WHEN THE SECOND MOTOR CAR was built, its driver likely challenged the first. Thus came motor sports. According to Motoring in America: The Early Years, so it was in Detroit in 1901.
Clik here to view.
Motoring in America: The Early Years, edited by Frank Oppel, Castle, 1989.
Tidbits gleaned from this fascinating book are in quotes throughout.
A Decided Success. “The first meeting of the Detroit Automobile Racing Association was held at Grosse Pointe Track on October 10 [1901], and it proved to be a decided success, there being at least 8000 spectators present.”
Detroit was already a bourgeoning industrial city in 1901 with a population of some 286,000. It was to grow fourfold by 1910, in part because of one of the winning Grosse Pointe race drivers, a guy named Henry Ford.
“To give some idea of the interest taken it may be mentioned that many of the business houses closed for the afternoon and the court adjourned for the day. ‘Justice suspended’ in order to give the attorneys an opportunity to see the flyers.”
Wha’cher Odds? “This was the first automobile meeting at which a book was made on the events, but from the bookmaker’s point of view it was not a success. In the second event he took in $48 and paid out $44—and on all the events he quit a loser of $109.”
The Grosse Pointe Track. “The track which is a mile long with easy turns was in excellent conditions, being very free from dust and an ideal one for racing.”
Though not mentioned in the article, the Grosse Pointe Track was an oval.
“The 5-mile race for steam machines was won by W.T. White, White Sewing Machine Company, in 10 minutes 1 3/5 seconds, by about 1/2 mile. H.H. Lytle, Toledo, was second.”
Thus, an average speed of just a tad less than 30 mph. And notice the fifth-of-a-second unit, a traditional one from the sport of kings.
Baker’s Easy Win. “The 1-mile race for electric machines was simply a procession until the home stretch was reached, when W.C. Baker, on a Baker, came away and finished first with a slow time of 4 minutes 9 seconds. It was very evident that Baker could have done very much better had he been pushed.”
It wasn’t until 1954 that Roger Bannister ran the mile in 3:59.4. British runner Walter George’s 1886 4:12 3/4 would have given the Baker a close race.
Two Steamers, and Two Gasoline “Mobes.” “The 1-mile open to all machines weighing less than 1500 pounds was won by H.H. Lytle in 1 minute 51 4/5 second, others finishing in the following order: William Rand, [another] Toledo; Stephen Hartnell, Duryea; Henry Ford, Ford Auto Car Company.”
Lytle’s Toledo steamer averaged 32.2 mph.
Open-class 10-Miler. “The championship race of 10 miles for all machines produced a surprise. There were eight entries for this event, but only two started. William N. Murray, of Pittsburg, at the last moment discovered trouble in one of his cylinders and could not start, so instead of the race that had been expected it was simply a contest between Alexander Winton in his 40 horse-power racer and Henry Ford on a gasoline machine he built himself and which he says has 26 horse-power.”
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The Ford, nearest the camera, about to overtake the Winton. Image from corporate.ford.com.
Winton Ahead, But…. “For the first 7 miles, Winton led the way, gradually increasing his lead until he was about 1/2 a mile ahead, but on turning into the eighth mile it was noticed by the decreased speed he was in trouble. Ford passed him and won the race by about 1 mile in 13 minutes 23 4/5 seconds.”
Ford’s average speed, 44.8 mph.
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Ford’s Sweepstakes racer. This image and following from streetmusclemag.com.
“Winton claimed that some of his brasses [its cooling system], which were new, got hot. It was a general belief that Ford had a very fast machine, but owing to his inexperience as a chauffeur was afraid to take the turns at full speed and went very wide, thus losing much time. Otherwise, he would unquestionably have made a much better showing in the earlier part of the race.”
Clik here to view.
Winton’s Speed Runs. “Mr. Winton then gave a 3-mile exhibition race against time, making the entire distance in 3 minutes 42 2/5 seconds [48.5 mph]. The second mile he went in 1 minute 12 3/5 seconds [49.8 mph], being 1 2/5 seconds better than his previous record.”
Canny Mr. Ford. “Mr. Ford would not give a description of his car for, as he said, he had patents pending, but the illustration gives a good view of it exteriorly. J.R.P.”
Indeed, eighteen months after the race, the Ford Motor Company was established (Henry’s first attempt had failed in January 1901). His Model A was destined to go on sale in 1903. ds
© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2023