Jimmy Murphy and his mechanic Ernie Olson posed in Murphy's Duesenberg #12 on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1920. The pair were an unknown factor in the July 5th Tacoma Classic. Murphy had won his first major race and the season opener, the 1920 inaugural of the Beverly Hills Speedway. He would come in 6th in Tacoma in 1920, but return to take first place in 1922. (TDL 7/5/1920, pg. 3; www.rumbledrome.com) TPL-079, Speedway 002

Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Murphy, Jimmy; Automobile racing drivers;

This is driver Eddie O'Donnell at the wheel of a Duesenberg race car parked on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1920. The other man next to him is Lyall Jolls, his mechanic. Mr. O'Donnell had arrived in Tacoma as part of the four-man Duesenberg team of Tommy Milton, Eddie Miller, and Jimmy Murphy, ready to compete in the 225-mile July 5th race. Although the Duesenberg sports the number 29, the local newspaper The Tacoma Ledger placed the number 9 on the car. Mr. O'Donnell did not drive his own car during the race as he had generously opted to lend the vehicle to a competitor, Ralph DePalma, so that race fans would not be disappointed in Mr. DePalma's withdrawl. Teammate Eddie Miller in turn lent his car to Mr. O'Donnell for the race in a losing cause. 1920 was the last time local fans were able to watch Mr. O'Donnell in action as he died later in the year during a race in California. Mr. Jolls was also killed in the same wreck. TPL-100

O'Donnell, Eddie; Jolls, Lyall; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Duesenberg automobile; Racing automobiles--1920-1930;

The Duesenberg team brought four cars to the Tacoma Speedway for the 1920 225-mile race. Driver Eddie Miller and his "mechanician," believed to be Gus Duray, are seated in his #31 Duesenberg on the board track in early July of 1920. He had already provided excitement to the crowds avidly watching practice as he survived a crash into the track rail at 87 mph, spinning several times and landing in a ditch. He was uninjured. Eddie Miller was a new driver and had visited the Tacoma Speedway back in 1916 as a "mechanician" with the Duesenberg team of d'Alene and Milton. Mr. Miller ended up not driving at the 1920 race as teammate Eddie O'Donnell, having offered Ralph DePalma the use of his fast car, drove Mr. Miller's Duesenberg with Mr. Miller as the "mechanician." Eddie Miller had graciously offered his car first to Mr. DePalma but it was not as fast as Mr. O'Donnell's. (The Sunday Ledger indicated in their 7-4-20 edition that Mr. Miller's car number was 11, rather than the 31 painted above.) TPL-095 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-4-20, p. 1-article, B-2 -list of drivers & cars)

Miller, Edward; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Duesenberg automobile; Grandstands--Lakewood;

Frank Elliott in his car #5, the "Gordon Special," leads the way during what is probably the InterCity 100-mile race at the Tacoma Speedway held in early July of 1915. He would eventually finish second with a time of 1:20:28, two laps behind three-time winner Jim Parsons of Seattle, shown in the background in the Parsons Special, #22. Twelve cars from the Pacific Northwest had entered the race on July 5th but only six finished. T.F. Barsby came in third in his Velie Special and Earl Staley fourth in his Studebaker. The Mercer and Stutz entries were withdrawn from the InterCity. Mr. Elliott had also submitted entries to the big 250-Montamarathon and the Golden Potlatch 200-mile races. He finished sixth in the Montamarathon won by Grover Ruckstell. Although 21 drivers had entered the Potlatch which was run the day after the Montamarathon and on the same day as the InterCity, only eight were in condition to start with the others too damaged to race. Mr. Elliott's Gordon Special did start but did not win. TPL-1641 (TDN 7-6-15, p. 5-article; TDL 7-6-15, p. 1, 2 -results)

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

Maxwell teammates Billy Carlson (car #25) and Hughies Hughes (#32) are side-by-side on the track of the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1914. Their cars had arrived in Tacoma directly from Indianapolis and the drivers themselves were in town two weeks prior to the July 3 & 4th holiday races. The Maxwells ran on kerosene and were expected to compete strongly in the races. Englishman Hughie Hughes would go on to win the 200-mile Golden Potlatch race on July 3rd with his black racecar averaging 74.28 mph. He picked up $1500 for his efforts. (TNT 6-21-14, p. 1-article; 2-B-brief biographies; TDL 7-4-14, p. 1-results) TPL-3165

