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;

Seattle driver Joe Thomas and his "mechanician," believed to be Marcel Treyvoux, smile for the cameraman while seated in their #28 car, thought to be a Frontenac. The duo were to race at the Tacoma Speedway, post-1914. Mr. Thomas was to race at the Speedway many times, driving cars ranging from the Mercer to Monroe. He also drove in the Indy 500 from 1920-22. Unlike many of his racing colleagues, Mr. Thomas survived his racing career and later became a State of Washington employee.

Thomas, Joe; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood; Automobile racing--Lakewood; Racing automobiles; Grandstands--Lakewood;

Two of the entries in the 1921 Tacoma Speedway Classic are pictured above, with Tom Alley's #27 Frontenac lined up ahead of Eddie Hearne's #1 Revere. It was Mr. Alley's first visit to Washington State although he was a veteran driver and considered one of the pioneers of racing. Mr. Hearne's white Revere was the same car he drove in 1920 when he finished third. The finishing line in 1922 saw these two cars switched in position: Mr. Hearne finished fourth with a time of 2:39:42, an eye-blink ahead of Mr. Alley's 2:39:44. Finishing fourth garnered Mr. Hearne $1,750 and 80 championship driving points while Mr. Alley's fifth place finish won him $1,500 and 50 championship points. The field of nine fast cars saw Tommy Milton nose out Roscoe Sarles for the $10,000 first place prize. (TNT 7-5-21, p. 1,2-results) G52.1-018

Alley, Tom; Hearne, Eddie; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Frontenac automobile; Revere automobile;

Construction workers take a moment to pose for a photograph at the site of the Tacoma Speedway in February of 1921. G34.1-012

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Construction workers--Lakewood;

Peering over the large steering wheel of his Durant Special is speed king Eddie Hearne, who had traveled to the Tacoma Speedway to race in the eighth annual auto race. Accompanying him on his ride in July of 1919 is his mechanic, Harry Hartz. Mr. Hearne joined his racing colleagues Cliff Durant, Dario Resta, Louis Chevrolet and Ralph Mulford in a one-day-only three-race series held on July 4th. The meet, sponsored by the Tacoma Speedway Association, offered a $15,000 purse for the event, the higher earnings to the winner of the most points in the 40,60, and 80 mile races. Nearly 40,000 fans flocked to the Speedway which saw the grandstands packed to capacity (seating 11,400) and the course lined with cars and field crowds that had taken special trains and buses in order to get there. Although Mr. Hearne did not win any of the races, he did manage to acquire enough points to finish with a $2100 payday. The Frontenac team of Louis Chevrolet and Ralph Mulford swept all three races. (TNT 6-30-19, p.1, 16-article; TNT 7-3-19, p. 1,2-article; TNT 7-5-19, p. 1, 13-results) TPL-1635; G51.1-138

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

R.C. "Cliff" Durant, California millionaire and automobile manufacturer, with his "mechanician" Fred Comer, on the Tacoma Speedway track in July of 1919. Five of the country's best known racing stars came to Tacoma for a one-day-only series of three races. Cliff Durant would join fellow racers Dario Resta, Louis Chevrolet, Eddie Hearne and Ralph Mulford at the Tacoma Speedway on July 4th for a total purse of $15,000. Mr. Durant would pilot his Chevrolet Special No. 1 in the afternoon races. He had qualified third with an average speed of 102.56 mph on July 1st, allowing him to be placed in the front row with Ralph Mulford and top qualifier, "Grandpa" Louis Chevrolet, who was on the pole. The Frontenac team of Chevrolet and Mulford would win all three races with Mr. Chevrolet the winner in the 60 and 80 mile events. Mr. Durant finished second in the first race, the 40-mile event, fourth in the second race, the 60-mile, and third in the final race of 80 miles. (TNT 7-2-19, p. 19-article; 7-5-19, p. 1-article) TPL-106; G51.1-108

Durant, Cliff; Comer, Fred; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Chevrolet automobile;

1916 Indy 500 champion Dario Resta made his first appearance at the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1919, at the special 5-star 4th of July races. He joined fellow speed kings Louis Chevrolet, Cliff Durant, Ralph Mulford and Eddie Hearne in a one-day, three-race competition. Mr. Resta, already a star on the European tracks and winner on American speedways, brought his Resta "Mystery" Special to town. Although the car was dubbed a "Mystery" Special, it may have had some Frontenac in it. Mr. Resta was able to finish both first and second races but was forced out in the third and longest race of 80 miles with mechanical trouble. His car had qualified last of the five entered in the races with an average speed of 98.09 mph. At that time Mr. Resta indicated that he wasn't out to break any records in practice but was saving his car for the actual races. The Special's motor troubles and bad steering made it a non-factor in the competition. Dario Resta, who was brought up in England but was of Italian descent, would die in England five years later at the wheel of a Sunbeam while trying for a new land speed record. (TNT 7-2-19, p. 19-article; TNT 7-5-19, p. 1, 13-results) TPL-081; G51.1-110

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

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;

