ca. 1914. Frank Verbeck and his "mechanician," Forrest C. Smithson are pictured in their Fiat "70" which had been entered in the 200-mile Golden Potlatch and 250-mile Montamarathon races at the Tacoma Speedway in early July of 1914. Mr. Verbeck had raced in Tacoma in 1912 but not the following year. He held the 24 hour record on the Los Angeles motordrome. The Fiat had been the car of Mr. Verbeck's former teammate, "Terrible Teddy" Tetzlaff, who this year would run in a Maxwell. Mr. Verbeck along with several other notable racers showed up about two weeks before the race along with their cars. Forrest C. Smithson, the "mechanician," was a world class hurdler who was making his first appearance in Tacoma. He was an Olympic champion in 1908 and held numerous American records. TPL-10151 (TNT 6-21-14, 2-B-article; TNT 6-28-14, 3-D-alt. photograph & article)

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

Grover Ruckstell and his mechanic Quicksell pose in Ruckstell's Mercer at the July 1914 races at the Tacoma Speedway. On July 4th, in front of a crowd of 35,000 screaming fans, Ruckstell would fight his way to a second place finish behind Earl Cooper in the Montamarathon. Ruckstell's time for the 250 mile race was 3:23:33. It was the largest crowd in Tacoma's racing history and they were not disappointed with the heavily fought race. Teddy Tetzloff was in the lead until he dropped out in lap 113 with wheel problems, and limped to the pits with his mechanic laying across the hood holding the wheel. Ruckstell fought Bert Dingley for second place until Dingley spun off the course in lap 123, sustaining life threatening injuries. The crowd was in a frenzy as Ruckstell passed the checkered flag. TPL-103 Speedway-067 (T. Tribune 7/5/1914, pg. 1)

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

ca. 1920. Roscoe Sarles peeked around to be seen behind the grillwork of his Monroe racing car, circa 1920. Sarles was in Tacoma to compete in the Tacoma Classic on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway on July 5th, 1920. He drove car #5 and finished 5th in the race. He was a fearless driver and a ruthless opponent. He began racing by joining Louis Chevrolet's team in 1916. He had proved himself a successful competitor, but in September of 1922 his luck ran out. His Durant special snapped its steering wheel, swerved into another car, and was flipped over the edge of the track's rim, killing him. (TDL 7/4/1920,pg. 1C) TPL-113; Speedway 062

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

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

With his smile forming crinkles around his eyes, race car driver Eddie O'Donnell posed for the camera prior to the Tacoma Classic, held July 5th, 1920, at the Tacoma Speedway. When crowd favorite Ralph DePalma's French Ballot broke down prior to the race, O'Donnell offered him the use of his Duesenberg. O'Donnell himself drove team-mate Eddie Miller's car with Miller riding as mechanic. They were the eighth and last car to pass the finish line. (TDL 7/5/1920, pg. 3) TPL-3174

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

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. 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. 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. 1922. At 19 years old, Harlan Fengler was already an experienced "mechanician" on the Harry Hartz team. He rode with Mr. Hartz to a second place finish at the 1922 Indianapolis 500. He journeyed to Tacoma to compete with Mr. Hartz in the 1922 250-mile Tacoma Speedway race which would be the last major event in the Speedway's short history. The race was won by speed king Jimmy Murphy with Mr. Hartz's team finishing sixth. Harlan Fengler became a race car driver himself shortly after. Although his career as a driver was not long, he eventually became the Chief Steward at the Indianapolis Speedway, a post he held for sixteen years. TPL-3172

Fengler, Harlan; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood);

Race car driver Roscoe Sarles. This photograph was possibly taken in 1920 when Roscoe Sarles brought his #5 Monroe to the Tacoma Speedway for the 225-mile race on July 5th. This was the first appearance in Tacoma for Mr. Sarles. He ended up fifth in a star-filled field that year, earning $1200. Roscoe Sarles returned to the Speedway in 1921 and 1922, finishing second in 1921. His ride was a Duesenberg for both events. Mr. Sarles died in September of 1922 in a collision at the Kansas City Speedway. He was 30 years old.

Sarles, Roscoe; Automobile racing drivers;

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;

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;

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;

ca. 1922. This freckled-face young man is Harlan Fengler. He was Harry Hartz's "mechanician" or riding mechanic at the 1922 Tacoma Speedway 250-mile race. Mr. Fengler had been Mr. Hartz's riding mechanic at the 1922 Indy 500 where the pair finished second. 1922 was the last year that the Tacoma Speedway was open for business and Mr. Hartz finished sixth in his #12 Duesenberg Special with a time of 2:47:11, averaging 89.9 mph. It was a disappointing finish for the team as Mr. Hartz had qualified second, behind eventual winner Jimmy Murphy, with a 107 mph average. Later Mr. Fengler became a race driver himself. At 20 years of age, he raced at Indy in 1923, finishing 16th. Future attempts at Indy were not successful. Although active on board tracks, Mr. Fengler retired from racing in 1927. After pursuing a variety of careers, he ended up as the Chief Steward at the Indianapolis Speedway in 1958, a position he held for 16 years. (Dorson: The Indy Five Hundred: An American Institution Under Fire, p. 63-article)

