ca. 1920. Gaston Chevrolet posed in his Monroe #4, designed by his older brother Louis, on an unidentified brick track, circa 1920. Chevrolet and his Monroe had won the prestigious Memorial Day Indianapolis 500 and was favored in the July 5th Tacoma race. However, he finished a disappointing seventh. 1920 was the last year that Gaston raced, he was killed in a crash at the Beverly Hills Speedway in November of 1920. The crash also convinced his brother Louis to retire from racing. Gaston was posthumously awarded the 1920 National Championship. (TDL 7/4/1920, pg. 1-C) Speedway 045

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

ca. 1920. Ralph DePalma and his riding mechanic, possibly nephew Peter DePaolo, in DePalma's French made Ballot race car, #2, circa 1920. Mr. DePalma was entered in the July 5th 1920 Tacoma Classic car race at the Tacoma Speedway. His Ballot suffered a broken connecting rod before the race and he ended up competing in Eddie O'Donnell's Duesenberg, which also broke down in the 75th lap. Ralph DePalma, 1884-1956, was born in Italy but came to the United States as a boy. He began racing automobiles in 1909, the same year that the American Automobile Association established the National Driving Championship, an award that DePalma took home in 1912 & 1914. He was the 1915 Indianapolis 500 winner. When he retired in the early 1930's after 27 years of racing, he had competed in 2889 races and won an amazing 2557 of them. After retiring, he worked as a consultant in the automotive field. He died in 1956 at the age of 72. (TDL 7/4/1920, pg. 1C; www.ddavid.com/formula1; wikipedia) Speedway 066

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Ballot automobile; DePalma, Ralph;

ca. 1920. Jimmy Murphy at the Tacoma Speedway in his race car #12, believed to be a Duesenberg, circa 1920. Accompanying him is his riding mechanic, Ernie Olson. This was Mr. Murphy's first trip to the Pacific Northwest. He was considered a rising star with a top five finish at the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day and a second place finish on June 19th at the Uniontown, Pennsylvania 225-mile race. As part of the powerful Duesenberg team, he was able to learn, as well as compete with veteran drivers like Tommy Milton, Eddie O'Donnell and Eddie Miller. Jimmy Murphy finished sixth at the July 5th Tacoma Classic, an event won by his teammate, Tommy Milton. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-20-20, 3B-article; TDL 7-6-20, p.1+-results)

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

ca. 1920. Gaston Chevrolet, the youngest brother of the racing triumvirate, was born in France of Swiss parents on October 26, 1892. He was brought to the United States by his older brother, racing car driver and designer Louis Chevrolet. In 1916, he became a partner with his brothers Louis and Arthur in Frontenac Motors. After initial success, the company went under after World War I. The trio went to work for Monroe Motor Co. In 1920, Gaston broke the European dominance of the Indy 500, winning in a Monroe-Frontenac designed by his brother Louis. His average speed was 88.62mph, a feat achieved with only a four cylinder engine. He was also the first racer to go the distance without a change of tires. His victory was only enjoyed briefly however, he died in a fiery crash on November 25th at the Los Angeles Speedway board track in Beverly Hills, Ca. He crashed in lap 146 and was killed, along with driver Eddie O'Donnell. At the end of the year, he was awarded the recently revived AAA National Champion title for 1920 posthumously. Speedway 086 (TNT 6/29/1920)

Chevrolet, Gaston; Automobile racing--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers;

ca. 1920. Eddie O'Donnell (left) and mechanic Lyall Jolls pose in front of a Duesenberg race car at the Tacoma Speedway circa the summer of 1920. The Duesenberg team brought four cars for the 225-mile race driven by nationally known race stars Tommy Milton, Jimmy Murphy, Edward Miller and Mr. O'Donnell. Teammates Milton, Murphy and O'Donnell had finished 1-2-3 at the Uniontown, Pennsylvania 225-mile race a few weeks prior to the July 5th Tacoma event. Tommy Milton was the victor in Tacoma while driving his #10 Duesenberg at a blistering pace, the fastest then set for the long race at the Speedway. Race car drivers were a tight fraternity; Eddie O'Donnell generously gave up his ride on a Duesenberg to Ralph DePalma, whose Ballot broke down before the race. Mr. O'Donnell then hopped onto teammate Eddie Miller's ride and Mr. Miller served as mechanic. They finished last of the eight cars remaining in the race. Mr. O'Donnell's car had qualified at a 98 mph clip so it says much of the spirit of camaraderie that he gave up the car to a competitor so that the crowds jammed into the Speedway would not be disappointed at the non-appearance of this international star. Both Mr. O'Donnell and Mr. Jolls died later in 1920 of injuries incurred in the November, 1920 Beverly Hills Speedway Classic. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-20-20, 3B-article; TDL 7-3-20, p. 1-article; TDL 7-6-20, p. 1-results)

