The Grand Opening of the Midget Auto Races Track at Athletic Park was on Friday May 10, 1946. The cars raced under flood lights, with time trials starting at 7 p.m. and races at 8:15 p.m. General admission was $1.50; children and servicemen were 75 cents. This aerial view of Tacoma shows the track and most of the area known as Hilltop. With the construction of the race track at the NW corner of S 15th and S Sprague Avenue, Tacoma's Athletic Park lost most of its baseball field. (T. Times 05/24/1946 p.13)

Tacoma Athletic Park (Tacoma); Neighborhoods--Tacoma--1940-1950; Midget Auto Races Track (Tacoma); Racetracks--Tacoma;

ca. 1946. Typical race at Tacoma track in the 1940s after WWII. These appear to be midget racers and the location thought to be Athletic Park, South 14th & Ferry. Races were held there every Saturday night starting in late April which drew drivers as far away as California. Prices were kept reasonable at $1.50 general admission, reserved seats $2.00 and kids under 12 a mere 75 cents. (Courtesy of the Cammarano Collection)

Automobile racing--Tacoma--1940-1950; Racing automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1946. Sydney Carr was photographed standing next to one of his midget racers circa 1946. Sydney Carr and Robert Ormsby were the owner-operators of the Carr and Ormsby Transportation Co. at 617 East 11th. Mr. Carr, an avid midget-auto racing enthusiast, moved to Tacoma from Pennsylvania in the early 1930s. He owned several midget race cars and served as president of the Midget Racing Association. (Courtesy of the Cammarano Collection)

Carr, Sydney; Racing automobiles--1940-1950;

ca. 1946. Allen Heath behind the wheel of Tom Carstens' 1946 KurticKraft Ford V860 midget racecar. Heath was the Washington State Champion in 1946 and 1947. He was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1991. His career lasted into the '60s, even more remarkably because he drove with a "hook," having lost a hand in a 1953 accident. The Saskatchewan-born Heath also drove sprint cars and was noted as a tough competitor. (National Midget Racing Hall of Fame)

Heath, Allen; Racing automobiles--1940-1950; Automobile racing--1940-1950;

Elmer Lock sits behind the wheel of his midget racer in this photograph from June, 1936. In the 1930's, midget racers like this competed regularly under the arc lights of the Tacoma Speedway Royale at South 14th and Sprague. The races varied in length from 3 laps for a "helmet dash" to 30 for a class A "Main Event". (T. Times 06-01-1936 p.11)

Automobile racing--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile racing drivers

The grand old man of racing Barney Oldfield posed with thirteen drivers on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway prior to the race on July 4th 1922. The 1922 Speedway Classic would turn out to be the last auto race held on the track. It was closed at the end of 1922. Only ten of the drivers would actually compete in the race. Oldfield led the pack as Pacemaker. Pictured, left to right, are Jimmy Murphy, Tommy Milton, unidentified, Frank Elliott, Roscoe Sarles, Jerry Wanderlich, Harry Hartz, Joe Thomas, unidentified, Barney Oldfield, unidentified, Eddie Hearne, Cliff Durant and Ralph Mulford. TPL-3177

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

On July 4th 1922, thirty thousand fans crowded into the stands at the Tacoma Speedway to watch what turned out to be the last car race held at the Tacoma track. Ten drivers competed in the 250-mile race. The cars are lining up behind the pace car, driven by Barney Oldfield, prior to the checkered flag. Lined up are (l to r): front row- Tommy Milton #8 Leach Special, Harry Hartz #12 Duesenberg, Jimmy Murphy #35 Murphy Special; 2nd row- Joe Thomas #10 Duesenberg, Roscoe Sarles in the #31 Duesenberg, Cliff Durant in the #34 Durant Special; 3rd row- "Howdy" Wilcox in the #16 Puegeot, Art Klein in the #2 Frontenac, Ralph Mulford in the #9 Leach Special; 4th row- Jerry Wonderlich #24 Duesenberg. The man standing between cars 8 and 12, wearing the straw hat and knickers is Fred "Pops" Wagner, the starter. Jimmy Murphy and Tommy Milton battled for the lead, but Murphy finally pulled ahead in the last few laps and won in the record setting time of 2:33:55 with an average speed of 97.6 mph. Just seconds later Milton crossed the line at 2:34:01. The track was closed at the end of 1922, a victim of falling revenue. TPL-620 (TDL 7/5/22, pg. 1) Speedway-141

Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing drivers; Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Oldfield, Barney;

Jimmy Murphy raised his right arm in triumph as he passed the checkered flag waved by Fred Wagner, winning the July 4th 1922 Tacoma Speedway Classic and setting a new track record. Murphy finished the 250 mile race in 2:33:55, narrowly defeating Tommy Milton. Murphy's average speed was 97.6 mph. He was driving his own "Murphy Special." He was favored to win the Tacoma Classic, having won the 1922 Indy 500 on Memorial Day. He was also the first American to win the French Grand Prix, in 1921. His numerous wins entitled him to wear the crown of National Racing Champion in both 1922 and 1924. However, his racing career only spanned a short four years and nine months. He was killed in a crash at Syracuse, New York, in September of 1924. (TDL 7/5/1922, pg. 1) TPL-8797, Speedway-142