Fengler, Harlan; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood);

ca. 1922. This is Howard Samuel Wilcox, better known to racing fans as "Howdy" Wilcox. Winner of the Indy 500 in 1919, he was a newcomer to Tacoma racing. He came to the Tacoma Speedway for the Fourth of July race in 1922, bringing with him an English Peugeot instead of Louis Chevrolet's Frontenac. Racers at the Tacoma Speedway in 1922 shattered speed records with nine of them averaging 103 mph in qualifying, the fastest ever. Unfortunately, Mr. Wilcox was not one of them as his car qualified at 97 mph. It was a highly touted field which included Jimmy Murphy, Tommy Milton, Ralph Mulford, Harry Hartz, Roscoe Sarles, Eddie Hearne and Cliff Durant. The 250-mile race, the last run at the Speedway, was won by Jimmy Murphy with a time of 2:33:55 and average speed of 97.6 mph. Howdy Wilcox finished fifth at 2:45:34, averaging 90.8 mph. Mr. Wilcox passed away a year later in a wreck at the Altoona Speedway in Pennsylvania. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-25-22, C-1-article; 7-2-22, C-1; 7-3-22, p. 1-qualifying; 7-5-22, p. 1-results)

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

In July of 1921, veteran driver Eddie Pullen was in danger of having to withdraw from the Tacoma Speedway Classic. He had lost his car at Indianapolis and had not found a replacement. Fellow driver Johnny Thiele, knowing what a favorite Pullen was in the Northwest, offered him his Duesenberg and withdrew from the race. Pullen was especially popular in Tacoma, where he had performed in his very first race. He had also already announced that he would be retiring from racing at the end of the year at the insistence of his wife. Born August 16,1883 in Trenton, N.J., Pullen had always been mechanically inclined. After he finished school, he went to work at a machine shop. He ended up, in 1909, working in Flint, Mich., at Buick. From there, he went to employment at Mercer. At that time, Mercer was focusing a lot of its energies on its sports car, the Mercer Raceabout, and its crack racing team, headed by Hughie Hughes. In 1911, Pullen was able to swing a job as mechanic with that team. Then came Tacoma in 1912, Ralph Mulford withdrew from the race and Pullen, still a mechanic, convinced Hughes to let him race. Pullen won first place in the 150 mile event and from then on was a driver; although he also served as head of the mechanical end of the Mercer team. In 1914, he became the first and only American born driver to ever win what was then the United State's most famous road race, the American Grand Prize, in an American car, the Mercer. (TDL 7/3/1921, pg. C-3; www.capitalcentury.com)

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

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. 1922. Close-up of riding mechanic Terry Curley circa 1922. Mr. Curley, a former boxer, switched professions to become an automobile riding mechanic in the 1920's. He came to the Tacoma Speedway in July of 1922 for what would be the last race run at the famous board track.

Curley, Terry; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood);

ca. 1921. Driving mechanic L.J. Vick posed for photographer Marvin Boland at the Tacoma Speedway circa 1921. He is seated behind the wheel of an unidentified race car on the board track. Riding mechanics, or "mechanicians," accompanied the actual race car driver during the race. It is not known which racer Mr. Vick accompanied. TPL-2476

Vick, L.J.; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood);

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;

ca. 1920. This is Art Klein, race car driver, in an informal outdoor portrait circa 1920. Mr. Klein had prior experience at the Tacoma Speedway when in 1914 he brought his King car directly from the Indy 500 to race alongside such contemporaries as Earl Cooper, Hughie Hughes and Wilbur D'Alene. He came in second in the 200-mile Golden Potlatch and third in the 250-mile Montamarathan. In 1920 he was part of the Frontenac team along with Joe Boyer, Jr. Mr. Klein, running on Oldfield tires, came in fourth with a $1700 payday. (TDL 7-6-20, p. 1-results)

Klein, Art; Automobile racing drivers; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930;

ca. 1920. Race car driver Art Klein, circa 1920. Art Klein was competing in the 1920 Tacoma Classic at the Tacoma Speedway. He had just finished 5th at the Indy 500, which would turn out to be his best finish in that race. In Tacoma, he finished 4th in his Frontenac race car, numbered "8." He raced professionally from 1914-1917 and again from 1919-1923 and built his own Kleinart Indy car. Born in 1889, he managed to survive professional racing; he died in 1955. (TDL 7/4/1920, pg. 1C)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing drivers; Klein, Art;