(Sep. 8, 1918 – Oct. 22, 2017) For over twenty-five years, Rolla Vollstedt was a name to be reckoned with on the auto racing circuit. He was internationally recognized for his design and construction of racecars. His cars competed at the Indianapolis 500 for ten straight years, a feat unequaled at the time by any other championship car builder.

During his outstanding career Rolla is credited with many “firsts” including designing and building the first rear-engine Offenhauser powered Indy race car (a design now used by all national championship car builders), running the first rear-engine car to use and aerodynamic wing to improve traction, and bringing the first woman driver, Janet Guthrie, to Indianapolis.

Rolla put his first car on a track in 1947 when he hired another Oregon Hall of Famer Len Sutton to drive for him. Other drivers who drove for Vollstedt include the late world champion Jimmy Clark, Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti, Cale Yarborough, Gordon Johncock, Dick Simon and Johnny Rutherford. Vollstedt received Builder of The Year honors in 1964, 1965, and 1966.