Racing Comes to the Big Easy - Episode #45

January 18, 2022

By: David L. Morrill
@MototiqueRacing

Ocala, Florida

As a young man growing up in the South, I've heard countless tales of drunken debauchery centered around the Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana, affectionately known as "The Big Easy." The Mardi Gras celebrations in the Crescent City go back to the 1730s. So, you might ask, what does that have to do with early motorcycle racing. Turns out it may be more than you think.

It appears from press accounts that the first motorcycle race to be held in New Orleans was scheduled for September 28, 1902, at the Athletic Park Stadium at the intersection Tulane Avenue and Scott Street in the Mid-City District of the City.

New Orleans Time-Democrat - September 28, 1902

This is very early for an American motorcycle race as Indian Motocycle had only been founded in 1901, and Harley-Davidson would not be founded until 1903. It is unclear if the race took place, as the results were not covered in the local press.

By the early 1908, New Orleans had two one-mile dirt oval horse tracks. One was located in City Park, and the other was located at the Fairgrounds. Both tracks hosted horse racing, and betting on the results was a common occurrence. Over the years, horse racing was seen by many of New Orleans' more devout residents as a corrupting force, full of gamblers, loan sharks, and other unsavory characters. In 1908, the Louisiana Legislature passed the Locke Law banning horse racing in the State for 5 years. With their livelihood threatened, the track operators looked for another use for their facilities.

Diagram of the New Orleans Fairgrounds Racetrack

On this site since 1852
New Orleans Jazz Fest

Automobiles were becoming more common, and the sport of automobile racing was gaining nationwide popularity, so the track operators decided to stage an Automobile Speed Carnival at the Fairgrounds racetrack on during the Banner Day celebrations in November 1908.

The New Orleans, LA. Times-Democrat - November 7, 190

As part of the Carnival, the promoters included a match motorcycle race between professional racers Russ Smith, and Arthur Redfern. They would ride special five-, and seven-cylinder motorcycles. These special bikes were probably built around modified automobile engines.

The Times-Democrat - October 23, 1908

On November 7, 1908, Russ Smith, and Arthur Redfern, raced around the one mile for track five laps. Redfern came across the finish line as the winner of New Orleans' first professional motorcycle race. The event received national coverage in the motorcycling press of the day.

Motorcycle Illustrated - December 1, 1908

The Times-Democrat - November 8, 1908

In 1909, New Orleans decided to hold the Speed Carnival at the Fairgrounds in conjunction with the annual Mardi Gras celebrations. It does not appear that motorcycles would be included in the Mardi Gras Speed Carnival for 1910, but by November there were plans for a winter professional racing series at the City Park racetrack.

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - November 12, 1910

For the 1911, Mardi Gras Speed Carnival, it was announced that two motorcycle races would also be run each day of the carnival. Not only would there be motorcycle racing, but top racers from throughout the country would be competing in the carnival at the Fairgrounds racetrack.

Among the racers entering the races was New Orleans native son, Arthur Mitchell, who would be competing in the carnival at the Fairgrounds racetrack. Mitchell was one of the top races in the South and was making a name for himself riding Flying Merkel racers on dirt, and board tracks around the country. This would be his chance to race in front of a hometown crowd.

Arthur Mitchell of New Orleans, LA. with his Flying Merkel Racer

Chris Price @ Archive Moto

Mitchells' chief competitor for the title of Southern Racing Champion, was Robert Stubbs of Birmingham, Alabama. Stubbs was a member of the Indian Motocycle Racing team that set numerous speed records for Indian at the 1909 Ormond Beach, Florida Speed Carnival.

Robert Stubbs - New Orleans, LA. Fairgrounds Racetrack 1911

Chris Price @ Archive Moto

Athur Chapple of Boston, Massachusetts was an established national racing star and a former Indian teammate of Robert Stubbs at the 1909 Ormond Beach Speed Carnival.

