The Fairmount Park Motor Races, 1908-1911 / Michael J. Seneca.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Seneca, Michael J., 1973-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Fairmount Park Motor Race--History.

Fairmount Park Motor Race.

Automobile racing--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--History.

Automobile racing.

History.

Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.

Physical Description:

ix, 228 pages : illustrations, maps ; 27 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., [2003]

Summary:

For four years, 1908 to 1911, the Fairmount Park Motor Races were run on an eight-mile course in Philadelphia's West Fairmount Park. They drew half a million spectators the first year, but surprisingly have been overlooked as part of automobile racing history. Unlike other events such as the Vanderbilt Cup, there were no serious injuries, but after four years of spectacular racing, the event was banned, with safety concerns cited. Opening with a brief look at automobile racing prior to 1908, the book discusses the proposal to have a race in Fairmount Park and the reasons why Philadelphia was such an unlikely place. Both the on-track action and the off-track events that affected them are described. Dr. J. William White's successful crusade to stop the races is examined, as are attempts to revive the race, including the construction of a two-mile oval speedway, and the city's eventual exit from automobile racing.

Contents:

1. An Unlikely Venue 3

2. Making Plans 19

3. The Founders' Week Cup 39

4. A Charitable Event 57

5. The Second Annual Fairmount Park Race 77

6. Surpassing Vanderbilt 99

7. The Third Annual Fairmount Park Race 115

8. Controversy 133

9. The Fourth Annual Fairmount Park Race 151

10. Opposition 169.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-219) and index.

Local Notes:

Athenaeum copy: Signed copy, gift of the author.

ISBN:

0786416653