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Maxwell automobile; Carlson, Billy; Hughes, Hughie;

Getting ready to take a spin around the Tacoma Speedway is Ralph Mulford in his #3 Monroe along with his "mechanician," believed to be Thane Houser. Mr. Mulford had run in the 1919 Tacoma Classic which had been restricted to five top drivers including Louis Chevrolet, Dario Resta, Cliff Durant and Eddie Hearne. The Frontenac team of Chevrolet and Mulford won all three events of the day with Mr. Mulford driving to victory in the 40-mile race at an average speed of 100.2 mph. In front of a packed new grandstand and car-filled field, Tommy Milton and his #10 Duesenberg battled Mr. Mulford's Monroe throughout the 1920 race. Ideal weather conditions and the good track resulted in no accidents during the 225-mile race. Both the winning Duesenberg and the second place Monroe used Oldfield tires for the race. Mr. Milton did not have to pit once, not even to change tires, while Mr. Mulford only had to stop once for tire changes. For his second place finish, Ralph Mulford won $5000. (TDL 7-6-20, p. 1-results) TPL-099

Mulford, Ralph; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Monroe automobile; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles;

Charles Webster Latta drove the #3 Interstate during the 1913 Golden Potlatch trophy race on the Tacoma Speedway on July 5, 1913. He is pictured above with his unidentified "mechanician." Race car drivers at that time were accompanied by their "mechanicians" or machinists while on the race course. Mr. Latta started in position #3 for the 200-mile race, behind defending champion "Terrible Teddy" Tetzlaff who had the pole position. The race was for 58 laps of 3.516 miles each. Out of the nine entries, Mr. Latta finished third while at times running fourth and fifth. Although "Wild Bob" Burman was favored to defeat Teddy Tetzlaff for top honors, Earl Cooper in his white Stutz captured the first prize of $1800 in a time of 2 hours, 49 minutes and 32 seconds. (The Tacoma Tribune also called Mr. Latta, "C.N. Latta," rather than Charles Webster Latta.) TPL-9865 (T.Tribune, 7-2-13, p. 2-article; T.Tribune 7-5-13, p. 1-results)

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

Walter Gossman of Los Angeles poses in his cycle car, the Red Devil, at the Tacoma Speedway. Cycle racers, primarily from California, were in Tacoma in September of 1914 for the first "junior race" to be held north of California. Gossman was participating in his first race ever. He had designed and built the unique looking Devil. Outside of practices and speed trials, Tacomans were never able to see it race. The actual races were rained out. Speedway-061 (Tacoma Tribune 9/13/1914, pg 2B)

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

Omar Toft, behind the wheel of his "Omar Special" #5, was one of 14 drivers who competed in the Montamarathon Classic held at the Tacoma Speedway on August 5th, 1916. The 300 mile race, the longest held in the Northwest, carried a purse of $10,000. Eddie Rickenbacker won with an average speed just shy of 90 mph; Toft finished 6th, winning $250. The usual July 4th date for the Montamarathon was usurped by a scheduled, two car grudge match between Seattle driver Jim Parsons and Tacoman Ulysses Audrey. That race was cancelled at the last minute due to Parsons' car troubles. Although an alternate program was presented on July 4th that included a head on collision between two locomotives, it was fast cars that Tacoma craved. Fans showed their displeasure by staying away from the August Race; only about 10,000 fans, about a fifth of the previous year's crowd, showed up on the 5th. TPL-1644, Speedway-046 (T. Tribune 8/5/16, pg.1; 8/6/16, pg.1; TDL 7/4/1920, pg. 1-C- history of the races)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Toft, Omar; Automobile racing drivers;

A solemn Roscoe Sarles posed behind the wheel of fellow racer Art Klein's #8 Frontenac race car on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1920. He was entered in the 225 mile Tacoma Classic on July 5th. He would finish 5th in the race while driving his #5 Monroe. (TDL 7/5/1920, pg. 3) Speedway 052

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers; Sarles, Roscoe; Frontenac automobile;