Arthur Chapple - Ormond Beach, FL. 1909

Chris Price 2 Archive Moto

Eddie Hasha, a young man from Waco, Texas was an up-and-coming star in the professional motorcycle racing. Known as the "Texas Cyclone", Hasha had defeated Bob Stubbs in a 1910 race in Waco, on a Harley-Davidson racer lent to Hasha by Harley-Davidson co-founder Arthur Davidson.

Eddie "The Texas Cyclone" Hasha

Chris Price @ Archive Moto

The upcoming Mardi Gras motorcycle races received plenty of coverage in the local newspapers.

The Times-Democrat - January 1, 1911

New Orleans native son, Arthur Mitchell, was the first of the motorcycle race competitors to have his photo in The Times-Democrat on January 1, 1911. Others soon followed.

The Times-Democrat - January 18, 1911

The Times-Democrat - February 6, 1911

The Shreveport, Louisiana Times included an article on the upcoming event at New Orleans Mardi Gras in their February 11, 1911, edition.

The upcoming Mardi Gras races also received coverage in the national motorcycling press. The January 28, 1911, edition of Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review reported Arthur Chapple had sailed from New York to New Orleans with a couple of racing machines.

The February 18, 1911, edition of The Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review reported that the Fairgrounds racetrack had received state of the art timing equipment. The article also featured a photo of New Orleans racer Val Jensen on his Indian racer.

The Times-Democrat - February 17, 1911

New Orleans, LA. Herald - February 23, 1911

1912, would bring about the end of professional motorcycle races in the Big Easy. With the competitors reaching 100 miles per hour, just feet from spectators, it was only a matter of time before disaster struck. That happened on September 8, 1912, at the Valisburg Motordrome in Newark, New Jersey, As reported in the New Orleans Times-Democrat the horrendous accident killed Eddie Hasha, and another rider. The motorcycles were hurdled into the crowd killing six spectators and injuring numerous others. 

Times-Democrat September 9, 1912

Less than a year later a similar accident happened during a professional motorcycle race at the Lagoon. Motordrome in Ludlow, Kentucky. In this accident, two riders and eight spectators were killed. Flaming gasoline from one of the motorcycle's ruptured fuel tanks doused the crowd burning thirty-five spectators. While these accidents took place on the circular wooden Motordromes, the dirt oval horse tracks had a seen their share of dead riders and spectators over the years. 

The flurry of lawsuits and criminal prosecutions that followed the Newark and Ludlow accidents may have convinced the local promoters that the risk of prosecution and or financial disaster was too great. While an occasional amateur race would take place in New Orleans professional motorcycle racing ceased. The approach of America's involvement in World War One, would cause a near disaster in the American Motorcycle Industry, as their customers were drafted, and new motorcycles and parts went to the war effort. Motorcycle dealers across the country closed their doors, and racing was curtailed. 

New Orleans racer Arthur Mitchell went on to become an official of the Federation of American Motorcyclists, which sanctioned amateur and professional motorcycle racing.

For more information on the tragic Newark and Ludlow accidents see Episode # 19 Motordrome Racing's Darkest Days at the link below:

https://dlmracing.blogspot.com/2013/11/motordrome-racings-darkest-days-newark.html

Sources:

Chris Price @Archive Moto

The Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - Smithsonian Collection

Motocycle Illustrated

New Orleans Herald

New Orleans Jazz Fest

New Orleans Times-Democrat

Newspapers.com 

Montgomery, Alabama's Van Diver Park Race Track - Episode #40

By: David L. Morrill
@ Mototique

Updated - February 17, 2017

This episode is a continuation of my search for early Alabama motorcycle racing history.

In the early 1900s, motorcycle racing was sweeping the country drawing large crowds of spectators to local horse tracks, and the new wooden  motordromes. By 1909, Birmingham, Alabama was the established motorcycle racing capital of Alabama. The Alabama State Fairgrounds Raceway began holding motorcycle races in July 1907. Birmingham Indian Motocycle dealer, Robert Stubbs, was recognized as the Southern Champion. Stubbs was a member of the Indian Factory Racing Team, that set several speed records at Ormond Beach, Florida in March of 1909.

