ca. 1946. Typical race at Tacoma track in the 1940s after WWII. These appear to be midget racers and the location thought to be Athletic Park, South 14th & Ferry. Races were held there every Saturday night starting in late April which drew drivers as far away as California. Prices were kept reasonable at $1.50 general admission, reserved seats $2.00 and kids under 12 a mere 75 cents. (Courtesy of the Cammarano Collection)

Automobile racing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Racing automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1946. Sydney Carr was photographed standing next to one of his midget racers circa 1946. Sydney Carr and Robert Ormsby were the owner-operators of the Carr and Ormsby Transportation Co. at 617 East 11th. Mr. Carr, an avid midget-auto racing enthusiast, moved to Tacoma from Pennsylvania in the early 1930s. He owned several midget race cars and served as president of the Midget Racing Association. (Courtesy of the Cammarano Collection)

Carr, Sydney; Racing automobiles--1940-1950;

ca. 1946. Allen Heath behind the wheel of Tom Carstens' 1946 KurticKraft Ford V860 midget racecar. Heath was the Washington State Champion in 1946 and 1947. He was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1991. His career lasted into the '60s, even more remarkably because he drove with a "hook," having lost a hand in a 1953 accident. The Saskatchewan-born Heath also drove sprint cars and was noted as a tough competitor. (National Midget Racing Hall of Fame)

Heath, Allen; Racing automobiles--1940-1950; Automobile racing--1940-1950;

On July 4th, 1919, the Tacoma Speedway was packed with 35,000 racing fanatics for the annual races. The Speedway was one of two "Class A" racing locations in the United States, the other being Indianapolis. It was also a favorite of the drivers because of the abundant recreation opportunities of the area. Three races would be held on this day, 40 miles, 60 miles and 80 miles. By 1919, the track was 2 miles round and 50 feet wide, an adjustment done in 1914, and covered with 2 x 4 Washington fir planks laid end to end with gravel and sand filling the gaps and barrels of Richmond road oil applied hot to the surface. Indianapolis had shut down due to World War I and all the greats came to Tacoma. The five drivers surviving after the trials were Louis Chevrolet, Dario Resta (both in Tacoma for the first time,) Cliff Durant, Eddie Hearne and Ralph Mulford (in his first Tacoma appearance since 1913.) Eddie Rickenbacker, WW I flying ace and former race car driver, would referee the race. (TDL 7/2/1919, pg. 8-9) (Information on track construction: Standard Oil Bulletin, Vol. 3, circa 1915) Boland B2066, Speedway-025

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Spectators; Grandstands;

The stands look a little empty for the start of the July 3, 1914, InterCity 100-mile race at the Tacoma Speedway. Drivers and their accompanying "mechanicians" are lined up in their race cars two abreast. These included at front: Tacoma driver Jack Croston in car #1, a Chevrolet; #2 -believed to be Barnes in his Romano; #5 -Joe Thomas in his Mercer; #26 - N. Latta of Seattle in his Lozier. This particular race was restricted to cars from Pacific Northwest cities. Total prize money was $1500 with first place winner Jim Parsons getting the lion's share of $750. Mr. Parsons, of Seattle, had won the event for the second straight year. TPL-5697;

Croston, Jack A.; Thomas, Joe; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Chevrolet automobile; Mercer automobile; Lozier automobile; Romano automobile;

ca. 1914. Jim Parsons' #7 Frantz race car is parked in the pit area of the Tacoma Speedway circa 1914 while a vehicle carrying a load of tires slowly backs in front of it. Other tires have already been unloaded and are piled upright nearby. The grandstands are nearly empty indicating this may have been practice time at the Speedway instead of the actual July races. Jim Parsons, from Seattle, would go on to win the InterCity 100 race three consecutive years, 1913-1915, allowing him to keep the perpetual challenge trophy. TPL-4424

