Tacoma Speedway pre-1915. The track seems to still be a dirt track which means this unidentified race occurred before 1915, the first year of the new "lattice" board track. At this frozen moment in time, car #4 leads car #3 by several lengths. The grandstands are packed with spectators during probably the Montamara Festo races which occurred during the 4th of July holiday period at the Tacoma Speedway. People on the other side of the track got a very close view of the race along with crewmen for the various drivers. Note the pile of narrow tires that have already been changed or are awaiting changing. The Tacoma Speedway had a short but action packed history from 1912 to 1922. Many world class racers including Barney Oldfield, Teddy Tetzlaff, Grover Ruckstell, Eddie Pullen and Cliff Durant competed for prize money and trophies.

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

Undated photograph of Canadian-born but American-raised race car driver, Ira Vail. Mr. Vail raced at Indy multiple times but never won. He was a contemporary of famous racers Louis Chevrolet, Ralph Mulford, Barney Oldfield and Ralph DePalma and competed against them in many events. He was most successful on dirt tracks. Mr. Vail drove Hudsons until the company got out of the racing industry in 1917 and used the Leach in at least one Indy. He was mentioned as a potential driver for the 1921 Tacoma Speedway race but Frank Elliott had already been named as the driver of the Leach Special that Mr. Vail would have driven. Later Mr. Vail became a promoter in the New York/New Jersey area where he was held in high regard. Mr. Vail died in 1979, having outlived many of his racing pals. (info from National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum; TNT 6-30-21, p. 1-article on Tacoma race) (Copy of Hughes photograph by Boland Studios)

Vail, Ira; Automobile racing--1910-1920; Racing automobiles;

Undated informal portrait of auto racer Leon Duray. The square-jawed, mustached driver has his goggles resting on his forehead. Born George Stewart and renamed Leon Duray, he raced at Indy eight times between 1922 and 1931, winning the pole position twice. His best finish was sixth in 1925. He later became a car owner whose car finished second at Indy in 1934. (theoldmotor.com)

Duray, Leon; Automobile racing drivers;

Ernie Olson, ace mechanic, smiles broadly in this undated photograph believed to have been taken at the Tacoma Speedway during the short period of time when the racetrack was in existence, from 1912-1922. He is seated in his car dressed in the race style of the day: goggles, cloth or leather headgear and a jacket/uniform opened to show a dark tie and collared shirt. Mechanics in that era rode along with their drivers. TPL-2432 (Identification provided by a reader)

Olson, Ernie; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma; Men--Clothing & dress;

Auto racer Ralph Mulford. This undated photograph of Mr. Mulford was believed to have been taken at the Tacoma Speedway either in 1919, 1920 or 1922 when Mr. Mulford entered the races at the two-mile oval board track. Usually pictured with a large toothy grin, Ralph Mulford was a two-time National Driving Champion in 1911 and 1918 and a popular entry in auto racing due to his propensity for very fast cars and skillful driving. Mr. Mulford outlived many of his racing colleagues, dying at the age of 89 in 1973. TPL-3176

Mulford, Ralph; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood;

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;

ca. 1914. Crowds in stands at Tacoma Speedway July 4th - probably 1914. In 1914, over 35,000 spectators packed the grandstand and lined the field fences at the closing race of the Montamara Festo season. They had paid $1.00 for field admission and from $1.50 to $3.00 for the grandstand. The auto racing was possibly the highlight of the abbreviated July 2-4th week which featured fireworks, shows, spectacles and vaudeville. It cost the city about $100,000 to put on the annual event. There were three sanctioned races at the Tacoma Speedway with a total prize of $10,500 which drew entries from the Pacific Northwest, California and even one Englishman (Hughie Hughes). The speed kings were in town and even their practices drew crowds of over 12,000. Winner of the final race and holder of the Montamarathon trophy was Californian Earl Cooper in his #8 Stutz "Ghost." Mr. Cooper was the reigning champ who successfully defended his title. (TNT 7-5-14, p. 1-results)

