INDEPENDENCE DAY

July 4, 1921

West Side Racetrack

Two Blocks North of Douglas St. between Glenn St. and Vine St. at 1800 West Third St. in Wichita, Kansas

 

 

 

 

Wichita Eagle

Sunday, July 3, 1921 – Page 11:

 

Essex Speedster in Races Here

Merle Warren in His Special Model Essex

which will be used to beat speed records at the West Side racetrack in the auto races which will be staged Monday afternoon, July Fourth.  Merle Warren of Newton, Kansas will drive the racer.  There will be seven events run off for prizes aggregating $1,000.  Among the drivers who will be here for the events are Merle Warren, Johnny Lee⁵, Billie Hedrick, Love Smith⁶, Harold Peterson, Johnny Mais¹, Mick Skaer², and W. W. Leathers.

 

 

Wichita Eagle

Tuesday, July 5, 1921 – Page 6:

 

Johnny Lee and Merle Warren Divide Most of Money in Local Events

Stock Model Best Race

            As an auto speedway, the West Side track proved a failure Monday.  The half-mile track with its short straight-aways still shorter turns and poor condition of surface, entirely eliminated speed.  The races, or rather exhibitions, were tame as a result.

            Nine entries failed to show up cutting the field to five racing models of which one, the Harroun entry, crashed through the fence in the third event and was forced to withdraw.  The competition in four of the events rested exclusively with the Essex and Dodge entries.  The Mercer provided a poor third and the Studebaker withdrawing through engine trouble and lack of speed in its two tests, the fifth and sixth.

            The first event, an exhibition race between Marmon and Pierce Arrow models, was the nearest to a real race of the entire card.  Chain Robinson³, at the wheel of the Marmon, gained the advantage over the speedier Pierce-Arrow driven by Martin, by his handling at the turns.  The race was nip and tuck to the last turn, the Marmon winning by half a car length.

            Twice, the fans were brought to their feet in the third event when the Harroun driver, Harold Peterson, crashed through the fence at the first turn, tearing out 50 feet of the rail and posts.  The car veered across the center, radiator smashed and front axle bent but driver uninjured.  Again, in the sixth lap when the Mercer crowded the Essex which was trying to pass, the fence forced the Essex to back down and take the outside.  For the moment, it appeared a wreck could not be avoided.

            Event Results:

Exhibition – Stock Models – 6 laps

 

Bowmans Squaw Al White collection

 

 

Exhibition – 6 laps

Jack Weaver drove the Bowmans Squaw⁴ but engine trouble slowed the run.  

 

 

 

Time Trials – Best of 2 laps

 

 

 Open Heat – 10 laps

 

 

Open Heat – 10 laps

 

 

Open Heat – 10 laps

 

 

Special Open Heat – 10 laps

 

 

Mick Skaer Gary Agard collection

                  Stock Models – 4 laps

 

            Even from the promoter’s standpoint, the races were far from a success.  Nearly as many spectators scaled the fences as came through the gate.  It was estimated by the promoters that little more than $1,500 was taken in.  Winners received a total of $800 in the six paying events.

 

¹ John A. Mais (1888-?) had raced in the 1915 Indianapolis 500 automobile race.

² Moyle Spencer “Mick” Skaer  (1904-1976) was residing in Augusta, Kansas at the time of this race.  He later moved to Pittsburg, Kansas.

³ William Chain Robinson (1899-1974) later moved to Watertown, Massachusetts.

⁴ Bowmans Squaw was owned by Wichita Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealer Hart “Hal” Bowmam (1893-1972) and was powered by an Indian motorcycle engine.  Bowman later moved to Dallas, Texas where he took a position with the Dallas Aviation School.

⁵ Johnny Lee (c1895-?) was from Houston, Texas.

⁶ Andrew Love Smith (1886-?) was from Girard, Kansas.

 

 

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