O.V. Hunt - Birmingham's Photographer - Episode #25

July 6, 2014

Updated - May 28, 2017

By: David L. Morrill
@MototiqueRacing

Sylacauga, Alabama

O. V. Hunt (rear) and Robert Stubbs (front) - Birmingham, AL. ca. 1913
Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives - O.V. Hunt Collection

If you've ever picked up a book on the history of Birmingham Alabama, you have very likely seen an O.V. Hunt. photograph. Beginning in the early teens, Mr. Hunt photographed Birmingham's rapidly rising skyline, and recorded the events of daily life in the Magic City. Mr. Hunt was also a motorcycle enthusiast and recorded many significant motorcycle events held in Birmingham in the teens and twenties.

My own involvement with Mr. Hunt's photographs began, when Johnny Whitsett sent me a DVD containing scans of several of Hunt's Birmingham motorcycle event photographs, he received from one of Mr. Hunt's relatives. Over the next several years, I attempted to identify, both the events depicted, and the subjects in those photographs.

                                                                                                                                                       
Oscar Virgil Hunt was born in Bowden, Georgia in 1881. By 1900, Hunt's family had relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, and the eighteen-year-old Hunt was working as a day laborer. In the next few years, his passion for photography, developed into a career, and he opened a photography studio on 4th Avenue North in Birmingham.  He also worked as a photographer for the Birmingham Ledger Newspaper.

O.V. Hunt Photographic Studio - Birmingham, AL.
Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives - O.V. Hunt Collection

Mr. Hunt developed a reputation of taking great risks to get his photographs. In 1912, climbed on to an early Biplane in the infield of the Alabama State Fairgrounds racetrack, and he took to the air above Birmingham to take aerial photos of the city. Mr. Hunt, who had mastered self-promotion, often appears in photographs taken by his firm.

Eugene "Wild Bill" Heth (left) O.V. Hunt (right)
Alabama State Fairgrounds ca. 1912
Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives
O.V. Hunt Collection

In July 1913, Hunt, and his camera, were suspended from a steel beam suspended from the top of the Tutwiler Hotel, which was under construction in downtown Birmingham.

Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives
O.V. Hunt Collection - 1913

The Alabama State Fairgrounds in Birmingham had a one-mile dirt oval racetrack, which held its first motorcycle race in 1906. Mr. Hunt was a friend of Robert Stubbs, the Birmingham dealer for the Hendee Manufacturing Company, which produced Indian Motorcycles. Stubbs, was a motorcycle racing enthusiast, having been a member of the Indian Factory racing Team.

Amateur Motorcycle Race Alabama State Fairgrounds - ca. 1912
Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives - O.V. Hunt Collection

Stubbs had retired from track racing, but sponsored local riders Gail Joyce, Richard Gayle, and Eugene Walker. Joyce and Gayle were experienced riders having competed in races around the state for several years. Gene Walker worked for the Post Office delivering mail on his motorcycle, and was making a name for himself competing in races at the Fairgrounds racetrack. Stubbs riders were photographed by Mr. Hunt in front Stubbs Dealership in 1913.

Richard Gayle (left), Gail Joyce (center), Gene Walker (right)
Furman Family Collection - O.V. Hunt ca. 1913

In early 1914, Hunt was hired by the new Birmingham Harley-Davidson Motorcycle dealer, William F. Specht Jr. to record the opening of his dealership at 1714 3rd Avenue North. Mr. Hunt captured the first load of ten Harley-Davidson motorcycles arriving by horse drawn wagon at Specht's dealership.

William F. Specht Jr. (far right) Specht Harley-Davidson - Birmingham, AL.
Johnny Whitsett Collection - O.V. Hunt - 1914

Hunt took a photograph of Harley-Davidson Racing Team members Johnny Aiken (Atlanta), Bill Specht Jr. (Birmingham), and Gray Sloop (Mooresville, NC.) in front of Specht's dealership. Sadly, Gray Sloop was killed, along with Savannah, GA. rider Zeddie Kelly, while competing in the 1914 Savannah 300 Mile Road Race.

