Cunningham skippered the yacht Columbia to victory in the 1958 America's Cup, drove his own cars in international competition from 1930 until 1963, and fielded a team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Cunningham was born on January 19, 1907, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His family had a long history in the area, with his grandfather involved in river boats and shipping. Cunningham's father, Briggs Swift Cunningham Senior, was founder and president of the Citizen's National Bank, director of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the chief financier of soap company Procter and Gamble.
Cunningham began racing internationally in 1930 with brothers Cowles "Miles" Collier and Sam Collier. He took part in the first ever SCCA race and became one of the most successful drivers in SCCA sports car racing. After marrying Lucie Bedford in October 1929, Cunningham and his wife spent an extended honeymoon in Europe, where he attended the Monaco Grand Prix.
Cunningham's racing team, accompanied by a large transporter and a retinue of professionals and mechanics, was a familiar sight at international racing events. His team achieved multiple class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring. In 1954, Cunningham's 1.5-liter O.S.C.A. MT4 driven by Stirling Moss and Bill Lloyd was the outright winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring.
One notable incident was the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Cunningham entered two Cadillacs, one of which, "Le Monstre," was a heavily modified car with a new aluminum body. Cunningham and co-driver Phil Walters finished eleventh in "Le Monstre." In 1958, Cunningham fielded two Lister-Jaguar "Knobbly"s, which delivered an SCCA C Modified championship.
Cunningham's final professional race was in a Porsche Carrera GTS at Sebring in 1966 with John Fitch and Davey Jordan. His last amateur race was in the same Porsche 904 at Riverside Raceway in September 1966. Cunningham died on July 2, 2003, at the age of 96, due to complications from Alzheimer's disease.
Cunningham's achievements include winning the 1958 America's Cup, multiple class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring, and being inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1997. "Cunningham Corner" at Sebring International Raceway is named in his honor.
Cunningham also competed in sailing, winning 6 world titles in 6 meter yachts. He was part of the syndicate that commissioned the 12 meter sloop Columbia, which he skippered to victory in the 1958 America's Cup.
Cunningham was featured on the cover of Time magazine on April 26, 1954. He was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 1993 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2013, an athletic field at the Hill School was named in honor of Briggs Cunningham II and his son Briggs Cunningham III.
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