bulldog" "Cicada"
Other new racers to appear this year
Gordon Israel's "Redhead" Keith Rider "San Francisco"
Program Cover
Parachute jumping demonstrations and pin-point
landing contests were big crowd pleasers.
While the idea was to land in a prescribed cirCle
in front of the grandstands, it was not uncommon
for some to land in the grandstands or in the
parking lot.
Shell 3-Kilometer Speed Dash
| Men's Trophy | Women's Trophy |
| Jimmy Doolittle | Mary Haizlip |
Jimmy Doolittle with Gee-Bee R-1 Mary Haizlip with W-W #92
Thompson Trophy Race
1 Out Engine Problem Lap 3
he success of the Granville Brothers Model "Z", winning the 1931 Thompson
encouraged them to build two new racers for 1932. One for the Thompson (R-1)
and one for the Bendix (R-2). While they were basically the same design, the R-1
had a larger engine and a smaller gas tank than the R-2. When Jimmy Doolittle's
Laird was damaged due to a landing gear failure and Russell Boardman
(original pilot for R-1) was injured in a crash, Doolittle became the pilot.
The Gee-Bee took an early lead and went on to win.
Gee-Bee R-1
Aerol Trophy
Aerol Trophy Race
The ladies entered in the Aerol Trophy Race showed great courage and
skill as they took off into and approaching thunderstorm. A severe storm
hit the Cleveland Airport while they were flying the third lap. Despite the storm
they continued flying until race officials brought them down. Winners were declared
in the positions they held when the race was called off. Gladys O'Donnell had
never flown, or even taxied, the Howard "Mike" before the race.
Gladys O'Donnell
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Bill Meixner