Johnny Aiken (right), Bill Specht Jr. (center), Gray Sloop (right)
Johnny Whitsett Collection - O.V. Hunt - 1914

Interior of Specht Harley-Davidson in Birmingham, AL.
Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives 
O.V. Hunt Collection 1914

Mr. Hunt was the official photographer for the July 14, 1914, Birmingham Ledger Motorcycle Endurance Run. This grueling event took place over several days on the public roads between Birmingham and Atlanta, Georgia.  This a pre-race photograph of some of the thirty-one of race competitors in from of the Birmingham Ledger Offices in downtown Birmingham.

1914 Birmingham Ledger Endurance Run Competitors
Johnny Whitsett Collection - O.V. Hunt - 1914

The race, which was run over the next two days on the public roadways between Birmingham, and Atlanta, Georgia began at 3:00 am on the morning of July 4th. The start/finish line was in front of the Birmingham Ledger office at 1st Avenue North and 21st Street.

Start/Finish Line - Birmingham, AL. - July 1914
Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives - O.V. Hunt Collection

There was great controversy with the results of the1914 race, and a protest was filed by the Harley-Davidson Team. When the referee ruled against them, the Harley-Davidson team withdrew from the race leading to an Indian sweep for Robert Stubbs' Birmingham Indian race team. Team rider Gail Joyce was declared the winner.

Gail Joyce - Birmingham, AL.  - July 1914
Johnny Whitsett Collection - O.V. Hunt

1914 Indian Motorcycle Promotional Poster
Scott Bashaw Collection

In October 1914, a race took place at the Alabama State Fairgrounds track that became an important part of Harley-Davidson's early racing history, and O.V. Hunt was there. Two of the photographs Hunt took that day have survived, and they are the only photographs of the event known to exist. The one-hour Federation of American Motorcyclists race became the Harley- Davidson Racing Teams First National Championship race win. It also launched the professional racing career of a young man from Birmingham, who became one of the greats of early American motorcycle racing.

Alabama State Fairgrounds F.A.M. One Hour Championship Race
Johnny Whitsett Collection - O.V. Hunt 1914

This starting line photograph of the Alabama State Fairgrounds racetrack shows the riders preparing to take to the track. The young man with the focused look seated on his Indian racer on the right of the photo is John Eugene Walker. This was the Birmingham natives first professional motorcycle race.

As a side not, you can see this photograph also captures the iconic Vulcan statue, buy Giuseppe Moretti, to the right of the grandstand. The Vulcan statute remained at the Fairgrounds until the 1930's, when it was moved to its current location on the top of Red Mountain and became the symbol for the City of Birmingham.

Alabama State Fairgrounds F.A.M. One Hour Championship Race
Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives - O.V. Hunt 1914 

At the end of the one-hour race, Harley-Davidson's Red Parkhurst was declared the winner, with Joe Wolters finishing second, Gail Joyce finishing third, and Gene Walker fifth.  Two protests were filed, but the race results were upheld. The race went down as the newly formed Harley-Davidson Racing Team's first Championship Race win and became a key part of their advertising campaign for their 1915 model.

1915 Harley-Davidson Ad

It was also a big day for Gene Walker.  Walker briefly lead the race and set a new track lap record. This attracted the attention of the Indian Racing Team, and Walker joined their team for the 1915 racing season. Walker went on to become one of the great riders of the late teens, and early twenties.

In early 1915, Mr. Hunt's firm took a publicity photo for Robert Stubbs' Indian dealership. The photograph touted the release of the 1915 Indian motorcycle and appears to have been staged as a satire of Specht's Harley-Davidson 1914 horse drawn wagon photo.

Robert Stubbs Indian Publicity Photo - Birmingham, AL.
Johnny Whitsett Collection - O.V. Hunt 1915

In this photo, Stubbs pulls a wagon full of dapper young men on a new 1915 Indian motorcycle. The message is clearly, that while Harley-Davidsons arrive in a horse drawn wagon, the new Indian can pull the wagon. O.V Hunt stands behind Robert Stubbs, who is seated on the motorcycle.

