Lee, Swing over to the Vanderbilt Cup Races site for some more Christie photos. www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/index.php/blog
This was posted over on Jolopnik today. 1935 grand Prix footage. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHg7mWfKTwc&feature=player_embedded
I'm hoping someone here can help me or direct me where to look next for information on my latest purchase. I bought this postcard from eBay because it showed people in Maxwell overalls. I stumbled across the Mason Team photo and noticed the similarity between the two men shown on the left side of both photos. The Mason photo says the person is Eddie Rickenbacker who I know drove for Maxwell. Does anyone recognize anyone else in the drinking photo? Where can I look to find other pictures or information that might tell me who they are and what they are celebrating? Has this photo ever been published before? Thanks for any help you can give, Howard Dennis
Could be Rickenbaker on the LT in your photo. No idea what the moonshine celebration was over. I`ll be anxious to hear if anyone can ID these Maxwell team members!
Howard, Rickenbacker has a pretty decent autobiography out there; there are probably used copies. Rick's first racing stint was with Mason. He quit his job as an auto salesman and wanted to work for Fred Duesenberg who was at the controls of Mason. In 1913 he went on the racing circuit with the Masons. They were certainly not giant killers and shortly thereafter Rick moved on buying a Peugeot. He drove the Peugeot for a short while (then sold the Peugeot to Miller and I believe it was this car that became Burman's second Peugeot in his stable) and then Rick went to work for the Maxwell team. The Maxwells were some pretty well built OHC cars and that due to the war were never developed to the fullest. Just before he signed up for the service as a flier he was to drive the DePalma Manufacturing built Detroit Special (Mercedes copy some call it) at Cinci but he enlisted instead. His WWI rep as an ace is legendary. I believe that first pic is probably correct. O'Donell was his riding mechanician and that looks like Rick and O'Donnell. I did not know Chandler drove for Mason although he may have played a pretty decent role-the pic does look a bit like Chandler. Fritz Walker was an extremely talented engine builder and mechanic-he was somewhat instrumental in keeping DePalma's 14 Mercedes from being just bandaids and bubble gum in 1915 (if it is the same Fritz Walker-AKA Mercedes Fritz Walker helped out while DePalma's strong running mount was on the 1915 circuit). As to the Maxwell team pic I would have to do a little guessing. Rick had joined as had Oldfield, Teddy Tezlaff and Billy Carlson and Ray Harroun was chief engineer at that time I believe. (The OHC cars did not run at Indy until 1915 with the new 300 limitation-they also ran at Sheepshead). Pete Henderson drove for Maxwell in 1916 and I believe that may be who is holding the jug. The guy on the right may be Tom Orr who drove one of of the OHC cars in 1915. The guy on the left I do not know(it could be Rickenbacker-the smile is throwing me off maybe-He was there-so maybe). None of the guys though are Billy Carlson. Remember the riding mechanics also had these fancy duds so it may be some of the those guys as well. Were it not for the war the Maxwells may be a little more well known racer. Cool pics nevertheless-Jim Pretty neat character although not all of the guys were enamored with him(Rick that is)
Jim, Thanks for your detailed reply. So you don't believe the fellow on the left in both pictures is Rickenbacker? Several others have said they thought it was and I'm just trying to prove make a more educated determination. It seems I read somewhere that Maxwell only ran the factory team for 1915 and then Rickenbacker purchased the cars and raced them himself. Any knowledge on that? I also forgot to mention that the first photo's label says the 1912 Mason Team member Fritz Walker was killed in 1914, in case that helps you determine who he is. Thanks, Howard Dennis
Howard, somewhere I have some notes on Fritz Walker and I do have the article where he was killed. I thought it was 1915 but you could be correct and maybe he worked on DePalma's car around the time of the 1914 Elgin races. I have so much semi-useless information rolling around my head and I sometimes say things without checking my sources. As to the guy on the left it may be Rick but as I said the smile makes it difficult for me to say it really looks like him. I also thought his hair was finer but I have been wrong before. You are correct that he bought a portion of the team. He put up part of the money but the lions share was put up by the four money guys behind the Indianapolis Speedway. They had formed a team known as the Prestolite Racing Team (Presto-O Lite gas tanks that lit the normal cars-replaceable and refillable tanks carried on running boards). Rick though was in charge of the team. This same team went on to buy one of the 1914 GP Peugeots and copied them to help fill the somewhat thin field during WWI. The Peugeot copies were called Premiers.-Jim
Somewhere I have an article on Fritz Walker although I have no idea where it is at present. I did find in a quick review (so I can get some work done in the shop) that he did die in October of 1914. He was the riding mechanic for Jack Gable in the Burman Special at Galesburg, was hurt in an accident and then died sometime after due to his injuries. He had raced in the 1914 Elgin road race driving the RAE which was allegedly a 1903 Mercedes that he modernized for teen racing. In my research I have run across his name several times and every time it was generally in a pretty good review of his talents-JIm
There are some great Rickenbacher photos here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/auburnuniversitydigitallibrary/sets/72157608817870773/ According to his biography, Eddie was a bit of a drinker. He was sent to Russia in WW2 on a diplomatic mission. The Russians enjoyed drinking vodka in huge quantities and no one could keep up with them, or so they thought. Eddie drank them under the table.