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Frantz automobile; Tires; Grandstands--Lakewood;

ca. 1915. Although photographer Marvin Boland has labeled the driver as "Earl Cooper" in his "Stutz," and the condition of the Tacoma Speedway board track identifies it as being post-1913 (the last year of the dirt track), it is not certain that this was a race during the 1915 Montamara Festo. In 1915 Mr. Cooper came in a close second during the Montamarathon on July 4th, as he attempted to win the big 250-mile race for the third consecutive year. He did run a Stutz in that year but it was the #8, not the #4 shown above. He earned $1500 for second place, sandwiched between the winner, Grover Ruckstell and Mr. Ruckstell's Mercer racing partner, Eddie Pullen, who came in third. TPL-4423

Cooper, Earl; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Stutz automobile;

Encouraged by 16,000 screaming racecar fans, three cars rush to the finish line in the "Golden Potlatch," one of two races run on July 5th, 1913 at the Tacoma Speedway. The race was 200 miles, 58 laps of 3.516 miles each, run on a dirt track and open to Class "E" non-stock cars with a winner's purse of $3,500. Earl Cooper and his white Stutz won the race in 1913 after "Terrible Teddie" Tetzlaff dropped from the lead with a broken cam shaft. Cooper's time was 2:49:32. 1913 was a victorious year for Cooper; he won 7 of 8 major road races and claimed his first national championship. The Tacoma Speedway racetrack had opened in July of 1912, financed by a group of Tacoma businessmen led by Arthur Pritchard, President of the Tacoma Automobile Association. During its years of operation, 1912-1922, most of racing's greats sped around the track, which was rated one of the three best in the United States. TPL-5481, Speedway Glass- 020 (TDL 7/6/1913, pg. 1, www.historylink.org, www.hickoksports.com)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920;

Exhaust fills the air as the speed kings prepare to race at the Tacoma Speedway. The InterCity 100-mile and Golden Potlatch 200-mile races were both run on the same day, July 3, 1914. This is believed to be the start of the Golden Potlatch with Californian Billy Taylor in his #12 Alco and "Terrible Teddy" Tetzlaff in his #3 Maxwell side-by-side and Jim Parsons of Seattle in his #7 Frantz directly behind the Maxwell. None of the three would win the race. Another Maxwell driver, Englishman Hughie Hughes, won the $1500 first place award with Art Klein in his King and Earl Cooper (the previous year's winner) in his Stutz coming in second and third. Mr. Hughes averaged 74.28 mph while beating Mr. Klein by 6 2/5th seconds. Mr. Parsons would finish in sixth place and Mr. Taylor in eighth. If the track looks a bit oily, it probably was. According to a Standard Oil Bulletin, some 1331 barrels of Richmond road oil were used on the two-mile track. (TDL 7-4-14, p. 1-results; Standard Oil Bulletin, Vol. 3, ca. 1915)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Taylor, Billy; Tetzlaff, Teddy; Parsons, Jim; Alco automobile; Maxwell automobile; Frantz automobile;

ca. 1915. Bob Burman sails around a curve at the Tacoma Speedway behind the wheel of his Peugeot, #9. The photograph was probably taken at the July 4, 1915 Montamarathon Classic in which Burman finished fourth. Burman broke into racing as the driver of a Buick, part of a team including Louis Chevrolet and Lewis Strang. The trio won more races and broke more records than any team racing. After Chevrolet retired and Strang was killed, Burman struck out on his own. He set the speed record on Daytona Beach, one mile in 25 2/5 seconds at 141 mph, earning the title "Speed King." His most prominent characteristic as a driver was his fearlessness. He was killed in a crash in Corona, California in 1916. TPL-2949 (Tacoma Tribune 7/4/1915, pg. 12)