O'Donnell, Eddie; Jolls, Lyall; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Duesenberg automobile;

ca. 1920. Racing sensation Jimmy Murphy poses next to his Duesenberg race car #12 at the Tacoma Speedway, circa 1920. Murphy has been named the driver of the decade for Championship cars, 1920-1929, claiming 19 victories from 1920-24. He went to work for Duesenberg as a mechanic on his 21st birthday in 1916. He burst on the racing world as a driver in 1920, winning his very first major race in Beverly Hills, Ca. He is most famous for his 1922 Indy 500 win and for being the first American to win the French Grand Prix, in 1921. Jimmy Murphy was a familiar face in Tacoma, racing at the Classic in 1920, where he finished sixth and 1922, which he won. He was killed in a crash at the Syracuse, N.Y., racetrack in September of 1924. Speedway-044 (TDL 7/2/1922, pg. C-1, C-6)

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

ca. 1920. Informal portrait of an unidentified race car driver or riding mechanic, probably taken in the very early 1920s. He may have been John Bresnahan, Gaston Chevrolet's "mechanician," who is looking directly into the camera's lens. His goggles are pushed up over his forehead and over his protective headgear. This photograph may have been taken at the Tacoma Speedway, once a prime racetrack in Lakewood that operated from 1912-22.

Automobile racing drivers; Automobile racing;

ca. 1920. Informal portrait of auto racer Roscoe Sarles, taken circa 1920. Mr. Sarles paid three visits to the Tacoma Speedway from 1920-22 to compete with other racing stars such as Tommy Milton, Jimmy Murphy, Gaston Chevrolet and Cliff Durant. Although the veteran driver never won at the Tacoma Speedway, his toughness and driving ability ensured that he earned the respect of fellow drivers and cheering crowds. He competed in a Monroe in 1920 and Duesenbergs the following two years, finishing second in 1921 after winning the pole. Mr. Sarles was burned to death on September 17, 1922, some two months after the last Tacoma Speedway car race, during the 300-mile dedication race of the Kansas City Speedway. TPL-3171 (TNT 7-3-20, p. 15)

Sarles, Roscoe; Automobile racing drivers;

ca. 1920. Wearing a jaunty checkered newsboy's cap is Chicago millionaire sportsman Joe Boyer, Jr., in this circa 1920 photograph. Mr. Boyer, accompanied by his "mechanician" Norman Etger, brought his Frontenac to the Tacoma Speedway for the July 5, 1920, 225-mile race. The field was crowded with top racing stars including Ralph Mulford, Cliff Durant, Eddie Hearne, Indy 500 winner Gaston Chevrolet, Roscoe Sarles and Tommy Milton, among others competing for a total purse of $22,500. Mr. Milton and his Duesenberg took first in a record time of 2 hours, 23 minutes and 28 seconds, averaging 95 mph. Joe Boyer was out in the 97th lap with a broken wrist pin. The estimated crowd of 40,000, many in the new 16,000-seat grandstand, were thrilled at the battle between eventual winner Milton and Ralph Mulford, who finished second. (TDL 7-6-20, p. 1-results; TNT 7-3-20, p. 15)

