ca. 1914. Californian Billy Taylor and his unidentified "mechanician" aboard the big #12 Alco "six" at the Tacoma Speedway in early July of 1914. Entry was submitted by A.H. Woolacott. The Alco raced in both the Golden Potlatch 200-miler on July 3rd and the grand finale Montamarathon 250-mile race on the 4th on the two-mile oval track. Mr. Taylor came in 5th place of the closing race, trailing winner Earl Cooper's Stutz, G.E. Ruckstell's Mercer, Arthur Klein's King, and Jim Parsons' Frantz. He had been dubbed a "daredevil of the (Billy) Carlson type" by the Tacoma Daily Ledger prior to the race and was, according to the newspaper, quickly becoming famous. (TDL 6-29-14, p. 2-article; TNT 7-5-14, p. 1-results)

Taylor, Billy; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Alco automobile;

ca. 1914. This young driver, sitting in his unnumbered race car, is believed to be Walter Grossman of Los Angeles. He and thirteen other racers had brought their "cycle cars," smaller and less powerful than regular race cars, to the Tacoma Speedway for special Labor Day competition in 1914. Mr. Grossman was also photographed in a "Red Devil" car of his own design and construction (see G51.1, image 120) which was far different from the car he is pictured in above. Although the boys were able to get in practice and speed trial times, rains on the actual day of competition cancelled the race. Mr. Grossman, part of a large contingent from Southern California, returned to his home after a second postponement.

Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers;

ca. 1914. Driver named Billy Taylor behind the wheel of an Alco "six" at the Tacoma Speedway with an unidentified mechanic probably during the July 3 & 4, 1914, races. Racers at that time were accompanied by their mechanics who were able to fit into the streamlined vehicles. Mr. Taylor was from Los Angeles and drove the vehicle owned by A. H. Woolacott, a broker and member of the Los Angeles Stock Exchange. He would end up in fifth place during the final race for the Montamarathon trophy, completing 250 miles without more than one stop for tire change. (TNT 6-21-14, 2-B-article; TNT 7-5-14, p. 1-results; Sunday Daily Ledger, 7-5-14, p. 1+-results)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Alco automobile; Taylor, Billy;

ca. 1914. Driver and his "mechanician" at Tacoma Speedway. The driver behind the wheel is possibly Jack A. Croston, a Tacoma resident who entered the July 3, 1914 InterCity 100-mile race limited to cars from cities in the Pacific Northwest. He had car #1 and was the first entrant. His Chevrolet had a very small motor, one of the smallest of the cars entered. Mr. Croston was the manager of the Chevrolet Motor Sales Co. and had a great deal of experience in Buicks, Nationals and Chevys. The man seated next to him is possibly J.J. Crane, his "mechanician." Mr. Crane, also of Tacoma, was the head of Tacoma Automobile Machine Works. The duo would finish fifth out of twelve cars in the InterCity race which was won by Jim Parsons of Seattle in his Frantz. (TNT 6-21-14, 2-B-article; TNT 6-28-14, 3-D-article; TNT 7-3-14, p. 1-results)

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

ca. 1914. Car #26, driven by N. Latta, and car #21, believed to be a Studebaker driven by H. Staley, drive past the grandstand of the Tacoma Speedway. This race is believed to be the July 1914 InterCity 100-mile race held at the Tacoma Speedway which featured cars from cities in the Pacific Northwest. Driver Latta, from Seattle, drove the #26 Lozier which came in third place in the race. The News Tribune noted that Latta did not pit or stop on the racetrack before crossing the finish line. Latta won $250 and Staley, the 4th place winner, earned $150 for the race. Jim Parsons, also of Seattle, was the winner among the twelve cars entered. He picked up a prize of $750. (TNT 7-3-14, p. 1-results; Sunday Daily Ledger, 7-5-14, p. 1+, p. 16-articles; TDN 7-3-14, p. 1-results)

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

ca. 1914. Driver Billy Taylor from California and his unidentified "mechanician" in A.H. Woolacott's big Alco #12 at the 1914 Tacoma Speedway races. Mr. Taylor had driven the car to a second place finish in the Vanderbilt Cup race at Santa Monica the previous winter, outracing several cars who were really faster. This so impressed car owner A.H. Woolacott that he entered the Alco with Mr. Taylor as driver in the July 3 & 4th races at the Tacoma Speedway. The Alco would come in 5th at the closing race of the Montamara Festo which was won by Earl Cooper of California for the second straight year. (TNT 6-21-14, 2-B-article; TNT 7-5-14, p. 1-article on results)