Robert Stubbs - Ormond Beach, Florida - March 1909

Chris Price @ Archive Moto

Montgomery, Alabama's Capital City, would soon follow Birmingham in embracing the motorcycle racing craze. In 1907, the legislature of the State of Alabama passed a bill funding upgrades to fairgrounds around the State of Alabama. The Montgomery County Fairgrounds was the recipient of $8,500. to up grade their facilities. Among the improvements added in the next year, was a large horse track. The exact length, and dimensions, of the Montgomery County Fairgrounds track at Vandiver Park are lost to time, but from the few surviving photos, it appears to be a 1 mile oval dirt track. Horse racing was a popular fair exhibition, and with the increasing popularity of automobile racing, the Vandiver Park track also began hosting automobile meets. Motorcycle racing was soon to follow.

In May of 1909, a motorcycle race was included at the Fairgrounds race track Automobile Meet. Bob Stubbs traveled to Montgomery, and "easily won the 5 mile handicap." Stubbs also rode a 5 Mile Exhibition for the crowd that day.

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - May 5, 1909

When the professional motorcycle races held in conjunction with the 1910 Montgomery County Fair during October rolled around, Bob Stubbs again dominated, and his win received coverage in the national racing press.

Motorcycle Illustrated - November 1, 1910

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - October 29, 1910

With the formation of the Montgomery Motorcycle Club in mid 1911, amateur racers were ready to tackle the big  dirt oval. The club held a members only session at Vandiver Park in late August 1910, and planned a regular race in September. These events were mentioned in the September 7, 1911 edition of Motorcycle Illustrated magazine.

Motorcycle Illustrated - September 7, 1911

On September 26, 1911, the club hosted it's first amateur race. The proceeds from the race went in support of the Anti-Tuberculosis League of Montgomery.

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - September 9, 1911

In October, 1911, the Montgomery County Fair returned to the Capital City, hosting both amateur, and professional motorcycle races. Just a week before the fair, Bob Stubbs, received a serious eye injury during a race at Birmingham. While Stubbs was on his way to a full recovery, his wife convinced him to retire from track racing. This opened the door for one of Stubbs' sponsored riders, Gail Joyce to replace Stubbs.

Bob Stubbs Indian Riders -Birmingham, AL. ca. 1913

Richard Gayle, Gail Joyce, Gene Walker

Furman Family Collection

This would not be a cake walk for Gail Joyce. He would face serious competition at the Montgomery race from Texas rider Eddie " The Texas Cyclone".  Hasha, who was quickly proving he was one of the best riders in the south. In September of 1910, Hasha had defeated Bob Stubbs at Waco, Texas riding an early Harley-Davidson racer loaned to him, by Harley-Davidson co founder Arthur Davidson.

Motorcycle Illustrated - September 15, 1910

This was a rare move for Harley-Davidson, who had up to that point had avoided the deadly business of track racing. For the Montgomery race, Hasha, like Gail Joyce, would be back on his Indian twin cylinder racer.

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - October 28, 1911

When Hasha, and Joyce squared off on the track, later that week, Hasha won three races, with Joyce claiming two races. Period press accounts sometimes confuse Gail Joyce's first name, with his Stubbs Indian teammate Richard Gayle's last name.

Eddie " The Texas Cyclone" Hasha - 1912

The next race event held was held in conjunction with an aviation, and automobile exhibition at the Spring Celebration on March 4, 1912.

Motorcycle Illustrated - March 7, 1912

That event was followed up on March 10, 1912, holding the races that had been rained out the previous weekend.

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - March 16, 1912

Sadly, on September 9, 1912, Eddie "The Texas Cyclone" Hasha, along with fellow rider Johnnie Albright, and 5 spectators were killed in a horrendous crash at the Vailsburg Park Motordrome board track in Newark, New Jersey.

