Los Angeles Motordrome

The Los Angeles Motordrome was a circular 1-mile (1.6 km) wood board race track. It was located in Playa del Rey, California, and opened in 1910.[1] In addition to automobile racing, it was used for motorcycle competition and aviation activities.

Los Angeles Motordrome
The Los Angeles Motordrome as depicted on a vintage postcard.
LocationPlaya del Rey, California, United States
Opened1910 (1910)
Circular
SurfaceWood
Length1.0 mi (1.6 km)
Turns1

The Motordrome was a scaled-up version of a bicycling velodrome, and was built by Jack Prince, a pre-eminent constructor of velodromes at the time. It was the first of numerous board tracks built for auto racing in the 1910s and 1920s. As an early example of a race track purpose-built for competition, it marked the first use of then-innovative safety features that later became common to most tracks. The Motordrome was highly successful, attracting many competitors and large crowds of paying spectators, but it lasted just three years. A fire destroyed the track in January 1913.

Background
Velodrome and board track builder Jack Prince. Photo is from 1916.

The Motordrome was the brainchild of Hungarian-born mechanical engineer Frederick Moskovics, who at the time was an employee of Remy Electric, and who later became an early member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and eventually, president of the Stutz Motor Company.[2][3] Moskovics had previously worked for Maybach and Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, and through these connections had become involved in racing as the manager of Daimler's racing team in 1904.[3]

Years before, as a student, Moskovics had pursued an interest in bicycle racing, and had made the acquaintance of champion bicycle racer Jack Prince.[3][4] Prince, an Englishman, had emigrated to the United States after the end of his racing career and developed a thriving business building velodromes.[3] By 1909, Prince had built the Los Angeles Coliseum Motordrome, a velodrome-like motorcycle racing facility that was just over 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) in circumference.[5]

Around the time that Moskovics' career brought him to Los Angeles, in 1909, Carl Fisher was developing the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and automobile racing was gaining momentum as a business.[3][4] To bring racing to Los Angeles, Moskovics partnered with his old friend Prince; a group of local businessmen including oil man and racing enthusiast Frank A. Garbutt; and the Pacific Electric Railway Company, which supplied spectators by building a line to the new track.[4][6] Public announcements were made and contracts were let in January 1910, and race dates for officially-sanctioned contests were obtained from the Automobile Association of America's Contest Board.[7][8][9]

Construction
The Motordrome incorporated many features that were new ideas at the time, and eventually became common to many race tracks.

Construction began on January 31, 1910 and was scheduled for just 25 days to complete the racing surface and another 30 to build the grandstands and the rest of the facilities.[4][10] The cost was $75,000 (about $1.7 million in 2012 dollars[11]), and an additional $10,000 was invested in arc lighting equipment for night racing.[3][4] Pine was used for the track surface, as that species was thought to be the most resistant to sun exposure, and the track was treated with a coating made from crushed sea shells to improve traction.[6][12] Two shiploads of lumber were used, comprising 300 miles of 2-inch (51 mm) x 4-inch (100 mm) boards.[2][13] The track was 75 feet (23 m) wide, including a 30-foot (9.1 m) apron of crushed rock, and banked at a 1:3 ratio, making the outer rim 25 feet (7.6 m) off the ground.[6][12]

Around the inner circumference, there was a 125-foot (38 m) buffer between the racing surface and the spectator fence, including a 10-foot (3.0 m) sand trap.[3][12] At Garbutt's suggestion, a sturdy guard rail was erected around the outer rim.[3] Another guard rail was erected around the inner edge of the track, at a height calculated by Moskovics to coincide with the wheel hubs of racing cars, and a second rail was erected just above the first to arrest the tendency of cars to overturn.[3]

While the racing facilities were being built, Pacific Electric Railway constructed a special 3⁄4-mile (1.2 km) track spur to deliver spectators via Red Car trolley.[4] Due to the raised outer rim of the circular raceway, viewing was completely closed off from outside the grounds.[6] Seating was provided for 40,000 spectators, including a covered grandstand built to hold 12,000.[12] Access to the infield and pits was provided by three cement-lined tunnels.[12]

Racing history
A head-to-head grudge match between Barney Oldfield and Ralph DePalma was an opening day attraction.

While Prince was overseeing construction, Moskovics traveled east to promote the venture and secure commitments from notable competitors.[14][15] The opening event at the Motordrome was a nine-day series of races and exhibitions that ran from April 8, 1910 to April 17.[16] Notable racers Barney Oldfield, Ralph DePalma, Lewis Strang, Ray Harroun, Joe Nikrent, and Caleb Bragg were all in attendance.[4]

The Motordrome's promoters had promised that world records would fall at the new race track, and efforts were made to deliver as quickly as possible.[4][17] Prince had predicted 35-second lap times prior to construction, and laps of just over 36 seconds were produced in a preliminary contest between Oldfield and DePalma, prior to opening day, breaking a one-mile record of 37.7 seconds previously set by Strang.[4][17][18] By the time the inaugural race meet concluded, additional records were set for 5-mile (8.0 km) (DePalma, 3:15.62) and 10-mile (16 km) (George Robertson, 6:31) runs.[19]

