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

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;

The stands look a little empty for the start of the July 3, 1914, InterCity 100-mile race at the Tacoma Speedway. Drivers and their accompanying "mechanicians" are lined up in their race cars two abreast. These included at front: Tacoma driver Jack Croston in car #1, a Chevrolet; #2 -believed to be Barnes in his Romano; #5 -Joe Thomas in his Mercer; #26 - N. Latta of Seattle in his Lozier. This particular race was restricted to cars from Pacific Northwest cities. Total prize money was $1500 with first place winner Jim Parsons getting the lion's share of $750. Mr. Parsons, of Seattle, had won the event for the second straight year. TPL-5697;

Croston, Jack A.; Thomas, Joe; Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Chevrolet automobile; Mercer automobile; Lozier automobile; Romano automobile;

ca. 1914. Jim Parsons' #7 Frantz race car is parked in the pit area of the Tacoma Speedway circa 1914 while a vehicle carrying a load of tires slowly backs in front of it. Other tires have already been unloaded and are piled upright nearby. The grandstands are nearly empty indicating this may have been practice time at the Speedway instead of the actual July races. Jim Parsons, from Seattle, would go on to win the InterCity 100 race three consecutive years, 1913-1915, allowing him to keep the perpetual challenge trophy. TPL-4424

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Frantz automobile; Tires; Grandstands--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;

Encouraged by 16,000 screaming racecar fans, three cars rush to the finish line in the "Golden Potlatch," one of two races run on July 5th, 1913 at the Tacoma Speedway. The race was 200 miles, 58 laps of 3.516 miles each, run on a dirt track and open to Class "E" non-stock cars with a winner's purse of $3,500. Earl Cooper and his white Stutz won the race in 1913 after "Terrible Teddie" Tetzlaff dropped from the lead with a broken cam shaft. Cooper's time was 2:49:32. 1913 was a victorious year for Cooper; he won 7 of 8 major road races and claimed his first national championship. The Tacoma Speedway racetrack had opened in July of 1912, financed by a group of Tacoma businessmen led by Arthur Pritchard, President of the Tacoma Automobile Association. During its years of operation, 1912-1922, most of racing's greats sped around the track, which was rated one of the three best in the United States. TPL-5481, Speedway Glass- 020 (TDL 7/6/1913, pg. 1, www.historylink.org, www.hickoksports.com)

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

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;

ca. 1920. Map of the Tacoma Speedway from about 1920 showing, in detail, the layout of the track and stands. Note that the prices for tickets to sit in the stands are listed. Seats in the open stands were $2.50 or $3.00 plus tax. Seats in the covered stands were $3.50 to $6.00 plus tax. In March of 1920, an arson occurred at the track, forcing massive reconstruction of the grandstands. All improvements would be in place in time for the 1920 225 mile classic, the biggest race in Tacoma's racing history. The Indy had placed a requirement that all top finishers compete in Tacoma and crowds turned out to see them. The new grandstands could seat 16,000, with 960 feet of the stands covered. There was room for 10,000 cars to park in the center of the 2 mile track and a tunnel for spectators to cross under the track to the stands. The new entries allowed cars to enter two abreast and they could cross a bridge from the main entrance into the center parking, even with the race in progress. Other improvements included fences, the pits, a water tower and a renewed track. The race would be 225 miles with a purse of $22,500, to be divided into seven prizes. Over 40,000 fans turned out to watch the race. Speedway-053 (TDL 6/20/20, pg. 1-C; 6/27/1920, pg. 1)

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

ca. 1920. Race car driver Joe Boyer and his riding mechanic posed in Boyer's Frontenac on an unidentified brick track in 1920. Boyer had led the pack in the 1920 Indianapolis 500 for the first 250 miles and then hit a brick wall, taking him out of the race. His Frontenac was the topic of much conversation, since the vehicle designed by the Chevrolet brothers had made its first appearance in the Indy. Boyer, a young millionaire from Chicago, would later compete in the July 5th 1920 Tacoma Classic. He was out of the race in the 97th lap. In 1924, Boyer was co-winner of the Indianapolis 500 replacing LL Corum during the race. Boyer was killed later that year in a crash at the Altoona Speedway. (TDL 6/27/1920, pg. B-2) Speedway 013

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

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;

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;

This unidentified smiling driver is seated in a black race car at the Tacoma Speedway. He is believed to have been photographed sometime in the early 1920s, prior to 1923. Instead of the uniforms modern racers wear, this driver is nattily dressed in a striped shirt with rolled up sleeves and dark tie with stickpin. Many of the drivers photographed at the Tacoma Speedway from 1912-22 wore dress shirts and pants while on the track.