Boyer, Joe; Automobile racing drivers; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Men--Clothing & dress--Lakewood;

ca. 1920. Race car driver Eddie Hearne, circa 1920. Hearne, 1887-1955, was born in Chicago, the son of a gold-mining millionaire father. He raced from 1908 to the early 1930's in a total of over 120 races. In 1919, he won the Motor Age Championship, with Roscoe Sarles coming in second. In 1923, he was the AAA National Champion. He was a familiar face in Tacoma, winning the 75 mile in 1918, coming in second in 1919 and placing 3rd in the July 5th, 1920, Independence Day Classic, in his Revere, numbered "15." Speedway 056, Boland B2008 (TNT 6/29/1920; historicracing.com)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Hearne, Eddie; Automobile racing drivers;

ca. 1920. Veteran early race car driver and "Grand Old Man" of racing, Barney Oldfield was in Tacoma in July of 1920 to serve as pacesetter for the Tacoma Classic on the 5th. He was photographed with his signature cigar behind the wheel of an automobile. During his career as a driver, Oldfield broke speed records, won match races and put on exhibitions. A consummate showman, he helped develop the image of auto racing as dangerous and exotic and its drivers as outlaws, and made a fortune doing it. His name became synonymous with the sport. He retired in 1918 from racing, but continued public appearances. He died in 1946. (TDL 7/4/1920, pg. 1C) Speedway 082

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

ca. 1920. Race car driver Joe Thomas, circa 1920. The world of early automobile racing had a high mortality rate. Local boy Joe Thomas, born in Aberdeen (then called Grays Harbor City) in 1890, was able to avoid fatal crashes and live to the ripe old age of 75, dying in 1965. Although he was forced out of the race in 1920 with a broken piston and finished eighth, he would race at the Tacoma Speedway many times before it closed in 1922. After his racing days were over, he would return to Tacoma in the late 1930's to serve as director for the State Vehicle Inspection Station. Speedway 074 (TNT 6/29/1920)

Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Thomas, Joe;

Race car driver Roscoe Sarles, circa 1920. Although he had been a familiar face at major races for the past five years, Sarles made his first appearance at the Tacoma Speedway during the July 5th, 1920 race. He raced a Monroe, numbered "5," and finished fifth in the race. Two years later, in September of 1922, Sarles was killed in an accident at the Kansas City Speedway when he collided with Pete Depaola's car on the 110th lap and plunged over the edge of the track. Speedway 101 (TNT 6/24/1920, pg. 19)

Sarles, Roscoe; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers;

ca. 1920. Eddie O'Donnell (right) and his mechanic pictured in his Duesenberg #10 on an unidentified brick track. They would be in town on July 5th 1920 to race at the Tacoma Speedway. Although O'Donnell had been racing for several years, he was a new face at the Speedway. The 225 mile 1920 "Tacoma Classic" offered a winning purse of $22,500. The new grandstands allowed 15,000 fans to view the race comfortably from the stands when O'Donnell was the 8th, and last man, to finish the race, by driving fellow racer Eddie Miller's car. O'Donnell had graciously offered his car to Ralph DePalma, whose car was not running at race time. Eddie O'Donnell would die tragically later in 1920 from injuries sustained in a crash on November 25th. Gaston Chevrolet and Eddie O'Donnell collided with one another during the Thanksgiving Day Beverly Hills Speedway Classic race. Chevrolet was killed along with O'Donnell and mechanic Lyall Jolls. (TNT 6/19/1920, pg. 10; 6/30/1920, pg. 18) Speedway 042

O'Donnell, Eddie; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers;

ca. 1920. In July of 1920, lots of eyes at the Tacoma Speedway were on novice driver Jimmy Murphy, mechanic Ernie Olson and his Duesenberg. He was in Tacoma for the July 5, 1920, 225 mile Classic after winning the first race of the season, the inaugural at the Beverly Hills Ca. board track. Murphy raced for the Duesenberg team that had taken him on as a mechanic in 1916 and promoted him to driver in 1919. He finished 6th in the Tacoma Classic in his #12 Duesenberg. Jimmy Murphy was the shooting star of racing during his short 4 year and 9 month career, named National Racing Champion in 1922 and 1924. He was killed in a crash at Syracuse, New York, in September of 1924. (Jimmy Ralstin's Racing Home Page; www.ddavid.com/formula1/; TDL 7/6/1920, pg. 1; TNT 6/30/1920, pg. 18) Speedway 047