Interesting on the drinker comment. Lee Frayer (a relative,) who was Eddie's mentor and got him into automobiles/racing when he was a kid, also was likely more than a bit of a drinker-- and thus may have influenced Eddie is more ways. On the Frayer side of my family (moms side,) my grandfather (committed suicide before i was born) and great grandfather (my sister and I used to imitate him... stumbling around as a drunk when we were kids) were both destructive, yet functional, alcoholics (and both of them also worked in the auto biz.) Word is that Lee (previous generation to that,) also had the same high taste for booze. Do a search on here for Lee Frayer if you want to learn more about him. He had his own automobile (The Frayer/Miller,) invented the first V6, and raced in the first Indy (along with a number of other famous early racers.) Before Garage Magazine changed hands, I was writing an article on his history to go into it. One of these times when i feel motivated, i'll work getting it into that or another mag. The obsessed / self destructive always make a good story... As for me, it's been 15 years now since i changed my direction (didnt think a drunk would make a good dad.) I guess I went and broke the family tradition! But then again, i'll never make the history in cars like Lee did.... -scott noteboom <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">
Wow. This is the Blitzen Benz in 2007. Maybe folks can fill us in on the history of the car. The car I saw in 2007 was just like an old picture I have of the car, except of course it was free of post-race grime and oil. Very cool to see details here about the car. Vintageride
Vintageride, There are some West Coast guys that have seen that Benz and knopw more about its past. There were at least FOUR of them that the factory built, a few more have survived.
Henry Ford personally held the automotive World Land Speed Record he built and drove the car. From the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America website: The oldest vehicle in the Motorsports Hall of Fame is the famous Ford 999 racer from 1902. Although it is not the first race car ever built, it is certainly the first car to rise to the status of legend. Barney Oldfield dubbed the car 999 after the feats of the record-holding New York Central locomotive. The sister car of the 999 was the Arrow. It was a rebuilt Arrow that Henry Ford drove to 91.37 mph on frozen Lake St. Clair in January of 1904, for the new automotive World Land Speed record. http://www.mshf.com/museum/999.htm<O></O> <O From speedace.info: FORD ARROW LAND SPEED RECORD CAR 1904 Vehicle orginally was wrecked and claimed life of the driver. Henry Ford rebuilt the machine and pursued a land speed record at 91.369 mph in 1903. The attempt took place on Lake St. Clair Michigan on January 12 1904. This was first time record attempt was out of French Territory. It was powered by an in-line 4 cylinder engine with a capacity of 15,700 cc's with 72 bhp and driven by Henry Ford. <O</O http://www.speedace.info/automotive_directory/ford.htm
I would have a problem with the veracity of a link which shows a 1932 Ford Cabriolet labeled as a "Ford model A 1934".
I have heard that even though the Blitzen Benz is a reproduction that some original parts were used. Which if any parts I have not heard. I still like the car. Otherwise we would have to rely on old pictures which is not quite the same. As to the Ford car that was in the Motorsports Hall of Fame, I thought that was a replica and The Henry Ford had the original. What original is anyone's guess. From my old pictures I am not sure what configuration is which as to the year and 999 vs Arrow or new 999. They also have Sweepstakes on display which they thought was a replica but then thought "no it is the real deal". I don't know quite who is on first when it comes to those cars. True he did hold the record for a month though. That speed in that car was flying in those days. On ice it may have been safer than on land, other than in a spin you may get real dizzy.-Jim
1901. The two most competitve cars, Panhard and Mors, again increased their respective engine's capacities both in displacement and horsepower. Panhard went to 7.4 liters and 40hp while Mors was now the most powerful at 10 liters and 60hp. Weight also increased from 900-1200kg to 1300-1500kg putting even more strain on tires that had not been developed to coincide with the rigours of cross country motoring. In fact the tire manufacturer's had not been able to keep up with the new emerging and ever changing technology of the automobile. Changes were also made to the racing rules. This year categories based on the weight of a car would be put in place before the start of the Paris-Bordeaux race. Heavy cars now weighed over 650kg. Light cars- 400 to 600kg. Voiturettes- from 250kg to 400kg and cyclecars less than 250kg. The second Gordon Bennett Cup race drew very few entries much to the dismay of the ACF forcing the organizers to stage the event to coincide with the Paris-Bordeaux. For the first time a British manufacturer, Napier & Sons. entered a car in international competition. Selwyn Edge was given the driving chores of this mammoth with it's massive 17 liter 50hp