In April 1915, the second annual Birmingham Ledger Endurance Run was staged, and once again the Mr. Hunt photographed the contestants for the Birmingham Ledger.

Birmingham Ledger - April 3, 1915
O.V.  Hunt

The 1915 event also had it's share of controversy. At the end of the second days run from Atlanta to Birmingham, Harley-Davidson rider Willard DeGroat, and Indian rider Robert Horton were tied for the top horns. A third day run was scheduled as a tie breaker but was rained out. Horton failed to show for the agreed-on tie breaker, and DeGroat was award the overall win. 

Willard DeGroat - Birmingham, AL.
Jessica DeGroat Hayes Collection - O.V. Hunt 1915

During this period, Mr. Hunt also took several photographs of sidecar equipped motorcycles. These bikes were used by local businesses to deliver goods and provide roadside assistance to stranded motorists. The riders of the bikes were often African American.

Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives - O.V. Hunt Collection ca. 1916

With the approach of America's involvement in World War 1, motorcycle shops across the country faced hard times. The Military purchased most of the production of new motorcycles, spare parts, and tires. These were going overseas, and motorcycle dealers across the country really felt the pinch. Many dealers found it difficult to keep their doors open. In 1917, many of the young men, who had been customers of the shops were drafted.  This was the final blow, and countless shops closed their doors.

While the Birmingham Harley-Davidson and Indian dealers remained in business through the war, big changes to the motorcycle business in Birmingham came in 1919. Robert Stubbs closed his Indian dealership and took a job managing a motorcycle shop in Montgomery, Alabama. William F. Specht Jr. returned to Atlantic City.

Gail Joyce opened the Gail Joyce Motor Company at 1709 3rd Avenue North. Although the records are sketchy, the Joyce Motor Company appears to have handled both Indian, and or Harley-Davidson sales in Birmingham during this period. Mr. Hunt continued photographing Joyce's dealership, and several motorcycle events for Joyce. After the war, motorcycles began the shift from basic transportation to recreational use. The novelty of motorcycle events faded in Birmingham.

Gail Joyce Motor Company (center) - Birmingham, AL. ca. 1931
Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives - O.V. Hunt Collection

On June 24, 1924, the Birmingham News reported the death of Gene Walker form injuries received while practicing for a race in East Stroudsburg, PA. During his career, Walker won 19 Championship motorcycle races, and set track records across the country. During the winters, he returned to Birmingham, where he worked as a Motorcycle Police Officer for the city. 1920, Walker set the first official motorcycle land speed record at Ormond Beach Florida.

Under the headline "Motorcycle Riding Has Lost Its Greatest Star in Death of Walker" Birmingham News sports reporter Zipp Newman detailed Walker's career, and the circumstances of his death. The article was accompanied by a photograph of Walker taken by O.V. Hunt in 1913.

Birmingham News - June 24, 1924
Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives - O.V. Hunt ca. 1913 

The Birmingham Police Department Motorcycle Unit, and a large contingency of local motorcyclists, escorted Walker's funeral procession to Birmingham's Elmwood Cemetery. It was a fitting remembrance of the young man, who put Birmingham, Alabama on the map for sports fans across the country.

Indian Motorcycle Company's Memorial Ad - 1924

In 1934, Gail Joyce died in Birmingham. His family continued to operate the Gail Joyce Motor Company and were still the Birmingham Harley-Davidson dealer in the 1950s.

Oscar V. Hunt continued to photograph Birmingham's event's big, and small, for several more decades, retiring in 1953.  He passed away at age eighty-one in Birmingham, Alabama in 1962. His legacy to the Magic City is his photographs.

Birmingham The Magic City Sign - Birmingham, Al.
Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives - O.V. Hunt Collection ca. 1926

Through the time machine of his lens, O.V. Hunt instantly transports us back to the streets of Birmingham one hundred years ago, and we view can the early days of Birmingham motorcycle sport. What better legacy, could he have left us?