Burman, Bob; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920;

ca. 1915. Harry O'Brien and his "mechanician" zipping around the $100,000 Tacoma Speedway in their "Great Big Baked Potato Special" during the July, 1915, Montamara Festo races. #33 was believed to be in reality a Stutz. Mr. O'Brien had planned to race both the InterCity Century 100-mile and Golden Potlatch 200-mile events on July 5th. How he placed in the InterCity was not known but his "Baked Potato" did not run in the Potlatch. Only eight cars started in the Potlatch, the final race of the festival, as the others were too damaged by the previous races to compete. The InterCity was won by Jim Parsons for the third time in 1:15:27 while Mercer ace Eddie Pullen shattered Earl Cooper's chances of repeating as champion in the Potlatch. (TNT ad 7-4-15, p. 2; TDN 7-6-15, p. 5-results)

O'Brien, Harry; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920;

On July 4, 1915, Earl Cooper approaches the checkered flag in his Stutz racing car at the Tacoma Speedway, finishing second in the Montamarathon. The crowd of 20,000 spectators stands and cheers. Cooper had won the 250 mile race in 1913 and 1914 and had hopes of retaining the perpetual trophy for the Montamarathon, second only in importance to Indianapolis's 500. His hopes were dashed by his second place finish at 2: 58: 5. Grover Ruckstell finished first at 2:57. The track's split board planking consisted of 2 x 4 planks which were laid end to end and were a hazard to the car's tires. The race was also marked by the board track's first fatalities. Billy Carlson's Maxwell 17 blew a tire and left the track in the 60th lap, launching both Carlson and his mechanic in the air. The mechanic, Paul Franzen, was killed instantly and Carlson died later that day of injuries. TPL-130, Speedway glass- 040 (Tacoma Tribune 7/5/1915, pg. 1 & 2)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Cooper, Earl;

This is believed to be the Velie Special driven by T.F. Barsby who finished third in the July 5, 1915, InterCity 100-mile race at the Tacoma Speedway. The race was won by Jim Parsons of Seattle for the third consecutive year. Frank Elliott in his Gordon Special came in second. Twelve cars were entered but only six finished. TPL-3166 (TDL 7-6-15, p. 1,2 -results)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920;

ca. 1914. In 1914 Charles Webster Latta of Seattle returned to the Tacoma Speedway for the annual July Montamarathon Festo races. He had competed in the Golden Potlatch 200-mile race in 1913 at the Speedway and finished a very respectable third behind eventual winner Earl Cooper and well-known national star Bob Burman. In 1914 he captured third place in the InterCity 100-mile race with a Lozier, rather than the Interstate he had used in the Potlatch the year before. Jim Parsons repeated as winner of the InterCity with S.F. Brock of Portland in second place. (Local newspapers referred to Mr. Latta as "N." Latta) (TNT 7-3-14, p. 1-results) TPL-1646

Latta, Charles Webster; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Lozier automobile;

ca. 1914. Herman C. Terrien of Tacoma sits behind the wheel of his small Regal along with his "mechanician" Oscar Soderburg as the duo prepares for their entry in the InterCity 100-mile race scheduled for July 3, 1914 at the Tacoma Speedway. The car, dubbed the "Pacific Car Special," was altered at the Pacific Car Co., hence its name. As with racing cars of the time, the tires and steering wheel seem exceptionally large. The "Pacific Car Special" was one of twelve cars entered in the first race of the 1914 Montamara Festo which was restricted to cars from the Pacific Northwest. The InterCity race was won again by Jim Parsons of Seattle in his Frantz car. TPL-1638 (See Speedway 002 for close up of drivers)

Terrien, Herman C.; Soderburg, Oscar; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Regal automobile;

ca. 1914. Frank Verbeck and his "mechanician," Forrest C. Smithson are pictured in their Fiat "70" which had been entered in the 200-mile Golden Potlatch and 250-mile Montamarathon races at the Tacoma Speedway in early July of 1914. Mr. Verbeck had raced in Tacoma in 1912 but not the following year. He held the 24 hour record on the Los Angeles motordrome. The Fiat had been the car of Mr. Verbeck's former teammate, "Terrible Teddy" Tetzlaff, who this year would run in a Maxwell. Mr. Verbeck along with several other notable racers showed up about two weeks before the race along with their cars. Forrest C. Smithson, the "mechanician," was a world class hurdler who was making his first appearance in Tacoma. He was an Olympic champion in 1908 and held numerous American records. TPL-10151 (TNT 6-21-14, 2-B-article; TNT 6-28-14, 3-D-alt. photograph & article)