Asbury Park, New Jersey Press - September 9, 1912

I have been unable to find any further mention of motorcycle races at the Vandiver Park track in the period motorcycle press. There is however one item I found, which may explain why the track did not hold more races. During the 1912 Montgomery County Fair, Aviator Louis Mitchell was killed in a crash barnstorming over the Fairgrounds track. This followed a similar fatality during the fair in Birmingham a week earlier. Some ten thousand spectators observed the Vandiver Park crash, and City father's may have re-evaluated such dangerous exhibitions, and races.

Greenville, Alabama Advocate - October 30, 1912

The racetrack at Vandiver Park had been used as a training site for Alabama National Guard units beginning in the early teens. With America's build up to entering World War 1, the Vandiver Park racetrack/Montgomery County Fairgrounds site was condemned. It was taken over by the United States Army, as a training site in 1916, and renamed Camp Sheridan. It was just 50 years from the end of the Civil War, and having a U. S. Army camp named after a prominent Yankee general just a few miles from the original Capital of the Confederacy, was probably not very popular with some Montgomery residents.

 While I was unable to locate any period racing photos of the track, a portion of one of the dirt track's turns and straight away can clearly be seen between the building in this photo of Camp Sheridan.

Camp Sheridan @ the old Vandiver Park Race Track - ca. 1917

State of Alabama Archives

Camp Sheridan was mentioned one final time in the February 7, 1918 edition of Motorcycle Illustrated magazine. The article was about a visit by the Goodyear Friars of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio. The Friars were entertaining former Goodyear employees, who were receiving Army training at both Camp Sherman in Ohio, and Camp Sheridan in Alabama.

Motorcycle Illustrated - February 7, 1918

The site of the old Montgomery County Fairgrounds and race track is marked by a State of Alabama Historic Marker, recognizing it as the scene of Camp Sheridan during World War 1.

Sources:

Asbury Park, New Jersey Press

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - Smithsonian Collection

Chris Price @ Archive Moto

Furman Family Collection

Google

Greenville, Alabama Advocate

Motorcycle Illustrated - Hathi Trust Collection

Newspaper.com

State of Alabama Archives

State of Alabama Historic Markers

Indy's First Race - Episode #26

August 1, 2014

Updated - August 17, 2014

By: David L. Morrill
@MototiqueRacing

Sylacauga, Alabama

Indian Motorcycle Club France Collection

I've had a fascination with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since my childhood. I remember taking a Sunday family ride in 1964 and listening to descriptions of the horrendous crash in the 500 Mile Race on our car radio. I have never made it to the Speedway in person, but rarely miss the 500 Mile Classic on television. Indy race fans know the Speedway opened in 1909, but few know the first event held there was a motorcycle race. Time to share this little-known piece of early motorcycling history.

In early 1909, construction began on a racetrack in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 2-mile oval track was surfaced with gravel and tar.

Chicago, IL. Tribune - January 24, 1909

By mid 1909, arrangements had been completed between the Federation of American Motorcyclists (F.A.M.), and the management of the newly completed Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a National Championship Motorcycle race to be held on August 13 & 14, 1909. Wire service articles about the planned races began to appear in newspapers across the country. The motorcycle races would be followed one week later by Championship Automobile Races at the Speedway. President William Howard Taft was scheduled to take part in the opening ceremonies for the Speedway's automobile races.

Bakersfield, CA. Californian - August 14, 1909

Harrisburg, PA. Courier - July 25, 1909

Indianapolis, IN. News - July 30, 1909

Indianapolis, IN. News _ August 9, 1909

The races would coincide with the F.A.M.'s annual convention, which was also to held in Indianapolis. An August 10th article in the Indianapolis News, announced that entries for the race were closed, and that "Leading Riders of the World Will Compete." The article also went on to state that "riders had tested the track" and that "records will be smashed."

Indianapolis News - August 10, 1909

On August 11th, an unflattering cartoon, which appeared to mock the races, appeared on the front page of the Indianapolis News.

Indianapolis News - August 11, 1909

That same day, a more positive wire service article about the races appeared in papers across the country. It gave details of the races being run during the two-day event, along with information on the convention, and details about the Speedway.