Eddie Hearne posed in his Revere race car, #15, on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway prior to the Tacoma Classic July 5th, 1920. The new grandstands, replacing those lost in a pre-season fire, can be seen in the background. He would come in third in the race, following winner Tommy Milton who completed the course in record time 2:23:28 at an average speed of 95 mph and second place finisher Ralph Mulford. (TDL 7/5/1920, pg. 3) Speedway 054

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Revere automobile; Hearne, Eddie; Automobile racing drivers; Grandstands--Lakewood;

Jim Parsons and "mechanician" in his #22 Parsons Special on the track at the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1915. Mr. Parsons had entered his race car in all three of the races held over the July 4-5 holiday. In 1914 his car ran under the Frantz label and was accorded the #7. In 1915, his vehicle was entered as the Parsons Special and it wore the #22. No matter what his car number was his record remained impeccable in the InterCity 100-mile race. With an average speed of 79 1/2 mph, he won the race for the third consecutive time and got to keep the trophy. In 1915 the big 250-mile race, the Montamarathon, was run on July 4th and the two other races, the InterCity 100-mile and Golden Potlatch 200-mile, followed on the 5th. This was in reverse order from 1914. TPL-1643 (TDL 7-6-15, p.1-2-results)

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

This unidentified driver is believed to be piloting a "cycle carriage" or car during speed trials at the Tacoma Speedway in September of 1914. There were 14 entries, mostly from Southern California and including future star Harry Hartz, for the Labor Day races. Four of the junior drivers were from Tacoma. Vehicles had to reach a speed of 40 mph to qualify. These cars had for the most part motorcycle engines and were smaller than regular race cars. Although days preceding the event were dry, the Labor Day race was cancelled due to rain and a rescheduled race the following week was also postponed indefinitely due to inclement weather. (TNT 9-6-14, 2-b-article)

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

Jim Parsons and his mechanic W. Ogden pose at the July 1914 races at the Tacoma Speedway in Parsons' race car #7, a Frantz. Parsons won the 100 mile Intercity race on July 3rd with a winning time of 1:21:29 with an average speed of 73.6 mph. He triumphed over a field of 12 cars from cities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia. Parsons was from Seattle. He returned on July 4th to place 4th in the 250 mile Montamarathon. TPL-1639, Speedway-066 (T. Tribune 7/3/1914, pg. 1)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Parsons, Jim; Ogden, W.; Automobile racing drivers;

Race car driver Eddie O'Donnell is behind the wheel of a Duesenberg in this July of 1920 photograph. His "mechanician" Lyall Jolls is seated next to him. The man standing was not positively identified. Eddie O'Donnell was part of the Duesenberg team which sent four top drivers to the 1920 225-mile July 5th race at the Tacoma Speedway, including eventual winner Tommy Milton, Jimmy Murphy and Eddie Miller. Although the number on the Duesenberg is 29, the Tacoma Daily Ledger had listed Mr. O'Donnell's car as #9. Showing a generous spirit, Mr. O'Donnell gave up his car so that a competitor, Ralph DePalma, could drive it. Mr. DePalma, a popular driver, had a broken connecting rod on his French Ballot which was not repairable in time for the race. Mr. O'Donnell did compete in the race by driving his teammate Eddie Miller's vehicle but came in last of the eight cars remaining. Mr. O'Donnell's fortitude was unquestioned; he had broken an arm in a Kansas City race in 1916 and raced with only one arm for months. He was to die later in 1920 in a collision with Gaston Chevrolet in California. (TDL 6-29-20, p. 1-article; TDL 7-2-20, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-4-20, B-2-list of drivers & cars; TDL 7-6-20, p. 1-results)

O'Donnell, Eddie; Jolls, Lyall; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Duesenberg automobile; Grandstands--Lakewood;

