two miles a minute
Today we know of auto racing as a sport that costs a lot of money, but also gives winners a chance to earn a lot of money. But how much did a race car cost in 1910? How much was winning worth? How much did it cost to be a fan? In the chart below we look at the dollars and cents from the early 1900s translated into today’s value (2015 dollars) through use of the Inflation Calculator (http://www.westegg.com/inflation/).
$50,000
Barney Oldfield's projected earnings in 1906
Today that is $1,330,203
$6,000
Announced purse for a race between Barney Oldfield and Ralph DePalma in the one mile straightaway race at Daytona in 1910. However, DePalma suffered a broken piston and was unable to compete.
Today that is $153,980
$86
Cost of a round trip rail ticket from Minneapolis to Daytona in 1906
Today that is $2,288
$500,000
Estimated amount to be spent on new machines for the 1906 event
Today that is $13,302,030
$500
Prize for winning the 10 mile straightaway race at the 1903 meet
Today that is $13,302
$10 a day
New rule proposed by AAA to pay race referees in 1909. Previously referees had volunteered for the privilege.
Today that is $266
$2,000
Sir Thomas Dewar Trophy value, first awarded in 1905 to Louis Ross
Today that is $53,208
$50,000
Amount raised by FECAA through the first 7 tournaments (1903-1909)
Today that is $1,330,645
$3,000,000
Cost to build Brooklands, England track (Cost to build the Ormond-Daytona beach course=$0)
Today that is $76,990,054
$14,000
Amount Barney Oldfield paid for Hemery’s Benz in 1910
Today that is $359,287