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Item
Title
BOLAND SPEEDWAY-009
Date(s)
- 1914 (Creation)
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ca. 1914. Frank Verbeck behind the wheel of his Fiat (car # 11) on the track at the Tacoma Speedway for the July 1914 races. His mechanic, who will ride with Mr. Verbeck in the Fiat "70" in the 200-mile and 250-mile races, is the world and Olympic champion hurdler Forrest C. Smithson. Frank Verbeck had come to Tacoma in 1912 to race but not in 1913. His car, the Fiat "70," had been entered in the previous two years and was driven in 1913 by a previous holder of the Montamarathon trophy, "Terrible Teddy" Tetzlaff. In 1914 Mr. Tetzlaff chose to drive a Maxwell so Mr. Verbeck, a former teammate of Mr. Tetzlaff, decided to drive the Fiat. The News Tribune called Frank Verbeck "one of the nerviest and most sensational drivers of the Pacific Coast aggregation." Despite a valiant effort, Mr. Verbeck had continued problems with his car and was excused by the referee in the 13th lap of the final race when the car was in 10th place. (TNT 6-21-14, 2-B-article; TNT 6-28-14, 3-D; TNT 7-5-14, p. 1-2- results)
Verbeck, Frank; Smithson, Forrest C.; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Fiat automobile;