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

Roscoe Sarles aboard his #5 Monroe race car with his "mechanician, " believed to be Henry Franck, seated at his side. This photograph was believed to have been taken for the 1920 Tacoma Classic, a 225-mile race with 13 top drivers (12 started) entered. The top seven drivers would share in a $22,500 purse. Roscoe Sarles finished fifth in the race, behind winner Tommy Milton, Ralph Mulford, Eddie Hearne and Art Klein. Behind Mr. Sarles is the empty new grandstand, capable of holding 16,000, that was finished shortly before the July 5th race. TPL-082 (TDL 7-6-20, p. 1+-results)

Sarles, Roscoe; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Monroe automobile; Grandstands--Lakewood;

Eddie Miller and his riding mechanic, believed to be Gus Duray, pose in Miller's Duesenberg, #31, on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway. The pair were in town to compete in the 9th annual Tacoma Classic on July 5th. Miller had started out on the Duesenberg team as mechanic, but was now a new driver. When favored driver Ralph DePalma was forced to withdraw from the race when his French Ballot had mechanical failure, Miller offered him the use of his car. Eddie O'Donnell, the top driver of the Duesenberg team, then offered DePalma his faster car and he drove Miller's with Miller riding as mechanic. Miller returned to race in the 1921 Classic. (The Sunday Ledger listed Mr. Miller's car as #11 in their July 4th edition) (TDL 7/5/1920, pg. 3) TPL-096, Speedway 001

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

Indy 500 winner Gaston Chevrolet is seated in the #4 Monroe, a car designed by his brother Louis, as he prepares for the 1920 Tacoma Class 225-mile run at the Tacoma Speedway. His dirt-stained uniform indicates that he has already put in a few practice runs on the two-mile board track. The man seated beside him is believed to be his "mechanician" John Bresnahan. The No. 5 vehicle next to the men, also a Monroe, will be driven by Roscoe Sarles at the July 5th race. Both cars, plus Ralph DePalma's Ballot (not shown) were garaged at Mueller-Harkins in downtown Tacoma. Last year's big winner at the Tacoma Speedway, Louis Chevrolet, journeyed to Tacoma to assist his brother in getting the car ready for the big race. The third member of the Monroe team was Ralph Mulford, who would drive #3, and come in second in a hard fought battle with winner Tommy Milton and his Duesenberg. Mr. Chevrolet's Monroe came in seventh with prize winnings of $1000. He had been forced to the pits to replace a broken water pump. He was able to continue but his engine couldn't keep up the pace set by Tommy Milton. (TNT 7-3-20, p. 15-article; TDL 7-6-20, p. 1+-results; TNT 7-6-20, p. 14-results)

Chevrolet, Gaston; Monroe automobile; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930;

Gaston Chevrolet poses in his race car #4 at the Tacoma Speedway with his "mechanician" John Bresnahan standing at his side. Gaston was racing his Monroe race car at the July 5, 1920 Tacoma Classic with the assistance of his brother, Louis, who had won two races at Tacoma the year before. Fresh from a Memorial Day victory at the Indy 500, he finished a disappointing 7th in Tacoma. 1920 was the last year that Gaston Chevrolet raced, he was killed in a crash in Beverly Hills, Ca., in November of 1920. He was posthumously awarded the 1920 AAA National Champion title. Speedway-036, TPL-098, TPL-622.

Chevrolet, Gaston; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers; Bresnahan, John;

This is possibly Chicago millionaire and sportsman Joe Boyer, Jr. with his "mechanician" Norman Etger in their Frontenac #7 racing car. The photograph is believed to have been taken for the July 5, 1920, 225-mile race at the Tacoma Speedway. There were two Frontenacs entered in the race, driven by Mr. Boyer and Art Klein. Neither won the 1920 Tacoma Speedway event; that honor went to Tommy Milton and his #10 Duesenberg. Art Klein came in fourth, earning $1700. Mr. Boyer was out in the 97th lap with a broken wrist pin. TPL-129 (TNT 7-6-20, p. 14-results)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Frontenac automobile;

Jimmy Murphy and his mechanic Ernie Olson posed in Murphy's Duesenberg #12 on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1920. The pair were an unknown factor in the July 5th Tacoma Classic. Murphy had won his first major race and the season opener, the 1920 inaugural of the Beverly Hills Speedway. He would come in 6th in Tacoma in 1920, but return to take first place in 1922. (TDL 7/5/1920, pg. 3; www.rumbledrome.com) TPL-079, Speedway 002