Early racing superstar Earl Cooper poses at the July 1913 Montamara Festo races at the Tacoma Speedway behind the wheel of his Stutz "8," "the most winingest" race car in the country. On July 5th, Cooper won the 200 mile "Golden Potlatch" race in Tacoma with a time of 2:49:32 and an average speed on 71 mph. He later also won the 250 mile Montamarathon. 1913 was one of his best years in racing. He won 7 of 8 major road races, winning his first National Championship (to be followed by Championships in 1915 and 1917.) Born in 1886, Earl Cooper started out as a mechanic and throughout his career took a methodical and scientific approach to racing, as opposed to the daredevils that populated racing at this time. He worked closely with his mechanics and helped develop hydraulic brakes and pressure lubrication. He raced off and on until 1928 and managed racing teams after his driving retirement. He died in 1965 at the age of 79. Cooper joined the Stutz team in 1912. The Stutz had originated in 1910 when Harry C. Stutz established Stutz Auto Parts Co. to manufacture his engineering design, the transaxle. He built a car fitted with one and entered it in the first Indy 500 in 1911. It came in 11th. He then set up the Ideal Motor Co. (renamed Stutz Motor Car Co. in 1913) to manufacture the car. Its most famous model, the Stutz Bearcat sportscar, was introduced in 1912 to compete with the Mercer Raceabout. The company was finished by the Great Depression and ceased production in 1934, dissolving in 1939. SPEEDWAY-019, TPL-5479 (T. Tribune 7/6/1913, pg. 1; www.canadiandriver.com; www.hickoksports.com)

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

Ralph DePalma (front) squinted as he smiled into the camera, his goggles pushed up on his forehead, in July of 1920. Behind him is his nephew, Peter DePaolo, future winner of 1925 Indianapolis 500. Ralph DePalma was one of the crowds' favorites entered in the July 5th, 1920 Tacoma Classic auto race at the Tacoma Speedway. He was also one of the favorites of the other drivers due to his unerring good sportsmanship both on and off the track. In his career, which spanned over 25 years beginning early in the century, DePalma won over 2000 races on every surface imaginable. He took every major prize including the Vanderbilt Cup, Savannah Grand Prize, Elgin National Trophy and the Indianapolis 500. He is probably best remembered, however, for a race he lost. In the 1912 Indy 500, after leading for 196 of 200 laps, DePalma's Mercedes cracked a piston, putting him out of the race. He and his mechanic proceeded to push the car the remaining mile and over the finish line, an image that came to represent the race, and overshadowed the winner that year. (TDL 7/5/1920, pg. 3; www.motorsportshalloffame; hickoksports.com; wikipedia) Speedway 116

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers; DePalma, Ralph; DePaolo, Peter;

The Durant team behind the wheel of Cliff Durant's "Durant Special," No. 34 at the Tacoma Speedway in 1922. The covered grandstands at the speedway are in the background. Durant, son of millionaire Billy Durant- founder of General Motors, was a sentimental favorite in Tacoma, having raced here many times. Plus, he had already announced that the Tacoma Classic would be his last race as a driver. He was now focusing on his career as President and General Manager of Durant Corporation. Unfortunately, he was unable to finish the 1922 Classic, exiting the race in the 58th lap with a broken axle. Speedway-135 (TDL 7/5/1922, pg. 1) SPEEDWAY 135

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Durant, Cliff--Associated objects;

Tacoma was known as the Indianapolis of the West when cars roared on the Tacoma Speedway. The race track, located near the site of today's Clover Park Technical College, was in operation from 1912 to 1922. In September of 1914, Tacoma was abuzz with the arrival of the junior racers and their "baby" race cars. The cars, also known as cycle cars, ran on motorcycle engines and could race at 35-50 mph. The junior races were originally scheduled for Labor Day but were postponed because the track on the back stretch was too muddy and dangerous for speed. A practice start was scheduled after the postponement to reacquaint the boys with the method of starting. A true race soon developed as the competitive boys picked up speed trying to best one another. The Seattle Bug, piloted by a boy named "Meagher" and his mechanic, took the curves too fast in the first lap and slid in the mud, crushing the two rear wheels. The two seem at a loss as where to go from here. Tacoma Speedway-064, TPL-6337; TPL-8543 (T. Tribune 9/9/1914, pg. 6)

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

Frank Elliott was returning to race in the July 4th, 1921, Tacoma Speedway Classic after an absence of several years. His last appearance in Tacoma was the 1915 Inter-city race. He was replacing Howard Wilcox as the driver of a Leach Special in the 1921 race. Elliott began racing in 1914 as an amateur, driving a souped up Ford that he built himself. He is #56 on the All Time Champ Car World Series Victories, with 5 career wins. Speedway-091 (TDL 7/3/1921, pg. C-3)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Elliott, Frank; Automobile racing drivers;

