1926 or 1927 Indy 500 Studebaker Race cars????

[Cowtown Commander]

I was watching American Pickers tonight and there was a brief image of a photo of the Erskine -Miller race car. I've looked on line and find photos of Harry Hartz and the 1927 Erskine Special. Does anyone know the story behind this car? I assume that Studebaker may have sponsored this car to promote the Erskine car????? I guess Hartz may have worked some for Studebaker and later Chrysler.

[Studebaker Wheel]

The Erskine car (1927-29) used a very small Continental Six engine and could not possibly have been raced at Indy or anywhere else! Also not aware of any Erskine-Miller race car connection. Do you have a photo?

[garyash]

Harry Hartz drove the #1 Erskine Miller Special in the 1927 Indy race, as well as 8 other races that year. It had a Miller chassis and Miller engine. The car went out after 38 laps with a broken crankshaft. I couldn't find a reference indicating why the Erskine name was used.

See http://racing-reference.info/race/1927-01/X for data about the race.

Here's a picture from the Getty Images site.

[Cowtown Commander]

I have been unable to find much information about Harry Hartz and the Erskine Miller special. There are photos dated 1926 that the show the Erskine Miller as the 1926 AAA national champion but apparently the car was not the entered in the 1926 Indy race as the Erskine Miller. The Wikipedia data indicates he "worked for Studebaker for many years" but has information about him driving for Chrysler in 1933 on a cross country trip and at Bonneville in 1934 so I would assume he was not working for Studebaker at that time.
When I saw the Erskine name I thought there might be some earlier connection to the 500 race as a sponsor but if you don't have any information on this Richard the chances of finding out why the Erskine name was used on the car are very slim.

[unclemiltie]

This picture is in my 1927 envelope of Studebaker Publicity shots

[t walgamuth]

That's a board track! Yipes!

[Chris Pile]

That's a board track! Yipes!

I'll bet dollars to donuts one of those Studebaker President drivers is the great Ab Jenkins from Salt Lake.

[jts359]

The track was just outside of Atlantic City N.J. I think its a golf course now. Last Jan we went to 1/4 midget racing inside of the Boardwalk convention hall , It was fun , Its amazing how those cars can move and handle on such a tight course. This is the same building the Miss America contest is held in . Ed

[studegary]

I'll bet dollars to donuts one of those Studebaker President drivers is the great Ab Jenkins from Salt Lake.

The race cars pictured are Commanders. How did you turn them into Presidents? I would like to take your bet about Ab Jenkins.

[Chris Pile]

The race cars pictured are Commanders. How did you turn them into Presidents? I would like to take your bet about Ab Jenkins.

My bad. I was taught to read and write by woodland creatures. I know Ab raced Studebakers for quite awhile.