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

The Tacoma Speedway had a special treat in store for its fans on Labor Day 1914, the first "cycle car" race to be held north of California. Cycle cars were built with motorcycle engines and were designed, for the most part, by their junior drivers. Three races would be held, a ten mile dash, a ten mile free for all (featuring the losers in the first race) and a 40 mile free for all, with a top prize of $250. Pictured in a horseshoe are, left to right, an unidentified car, the Mabel Normand's Keystone Theim driven by Shirley Williams, the Red Devil driven by Walter Gossman, the Pantages Bug driven by a Tacoma boy identified only as "Swift," unidentified car #3, unidentified, unidentified, Allan Bruce and his National, Harry Hartz and his #22 Indian and a "baby" Hudson partially built by Homer Loudenclos in Tacoma with Clarence Healy scheduled as pilot. Although the weather stayed dry for the trials, rain made the track unsafe on race day. The races were rescheduled and again rained out. Discouraged, the drivers returned to sunny California.

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

ca. 1914. Joe Thomas behind the wheel of his Mercer automobile at the Tacoma Speedway circa 1914. His "mechanician" is believed to be named Kindic. Mr. Thomas, from Seattle, was entered solely in the InterCity 100-mile race on July 3rd. He did not place in the top 5. In 1915 Mr. Thomas again entered the InterCity race but his Mercer failed to start. Unlike many of his colleagues, he survived his racing career and by 1939, was the head of the Washington State safety inspection station in Tacoma.

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Mercer automobile; Thomas, Joe;

ca. 1915. Cars in pit area at Tacoma Speedway circa 1915. Grandstands are sparsely filled indicating that the occasion might have been practice time for the racers who had entered in the three races composing part of the Montamara Festo circa 1915. Pit area is still dirt although the track itself was built of split boards consisting of 2 x 4 Washington fir. Filling in the spaces between the planks was 2500 cubic yards of gravel and sand. Over this was poured 500 barrels of hot Richmond road oil after which 400 cubic yards of sand was spread on top of the oil. (information on track construction provided by Standard Oil Bulletin, Vol. 3, ca. 1915)

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

Ray Ritters of Los Angeles poses in his cycle car, #2, a Velie, at the Tacoma Speedway. The Velie autos and trucks were manufactured by Velie Motors Corp. of Moline, Ill., from 1902-1928. In September of 1914, the small race cars and their junior drivers took Tacoma by storm. Each day the newspapers were filled with stories about the boys who, for the most part, designed and built, as well as raced, their own cars. The cars were usually powered by motorcycle engines and could travel at 35-50 mph. Ritters had raced many times in the South, but had never finished in the money. He arrived early in Tacoma and rebuilt his car here, making many changes, including mounting the engine on the side. He never got to show off his improved vehicle in Tacoma, both the Labor Day race and the rescheduled race were called due to rain. (T. Tribune 9/13/1914, pg. 2B, plus preceding dates in Sept. 1914)

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

ca. 1919. Smiling Ralph Mulford, early race car driver, was not smiling in 1911 when many felt that he won the first Indianapolis 500 by a lap instead of credited winner Ray Harroun. Mulford still managed to garner enough points to become the 1911 National Driving Champion, a feat that he repeated seven years later in 1918. In 1919, he won Tacoma Speedway's 40 mile race with a time of 24:02 and 100.2 mph, outracing Frontenac teammate Louis Chevrolet and Cliff Durant. Returning in 1920 for the 225 mile Tacoma Classic, he finished second in his Monroe racing car, numbered "3." Ralph Mulford retired from speed racing after 1922 but continued to compete in hill climbs. At one time, he held the record for climbing both Mount Washington and Pikes Peak. Mulford lived to a ripe old age, a rare feat for the early drivers; born in 1884, he died October 23, 1973. (www.hickoksports.com; TNT 7-3-19, p. 1; 6/29/1920) G52.1-027, Speedway 096, BOLAND-B2010

