The Resume

(June 3, 1878-October 4, 1946)
Born in Wauseon, Ohio
First racer to complete a mile in under a minute (1903)
Competed in the Indianapolis 500 twice, finishing 5th each time (1914,1916)
Appeared in the Broadway musical 'The Vanderbilt Cup' (1906)
Appeared in the films 'Barney Oldfield's Race for a Life' (1913), 'The Speed Demon' (1925), 'The First Auto' (1927) and 'Blonde Comet' (1941)

Why he might be annoying:

He bought a race car from Henry Ford despite never having driven before and reportedly learned the controls the morning of his first race.
He was suspended by the AAA for 'outlaw' racing activities and was unable to compete in sanctioned events for much of the prime of his career.
He was married four times, including twice to Bess Holland.
He inspired decades worth of policemen to ask speeding drivers, 'Who do you think you are, Barney Oldfield?'
He reportedly ended up on the receiving end of that line when he was busted for speeding by a cop who did not recognize him.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was a champion bicycle racer before taking up auto racing.
He revolutionized auto racing by sliding wide through the turns like a bicyclist instead of braking.
His victories in Henry Ford's No. 999 racer made Ford a household name.
At the height of his fame, he earned $4,000 a day for exhibition races.
After racer Bob Burman was killed in a rollover crash, he joined auto designer Harry Miller to build the first race car with a roll cage to enclose the driver.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Athletes Who Think They Can Act
• B.O. and B.S.
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 36]
• Film Pioneers [Silent Era]
• I Died in 1946 (Ranked: 68)
• I Remarried the Same Person [I Do! I Don't! I Changed My Mind!]
• I Set a Vehicle Speed Record
• I'm Buried at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Cemetery [Culver City, Ca]
• International Motorsports Hall of Fame Members (Ranked: 2003)
• Look at Me, I'm Driving
• Look at Me, I've Been Caught Smoking
• Look at My Goggles
• Male Cigar Smokers
• My Name is Young or Old
• Profiles 31251-31500 (Ranked: 31260)
• Race Car Drivers

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 88.89% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 11.11% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 20 Votes: 35.00% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 20 Votes: 45.00% Annoying