West Side Racetrack

Wichita, Kansas – November 7, 1917

 

Wichita Eagle

November 8, 1917

Page 7

 

Glen Breed Won Automobile Race

Lowered Track Record in the Time Trials

 

Kansan Also Won close Race from Wild Bill Endicott

 

            Glen Breed in his Hudson Super-Six proved too daring and speedy yesterday for the Automobile racers brought here for a two-day meet at the West Wichita track.  Breed lowered the track record for a half-mile by one-fifth of a second and equaled the state record:

 

 

Wichita Beacon

November 8, 1917

Page 6

 

New Half Mile Record Set by Glenn Breed

 

Salina Speedster Lowered City Mark One-Fifth Second and Tied State Time for Same Distance

 

Lampkin’s Sun Ray is Crippled

He and Breed Are Matched for Three-Heat Meet Today

Endicott Lost in Two Straight Heats

 

            Glenn Breed established a new half-mile record for Wichita and tied the state record for the same distance yesterday afternoon at the West Side track when he clipped one-fifth of a second off the record of the local oval.

            During the Wheat show races, Jerry Wonderlich piloted his English Sunbeam around the track in 33.6 seconds tying the record for the track.  Breed’s new record for the track ties the state record of 33.4 seconds.

            Nearly all of yesterday’s races were very fast and came as a surprise to the officials as the track did not look very promising.  It had hardened so much on the surface that it was too smooth at the turns and the cars skidded wickedly on the first but the surface soon loosened and aside from one or two bad spots, the whole circle became good.

 

Time Trials – 1 Lap from a Flying Start

In one source, Floyd Bowen’s name is listed as “Fred Bowen”.

 

 

            The big cars gave the spectators an idea of what they could do on a large track when they picked up speed on the short-straightaway.  The cars were so long that it was necessary to slow down in making the turns and one had to go ahead of the other to eliminate the possibility of an accident.

 

Exhibition Race #1 – 2 Laps – Time: 1:19.0

The name of the driver of the Fiat was not recorded.

 

 

Exhibition Race #2

Hazel Nichols was forced to cancel her exhibition as her car was crippled.

 

 

Exhibition Race #3 – 2 Laps – Time: 1:22.2

Baby Mine was described as a “miniature racer capable of making terrific speed in spite of its size”.  It was owned by Ray Claypool.  Driver Young was also given some sort of an undisclosed handicap.

 

 

First Six-Lap Match Race

In best two-out-of-three series

Breed won by one foot.

 

 

Second Six-Lap Match Race

In best two-out-of-three series

Breed won by mere inches.

 

 

Free-for-All – 10 Laps – Only 4 Cars Entered – Time: 6.09.4

Although entered, Ray Burr Lampkin’s Sun Ray did not start this race due to a broken housing

 

 

Auto Polo

 

 

Ralph Hankinson of Wichita, Kansas was the promoter of this racing program.  The crowd of spectators was described as small.

 

 

 

Glen Breed in the Hudson Super-Six that he drove in these races at the West Side Racetrack

Hutchinson Gazette and Hutchinson News from September of 1917

 

 

 

“Wild Bill” Endicott drove this 1,312-CID (21.5 liter), 300-HP Blitzen Benz #2 on an exhibition run at the West Side Racetrack – Robert L. Rampton collection

 

 

“Wild Bill” Endicott in the Sweeney Special that he drove on this day at the West Side Racetrack – Don Radbruch collection 

 

 

 

Return to the West Side Racetrack web page