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Mulford, Ralph; Racing automobile drivers;

These three stalwart Stadium High School teens were part of the school's "First Team" lineup during the 1922 football season. At far left is Sam Hanson, fullback. Sam, although only a freshman, proved worthy of placement on the more experienced team. Lon Crosshwaite is the player in the center. A halfback, the speedy Crosshwaite was noted for running punts back farther than any man on the team. At far right is Bayard Mosher, the team's quarterback. The school's yearbook praised Mosher for his never-say-die attitude and peerless quarterbacking. All three players shown above were underclassmen and expected to return the following year. (1923 "The Tahoma," p. 139-141; TNT 11-8-22, p. 17) G46.1-042

Football players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma)--1920-1930; Hanson, Sam; Crosshwaite, Lon; Mosher, Bayard;

The 8-man Northwestern Woodenware Co. bowling team posed for a group portrait on October 22, 1923. They participated in the Commercial League. Two bowling balls and a pair of wooden pins are being held by three members seated in front. Standing in the second row on the left is Leif Jensen, accountant for the firm. G53.1-105

Bowlers--Tacoma; Bowling balls; Jensen, Leif; Northwestern Woodenware Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Stadium High School basketball team. This is part of Stadium's first team in basketball for the 1923-24 season. There were two captains that year: Cliff Bergman and Neil Yingling. From L-R (top row): Walter Dow, Lon Crosthwaite, Neil McDougall, Ed Dow. The Dow brothers were newcomers from Montana. On the bottom row, L-R: Bayard Mosher, Neil Yingling, Clifford Bergman, Herman Brix. Coached by Will Duggan, the Tigers went down to defeat three times at the hands of Lincoln High School. (1924 Tahoma- various pages; TNT 1-14-24, p. 24) G46.1-017

Basketball players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Stadium High School (Tacoma); Students--Tacoma--1920-1930; Dow, Walter; Crosthwaite, Lon; McDougall, Neil; Dow, Ed; Mosher, Bayard; Yingling, Neil; Bergman, Clifford; Brix, Herman;

The "Tigers," members of the South Tacoma Business Men's Club independent baseball team, pose outdoors for a team picture on April 27, 1924. All but one are wearing complete baseball attire, including caps. They would open their season against the Northern Pacific Shopmen on May 4, 1924, in the brand new baseball park at South 72nd & Lawrence. A big parade would precede the game. The Northern Pacific Shopmen would go on to win a high scoring game, 11-9. From L-R, top row, Cliff Wescott; Elmer Booth; O. Capps; Roy Hilliard; Bryon Furseth; Ed Putnam. Kneeling L-R: Ted Fosdick; Archie Genin; Lud Radike; Bishop; Brown. (TNT 4-29-24, p.12; TDL 5-4-24, C-1) G53.1-024; TPL-7766

Baseball players--Tacoma--1920-1930; Uniforms; South Tacoma Business Men's Club (Tacoma);

M & M Hats bowling team. Team members were photographed at the Imperial Lanes, 9th & Commerce, on April 9, 1925. First row, L-R, team captain Bill Slater, team manager Arthur McGinley, John Radonich. Back row, L-R, George Tripp, Cal Hier, V.E. McClure. Five of the men are wearing bow ties, white shirts, and a "M & M-Hats" pennant. Manager McGinley has his hat on the floor and holds a bowling ball. The team finished fourth in the 1925 City League Bowling standings and also participated in the Bowling Congress at Aberdeen. G53.1-104 (TNT 4-10-25, p. 21)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Bowling balls; M & M Hats (Tacoma);