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

Unnumbered race car with unidentified driver and "mechanician" photographed on the Tacoma Speedway post-1913. 1913 was the last year of the track's dirt surface. From 1914 to 1922 cars ran on a board track, pictured here. The dapper driver is wearing a bow tie, striped white shirt and vest. His protective goggles are propped over his cloth/leather headgear. G52.1-007

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

ca. 1914. Unidentified driver in car # 19 at Tacoma Speedway. May be Lou Sorrell in his 120-hp Fiat. The big Fiat was entered by Mack Sennett of Los Angeles in the races held during the Montamara Festo week of July, 1914. There were a total of 26 cars entered in the three sanctioned events spanning July 3 and 4th. Total prizes were $10,500. The Fiat was said to be the largest car entered. Driver Sorrell (also spelled Sorell in the newspapers) was said to be a well known driver back East but unknown in the Northwest. (TDL 6-29-14, p. 2-article; TNT 6-28-14, 2D-article)

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

ca. 1914. Lumber to be used to build Tacoma's wooden track in stacks at the Speedway. Prior to 1914, the two-mile oval Tacoma Speedway was a dirt track which often provided a jolting, tough ride. When it rained and the track became too soggy for use, races were cancelled. In 1914 a split board track consisting of Washington fir 2 x 4's replaced the dirt. These planks were laid on edge, 5/8th of an inch apart, and nailed down. 2,000,000 feet of lumber, board measure, were used and 72 miles of wire were necessary to make the nails. The spaces between the planks were filled with 2500 cubic yards of gravel and sand. About 500 barrels of Richmond road oil were applied hot to the surface and about 400 cubic yards of sand was spread on top of the oil. This method would hopefully prevent holes from appearing in the track thereby lessening the chance of accidents. Several auto racers, including Earl Cooper, Jim Parsons, Hughie Hughes, Billy Carlson, Wilbur De Alene and G.E. Ruckstell, had previously advised that the Speedway should be paved with creosote wood blocks instead to make it the fastest and safest auto racetrack in the world. The ride would be smoother and it would be easier on the tires and less strain on the driver. (TNT 7-5-14, 5-B-article on creosote blocks) (information on track construction: Standard Oil Bulletin, Vol. 3, ca. 1915)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Lumber;

Race car driver Grover Ruckstell and his mechanic "Quicksell" after the pair came in second at the July 4, 1914 Montamarathon driving the #16 yellow Mercer. Winner and defending champion Earl Cooper picked up $2500 for his efforts while G.E. Ruckstell (often misspelled Ruckstall in the newspapers) received $1500 for second place. New to Tacoma, he was a teammate of Eddie Pullen and a driver of Californian George R. Bentel's Mercer cars. Mr. Ruckstell was also a mechanic and engineer, having earned his masters degree in automotive engineering from Princeton University. He also served as head of the famous Mercer racing team. He is also credited with developing the basic concept of a two speed rear axle into a popular product, the "Ruckstell Axle" marketed for Ford. The handcrafted Mercer was only manufactured for 15 years, but the Mercer Raceabout is considered the model sportscar of the era, the perfect blend of speed and finesse. The Mercer Auto Co. was incorporated in 1909, backed by the funds of millionaire businessmen Ferdinand Roebling and John Kruser. The automotive designs of Finley Robertson Porter and the business acumen of general manager and society playboy Washington Roebling II made the $1950 sports car the choice of wealthy sportsmen. The company reached its glory in 1914 and due to a series of bad turns was gone in a decade. The last Mercer was made in 1925. (T.Tribune 7/5/1914, pg. 1-results; www.chaffinsgarage.com; www.capitalcentury.com)

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

On July 3, 1914, Jim Parsons and his mechanic W. Ogden won the Intercity 100 mile race at the Tacoma Speedway in their Frantz racer, repeating their victory of the previous year. The winning time was 1:21:29 with an average speed of 73.6 mph. The Intercity allowed only car entries from cities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia. Parsons was from Seattle. A total of 12 cars were entered in the race. Parsons won the race, but the most publicity went to 2nd place finisher S.F. Brock. On July 2nd, Brock and his mechanic N.E. "Nervy" Green ran down and killed spectator R.C. Pollock who was attempting to cross the track. The Wright race car flipped, injuring the pair, and severely damaging the car. The pair worked into the night getting the car back into racing condition and received a standing ovation when they finished second. In addition to picking up the InterCity honors, Jim Parsons may have also gotten a little something extra from the City of Tacoma: a possible speeding ticket. He was caught traveling 60 mph on South Tacoma Blvd. on Friday, June 26th. According to the June 27th News Tribune, the case was postponed in police court until Monday, June 29th, but no further information was provided. (T. Tribune 7/3/1914, pg.1; 7/2/14, pg. 1)