In 1921, Edward "Eddie" Miller was in Tacoma for his second local appearance at the July 4th Tacoma Speedway Classic. He had been slated to race in 1920, and then loaned his car out in a two way swap with Ralph DePalma and Eddie O'Donnell. He was accompanied by his bride of two weeks. Although Miller would be driving during the race, he had spent most of this career as a mechanic. Associated with the Duesenberg race team since 1916, he had riden as a mechanic with six drivers. He had also built twenty-three race cars, more than any other driver or mechanic. Speedway-126 (TDL 7/3/1921, pg. C-1)

Miller, Edward; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers;

Novice driver Alton Soules, 28, posed at the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1921. Soules raced a Frontenac in the 1921 Speedway Classic where he had the lead from the second to the sixty-first lap when his old pistons failed and the connecting rod broke. The native of Toledo, Ohio had started racing as a driver in 1920, specializing in board tracks. Previously he had ridden as mechanic with racing greats Joe Thomas, Eddie Pullen, Wilbur D'Alene, Omar Toft and Hughie Hughes. He was the nephew of Charlie Soules, who held the world record for a 24 hour run on a dirt road. After the Tacoma race, Alton Soules was planning to race at Santa Rosa, Uniontown, San Francisco, Fresno and Los Angeles. He never made it to Los Angeles; Soules and his riding mechanic Harry Barner were killed in an accident on lap 75 at the Fresno Speedway on October 1, 1921. (TDL 7/3/1921, pg. C-6; TNT 7-5-21, p. 1,2--results; www.motorsportmemorial.org)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Soules, Alton; Automobile racing drivers;

Eddie Hearne poses in his Revere at the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1920. Hearne was in town for the 9th annual Speedway Classic held on July 5th. Hearne was a veteran racer, having started as an amateur in 1907. He was born March 1, 1887, the son of privileged parents. He graduated from Chicago University and entered the automobile business as one of the first Hupmobile dealers in Chicago. He started out racing his own cars as an amateur. In 1909, the same year the Indianapolis Speedway opened, he won the Amateur Championship of America. He soon turned professional, driving for the German Blitzen Benz, as well as other makers. His best year in racing was in 1923 when he was crowned the National Champion. He is #23 on the all time top 40 auto race winners, with 11 career wins. He died February 9, 1955. (TDL 7/2/1920, pg. 1C; 7/3/1921, pg. C-3; www.formulaone) Speedway 098

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Hearne, Eddie; Automobile racing drivers;

Art Klein and his riding mechanic S. McGarigle pose for the camera from Klein's Frontenac race car prior to the 9th annual Tacoma Classic race, July 5th, 1920 at the Tacoma Speedway. Before a crowd estimated to be over 40,000, Mr. Klein finished the race in fourth position and won $1700 in prize money. This was Mr. Klein's first trip back to Tacoma since the 1914 Tacoma Speedway inauguration where he placed second in the 200-mile Golden Potlatch and third in the Montamarathon. (TDL 7/6/1920, pg 1+-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-4-20, 1C, 3C-history of the track) Speedway 092

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers; Klein, Art; McGarigle, S.;

Barney Oldfield, famed early race car driver, chewed on his trademark cigar at the side of the Tacoma Speedway where he acted as Pace Setter for the July 5, 1920 Tacoma Speedway Classic. The man on the left is believed to be DeLloyd "Dutch" Thompson, exhibition pilot and early partner of Oldfield. Barney Oldfield, whose name is synonymous with early racing, was a consummate showman-famous for speed records, match races and exhibitions. He has been declared by Motor Sports Hall of Fame to be one of the greatest race drivers of all time. Born Bern Eli Oldfield in 1878, he started out racing bicycles until he met Henry Ford who had just designed the first Ford race car. By 1910, Oldfield had broken all existing speed records for the mile, 2 mile and kilometer. He retired from racing in 1918, but continued to tour and make appearances and movies. He died in 1946. (www.motorsportshallof fame.com)

Oldfield, Barney; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobile drivers;