engine, later rising to over 100hp by years end, the car proved fast but it's shortcoming were the tires. Changing over to French made tires ultimately disqaulified Edge from the race so he was left with no other option but to race in the Paris-Bordeaux. The French team consisted of Fernand Charron and Leonce Girardot in the trusty Panhard and a much to prove Levegh in a Mors. Germany was expected to enter but nothing eventuated. So it was left to the French to battle it out amongst themselves in a farcical race with Girardot the only finisher. Serious questions would be asked as to the viability of any future Gordon Bennett races but the true international flavor of the event is something the critics and detractors could not deny. The biggest race of the year was the 687 mile Paris to Berlin. Run over three days, 110 cars entered and went through 53 checkpoints in France, Belgium and Germany. Unlike previous races this epic was noted for it'sgreat organization with soldiers lining the route although even this precaution could not stop the curious pedestrians and erratic dogs which caused numerous accidents. At a viilage on the outskirts of Rheims a small child wandered onto the course to watch a passing car race off into the distance only to be hit at full speed by the next approaching entrant killing him instantly. It was this unfortunate accident that forced the Government to ban road racing in France after Parliament had initially proposed the speeds of the racing cars be limited. Henri Fournier on his way to victory in the Gordon Bennett Trophy race. Fournier aboard his Mors. He would also claim victory in the Paris-Bordeaux and the Paris-Berlin a month later. Also this year German driver Christian Werner was the victor over 243 miles in the Nice-Salon-Nice race. Driving a 35hp Mercedes he averaged 36mph. Panhard and Mors, dominant in France were also victorious in Britain and America. Charles Jarrott winning a 1 mile handicap held on the Crystal Palace cycle track. This was also the first track race in Britain. In the U.S., Henri Fournier made it a year to remember when he won a measured mile contest in a Mors at 69.5mph. Alexander Winton set a record of just under 58mph at the new 1 mile dirt track at Cleveland, Ohio in the Winton-Qaud. He would also challenge the still relatively unknown Henry Ford at Grosse Pointe with Ford taking a stunning victory and walking away with $1000. Henri Fournier-Mors at Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn. NY. 1 mile in 51.8 seconds.
For MAXWELL Racing history check out the January - February 1961 issue of Antique Automobile. Great feature by Charles l. Betts, 12 pages of info and photos. I never knew the MAXWELL INDY cars has a 16 valve overhead cam engine!
Found in the Life magazine archives Lindsay Bothwell car collection. Anyone know the details? Ralph De Palma was the flagman. Where and when was this? It was sponsored by Mobil. Del Mar? Wherever it was,it was a horse track. Ralph De Palma More from Life: http://images.google.com/hosted/lif...ile+source:life&hl=en&imgurl=d21e505f742c306c http://images.google.com/hosted/lif...ile+source:life&hl=en&imgurl=9721a1b5349efc9e http://images.google.com/hosted/lif...ile+source:life&hl=en&imgurl=d7ed14292e50a397 http://images.google.com/hosted/lif...ile+source:life&hl=en&imgurl=758c130e7d9b0350 http://images.google.com/hosted/lif...ile+source:life&hl=en&imgurl=027fa2ad68d3d6f9
Thanks for the link Buildy. Looks like it's some kind of promotional gig for Mobilgas. Color photos of these wonderful cars are rare as hens teeth.
Buildy those are some great pics thanks-I do not believe it is Del Mar as the hillside (that runs parallel t0 Highway 5) is a bit far away from the track or perspective is off a tad. Sure looks like California and being it is Bothwell that is a good bet. DePalma looks pretty good there and I believe he passed in 56 so this predates that date by a few years. I agree it is nice to see some color to the cars. Thank again-Jim
My pleasure-I love to find this stuff to share. I`m thinking this might even be in the late 1940s. Just about has to be California. Hopefully someone might be able to add the details. Kind of surprising they didn`t run the Peugeot in this demonstration.
below photo Del Mar 7/31/37 courtesy San Diego Historical Society I would guess the thread's series of photos are Del Mar late 40s (after it reopened in 45) -one of the photos shows the tail end of a late 40s sedan sticking out from behind a raceboard-not quite well enough hidden )
Thanks, I suspected it was Del Mar,but was not sure. I know AAA raced there around that time frame. Probably this demo event tied in with the AAA Champ car races there. A check of Champcar stats shows AAA raced there in 1949 11/6/49 Del Mar 100 Del Mar 100 DO Jimmy Davies
That was a terrible day for racing and one of its shining stars and heros... http://books.google.com/books?id=9k...resnum=9&ved=0CCcQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=&f=false Sometime in the early 1990s the Agajanians promoted a Rex Mays Classic at the Del Mar Horsetrack for USAC Silver Crown Cars. It was a one time only event and I attended but with sadness knowing what had transpired there in 1949.
The Jalopy Journal
