The Fairmount Park Motor Races, 1908-1911

The Fairmount Park Motor Races, 1908-1911 PDF Author: Michael J. Seneca
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 9780786416653
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 250

Book Description
For four years, early in the last century, 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 they have been overlooked as part of automobile racing history and as part of the history of Philadelphia. In contrast to other racing events, such as the Vanderbilt Cup, there were never any serious injuries and not a single death, 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 covers the events leading up to the first race. It discusses the proposal to have a race in Fairmount Park and the reasons why Philadelphia, and the park in particular, was such an unlikely place. Both the on-track action of the races and the off-track events that affected them are described. Dr. J. William White's successful crusade, following the 1911 outing, to stop the races is examined, as are attempts to revive the race in the following six years, including Philadelphia's attempt to compete with Indianapolis by constructing a two-mile oval speedway, and the city's eventual exit from automobile racing.

The First American Grand Prix

The First American Grand Prix PDF Author: Tanya A. Bailey
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786476974
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 239

Book Description
This book provides an in-depth look at the great motor races that took place in Savannah, Georgia, in the golden era of early road racing: the Grand Prize of the Automobile Club of America and the Vanderbilt Cup. By examining Savannah's earlier fame in national bicycle racing competitions and its ties to the powerful dynasties who controlled the racing world, the book explains how and why Savannah was chosen. It details the construction of the course, reveals why the races and course were considered "America's greatest" by international racing experts of the period and includes many biographies of the drivers who came to Savannah. Finally, the book explores the theories and complexities of why Savannah's races and road racing in general came to an end.

Motor Age

Motor Age PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Automobile industry and trade
Languages : en
Pages : 552

Book Description

The Bergdoll Boys

The Bergdoll Boys PDF Author: Timothy W. Lake
Publisher: Casemate
ISBN: 1955041091
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 464

Book Description
A biography of a German American family who grew wealthy from their Philadelphia beer brewing company in the late nineteenth century. Heirs to the renowned German-American Bergdoll Beer fortune at a young age, the Bergdoll boys used their millions to become champion race car drivers and pioneer aviation heroes in the early 1900s. Grover, the most notorious, is celebrated for his daring record-setting flights in a Wright Brothers airplane. Erwin drives a powerful Benz to win a prestigious motor car race, the equivalent of the Daytona 500. Then, just as Grover is trying to buy a bigger plane to set more records and attempt to fly to Europe a decade before Lindbergh, they’re snared by vengeful local military draft officials. Running and hiding from their war duty, the fugitives are so reviled by nationalistic Americans that two older brothers change their names to avoid infamy. Eluding capture for years with financial help from their wealthy German Mutter, the Bergdoll boys are entangled with kidnapping and murder, federal agents and bounty hunters, Nazis, and Congressional investigators, and an incredible story of release and escape from an Army jail with bribery, all the way up to the White House to search for buried gold. Hounded by the unsympathetic press and public, and congress, the Bergdoll fortune is confiscated by the federal government. Their doting mother gets into pistol shootouts with agents trying to search their mansions and country estates. Grover remains one step ahead of bungling lawmen by hiding in Germany and secretly traveling into and out of America on fake passports and producing kinderreiche Familie with his attractive German wife.

Thunder at Sunrise

Thunder at Sunrise PDF Author: John M. Burns
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 1476606994
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 390

Book Description
Concentrating on the years between 1904 and 1916 and featuring a wealth of photographs, this book examines America's first three races of international stature: the Vanderbilt Cup, the International Grand Prize and the Indianapolis 500. Researched in great part from contemporary sources such as newspapers and automotive journals, the book covers not only these races, but also the ways in which each spurred development of the American automobile industry, making it at last a true competitor for that of Europe.

Philadelphia's Fairmount Park

Philadelphia's Fairmount Park PDF Author: James D. Ristine
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 1439632413
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 136

Book Description
Philadelphias Fairmount Park focuses on the more than four thousand acres of land along the east and west banks of the Schuylkill River and into parts of the Wissahickon Valley that comprise one of the worlds largest urban parks. Historically and architecturally important structures and buildings are chronicled, such as the famous waterworks, the many bridges that span the parks waterways, the Zoological Gardens, and Boathouse Row. Numerous fountains, monuments, and artistic sculptures that dot the landscape are also documented. Rich in natural beauty, the parks meadows, gardens, lush vegetation, rugged ravines, and wooded areas will capture the eye. Philadelphias Fairmount Park is a nostalgic view of the park as it was enjoyed by visitors during the first quarter of the twentieth century.

The Automobile

The Automobile PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Aeronautics
Languages : en
Pages : 1240

Book Description

Automotive Industries

Automotive Industries PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Aeronautics
Languages : en
Pages : 1164

Book Description
Vols. for 1919- include an Annual statistical issue (title varies).
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