A confident Ralph DePalma is perched on the back tire of a borrowed Duesenberg parked on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway. Mr. DePalma had come to Tacoma to compete in the July, 1920, 225-mile race along with other famous names including Gaston Chevrolet, Cliff Durant, Tommy Milton and Ralph Mulford. His French Ballot was the only foreign entry in a field crowded with Duesenbergs, Monroes and Frontenacs. Unfortunately his Ballot broke a connecting rod on July 1st and although the Smith Cannery Machine Co. and Western Gear Works of Seattle rushed to make eight connecting rods, the Ballot was not able to be repaired in time. In the spirit of good sportsmanship, Eddie O'Donnell of the Duesenberg team offered Mr. DePalma the use of his ride so that Mr. DePalma would not disappoint the thousands who had come to see him race. Thus, the reason for the Duesenberg shown above with the #2 (number formerly assigned to the Ballot) painted on. Even with the powerful Duesenberg, Mr. DePalma did not win the race as the car broke down before finishing. Tommy Milton, winner of the recent Uniontown, Pennsylvania 225-miler, drove his Duesenberg to a $10,000 payday. (TDL 7-2-20, p. 1-article; TDL 7-6-20, p. 1-results)

DePalma, Ralph; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Duesenberg automobile; Automobile racing drivers;

Roscoe Sarles poses in his Duesenberg prior to the July 4th, 1921 Tacoma Speedway Classic. Sarles was considered one of the most fearless drivers in the country and a ruthless opponent. Born January 4, 1892 in New Albany, Indiana, Sarles went into auto repair and later sales after he finished school. In 1916, bit by the racing bug, he joined Louis Chevrolet's racing team. By 1917, he was riding with Joe Boyer as a mechanic. After the conclusion of World War I, he began racing with his Roamer with great success. The car was loaned to Lewis LeCocq for the Memorial Day race in Indianapolis. LeCocq was killed when the machine swerved into the wall and caught on fire. Sarles had the car rebuilt at the factory. A year after the Tacoma race, on September 17, 1922, 50 miles into a race at the Kansas City Speedway, the Durant Special driven by Sarles snapped its steering gear and swerved into another car. It then proceeded to flip over the rim of the racing bowl. Sarles was killed in the accident. (TDL 7/3/1921, pg. C-3; www.motorsportmemorial.org) Boland B4356, Speedway-094

Sarles, Roscoe; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers;

On July 4, 1921, Tom Alley drove a Frontenac in the 10th annual Speedway Classic. He was one of the veterans in the race and was considered a pioneer of racing. He also had the dubious distinction of having run away from home at the tender age of 9. In 1906, very much underage, he raced for the first time, in a 50 mile touring car race. He was disqualified before the race began. At the age of 16, looking older than his years, he was hired as a tester for the White Co. He then tested for the American Motor Car Co., quitting when they refused to let him race. This was followed by testing jobs with Marmon (1909), Marion and National. In 1912, he signed on as Ralph DePalma's riding mechanic. The pair won the Road Racing Championship in 1912 and 1914. Hall attributed his quick rise to fame as a driver to the years he spent observing DePalma. He performed best on a dirt track, holding the 1915 speed record for the 100 mile. Speedway-105 (TDL 7/3/1921, pg. C-3) (Copy by Boland of photograph by W.A. Hughes)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Alley, Tom; Automobile racing drivers;

Frank Elliott posed behind the wheel of a Leach Special prior to the Tacoma Speedway Classic, held on July 4th 1921. Veteran driver Elliott was substituting for the Leach's usual driver Howard Wilcox. It was Elliott's first race in Tacoma since 1915. Although there is record of a Leach Motor Co. as early as 1899, their most famous vehicles were constructed at the Leach Motor Car Co. in Los Angeles, Ca., between 1920 and 1939. (TDL 7/3/1921, pg. C-3)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Elliott, Frank; Automobile racing drivers;

Joe Thomas, front, and his mechanic Marcel Treyvoux smiled at the camera from his Monroe race car #7 as they prepared for the July 5th 1920 Tacoma Classic race at the Tacoma Speedway. Joe Thomas was a local boy, hailing from Seattle, and a crowd favorite. In 1920, he was forced out of the race in the 78th lap by a broken piston, but he would return to race in the 1921 and 1922 Classics. After his retirement from racing, he returned to Tacoma in the thirties to serve as director of the state Vehicle Inspection Station. (TDL 7/5/1920, pg. 3) Speedway 093

Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Thomas, Joe; Treyvoux, Marcel;