Warren, PA. Times Mirror - August 11, 1909

On the morning of the 13th, rain fell, and the races were postponed to the following day.

Indianapolis News - August 13, 1909

There were already concerns that the rush to complete the track's surface, prior to the scheduled races, had resulted in a racing surface that had not been properly laid. Many of the 32 race competitors entered began to complain the track surface had not been properly rolled for smoothness, was both rough and dangerous for the riders.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway - August 1909
Ramin Faz Collection

The events of the August 14 motorcycle races held at the Speedway are documented in a two-page article that appeared in the August 14, 1909, edition of Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review.

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - August 14, 1909

Controversy started after an amateur rider J. S. Tomey crashed, at the beginning of the 10 Mile Amateur National Championship race. Tomey was not seriously injured but was forced to drop out the race.

Things came to a head, when professional rider, Jake DeRosier, crashed heavily. DeRosier's crash, was said to have been caused when the rough track surface ripped his front tire off the rim. DeRosier was traveling at over a mile a minute, and his injuries were appeared very serious. Word spread through the competitors, that DeRosier's injuries might be fatal. This was the final blow, which forced the rider's into action.

Wichita, KS. Daily Eagle August 15, 1909

The riders gathered and began to talk of a strike, to shut down the races. All but two of the thirty riders in the event voted to strike. However, the strike failed to materialize. The F.A.M. Official in charge of the meet stated any rider, who did not compete would be suspended from competition for sixty days.

The threat of suspension, along with word from the Speedway Hospital, that DeRozier's injuries were not serious, put an end to the threatened strike. Many of the top riders entered in the day's races, did not appear to have their hearts in the competition. Spectators, and the press, thought they were just riding around at less than full speed.

The Ten Mile National Amateur Championship Race had been postponed after J.S. Tomey's crash. When the race resumed, without Tomey, Indianapolis rider Erwin Baker took an easy win on his Indian. Baker's win in the 10 Mile national Amateur Championship Race got nationwide coverage, eclipsing the winners of both the professional race, and the other amateur classes.

Indianapolis News - July 13, 1909

The race results went out in a wire service article to newspapers around the country. That night, F.A.M. Officials met, and cancelled the remaining races scheduled for August 15th.

Washington, DC. Post - August 15, 1909

Erwin Baker became a top competitor in professional motorcycle competitions across the country. In 1914, he set an endurance record crossing the country in eleven days on his Indian Motorcycle. That record earned him a new nickname, and he would be known "Cannonball" Baker for the remainder of his life.

Erwin George "Cannon Ball" Baker - Indianapolis, Indiana
Wikipedia.com

Jake DeRosier recovered from his injuries and went on to be hired as a factory rider for Indian Motorcycles. In 1911, he set a new World Speed Record at Brooklands in England. He died in 1913, as the result of racing injuries.

Jacob "Jake" DeRosier 1880-1913
Daniel Statnekov Collection

The following weekend, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway held it's first automobile races. The poor track surface is said to have contributed to two fatal crashes during that event.

In 1910, the track was repaved with bricks, giving it a length of 2.5 miles. The first Indianapolis 500 Mile race was held in May 1911. In 1922, one of the entrants in the 500-mile race was one "Cannon Ball" Baker, who finished 11th.

In September 2008, ninety-nine years after the 1909 F.A.M. Championship Races, top motorcycle riders from around the world once again gathered at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to compete in the Moto GP World Championship Races.

Sources:

Bakersfield Californian - Bakersfield, CA.

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review

Harrisburg Courier - Harrisburg, PA.

Indian Motocycle Club France Collection - Indian Motocycles Club of France on Facebook

Indianapolis News - Indianapolis, IN.

Mark Dill Collection - firstsuperspeedway.com

Newspapers.com

Smithsonian Library - Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - August 14, 1909

Daniel Statnekov - Pioneers of American Motorcycle Racing

Warren Times Mirror - Warren, PA.

Washington Post - Washington, DC.

Wikipedia.com

Wichita Daily Eagle - Wichita, KS.