Taylor, Billy; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Alco automobile;

ca. 1914. H. C. Terrien behind the wheel of the "Pacific Car Special" in Tacoma for race at Tacoma Speedway. Mechanic is Oscar Soderburg (name misspelled on print). Herman C. Terrien, from Tacoma, entered his small Regal in the InterCity race on July 3, 1914. The 100-mile race was restricted to cars from cities in the Pacific Northwest. His Regal, #9, was worked on with Bob Field at the Pacific Car Co. The race was won by Seattle's Jim Parsons in his Frantz car. Mr. Terrien's car was not among the top five finishers. (TNT 6-21-14, 2-B-article, 10-A-alt. photograph; TNT 7-3-14, p. 1-results)

Terrien, Herman C.; Soderburg, Oscar; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Regal automobile;

ca. 1914. Frank Verbeck behind the wheel of his Fiat (car # 11) on the track at the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1914. Accompanying him was Forrest C. Smithson, his mechanic. Mr. Smithson was a world-class and Olympic hurdler. The Fiat ran in both the 200-mile and 250-mile races which attracted entries from the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere. Since the Fiat had raced here the past two years, expectations were high for another successful finish. Unfortunately the car did not perform well and Mr. Verbeck won neither race. (TNT 6-21-14, 2-B-article; TNT 6-28-14, 3-D-alt. photograph; TNT 7-5-14, p. 1+-results)

Verbeck, Frank; Smithson, Forrest C.; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Fiat automobile;

ca. 1914. This is possibly H. Staley and his unidentified "mechanician" aboard car #21, believed to be a Studebaker, preparing for the Montamara Festo races in early July of 1914. Driver Staley captured 4th place and $150 in the Inter-City Century, a 100-mile race held at the Tacoma Speedway on July 3rd. (TDL 7-4-14, p. 5-list of drivers; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-5-14, p. 16-results)

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

On July 4, 1915, Earl Cooper approaches the checkered flag in his Stutz racing car at the Tacoma Speedway, finishing second in the Montamarathon. The crowd of 20,000 spectators stands and cheers. Cooper had won the 250 mile race in 1913 and 1914 and had hopes of retaining the perpetual trophy for the Montamarathon, second only in importance to Indianapolis's 500. His hopes were dashed by his second place finish at 2: 58: 5. Grover Ruckstell finished first at 2:57. The track's split board planking consisted of 2 x 4 planks which were laid end to end and were a hazard to the car's tires. The race was also marked by the board track's first fatalities. Billy Carlson's Maxwell 17 blew a tire and left the track in the 60th lap, launching both Carlson and his mechanic in the air. The mechanic, Paul Franzen, was killed instantly and Carlson died later that day of injuries. TPL-130, Speedway glass- 040 (Tacoma Tribune 7/5/1915, pg. 1 & 2)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Cooper, Earl;

Earl Cooper in his #8 Stutz motors past the checkered flag on July 4, 1915, at the 250-mile Montamarathon held at the Tacoma Speedway. Thirteen cars had started on the "lattice" track which consisted of 2 x 4 Washington fir planks over which gravel, sand and hot oil were applied. Mr. Cooper had hoped to retain his title in the big race which he had won for two consecutive years but came in a close second to Grover Ruckstell in his red Mercer. Mr. Ruckstell's time was 2:57 which nipped Mr. Cooper's 2:58:5. Although Mr. Cooper's car was numbered 8 which had graced the car previously and was still a Stutz racer, it was not the same car that won him the previous titles. This particular #8 had finished fourth at Indy. Mr. Cooper's old #8 Stutz was re-numbered 2 and driven by George Hill. (TDL 7-5-15, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-4-15, p. 1-article)

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

This is believed to be the Velie Special driven by T.F. Barsby who finished third in the July 5, 1915, InterCity 100-mile race at the Tacoma Speedway. The race was won by Jim Parsons of Seattle for the third consecutive year. Frank Elliott in his Gordon Special came in second. Twelve cars were entered but only six finished. TPL-3166 (TDL 7-6-15, p. 1,2 -results)

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

This is George Hill and his "mechanician" in car #2, a Stutz, on the Tacoma Speedway wood-based track in 1915. Mr. Hill was one of a trio racing Stutzs including Earl Cooper and Dave Lewis. He had entered both the big 250-mile Montamarathon and 200-mile Golden Potlach races held on July 4-5, 1915. If the #2 car looked familiar, it should have been. It was the old #8 "ghost" Stutz of Earl Cooper's with which he (Mr. Cooper) had won the 1913 Golden Potlatch and the 1913 & 1914 Montamarathon events. Unfortunately, it did not win either race for Mr. Hill. He failed to finish the Montamarathon when his car caught fire and subsequently was too damaged to compete in the Potlatch. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 7-4-15, p. 1-article; TDN 7-5-15, p. 1,2-results)

