George R. Bentel

George R. Bentel (July 2, 1876 - February 27, 1952) was an American automobile dealer and the owner of the Ascot Raceway.[1]

George R. Bentel
Born(1872-07-02)July 2, 1872
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedFebruary 27, 1952(1952-02-27) (aged 79)
Los Angeles, California
Occupationautomobile dealer
Years active1907-1952
Spouse(s)
Harriet Chaney
​
(m. 1887)​
Children1

Biography

George Roy Bentel was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; his parents were Frank A. and Mary (Wolf) Bentel. After he graduated from high school he entered the Pittsburgh brokerage house of Henry Sproul & Co. In 1907 Bentel entered the automobile industry as the West Coast distributor of the Rainier and American Mercedes. Coleman & Bentel Co. became the Los Angeles Michelin tire distributor in 1912.

In 1913, Bentel was sued by A.R Frascer. A.R Frascer won the lawsuit. Bentel appealed the lawsuit.[2] In 1914, Bentel built a new agency in Seattle, Washington.[3] In 1915, Bentel became the chairman of The Ascot Speedway.[4] between 1919 and 1924 he spend his time promoting and builting cars for the Ascot Speedway.[5]

Promotion was successful under Bentel.[6] In 1916, Bentel became the West Coast distributor of the Jordan Motor Car Company. Between August 1913 and July 1917 Bentel’s agencies were located on 11th and Olive streets, and 1035 South Grand Avenue. In August 1917 his agencies was relocated on the South Grand Avenue. The Bentel Co. used the slogan "where motor styles oringinate." The policy was to allow consumers to use their own color scheme.

One of Bentels workers Jacquez Revez helped put the finishing touch on Ascot Raceway.[7] In 1924, Ascot speedway was renamed the New Ascot Speedway.

Personal life

Bentel married Harriet Chaney in 1897. He and Harriet had one daughter Margaret.

References
  1. "George R. Bentel Company, Geo. R. Bentel Co. - 1912-1919 - Los Angeles, California". Coachbuilt. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  2. Whiting, Randolph, ed. (January 3, 1911). California Appellate Decisions. Recorder Print. and Publishing Company, 1911. p. 33. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  3. "Dealers & Garage department". Cycle and Automobile Trade Journal. Chilton Company, 1914: 165. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  4. "Fraser v. Bentel". Edward Thompson Company, 1913. The American and English Annotated Cases, Volume 27. p. 1063. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  5. "New Racing Body for Mercier Chassis". Class Journal Company, 1917. Motor Age, Volume 31. June 14, 1917. p. 45. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  6. "Motor World for Jobbers, Dealers and Garagemen, Volume 60". Motor World Publishing Company, 1919. Motor World. July 23, 1919. p. 40. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  7. Robert Dick. "9". Auto Racing in the Shadow of the Great War: Streamlined Specials and a New Generation of Drivers on American Speedways, 1915-1922. McFarland, 2019. p. 205. ISBN 9781476631554. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
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