The 1906 Air-Cooled Frayer-Millers
An innovative machine showcased in the 1906 American Elimination Trial was the unique, air-cooled Frayer-Miller entry with designer Lee Frayer at the wheel. The only car to place the driver on the left side, this entry (one of three Frayer-Millers entered in the American Elimination Trial) broke a radius rod on the first lap and finished last.
Frayer’s riding mechanician for the 1906 American Elimination Race was 16-year-old Eddie Rickenbacker (left). He was arguably the most significant historical figure present that day. Rickenbacker later drove in both the 1915 and the 1916 Vanderbilt Cup Races and five Indianapolis 500 Races. Eddie's greatest moments came from his career in aviation, where he became America’s World War I flying ace and, later in life, rose to President and General Manager of Eastern Airlines. Rickenbacker's incredible life was reviewed in an earlier VanderbiltCupRaces.com post.
One of the three Frayer-Miller cars did qualify for the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race and can be seen at the very beginning of the 1906 film. More information on the Frayer-Miller cars can be found on this blog by Scott Noteboom, Lee-Frayer's great-great-grandson.
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Ever wonder where some of the lesser remembered cars of the Vanderbilt Cup Races went? Here’s a brief article regarding the Frayer-Miller air-cooled racer; further research needed to see where it went after this owner, W. B. Drown. From “The Automobile” of April 23, 1908.