Because only a limited number of AAA-sanctioned auto racing events were available, motorcycle races were also held to keep the Motordrome fully utilized.[4] The first major motorcycling event was held on May 8, 1910, with notable early motorcycle racer Jake DeRosier establishing new records for 25-mile (40 km), 50-mile (80 km), 100-mile (160 km) and one-hour runs.[20]

In 1911, the Motordrome hosted its first 24-hour endurance race, won by Valentine Hust and Frank Verbeck in a Fiat, completing 1,491 miles (2,400 km) at an average speed of 62 1⁄8 miles per hour (100.0 km/h).[21] In May of that same year, "Texas Cyclone" Eddie Hasha set a new 1-mile (1.6 km) motorcycle record at the Motordrome, reaching 95 miles per hour (153 km/h).[4] That record fell in December 1912 to Lee Humiston, who broke 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) while riding an Excelsior, a speed never reached or bested by any of the automobiles.[4][22]

Aviation
Aviation exhibitions were also a spectator attraction.

Plans to include aviation uses were made early-on, with Moskovics inviting the Aero Club of America and aircraft manufacturers, including the Wright Brothers and Glenn Curtiss, to make use of the Motordrome's facility for experimentation and exhibition.[15][23] The Aero Club constructed a hangar large enough for 16 machines at the track, and on some occasions automobiles were used to tow un-powered aircraft.[4][24][25] Later in 1910, Curtiss moved to California from New York and set up a shop and a flight school at the Motordrome, and used the facility for sea plane experiments for a time before moving that work to San Diego.[4][26]

Demise and legacy

On August 11, 1913, a fire blamed on vagrants burned part of the Motordrome's race track.[1][27] Though the facility was not fully destroyed, the owners elected not to rebuild it, in part because the trolley line had out-lived its useful life.[4] Nevertheless, the track had made its mark and there was widespread interest in building others like it.[28][29][30] By 1929, at least 24 board tracks had been constructed around the country.[31]

See also

References
  1. Gnerre, Sam (January 12, 2011). "Los Angeles Motordrome". South Bay History. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  2. Glick, Shav (October 14, 1987). "BOARD TRACKS : Before Indianapolis, L.A.'s Toothpick Ovals Were King". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  3. Borgeson, Griffith (1998). The Golden Age of the American Racing Car. SAE International. pp. 15–24. ISBN 9780768000238.
  4. Crosse, John (March 12, 2011). "Playa del Rey: Speed Capital of the World, The Los(t) Angeles Motordrome, 1910-1913". Southern California Architectural History. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  5. Statnekov, Daniel K. "Pioneers of American Motorcycle Racing - Chapter 2". Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  6. "The New Los Angeles Motordrome". Automotive Industries. 22: 174. January 1910.
  7. "MOTORDROME IS A CERTAINTY". Los Angeles Herald. January 28, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  8. "CONTRACT IS LET FOR BUILDING MOTORDROME AT PLAYA DEL REY". Los Angeles Herald. January 28, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  9. "GLIDDEN TROPHY FOR NATIONAL AUTO RUN" (PDF). The New York Times. January 26, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  10. "WORK ON AUTO TRACK RUSHED". Los Angeles Herald. February 1, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  11. "CPI Inflation Calculator". U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  12. "LOS ANGELES'S BOARD TRACK". Motor World Wholesale. 22–23: 92. 1910.
  13. "TO BUILD ONE-MILE CIRCULAR MOTORDROME NEAR DEL REY". The Daily Outlook (Santa Monica, CA). December 21, 1909. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  14. "CRACK DRIVERS WILL CONTEST AT MOTORDROME". Los Angeles Herald. January 23, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  15. "PLANS CIRCUIT OF MOTORDROMES". Los Angeles Herald. February 24, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  16. "COMPLETE PROGRAM OF MOTORDROME RACES". The Daily Outlook (Santa Monica, California). March 15, 1910. p. 6. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  17. "EXPECT SPEED ON NEW SAUCER TRACK". Los Angeles Herald. January 16, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  18. "DEPALMA TRAVELS A MILE IN 36 1-5". The San Francisco Call. April 4, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  19. "Wholesale Shattering of Records at Los Angeles". The Horseless Age. April 13, 1910. p. 537. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  20. "World's Records come easy to The Indian". Motorcycle Illustrated. May 15, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  21. "FIAT CAR MAKES NEW WORLD'S MARK". The New York Times. April 9, 1911. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  22. Statnekov, Daniel K. "Pioneers of American Motorcycle Racing - Chapter 5". Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  23. "AERO CLUB TO HAVE STATION". Los Angeles Herald. February 13, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  24. "the Aeronautical Society of America". Aeronautics. 5–7: 213. June 1910.
  25. "AERO CLUB INVITES THE PUBLIC TO BIG PICNIC". Los Angeles Herald. May 20, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  26. "Glenn H. Curtiss Here to Conduct Air Experiments". Los Angeles Herald. December 7, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  27. "MOTORDROME DESTROYED". The San Francisco Call. August 13, 1913. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  28. "Motordrome Idea Well Liked" (PDF). The New York Times. April 17, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  29. "WANT MOTORDROME FOR LOCAL AUTOISTS" (PDF). The New York Times. May 29, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  30. "PLANS MOTORDROME FOR PHILADELPHIA" (PDF). The New York Times. June 5, 1910. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  31. Borgeson, Griffith (1998). "Apendix II". The Golden Age of the American Racing Car. SAE International. p. 323. ISBN 9780768000238.
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