Verbeck, Frank; Smithson, Forrest C.; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Fiat automobile;

Terrible Teddy Tetzlaff and his "mechanician" in his Fiat #33 on the dirt racetrack at Tacoma Speedway during the July 1913 Montamara Festo program. Mr. Tetzlaff was the holder of the Montamarathon trophy in 1912, the first year of the track's existence. TPL-3164

Tetzlaff, Teddy; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Fiat automobile;

Joe Thomas of Seattle attempts to pass Jim Parsons' #7 car, a Frantz, during the July 3, 1914, InterCity 100-mile race at Tacoma Speedway. Mr. Parsons would hold off Mr. Thomas' Mercer to win the race and the $750 first place prize money for the second consecutive year. Last year he rode to victory in a veteran Stutz. In 1914 his time was faster by 14 minutes and he made only one stop to change a rear tire. TPL-3167 (TDN 7-3-14, p. 1-article; TDL 7-4-14, p. 9-article)

Parsons, Jim; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Thomas, Joe;

ca. 1915. At the wheel of the "Great Big Baked Potato Special" is driver Harry O'Brien. The #33 car was entered in both the InterCity 100-mile and Golden Potlatch 200-mile races at the Tacoma Speedway during the 4th of July holiday weekend in 1915. The "Baked Potato" was believed to be a Stutz and the Stutzs and Mercers entries had withdrawn from the InterCity race. The car also did not run in the Potlatch on July 5th as only eight cars started the race. TPL-128

O'Brien, Harry; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920;

ca. 1914. Californian Billy Taylor and his unidentified "mechanician" aboard the big #12 Alco "six" at the Tacoma Speedway in early July of 1914. Entry was submitted by A.H. Woolacott. The Alco raced in both the Golden Potlatch 200-miler on July 3rd and the grand finale Montamarathon 250-mile race on the 4th on the two-mile oval track. Mr. Taylor came in 5th place of the closing race, trailing winner Earl Cooper's Stutz, G.E. Ruckstell's Mercer, Arthur Klein's King, and Jim Parsons' Frantz. He had been dubbed a "daredevil of the (Billy) Carlson type" by the Tacoma Daily Ledger prior to the race and was, according to the newspaper, quickly becoming famous. (TDL 6-29-14, p. 2-article; TNT 7-5-14, p. 1-results)

Taylor, Billy; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Alco automobile;

ca. 1914. This young driver, sitting in his unnumbered race car, is believed to be Walter Grossman of Los Angeles. He and thirteen other racers had brought their "cycle cars," smaller and less powerful than regular race cars, to the Tacoma Speedway for special Labor Day competition in 1914. Mr. Grossman was also photographed in a "Red Devil" car of his own design and construction (see G51.1, image 120) which was far different from the car he is pictured in above. Although the boys were able to get in practice and speed trial times, rains on the actual day of competition cancelled the race. Mr. Grossman, part of a large contingent from Southern California, returned to his home after a second postponement.

Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers;

ca. 1915. "The Famous Tacoma Speedway, Annually the Scene of Exciting Automobile Races" This photograph was believed to have been taken in 1915. The grandstands are full of excited spectators while many others view the action from their parked cars across the way. Winners that year were Grover Ruckstell in the Montamarathon, Eddie Pullen in the Golden Potlatch and three-time winner Jim Parsons in the InterCity 100. TPL-8065

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Grandstands--Lakewood; Sports spectators--Lakewood;

Earl Cooper in his #8 Stutz motors past the checkered flag on July 4, 1915, at the 250-mile Montamarathon held at the Tacoma Speedway. Thirteen cars had started on the "lattice" track which consisted of 2 x 4 Washington fir planks over which gravel, sand and hot oil were applied. Mr. Cooper had hoped to retain his title in the big race which he had won for two consecutive years but came in a close second to Grover Ruckstell in his red Mercer. Mr. Ruckstell's time was 2:57 which nipped Mr. Cooper's 2:58:5. Although Mr. Cooper's car was numbered 8 which had graced the car previously and was still a Stutz racer, it was not the same car that won him the previous titles. This particular #8 had finished fourth at Indy. Mr. Cooper's old #8 Stutz was re-numbered 2 and driven by George Hill. (TDL 7-5-15, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-4-15, p. 1-article)

Cooper, Earl; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Stutz automobile;

ca. 1915. Veteran driver Barney Oldfield, chewing on his ever-present Havana, at the wheel during the July, 1915 Tacoma Speedway races. He took his first spin around the board track on June 26th, declaring it "a wonder." Mr. Oldfield drove his #1 Peugeot in both the Golden Potlatch 200-mile and Montamarathan 250-mile races. This is the car he bought from Dario Resta who had previously won the Vanderbilt Cup and Grand Prix races in San Francisco as new foreign cars were not available due to the European war. He also brought his special Fiat Cyclone and 300 hp Christie to town to attempt world records; those cars did not compete in the actual races as they did not meet piston displacement rules. Barney Oldfield finished fifth with a time of 3 hours, 17 minutes in the big Montamarathon race on July 4th and third in the Golden Potlatch on the following day. (TDL 6-27-15, p. 20-article; TDL 7-5-15, p. 1-results; TDL 7-6-15, p. 1,2-results; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-2-22, C-1-photo) TPL-3162

Oldfield, Barney; Automobile racing drivers; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Cigars;

Tacoma to Seattle in 30 minutes and 55 seconds! Harry Barsamian, shop foreman of the Pacific Car Company, with mechanic Victor Williams, completed the feat in a stock Overland 90 Touring Car, driving from Tacoma city limits to the Seattle city limits. On June 19, 1919, Barsamian started from Sitcum Avenue on the Tacoma tideflats. The two men clipped down the rugged dirt Highline Road through Northeast Tacoma and onto Des Moines where they hit pavement and finished with a smooth ride to Seattle in record-breaking time. (TDL 6/22/1919, p. 8C). G11.1-073

Barsamian, Harry; Automobiles--Tacoma--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Although there was no freeway between Tacoma and Seattle in June of 1919 and little actual paved road, Harry Barsamian, shop foreman for Pacific Car Co., managed to drive from the city limits of Tacoma to the city limits of Seattle in 30 minutes, 55 seconds. He was accompanied, not by the unidentified lovely miss in the front seat, but by his mechanic Victor Williams, proprietor of the Metropolitan Garage. Mr. Barsamian's time broke the previously acknowledged record of 34 minutes, 30 seconds. Victor Williams confessed to the Daily Ledger that there was one man too many in the vehicle and he was the one man; he swore never to do it again. Mr. Barsamian reported that there were no problems with the engine during the non-stop run. He declared the new stock Overland 90 Touring Car the "gamest little car in the world." Photograph ordered by the Pacific Car Co. (TDL 6-22-19, 8C) TPL-1522; G11.1-001

Barsamian, Harry; Automobiles--Tacoma--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Tacoma--1910-1920;

On July 4, 1919, race car driver Eddie Hearne and his mechanic Harry Hartz whizz by in the "Durant Special." The Durant Special was originally built by millionaire sportsman and race car enthusiast Cliff Durant. Durant was also the son of William "Billy" Durant, founder of General Motors, Chevrolet and Durant Motors. The Special was now owned by driver Hearne. Hearne was a familiar face in Tacoma. He came in second in the 80 mile race and third in the 60 mile race, winning a purse of $2,100. Mechanic Hartz was one of the few who went on to become a driver and later a car owner. He ranks fifth on the all time winner's list for board tracks, above former boss Hearne. G51.1-090 (TDL 7/5/1919, pg. 1; Dick Ralstin's Racing Home Page)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Hearne, Eddie; Hartz, Harry;