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

Seattle's Joe Thomas at the wheel of his Duesenberg 8 as he prepares for the 1922 Tacoma Speedway long distance race. Duesenbergs were a popular ride; in 1922, Harry Hartz, Roscoe Sarles, Jerry Wonderlich, and Joe Thomas were in Duesenbergs with Eddie Hearne in a Disteel Duesenberg. Joe Thomas had come in third place in the 1921 Tacoma Speedway event but the 1922 race, the last ever at the Speedway, saw his car #10 flagged down by the starter. Jimmy Murphy was the winner of the 11th 250-mile race, a few seconds ahead of Tommy Milton's Leach Special. (TNT 7-5-22, p. 1+-results)

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

Jerry Wonderlich (his name is misspelt on the print) in car #24 and Harry Hartz in car #12 were two of the nationally known drivers who competed on July 4th, 1922 in the National Championship Race at the Tacoma Speedway. The men were pictured above on June 29th during practice laps on the board track at speeds of about 90 mph. Hartz had just taken second place in the 1922 Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day. Both men were driving Duesenberg Straight 8 race cars. The Tacoma Speedway was south of Tacoma in what is now Lakewood, opposite the Mountainview Cemetery. The wooden bridge over the track provided access to the parking area in the middle of the track. TPL-619; TPL-133; Speedway-133 (TDL 6-30-22, p. 1)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Wonderlich, Jerry; Hartz, Harry; Duesenberg automobile;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. 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. 1922. California sportsman and car manufacturer Cliff Durant at the wheel of his blue Durant Special, accompanied by his mechanic, circa 1922. Mr. Durant, a favorite of Northwest race fans, arrived in Tacoma on June 28, 1922, to compete in the eleventh annual race at the Tacoma Speedway. He joined a cast of nationally known racers for the July 4th event, including Ralph Mulford, Roscoe Sarles, Jimmy Murphy and defending champion Tommy Milton for a total purse of $25,000. Mr. Durant was using the same car in which Tommy Milton had captured the national championship. Newspapers announced that this was to be Mr. Durant's last race of his illustrious career as the business world had taken over his attention. His Durant Special qualified fourth with average speed of 104.5 mph, as the track and cars ran extremely fast. Jimmy Murphy, who had won the pole position with nearly 109 mph, would eventually defeat Tommy Milton by just a few seconds. Mr. Milton had led the majority of the distance before tire changes cost him the race. Cliff Durant did not finish the race as broken rear axles claimed both his and Ralph Mulford's Leach Special. (print from badly damaged negative) (TDL 7-5-22, p. 1-results)

Durant, Cliff; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1920-1930; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1920-1930; Racing automobiles--1920-1930; Durant Special automobile;

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);

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);

Twenty thousand race fans crowded into the covered grandstands of the Tacoma Speedway to watch the July 4, 1921 Speedway Classic. The drivers, mechanics and race officials stand on the board track prior to the start of the 250 mile race. The race cars are lined up on the track three abreast, with the Marmon Speedster pace car in the lead. In the front row are, left to right, #6 Roscoe Sarles' Duesenberg, #1 Eddie Hearne's Revere Special and #3 Frank Elliott's Leach Special. Middle row: #5 Joe Thomas's Duesenberg, #7 Eddie Miller's car, #2 Tommy Milton's Durant Special. Last row: #27 Tom Alley's Frontenac, #12 Anton Soules' Frontenac, #21 Eddie Pullen's Duesenberg. The crowd was treated to an exciting race where Tommy Milton repeated his win of the previous year, breaking all distance speed records with an average speed of 98 mph. He completed the race in 2:34:00, followed closely by Sarles at 2:34:52. (TDL 7/2/1921 - 7/5/21, all pg. 1) G51.1-081

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

On July 4, 1921, some of the cars participating in the 10th annual Speedway Classic are lined up on the board track. In the lead is #27 Tom Alley's Frontenac followed by #1 Eddie Hearne's big white Revere Special. The Marmon Speedster pace car, which would be driven by Ray Harroun, brings up the rear. In the background is the judge's viewing tower. Twenty thousand fans turned out to cheer on the 9 drivers in the 250 mile race. The drivers finished in the following order: Milton, Sarles, Thomas, Hearne, Alley and Miller. Pullen and Elliott were flagged off the track at the completion of the race. Soules did not complete the race, leaving on the 61st lap with a blown piston. (TDL 7/5/1921, pg. 1) G51.1-067

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

On July 4, 1921, at 2:30 in the afternoon, the flag dropped starting the 10th annual Tacoma Speedway Classic. Nine drivers had entered the 250 mile race. It was driven on Tacoma's infamous board track and had a purse of $25,000, to be divided nine ways. On the right is the pace car, a Marmon Speedster, carrying referee Eddie Rickenbacker and pace maker Ray Harroun. The car would pace the drivers for one lap before the race actually took off. Rickenbacker was a former star of the race track and a famous ace of the air and Harroun was also a veteran driver. Harroun was a last minute replacement for Louis Chevrolet. The car on the left of the pace car is #6, the Duesenberg driven by Roscoe Sarles. Sarles had earned the pole position by driving at the top speed of 101 mph during the trials. The race was won by favorite Tommy Milton. Milton broke all speed records for distance with his average speed of 98 mph. (TDL 7/4/1921, pg. 1; 7/5/21, pg. 1) G51.1-082

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

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;

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;

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;

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;