The 1927 Dole Air Race stands as one of the most bizarre and tragic events in the history of flight. Paid for by James Dole, the pineapple magnate, the race was designed to capitalize on the fame that came from Charles Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic on a solo flight. The twist was that the people in this race were to fly from Oakland, California to Hawaii.
15 airplanes entered the race and the death toll was nearly a dozen lives by the time the event concluded. The intersection of bravery, ignorance, fame, and the chase for big money all came to a head at this event and it helped to shape the future of American aviation.
Oh, it should be mentioned that the whole thing was rendered largely pointless just months and weeks before when multiple people completed the incredibly difficult flight across the Pacific ahead of the actual race.
4.3 The Greatest Race You've Never Heard Of: A History of Bahamas Speed Week 1954-1966
4.2 The Wild History Of INDOOR Drag Racing In Chicago During The 1960s!
4.1 Drag Racing's Darkest Day: The 1969 Yellow River Drag Strip Disaster
3.7 Origin Story: How Stock Car Racing Was Born In Los Angeles Circa 1934!
3.6: Consumed: The First Ferris Wheel and How It Ruined The Life Of George Washington Ferris
3.5: Cold War Crushers: The Awesome History of The Air Force Heavy Press Program
3.4: Fastest - An Oral History of the 1992 Hot Rod Magazine Fastest Street Car Shootout
3.3: Beating Hitler With Combines - The Epic Story of The 1944 Harvest Brigade
3.2 Small Blocks vs The World: The Wild Story of The 1971 Questor Grand Prix
3.1: Unstable - The Deadly and Explosive History of Headlights
2.5: Rip Tide: The Incredible and Dark History of The World‘s Water Speed Record
2.4: 1,000 Ton Sucker Punch - The Wild Story Of WWI Q-Ships
2.3: Too Fat To Fly: The Crazy Story Of How Super Speedway Big Rig Racing Was Born!
2:2 - Truckin' Amazing: The Story of WWII's Red Ball Express
2.1: Suicidal Speed and Splinters - A History Of Board Track Racing In America
1.28 Out Of Gas At 41,000ft: The Unbelievable Story Of The Gimli Glider
1.27: Twisted Steel and Sex Appeal: The Weird History of Staged Locomotive Wrecks 1896-1935
1.26: Under Pressure: The Story of Bill Lear’s Steam Powered Race Car That (Never) Ran The Indy 500
1.24: The Best Worst Ship Ever - The Story Of The SS Great Eastern
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