This is the mighty right forearm of "Young Jack" Dempsey, rugged fighter out of Puyallup, as pictured on September 14, 1925. His clenched fist, popping veins, and muscular biceps are an indication of the power he unleashes in his bouts, having knocked out his last two foes. Dempsey had been training for an upcoming battle with Everett's Kid Kober in which he would emerge victorious. G53.1-129 (TNT 9-16-25, p. 26)

Dempsey, Jack; Boxers (Sports); Arms (Anatomy);

ca. 1920. Auto racer Art Klein at the Tacoma Speedway. He is aboard the #8 Frontenac along with his riding mechanic, or "mechanician," S. McGarigle. Mr. Klein drove one of the two Frontenacs in the 1920 225-mile race at the Tacoma Speedway; the other was helmed by Chicago millionaire Joe Boyer, Jr. The Speedway had been spruced up with large new grandstand (shown above), fences, pits, water tower, renewed board track and three automobile entrances for spectators. Top drivers including Cliff Durant, Ralph DePalma, Tommy Milton, Roscoe Sarles and Ralph Mulford made the long trek to Washington to compete in the ninth annual event. Art Klein finished fourth after eventual winner Milton, Ralph Mulford and Eddie Hearne. (TDL 7-6-20, p. 1+-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-4-20, 1C, 3C-History of the track)

Klein, Art; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); McGarigle, S.; Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Frontenac automobile; Grandstands--Lakewood;

ca. 1922. Racing star Jimmy Murphy in his #35 "Murphy Special" at the Tacoma Speedway circa 1922. Mr. Murphy was the popular favorite for the 250-mile 4th of July race, having won the French Grand Prix at Le Mans in 1921 and the 1922 Indy 500 on Memorial Day. He faced a lineup of formidable opponents including 1921 national champion and defending Tacoma champ Tommy Milton, Californian Harry Hartz who came in second to Mr. Murphy at Indy, local boy Joe Thomas who had recently won at the San Carlos Speedway in San Francisco, 1919 Indy winner "Howdy" Wilcox, and returning veteran drivers Eddie Hearne, Ralph Mulford and Roscoe Sarles. Mr. Murphy would win what would turn out to be the last Tacoma Classic in 1922, outdueling two-time defending champion Tommy Milton before a cheering crowd of some 30,000 race fans. Mr. Murphy had blistered the track during qualifying, averaging speeds slightly less than 109 mph. He would be named driver of the decade, 1920-29, despite the fact that he was killed in a crash at the Syracuse N.Y. Speedway in 1924. (Speedway-128; TPL-132) (TDL 7-5-22, p. 1-results)

Murphy, Jimmy; Automobile racing drivers; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930;

ca. 1922. Informal portrait of a race car driver or "mechanician" believed to be Ernie Ansterberg who was veteran Roscoe Sarles' mechanic at the 1922 Tacoma Speedway 250-mile race. The Sarles team were in a Duesenberg Special and finished third behind winner Jimmy Murphy and after Tommy Milton. Mr. Ansterberg would drive in the 1924 Indy 500 but did not finish. He died in a racing accident in October of 1924 at age 33. This photograph was taken at the Tacoma Speedway, once a two-mile oval racetrack in Lakewood that was the scene of early automobile racing in Washington. Races were held from 1912 to 1922 and many notable drivers including Barney Oldfield, Ralph DePalma, Tommy Milton, Jimmy Murphy and others competed for prize money and national points. TPL-3170