Informal portrait of race car driver, Cliff Durant. Mr. Durant was back in Tacoma during the special July 4th races at the Tacoma Speedway in 1919. He joined racing colleagues and fellow aces Louis Chevrolet, Ralph Mulford, Eddie Hearne and Dario Resta for a one-day-only three race series with a total purse of $15,000. Although his Chevy Special No. 1 practiced at speeds up to 118 mph, he came in third in qualifying at 102.56 mph with the Frontenac team of "Grandpa" Louis Chevrolet and Ralph Mulford in first and second. The Frontenacs would sweep all three races but Mr. Durant did stay on the course throughout the day and won $2000. He came in second in the 40-mile, fourth in the 60-mile and third in the 80-mile race. Mr. Durant, a California millionaire and automobile manufacturer, had designed the "Durant Special" now owned and driven by Eddie Hearne in the Tacoma Speedway races. Mr. Hearne also did well in the races with total winnings of $2100 and second place honors in the 80-mile race. (TNT 7-3-19, p. 1, 2-article; 7-5-19, p. 1, 13-results) G52.1-032

Durant, Cliff; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood);

Ralph Mulford and his mechanic Frank Eastman are pictured behind the wheel of his Frontenac race car with aluminum engine at the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1919. Mulford was in town for the July 4th Montamarathon races. Mulford was in the lead in the 80 mile race when he had to drop out due to an engine malfunction. His car was repaired in time for him to place second in the 60 mile and to win the 40 mile race. Mulford won the National Driving Championship twice, in 1911 & 1915, despite the fact that he refused to race on Sundays due to his religious beliefs. He also has the distinction of being the driver to post the slowest time in the Indy, nine hours. In 1912, he was far behind when the winner crossed the line at the Indy. When officials told him that he still had to finish the race to receive his money, he decided to take his sweet time, even stopping once to eat a chicken dinner. Mulford lived to a ripe old age; he was born in 1884 and died October 23, 1973. (TDL 7/2/1919, pg 8-9; 7/5/19, pg. 1; www.hickoksports.com) G51.1-115, Speedway-039, TPL-097

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

Louis Chevrolet is pictured behind the wheel of his Monroe Frontenac with his mechanic K.W. Goodson riding beside him. This photograph was taken in the days preceding the July 4th, 1919 Racing Classic. Chevrolet would finish first in the 80 mile and 60 mile races and come in third in the 40 mile race, winning a purse of $6,500. Although he averaged out at 105 mph during the trials, his top speed in the races was 98.5 mph. The veteran racer was born December 25, 1878 and came to North American from Switzerland in 1900. He met William Durant, the founder of General Motors, in 1907, who hired him to design and race cars as part of a Buick team. In 1911, Durant founded the Chevrolet Motor Co., named after the driver, and hired Louis Chevrolet as its chief engineer. Durant wanted a car designed to compete with Ford and Chevrolet designed and engineered the first model that bore his name. Unable to agree on the direction the vehicle would take, the two split and Chevrolet founded the Frontenac Motor Corporation. The company was later bought out by Monroe Motor Co. and Chevrolet was retained as designer. Louis was the most successful of the three racing brothers, Arthur, Gaston and Louis, and won over 27 major racing events. He died in 1941. (TDL 7/2/1919, pg 8-9; 7/5/19, pg. 1; www. cruise-in.com; www.motorsportshalloffame.com) G51.1-127; Speedway-035, TPL-094

Chevrolet, Louis; Goodson, K.W.; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920;

Dario Resta is photographed in July of 1919 at the Tacoma Speedway in his Resta Special. Also in the vehicle is his mechanic R. Dahnke. Resta was making his first appearance at the Tacoma track and he was an unknown wildcard. In the trials for the July 4th race, he appeared to holding his car back, only going fast enough to qualify. However, it turned out that the smaller engine in his vehicle could not compete with the four larger cars. He finished last in the 40 mile and 60 mile races and dropped out of the 80 mile race with engine problems. Resta was born in Milan, Italy in 1884. His greatest year in racing was 1916, when he won both the Indy and the Driver's Championship. He was killed in a crash at Brooklands, England on September 2, 1924 when his car went out of control. (TDL 7/5/1919, pg. 1; 7/2/1919, pg. 8-9; www.hickoksports.com) G51.1-109; TPL-1645

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Resta, Dario; Automobile racing drivers;

Fresh off a second place finish at the Indy 500, driver Eddie Hearne returned to the Tacoma Speedway racetrack to compete in the Pacific Coast championship on July 4, 1919. He is pictured above with "mechanician" Harry Hartz at his side. Five top racers were invited to the Speedway to battle for $15,000 in prize money. A crowd of nearly 40,000, Speedway's largest crowd to date, saw Mr. Hearne, Louis Chevrolet, Ralph Mulford, Cliff Durant and Dario Resta battle in the eighth annual auto race there. Refereed by former ace and 1916's 300-mile winner Eddie Rickenbacker, the men drove in three races of 40,60 and 80 miles. Eddie Hearne in his Durant Special #14 qualified fourth at 100 mph and so started in the second row along with Dario Resta. Although his car completed the course in all three races, Mr. Hearne did not come in first in any of the races. He finished fourth in the 40 mile, third in the 60 mile and second in the third and longest race of 80 miles. (TNT 7-2-19, p. 19-article; TNT 7-5-19, p. 1, 13-results) TPL-115; G51.1-137

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

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;