Mechanic, race car owner, designer and builder, who thus far, is the longest-lived of all the people on these pages, dying well past his 101st birthday. Dutton was a long-time friend of Earl Cooper and started working with him as a mechanic whilst still a teenager. An innovator, Dutton helped develop the use of rear-view mirrors and he was one of the first people to go over 100 miles per hour over a measured mile, but as he was a quiet, modest man, he never really got that much credit. A very short man, standing only five feet tall, Dutton was a dapper man who helped Cooper to much success. Although Dutton was US born and lived there all his life, he was of British ancestry, his family coming from Yorkshire. One of his other ancestors though was Benjamin Franklin. He initially lived in New York until his father died in 1896 and the family moved to Los Angeles. Dutton served in World War 1 in the Navy and also oversaw aeroplane engine production in San Diego. He was also a car builder for Stutz and worked until 1966, doing, amongst other things, running a car dealership, working for Warner Bros.' transportation department and worked as an engineer. He was also a talented rug maker and tended his own lawn until he was ninety-nine years old. After his 100th birthday, Dutton's health went downhill, but he still watched the 1988 Indianapolis 500 held six weeks before his death.

Biography last updated 13 May 2017