Sources:

Birmingham Ledger

Birmingham News

Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives - O.V. Hunt Collection

Clay Nordan - A Minor Mystery Solved

Chris Price - www.Georgia Motorcycle History.com

Hunt Family Collection

Jessica DeGroat Hayes Collection

Johnny Whitsett Collection

Kelly Stewart - Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

Scott Bashaw Collection

Atlanta Speedway, Atlanta's Early Racetracks - Episode #16

July 20, 2013

Updated - February 5, 2022

By: David L. Morrill
@ Mototique Racing Blog 

Ocala, Florida

Asa Candler's Atlanta Speedway

In the early 20^th century, motorcycle racing exploded in popularity across the country. It drew tens of thousands of spectators to tracks across the country. The races were regularly covered by the sports pages of major newspapers and racers became household names. 

 Motorcycles were first used to pace professional bicycle racing, on wooden Velodrome tracks. Soon, motorcycles shifted from pacing to racing, and the events drew large crowds. The first race held at the newly constructed Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1909 was a motorcycle race.

Indian Motorcycles Club France Collection

Atlanta would become the capital of southern motorcycle racing, having three major tracks dating from the earliest days of racing. The Atlanta Speedway, Atlanta Motordrome, and Lakewood Speedway would all play key roles in the City's rich motorcycle racing history. This is the story of the first of those legendary racetracks, the original Atlanta Speedway.

The Atlanta Speedway 

 In 1887 Villa Rica, Georgia businessman Asa Griggs Candler had purchased the formula for Coca Cola from its inventor, John Pemberton, for $2300.00. While some though the purchase was a fool's errand, it proved to be very wise investment.

Asa Griggs Candler

Candler, who owned a drug store in Villa Rica, saw the potential of Coca Cola. Through shrewd marketing, he had turned Coca Cola into a household name. He also made a fortune, which allowed him to pursue other business ventures.

Candler was also an auto racing fan. When he heard about the racetrack, which was being built in Indianapolis, Indiana, he saw an opportunity to bring a similar racetrack to Atlanta. And of course, the throngs of spectators drawn to the track on warm Atlanta days, would buy lots of Coca Cola.



Candler bought up 287 acres of flat land south of Atlanta for $77,000. Construction of a 2-mile oval began in early 1909. The racing surface was sand, and gravel mixed with an asphalt binder.   He spent another $400,000 building the racetrack and grandstands, which brought the final price tag of the track close to half a million dollars.

The new Atlanta Speedway was built primarily for automobile racing. The opening weeks races were held in conjunction with the Atlanta Car Show in downtown Atlanta. 

Atlanta Constitution

November 10, 1909

The opening weeks races drew some of the best racing drivers in the country, and huge crowds filled the grandstands to see the races.

 Many Atlanta businesses closed at noon each day so their customers and employees could watch the races.

On Thursday, November 11, 1909, the Atlanta Speedway hosted the City's first professional motorcycle races. The two-day event featured separate races for amateurs, known as "trade riders", and professional riders were held that day. There were only five competitors in the professional race. They were R.W. Gayle, Gail Joyce, and Bob Stubbs, who all rode Indians. Russell Walthour rode his Merkel, and V. Moss rode a Reading Standard. The most experienced riders were Walthour, Joyce, and Stubbs, who all came from Birmingham.

Walthour had made a name for himself, as an accomplished bicycle racer, at Jack Prince's Atlanta Velodrome. Russell's famous brother, Bobby Walthour, was a World Champion cyclist.

Atlanta Constitution

July 1897

Bob Stubbs had made a name for himself racing Indian motorcycles at the Alabama State Fairgrounds in Birmingham. He became one of the top riders winning races throughout the south.

In March 1909, Stubbs was part of the Indian Motorcycle Company's Factory Racing Team that competed in the motorcycle classes of the Daytona Beach Speed Trials. On the first day, Stubbs Indian teammate. Walter Georke set a new record for the one-mile run. The following day, Stubbs broke Georke's record. 

Russell Walthour and Bob Stubbs dominated the August 1909 races at Waco, Texas. 