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Parsons, Jim; Ogden, W.; Automobile racing drivers;

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;

In September of 1914, racing fever over miniature racers and their junior drivers took Tacoma by storm. The "cycle cars" were in town for Labor Day races scheduled at the Tacoma Speedway. Most of the cars and drivers were from California, although Tacoma boys Joe Rovegno, Clarence Healy, Phil "Babe" Sullivan and "Swift" were scheduled to race. All the boys were feted by Tacomans and felt that the city "sure did treat a fellow fine." Six of the cars and drivers are pictured on A Street. At the left rear is the Park Hotel, at 802 A St. The building at the front left may be the J.F. Hickey Motor Car Co., at 812-14 A St., and a Seattle-Tacoma interurban car provides the background. In the front row are: (l to r) veteran junior driver Mott Haynes in his Mercer and novice driver Walter Gossman in his Red Devil. In the center are Homer Loudenclos, in either the Peugeot or the Hudson he designed, and Al Bruce in his National. In the rear are an unidentified car and Shirley Williams in a Theim. The cars were designed and built, in most cases, by the drivers themselves. They were in some cases backed by the motor companies whose names they carried. It was common for companies to bankroll race cars as advertising.

Tacoma Speedway (Lakewood); Racetracks--Lakewood--1910-1920; Automobile racing--Lakewood--1910-1920; Racing automobiles--1910-1920; Haynes, Mott; Gossman, Walter; Loudenclos, Homer; Bruce, Al;

ca. 1920. Ralph DePalma and his "mechanician," believed to be nephew Peter DePaolo, in the French Ballot No. 2, circa 1920. The Ballot was the only foreign entry in the 1920 Tacoma Classic racing event held at the Tacoma Speedway on July 5, 1920. International star DePalma had raced for twelve successive years and was known for driving hard and giving spectators their money's worth. The Ballot broke down prior to the actual July 5th race but Mr. DePalma still managed to compete in a borrowed Duesenberg. TPL-131 (TNT 7-1-20, p. 1, 11-article)

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

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;

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;

ca. 1920. This is speed king Jimmy Murphy (at left) with his mechanic, Ernie Olson, on the board track of the Tacoma Speedway circa the summer of 1920. He had entered the 9th annual race as a newcomer to the Pacific Northwest but had already started to establish himself as a rising star in the world of auto racing. He and his mechanic are standing in front of his Duesenberg, one of four entered in the July 5th race. The 1920 Tacoma race was filled with veteran well-known drivers including 1920 Indy 500 winner Gaston Chevrolet, NW favorite Eddie Hearne, Roscoe Sarles, Eddie O'Donnell, Ralph DePalma, Cliff Durant, Ralph Mulford and the eventual winner, Tommy Milton. Mr. Murphy drove well and finished sixth, claiming a payday of $1,100. In 1922 he returned to the Tacoma Speedway and won the last big race held there. (Tacoma Sunday Ledger 6-20-20, 3B-article; TDL 7-6-20, p. 1+-results)

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

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;

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;

The grandstands being rebuilt at the Tacoma Speedway in May of 1920. In March, before the beginning of racing season, a firebug started a blaze that wiped out 3/4 of the grandstands at the Speedway. The fire was ruled an arson and the Speedway had no insurance. The future of the racetrack was in doubt. $100,000 was raised by selling bonds to Tacoma businesses and individuals. The new stands would have a seating capacity of 15,000 and be 1/3 mile long. For the first time, 960 feet of the stands would be covered. Another improvement was a tunnel entrance leading from the parking, in the field inside the track, to the stands. There would be room for 10,000 cars in the field. The main entrance now featured an overhead bridge to drive cars two abreast into the parking area in the center of the field. There were 190 reserved parking places right in front of the pits. Everything would be ready in time for the July 5, 1920 races, when the largest crowd in Tacoma racing history was expected. (TDL 5/23/1920, pg. 9-C-picture; TDL 6/6/1920; www.historylink.org)

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

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;