Cliff Durant

Who was Cliff Durant?

Russell Clifford "Cliff" Durant was an American racecar driver. He was the son of William C. Durant, the founder of General Motors. His wife Adelaide Pearl Frost, whom he married September 1, 1911, was a singing star who later married Eddie Rickenbacker. Durant had four wives: Pearl, Adelaide Pearl Frost, Lea Gapsky, and Charlotte Phillips.

He was a co-owner and president of the Beverly Hills Speedway, a board track located where the Beverly Wilshire Hotel is today. Jack Prince designed the track; Cecil B. DeMille was another co-owner. In its day it rivaled the Indianapolis Speedway.

In May 1923 Durant shattered eight world speed records for events 75 miles and under at the Beverly Hills Board Track.

In 1919 he was named the “Pacific Coast Champion”, winning the Santa Monica Road Race.

He competed at many tracks and events around the country, including Elgin, Tacoma, Cactus Derby, Corona, and the Indy 500 from 1919 to 1932.

In 1923 Cliff had the largest fleet of cars to ever participate in the Indy 500 until modern times. He came in 7th that year.

Cliff Durant was the financial backer of the famous Harry Miller racing engines which dominated the racing world in the 1920s–30s.