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Item
Title
BOLAND-B2020
Date(s)
- 1919-07 (Creation)
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A beaming Ralph Mulford behind the wheel of his Frontenac race car, #2, on the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1919. His "mechanician" is believed to be Frank Eastman. Ralph Mulford was last in Tacoma in 1912 at the first automobile races in the Northwest where he drove a six-cylinder Knox on the old five-mile course. He arrived in Tacoma on June 25, 1919, along with fellow Frontenac driver, Louis "Grandpa" Chevrolet and Englishman Dario Resta in his Resta "mystery" Special. The three drivers plus Eddie Hearne and Cliff Durant would enter into a one-day-only three event race at the Tacoma Speedway on the 4th of July. The News Tribune called them "the five greatest speedway pilots in the world" as all had stellar reputations in the racing world. The Speedway's largest crowd of almost 40,000 saw the Frontenacs driven by Ralph Mulford and Louis Chevrolet take first place in all three races. Mr. Mulford won the 40 mile race at an average speed of 100+ mph and took home prize money $1500 for the race. He placed second in the 60 mile race and earned $800. His Frontenac was forced out of the third race with mechanical problems and he did not complete the race. There were no injuries or accidents during the afternoon of racing. TPL-093; G51.1-114 (TNT 7-3-19, p.1, 2-article; 7-5-19, p. 1-results)
Mulford, Ralph; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Frontenac automobile;