of the business of auto racing, something Hulman would admit that he himself didn't have, and Shaw's hard work only cemented the reputation of the "500" as the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." It seemed as though Shaw and Hulman had a "Midas touch" at the Speedway. Hulman poured money into improvements, and Shaw delivered the world's greatest automobile race to enthusiastic crowds, which grew in number by the year. The Indianapolis "500" of the late Forties and early Fifties was a very special event through the work of Hulman and Shaw, although Hulman was always sure to point out that it was Wilbur putting it all together. Shaw was killed in an airplane crash near Decatur, Indiana, on October 30, 1954, one day before his fifty-second birthday. The pilot, Ray Grimes, and artist Ernest Roose were also killed. Legacy As the automotive test evaluator, Shaw's articles were superior to those of his contemporaries in that they gave consistently accurate reports without relying on Popular Science'''s lead in the marketplace over competitors such as Mechanix Illustrated''. Shaw's highly regarded autobiography, "Gentlemen, Start your Engines," was published in 1955, and covers events through 1953. Indianapolis 500 results Awards Shaw was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 1963. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1991. He was named to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1990. Shaw was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1991. References Further reading Mittman, Dick (2004). Shaw's Blend Of Skill, Charisma Looms Large In Speedway History. Retrieved September 17, 2005. The Greatest 33 Profile External links The Greatest 33 1902 births 1954 deaths People from Shelbyville, Indiana Champ Car champions Indianapolis 500 drivers Indianapolis 500 winners International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductees Executives of Indiana based companies Racing drivers from Indianapolis AAA Championship Car drivers Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1954 Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United States Accidental deaths in Indiana 20th-century American businesspeople