Informal portrait of an intense Louis Chevrolet. He was in Tacoma to race in the July 4, 1919, races held at the Tacoma Speedway. He was the overall winner that day, winning two of the three events. Chevrolet, one of the best known names in automobile history, first belonged to this mechanical genius Louis Chevrolet. Born in Switzerland on Christmas Day, 1878, the son of a watchmaker, Chevrolet enjoyed taking things apart to see how they worked, but not sitting in a classroom. He left school early to become a bicycle mechanic and later a racer of bicycles. Once he discovered automobiles, there was no turning back. He left his home in 1900, at the age of 21, for North America. He began racing in 1905 and by 1907 had caught the attention of W.C. Durant, the father of General Motors, who hired him to design and race for his Buick racing team. Chevrolet was the head of a racing family of three brothers, the other two being Gaston and Arthur. Louis is credited with 27 major event racing wins in his career. In 1911, Durant traded on the fame of the Chevrolet name to form Chevrolet Motors, competing with Ford in the moderate price market, with Louis Chevrolet as head designer. Chevrolet soon left due to artistic differences and formed his own company, Frontenac Motors. After the financial failure of Frontenac, he designed race cars for Monroe Motor Co., designing the Indy 500 winner in both 1920 and 21. After cars, he branched out into airplane design without great business success. He died in 1941, at the age of 63, having never achieved the financial success that he deserved. His fame lives on in the Chevrolet automobile name. G52.1-031; TPL-3173

Chevrolet, Louis; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobile drivers;

ca. 1919. Driver Louis Chevrolet and his "mechanician" aboard his Frontenac race car circa 1919. The car is parked on a brick roadway. Louis Chevrolet, affectionately known as "Grandpa" due to his senior status in the racing world, would come to Tacoma to compete in the special five-car, one-day-only set of three races at the Tacoma Speedway on July 4th of 1919. Well known racers Dario Resta, Eddie Hearne, Cliff Durant, Ralph Mulford and Louis Chevrolet were in the mix for the $15,000 purse and championship points. The Frontenacs driven by Ralph Mulford and Mr. Chevrolet took first place in all three races, the 40, 60 and 80 mile events. Louis Chevrolet won the 60 and 80 mile races with average mph of 98.5 and 97.2 respectively. TPL-102; G51.1-124

Chevrolet, Louis; Frontenac automobile; Automobile racing drivers;

ca. 1920. Map of the Tacoma Speedway from about 1920 showing, in detail, the layout of the track and stands. Note that the prices for tickets to sit in the stands are listed. Seats in the open stands were $2.50 or $3.00 plus tax. Seats in the covered stands were $3.50 to $6.00 plus tax. In March of 1920, an arson occurred at the track, forcing massive reconstruction of the grandstands. All improvements would be in place in time for the 1920 225 mile classic, the biggest race in Tacoma's racing history. The Indy had placed a requirement that all top finishers compete in Tacoma and crowds turned out to see them. The new grandstands could seat 16,000, with 960 feet of the stands covered. There was room for 10,000 cars to park in the center of the 2 mile track and a tunnel for spectators to cross under the track to the stands. The new entries allowed cars to enter two abreast and they could cross a bridge from the main entrance into the center parking, even with the race in progress. Other improvements included fences, the pits, a water tower and a renewed track. The race would be 225 miles with a purse of $22,500, to be divided into seven prizes. Over 40,000 fans turned out to watch the race. Speedway-053 (TDL 6/20/20, pg. 1-C; 6/27/1920, pg. 1)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920;