Hill, George; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Stutz automobile;

Driving Stutz #2 in the 1915 Montamara Festo races was George Hill, accompanied by his unidentified "mechanician." The big race car formerly ran successfully under the number 8 when driven by Earl Cooper. In 1915 Mr. Cooper chose to drive another Stutz which had come in 4th at the Indy 500 and his old #8 "ghost" was re-numbered 2. Mr. Hill was one of 13 drivers in the big Montamarathon event but his car caught fire and he was eliminated from the race. He had also entered his vehicle in the 200-mile Golden Potlatch but was not one of the eight cars who eventually started. TPL-4426 (TDN 7-5-15, p.1,2 -results)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Hill, George; Stutz automobile;

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;

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;

ca. 1915. This is Grover E. Ruckstell, newly crowned "Speed King" of the 1915 Montamarathon race at the Tacoma Speedway. His winning time of 2:57 on July 4th barely beat out two-time champ Earl Cooper's 2:58:5 as he collected $2500 in cash and the possession of the Montamarathon trophy for one year. He again drove a big Mercer, this time painted red, and wore a jacket advertising Ventura Gasoline. Mr. Ruckstell kept the lead from the 105th lap to the finish as he ran the last three laps on bad tires without pitting to change them. The average winning speed was 84.4 mph, faster than in 1914 but much slower than expected on the new "lattice" track. Mr. Ruckstell, from California, came in second the year before, losing to defending champ Earl Cooper and his Stutz. Later Grover Ruckstell would head the famous Mercer racing team and develop the Ruckstell axle. (TDN 7-5-15, p. 1; TDL 7-5-15, p. 1-article)

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

ca. 1915. Vincent E. "Ventura " McDermott, wearing a heavy sweater emblazoned with a "Ventura Gasoline" emblem, shakes hands with a race driver drinking from a glass bottle in this circa 1915 photograph taken at the Tacoma Speedway. Mr. McDermott had come to Tacoma for the big July auto classics, bypassing stops in Chicago and Omaha. The Ventura brand of gas was popular with racers as cars using it came in first, second and five other places in the June, 1915, Indianapolis 500, accummulating $39,700 in prizes. The two other racers in the photograph were not positively identified although the man in the middle is believed to be Joe Thomas, an eight-year racing veteran from Seattle. His Mercer car failed to start for the 100-mile InterCity Century race at the Tacoma Speedway that year. The man enjoying a drink is believed to be veteran driver Eddie Pullen, Mr. Thomas' Mercer teammate, who went on to win the 200-mile Golden Potlatch race on July 5th. (damaged negative) (TNT 6-27-15, p. 13-alt. photograph & article on Mr. McDermott) TPL-1636; G52.1-102

McDermott, Vincent E.; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Shaking hands--Lakewood;

ca. 1915. Although photographer Marvin Boland has labeled the driver as "Earl Cooper" in his "Stutz," and the condition of the Tacoma Speedway board track identifies it as being post-1913 (the last year of the dirt track), it is not certain that this was a race during the 1915 Montamara Festo. In 1915 Mr. Cooper came in a close second during the Montamarathon on July 4th, as he attempted to win the big 250-mile race for the third consecutive year. He did run a Stutz in that year but it was the #8, not the #4 shown above. He earned $1500 for second place, sandwiched between the winner, Grover Ruckstell and Mr. Ruckstell's Mercer racing partner, Eddie Pullen, who came in third. TPL-4423

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

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;

ca. 1915. At the wheel of the "Great Big Baked Potato Special" is driver Harry O'Brien. The #33 car was entered in both the InterCity 100-mile and Golden Potlatch 200-mile races at the Tacoma Speedway during the 4th of July holiday weekend in 1915. The "Baked Potato" was believed to be a Stutz and the Stutzs and Mercers entries had withdrawn from the InterCity race. The car also did not run in the Potlatch on July 5th as only eight cars started the race. TPL-128

O'Brien, Harry; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920;

ca. 1915. "The Famous Tacoma Speedway, Annually the Scene of Exciting Automobile Races" This photograph was believed to have been taken in 1915. The grandstands are full of excited spectators while many others view the action from their parked cars across the way. Winners that year were Grover Ruckstell in the Montamarathon, Eddie Pullen in the Golden Potlatch and three-time winner Jim Parsons in the InterCity 100. TPL-8065

