One of the smartest race car designers in American history, Rolla Vollstedt (September 8, 1918 – October 22, 2017) was the first to come up with innovative designs that changed the racing game.
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.
Vollstedt moved to Portland with his family as a young man, graduated from Benson High School and attended Reed College, intending to study medicine. But his side job at the Frank Costanzo Speed Shop led to tinkering with hot rods. World War II took Rolla into the Army where he served in Europe. He was part of the D-Day assault on Normandy and won two Purple Hearts.
Back in Oregon as a member of the Coast Guard and working in timber, he started racing his own cars at Portland Speedway.
Rolla put his first car design on a track in 1947 when he built the hot rod that won the Pacific Northwest championship. He then teamed up another Oregon Sports Hall of Famer Len Sutton to drive for him. Other drivers who drove for Vollstedt include the 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.
He was known for being the first to file an entry for the Indy 500 each year and loved to take the first laps available when the track opened for May practice. He ended up on the Board of Directors of the United State Auto Club.
Even when he wasn't wrenching a big-time races, Bruce showed up at tracks and garages ready to lend a hand or encouragement to both drivers and mechanics. The unique cracked piston Rolla Vollstedt Award was long presented to those honored for service to the motorsports community in Oregon.