Tag: Barney Oldfield

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Historic Photo of a Vanderbilt Course

It is well documented that the Vanderbilt Cup Races were dangerous for both drivers and spectators, but this photo that appeared in the December 24, 1914, issue of the Los Angeles Times illustrates another risk that was specific to the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race. That race was held in conjunction with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition at San Francisco, a world’s fair held to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, and the race took place on the Exposition grounds. The caption to this photo explained that this was the most dangerous point on the course where cars going in opposite directions, as indicated by the white arrows, passed so close to each other that a blown tire or mechanical failure at this point could result in a head-on collision. Here is a bird’s eye view of the course:

This map appeared in the February 21, 1915, issue of the San Francisco Chronicle

Thankfully, there were no head-on collisions or deaths in this race, although there were some injuries as described in the article below that begins with “Resta Wins.” In reference to the original photo, the caption also indicated that the driver pictured was Billy Carlson in a Maxwell 25. Carlson also piloted a Maxwell in the race and, although it had a leaky radiator, he still managed a fifth-place finish. Tragically, there were not many more races in Carlson’s future as he was fatally injured racing in Tacoma the following July. His mechanic, Paul Franzen, was also killed in the accident.

This photo appeared in the July 5, 1915, issue of The Oregonian

Finally, here are a few more newspaper clippings related to the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup Race including the race results, another view of “the dangerous curve,” and an awesome photo of legendary driver Barney Oldfield, chomping on his signature cigar:

Write-up from the March 7, 1915, issue of the Indianapolis Star
This photo appeared in the March 6, 1915, issue of The Santa Barbara Daily News
Photo taken from the March 6, 1915, issue of The Evansville Journal

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Barney Oldfield In His Own Words, Circa 1911

Barney Oldfield at the Tacoma Speedway Races in July of 1915.

I have wanted to write something about legendary race car driver Barney Oldfield for some time, but I don’t think I can do better than his own words. I found this interview with Oldfield from 1911, and it is such an absorbing account that I am just going to present it as written. Note that it starts out with the question, “Is the game worth the candle?” I had to look that one up. It is a saying that originated when people had to illuminate with candles when gambling after dark, so the potential winnings had to be sufficient to warrant the expense of the candles. Oldfield also refers to a pilot named Hoxsey and Colonel Roosevelt. He is referring to Arch Hoxsey, the pilot who took President Theodore Roosevelt for a flight and made Roosevelt the first American president to fly in an airplane. Hoxsey died tragically in a plane crash a few months later, but Oldfield lived until retirement and beyond, not dying until 1946, so I guess, for Barney Oldfield, the game was worth the candle.