Wichita Fairgrounds Racetrack

Wichita, Kansas – June 11, 1910

 

 

 

 

Newspaper ad that appeared in the:

Wichita Eagle

June 5, 1910

Page 7

 

 

 

 

 

The First Automobile Race Ever Run in Wichita

(except for impromptu contests between just two vehicles)

Photo from the Bob Lawrence collection

 

The photo above was taken on this day at the Wichita Fairgrounds in Wichita, Kansas.  The car at left was a new 4-cylinder Cole 30 Flyer that was being driven by C. W. “Will” Swain of Wichita, Kansas.  This Cole 30 Flyer was manufactured in 1910 by the Cole Motor Company of Indianapolis, Indiana.  Cole built over 40,000 automobiles from 1909 to 1925 but less than 100 of them were the Cole 30 Flyer model.  One was entered in the 1911 Indianapolis "500" and it finished in 26th place.

The car second from left was a 4-cylinder Rider – Lewis that was driven by H. M. Willis.  It had been manufactured in Anderson, Indiana between 1908 and 1910.

The other two cars on the racetrack and the one in the infield have not been identified yet.  If you can identify them, please contact Bob Lawrence.

As for the motorcycles in the photograph, the following was written by John Koller:

“I can tell you this, going from left to right, the bikes are a 1910 Indian Single (cylinder), the next is a 1908 Thor, the next is another 1910 Indian Single (cylinder), and the last is a 1910 Harley-Davidson Single (cylinder).”

            Note the sign for the Brown Sisters Millinery on the railing of the racetrack at right in the photo.⁴

            This program at the Wichita Fairgrounds was described as being “an afternoon of speed contests of real class”.  It included dog races, motorcycle races, and what the local newspaper reported as being the first automobile races in Wichita that were more than just an impromptu match between two vehicles.  The sun warped the rail on which the electric rabbit was to run and attempts to use live rabbits proved to be a colossal failure when the live rabbits turned out to be more afraid of the spectators than they were of the dogs.  The dog races were then canceled with a free program of those promised for a later date.  The motorcycle races were described as being “rather lame” but the automobile races, though very late in getting under way, were exciting and saved the day for the promoters.

            All of the drivers entered were from Wichita.

 

5-mile (10-lap) race for automobiles with engines not exceeding 30 HP:

Light finished in second place and would have challenged Swain for the victory if he had not experienced ignition problems for a couple of laps.

 

Australian Pursuit – 6 ½ miles (13 laps):

This race had been scheduled for 7 miles (14 laps).  Light was not passed but dropped out of the race with a flat tire on the 13^th lap.  Since only one car was left running, that gave the victory to Evans and ended the race.

 

Match Race – 5 mile (10 laps):

                This race was started with the two cars nose-to-tail and Evans in the lead.  Swain passed for the lead shortly before the engine in Evans’ Auburn died so Swain completed the distance alone.

 

Free-for-All – 5 miles (10 laps):

                In the third mile, Swain and Light were fighting for the inside position on the racetrack when Swain, who was slightly in the lead, lost control of his skidding Cole 30 Flyer and crashed into the fence on the outside edge of the racetrack.  The Cole 30 Flyer was considerably damaged but Swain had dropped down into the body of the car and escaped unhurt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Driver is Carl E. Evans6	Carl E. Evans6
Photographs are  from the Carl Evans collection and were published in the Feature Section of the Wichita Eagle on  Sunday -March 19, 1933

 

 

 

 

¹William Kraver’s surname has been found spelled as “Krave” in one source.

²Ed Snaverly’s surname has been found spelled as “Snaberty” and as “Snavely” in some sources.

³Mahoney’s surname has been found spelled as “Mahaney” in one sources.

⁴Charles A. Brown owned the Brown Sisters Company which was located on the second floor of the Schweiter Building on the northeast corner of Douglas and Main Streets in Wichita.

⁵C. William “Will” Swain owned the Swain Automotive Company at 142 N. Emporia St. in Wichita.

⁶Carl E. Evans (1886-1964) was a salesman for the Jones Motor Company in Wichita.

⁷F. Marvin Light (1890-?) was born in Kingman County, Kansas and was working as a taxicab driver in Wichita in 1910.

 

 

 

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