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

ca. 1920. Race car driver Jimmy Murphy, circa. 1920. Based on his short professional racing career, only four years and nine months, Murphy is considered by some to be the greatest racer of all time. He was crowned the American Racing Champion in 1922 and again posthumously in 1924. He was known as the "King of the Boards," having competed in 85 board track races in his short career, winning 18 of them. James Anthony (Jimmy) Murphy (1894-1924) was made an orphan by the 1906 earthquake in his home town of San Francisco. His mother was killed in the quake and his father left him with relatives and was never heard from again. Shortly before graduating from high school, Murphy opened his own garage and soon had a loyal clientele. Bitten by the racing bug, he became a "riding mechanic" in 1916, was taken on by the Duesenberg team and became a driver in 1919. His first big race was the 1920 inaugural at the Beverly Hills board track where he blew away the competition, winning and setting a world record. That same year he finished sixth at the Tacoma Speedway in his #12 Duesenberg. In 1921, he became the first American to win a European race in a truly American car, by winning the Le Mans Grand Prix. In September of 1924, he agreed to appear in a race promoted by a friend at the Syracuse New York fairgrounds dirt track. Although considered to be the safest dirt track in the country, Murphy lost control during the race and crashed through an inside rail and was killed by wooden shards that penetrated his heart and abdomen. Speedway 059 (TNT 6/29/1920- picture, Motorsports Hall of Fame website; historicracing.com)

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

ca. 1920. Race car driver Eddie Miller, in Tacoma for the July 5th 1920 Tacoma Classic at the Tacoma Speedway. Miller had been serving the last seven seasons as a mechanic for the Duesenberg team, but he was in Tacoma as a new driver. During practice he had been involved in an accident when his car jumped the course. The car had since been repaired. On the day of the race, favored Ralph DePalma suffered broken connecting rods on his French Ballot, putting him out of the race. Feeling that the crowd would be disappointed, new driver Miller graciously offered DePalma his Duesenberg. Not to be outdone, top Duesenberg driver Eddie O'Donnell offered DePalma his faster car and he drove Miller's with Miller riding as mechanic. DePalma was forced out in the 75th lap with a broken Universal joint on his borrowed car. O'Donnell was the 8th and last man to finish the race, driving Eddie Miller's car. (TDL 7/4/1920, pg. C-1; 7/6/1920, pg. 1) Speedway-115

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

ca. 1920. Tommy Milton made his second visit to Tacoma to compete in the July 5, 1920, 225-mile race on the two-mile board track at Tacoma Speedway. He had raced in 1916, finishing a close second to Eddie Rickenbacker. Mr. Milton's #10 Duesenberg had qualified first at a 99-mile clip in speed trials and his car continued its fast pace, averaging 95-mph as he went around the track 115 times. His sturdy Oldfield tires held up as no stops for tire changes were needed. The victory over second place Ralph Mulford earned Mr. Milton $10,000. (TDL 7-6-20, p.1-results) TPL-101

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

ca. 1920. Defending Indianapolis 500 winner Howard "Howdy" Wilcox was photographed for his official Speedway picture in 1920 by local photographer Coburn. He is seated in a Peugeot along with his "mechanician." Mr. Wilcox made eleven starts at Indy from 1911-1923 with a stellar five top ten finishes, including his 1919 triumph. He entered the eleventh and last Tacoma Speedway long distance race in 1922 to vie for total prize money of $25,000 and more importantly, race with his compatriots Jimmy Murphy, Ralph Mulford,Tommy Milton, Cliff Durant, Roscoe Sarles and others. It was Mr. Wilcox's first visit to Tacoma but his Peugeot Special did not have quite enough to win the event. He ended up fifth with average speed of 90.8 mph, behind eventual winner Murphy, Milton, Sarles and Wonderlich. (copy of Coburn photograph made by Marvin Boland) (www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com-stats; TDL 7-5-22, p. 1-results)

Wilcox, Howard Samuel; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis, IN);

ca. 1922. Driving icon Barney Oldfield, hat in hand and cigar in mouth, posed with the nine driving mechanics, or "mechanicians," who would accompany the world class racers at the 11th and final Tacoma Speedway long distance race in July of 1922. Harlan Fengler, who rode with Californian Harry Hartz, is third from left next to Mr. Oldfield and Terry Curley is seated, extreme left, front row. Others were not identified. TPL-2743; TPL-3169

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Oldfield, Barney; Fengler, Harlan; Curley, Terry;

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;