A Racer's Love Story
For all the single racers out there, I offer advice from Daredevil Joe Tracy. If it worked in 1906, it might still work today. In September 1906 Tracy won an elimination race for the Vanderbilt Cup race despite being distracted by thoughts of Miss Millicent Taylor. From the Los Angeles Herald, September 30, 1906: Most of Tracy’s thoughts, in spite of the fact that he had to guide his ninety horse power locomobile so that not even a swerve of even a hair’s breadth interfered w
How to Crown a Winner, in 1906
Long before burnouts, spraying champagne, or Monster Energy girls, auto racing had a history of big celebrations for winners. When Victor Demogeot was crowned the Speed King of the world, having gone under 1 minute for 2 miles on the beach, a coronation and parade awaited him. Mary Simrall, an Ormond teenager who won a newspaper beauty/popularity contest, was selected to officially “crown” the speed king and to accompany him in the victory parade. Below is the speech that was