Russell Walthour (left), Robert Stubbs (right)
Chris Price Collection

The six-mile race was won by Bob Stubbs, and Russell Walthour finished second. In the ten-lap race Walthour and Stubbs flipped spots, with Walthour winning and Stubbs finishing second. 

Atlanta Speedway - November 1909
Detroit Public Library Collection
Courtesy of Isabelle Bracquemond

Motorcycle Illustrated - November 15, 1909

Atlanta Speedway - November 1909
Detroit Public Library Collection
Courtesy of Chris Price at Georgia Motorcycle History

This photo shows the starting line for one of the professional races. The riders are believed to be, left to right: V. Moss on a Reading Standard, Russell Walthour on a Flying Merkel, Robert Stubbs on an Indian, Gail Joyce on an Indian, and Richard Gayle on an Indian.

Charlotte, NC. Evening Chronicle - November 11, 1909

In the final twenty-mile race, Bob Stubbs jumped out to a commanding lead. At the 14-mile mark, Stubbs broke an exhaust valve, which put him out of the race. Walthour battled for the lead, with Joyce, and Moss for the last three laps of the race. In the end, Walthour finished first, with Joyce in second, and Moss in third. A complete account of the twenty-mile race later appeared in the Automobile Journal.



   

When the dust settled on the weeks racing, Asa Candler realized he had just broken even. The weeks receipts were just enough to cover the costs incurred in holding the event.

Atlanta Speedway Coca Cola Ad

Atlanta Constitution - November 1909

There was no profit to pay down the half million-dollar cost of building the track. Candler continued to run automobile, and motorcycle races, along with other events at the speedway, but the crowds dwindled.

Atlanta Constitution - May 7, 1911

On May 20, 1911, both the amateur, and professional riders returned to the Atlanta Speedway for the Southern Championship Races sponsored by the Atlanta Motorcycle Club.  The first four races were run before, rain forced a postponement.

Atlanta Constitution - May 21, 1911

The final six races were run the following Saturday, with claiming the Atlanta Dealer's Trophy and the title as Southern Champion.

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - May 27, 1911

Atlanta Constitution
5-28-1911 

In November 1911, a motorcycle race featuring Police Officers from the City of Atlanta, and Fulton County Motorcycle Units competed in a race at the Speedway. 

Atlanta Constitution - November 9, 1911

The police motorcycle races took place as part of the three-day Military Day festivities at the Speedway, featuring military maneuvers, and mock bombing by military aircraft, and were sponsored by the Atlanta Police Benevolent Association.

Atlanta Constitution - November 12, 1911

The City of Atlanta Officers claimed top honors in the 10 Mile races, with wins by Officers J.W. McWilliams, and R.B Haney, both riding Indian Motorcycles.

Atlanta Constitution - November 17, 1911

 For the next few years, the Speedway was primarily used for air shows, and air races. On Labor Day 1913, the first known motorcycle race for black riders was held at the Speedway. The races were part of events by the "Atlanta Colored Labor Day Association." The race was won by John Sims, on an Indian. This appears to have been the final motorcycle race run at the Atlanta Speedway.

Atlanta Constitution - August 31, 1913

Crowds at the Speedway never matched the 1909 opening week crowds, and the site was abandoned in the mid-teens.

 

Atlanta Speedway - 1919

 In 1925, the City of Atlanta was looking to build a badly needed airport. Candler's son, who now controlled the family business, saw an opportunity to get rid of the property. He leased it rent free to the city for five years. The new Atlanta airport was named Candler Field.  It is now part of the Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Overlay of the Atlanta Speedway Site over the current
Hartsfield-Jackson Airport - Atlanta, Georgia
Courtesy of Andy Scott

With the closing of The Atlanta Speedway, the first chapter of motorcycle racing in Atlanta came to an end. It would soon return, with the building of City's first purpose-built motorcycle racing track, the Atlanta Motordrome.

Stay tuned for the next part of the series: The Atlanta Motordrome.

Sources:

Andy Scott Collection

Atlanta Constitution

Charlotte, N.C. Evening Chronicle

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review

Motorcycle Illustrated

Wikipedia.org