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

ca. 1915. Veteran driver Barney Oldfield, chewing on his ever-present Havana, at the wheel during the July, 1915 Tacoma Speedway races. He took his first spin around the board track on June 26th, declaring it "a wonder." Mr. Oldfield drove his #1 Peugeot in both the Golden Potlatch 200-mile and Montamarathan 250-mile races. This is the car he bought from Dario Resta who had previously won the Vanderbilt Cup and Grand Prix races in San Francisco as new foreign cars were not available due to the European war. He also brought his special Fiat Cyclone and 300 hp Christie to town to attempt world records; those cars did not compete in the actual races as they did not meet piston displacement rules. Barney Oldfield finished fifth with a time of 3 hours, 17 minutes in the big Montamarathon race on July 4th and third in the Golden Potlatch on the following day. (TDL 6-27-15, p. 20-article; TDL 7-5-15, p. 1-results; TDL 7-6-15, p. 1,2-results; Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-2-22, C-1-photo) TPL-3162

Oldfield, Barney; Automobile racing drivers; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Cigars;

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;

Tacoma to Seattle in 30 minutes and 55 seconds! Harry Barsamian, shop foreman of the Pacific Car Company, with mechanic Victor Williams, completed the feat in a stock Overland 90 Touring Car, driving from Tacoma city limits to the Seattle city limits. On June 19, 1919, Barsamian started from Sitcum Avenue on the Tacoma tideflats. The two men clipped down the rugged dirt Highline Road through Northeast Tacoma and onto Des Moines where they hit pavement and finished with a smooth ride to Seattle in record-breaking time. (TDL 6/22/1919, p. 8C). G11.1-073

Barsamian, Harry; Automobiles--Tacoma--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Tacoma--1910-1920;

Although there was no freeway between Tacoma and Seattle in June of 1919 and little actual paved road, Harry Barsamian, shop foreman for Pacific Car Co., managed to drive from the city limits of Tacoma to the city limits of Seattle in 30 minutes, 55 seconds. He was accompanied, not by the unidentified lovely miss in the front seat, but by his mechanic Victor Williams, proprietor of the Metropolitan Garage. Mr. Barsamian's time broke the previously acknowledged record of 34 minutes, 30 seconds. Victor Williams confessed to the Daily Ledger that there was one man too many in the vehicle and he was the one man; he swore never to do it again. Mr. Barsamian reported that there were no problems with the engine during the non-stop run. He declared the new stock Overland 90 Touring Car the "gamest little car in the world." Photograph ordered by the Pacific Car Co. (TDL 6-22-19, 8C) TPL-1522; G11.1-001

Barsamian, Harry; Automobiles--Tacoma--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Tacoma--1910-1920;

On July 4th, 1919, the Tacoma Speedway was packed with 35,000 racing fanatics for the annual races. The Speedway was one of two "Class A" racing locations in the United States, the other being Indianapolis. It was also a favorite of the drivers because of the abundant recreation opportunities of the area. Three races would be held on this day, 40 miles, 60 miles and 80 miles. By 1919, the track was 2 miles round and 50 feet wide, an adjustment done in 1914, and covered with 2 x 4 Washington fir planks laid end to end with gravel and sand filling the gaps and barrels of Richmond road oil applied hot to the surface. Indianapolis had shut down due to World War I and all the greats came to Tacoma. The five drivers surviving after the trials were Louis Chevrolet, Dario Resta (both in Tacoma for the first time,) Cliff Durant, Eddie Hearne and Ralph Mulford (in his first Tacoma appearance since 1913.) Eddie Rickenbacker, WW I flying ace and former race car driver, would referee the race. (TDL 7/2/1919, pg. 8-9) (Information on track construction: Standard Oil Bulletin, Vol. 3, circa 1915) Boland B2066, Speedway-025

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

On July 4, 1919, race car driver Eddie Hearne and his mechanic Harry Hartz whizz by in the "Durant Special." The Durant Special was originally built by millionaire sportsman and race car enthusiast Cliff Durant. Durant was also the son of William "Billy" Durant, founder of General Motors, Chevrolet and Durant Motors. The Special was now owned by driver Hearne. Hearne was a familiar face in Tacoma. He came in second in the 80 mile race and third in the 60 mile race, winning a purse of $2,100. Mechanic Hartz was one of the few who went on to become a driver and later a car owner. He ranks fifth on the all time winner's list for board tracks, above former boss Hearne. G51.1-090 (TDL 7/5/1919, pg. 1; Dick Ralstin's Racing Home Page)

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