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

This is driver Eddie O'Donnell at the wheel of a Duesenberg race car parked on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1920. The other man next to him is Lyall Jolls, his mechanic. Mr. O'Donnell had arrived in Tacoma as part of the four-man Duesenberg team of Tommy Milton, Eddie Miller, and Jimmy Murphy, ready to compete in the 225-mile July 5th race. Although the Duesenberg sports the number 29, the local newspaper The Tacoma Ledger placed the number 9 on the car. Mr. O'Donnell did not drive his own car during the race as he had generously opted to lend the vehicle to a competitor, Ralph DePalma, so that race fans would not be disappointed in Mr. DePalma's withdrawl. Teammate Eddie Miller in turn lent his car to Mr. O'Donnell for the race in a losing cause. 1920 was the last time local fans were able to watch Mr. O'Donnell in action as he died later in the year during a race in California. Mr. Jolls was also killed in the same wreck. TPL-100

O'Donnell, Eddie; Jolls, Lyall; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Duesenberg automobile; Racing automobiles--1920-1930;

The Duesenberg team brought four cars to the Tacoma Speedway for the 1920 225-mile race. Driver Eddie Miller and his "mechanician," believed to be Gus Duray, are seated in his #31 Duesenberg on the board track in early July of 1920. He had already provided excitement to the crowds avidly watching practice as he survived a crash into the track rail at 87 mph, spinning several times and landing in a ditch. He was uninjured. Eddie Miller was a new driver and had visited the Tacoma Speedway back in 1916 as a "mechanician" with the Duesenberg team of d'Alene and Milton. Mr. Miller ended up not driving at the 1920 race as teammate Eddie O'Donnell, having offered Ralph DePalma the use of his fast car, drove Mr. Miller's Duesenberg with Mr. Miller as the "mechanician." Eddie Miller had graciously offered his car first to Mr. DePalma but it was not as fast as Mr. O'Donnell's. (The Sunday Ledger indicated in their 7-4-20 edition that Mr. Miller's car number was 11, rather than the 31 painted above.) TPL-095 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger 7-4-20, p. 1-article, B-2 -list of drivers & cars)

Miller, Edward; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Duesenberg automobile; Grandstands--Lakewood;

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;

Getting ready to take a spin around the Tacoma Speedway is Ralph Mulford in his #3 Monroe along with his "mechanician," believed to be Thane Houser. Mr. Mulford had run in the 1919 Tacoma Classic which had been restricted to five top drivers including Louis Chevrolet, Dario Resta, Cliff Durant and Eddie Hearne. The Frontenac team of Chevrolet and Mulford won all three events of the day with Mr. Mulford driving to victory in the 40-mile race at an average speed of 100.2 mph. In front of a packed new grandstand and car-filled field, Tommy Milton and his #10 Duesenberg battled Mr. Mulford's Monroe throughout the 1920 race. Ideal weather conditions and the good track resulted in no accidents during the 225-mile race. Both the winning Duesenberg and the second place Monroe used Oldfield tires for the race. Mr. Milton did not have to pit once, not even to change tires, while Mr. Mulford only had to stop once for tire changes. For his second place finish, Ralph Mulford won $5000. (TDL 7-6-20, p. 1-results) TPL-099

Mulford, Ralph; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Monroe automobile; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles;

A solemn Roscoe Sarles posed behind the wheel of fellow racer Art Klein's #8 Frontenac race car on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1920. He was entered in the 225 mile Tacoma Classic on July 5th. He would finish 5th in the race while driving his #5 Monroe. (TDL 7/5/1920, pg. 3) Speedway 052

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers; Sarles, Roscoe; Frontenac automobile;

Eddie Hearne posed in his Revere race car, #15, on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway prior to the Tacoma Classic July 5th, 1920. The new grandstands, replacing those lost in a pre-season fire, can be seen in the background. He would come in third in the race, following winner Tommy Milton who completed the course in record time 2:23:28 at an average speed of 95 mph and second place finisher Ralph Mulford. (TDL 7/5/1920, pg. 3) Speedway 054

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Revere automobile; Hearne, Eddie; Automobile racing drivers; Grandstands--Lakewood;