Site Meter

car supplies
vehical supplies

ALTOONA AND THE FATE'S FICKLE FINGER
by Dick Ralstin


________________________________________________________________

I don't believe there's a race fan in the US whose ears don't perk up when the name Altoona is mentioned. Altoona, Altoona, damn that name sounds familiar, where have I heard it before?

Then the light goes on, a smile comes on their lips and, Oh yea that was a race track in Pennsylvania back in the 20's and 30's.

The name is rich in racing history. A 1-1/4 mile track made from 4 million board feet of white pine 2X4's, laid on edge, and 80 tons of nails and spikes. Altoona was the pride of Pennsylvania when the opening ceremonies were held on Labor Day, Sept. 4, 1923.

Eight stormy years followed before the curtain came down on Altoona, on Labor Day Sept. 1931.

In the eight years some of the most famous names in automobile racing drove into victory circle after beating Altoona's 32 degree banked turns.

Louie Meyer was a three time winner, Billy Arnold, Frank Lockhart, Jimmy Murphy and Peter DePaolo each won the laurel wreath twice. But there was also a page of disaster's in Altoona's history.

In the eight years there were three fatal crashes and, call it fate or whatever, each of the three fatals was a winner of the Indianapolis and a fourth Indianapolis winner crashed to his death just a week after winning his second race on Altoona's boards.

The first of the three fatals happened quick. In fact in the first race on that Labor Day 1923 on the 117 lap.

The 200 mile race had been a thriller up to that point with 11 lead changes. Harry Hartz, Earl Cooper, Tommy Milton, Harlan Fengler, Howdy Wilcox and Eddie Hearne. Then Howdy Wilcox blew a tire and his Duesenberg climbed the steep banks crashed into the wooden guard rail. The 1919 winner of the Indianapolis 500 died instantly.

Jimmy Murphy was the king of Altoona in 1924. He ran away and hid in the Spring 250 miler and was leading in the Fall race, Sept. 1, 1924, another 250 mile event, when disaster stuck on the 191st lap. Murphy and Joe Boyer were fighting for the lead, with Jimmy in front by the slimmest of margins. Finally Murphy was forced to pit for tires and Boyer stormed to the front. But, with new tires, here came Jimmy and the chase resumed until ----. Until a tire exploded on Joe Boyer's Duesenberg and he crashed thru the upper guard rail. The 1924 co-winner of the Indianapolis 500 died later that night in an Altoona hospital. A week later, during a race in Syracuse, N.Y., Jimmy Murphy crashed and the winner of the 1922 Indianapolis 500 was dead.

To put another twist to the story, that same week, on Sept. 2, 1924, Dario Resta was trying for a new land speed record in England when he crashed and the winner of the 1916 Indianapolis 500 was dead.

We move ahead to June 15, 1929 and the 200 miler at Altoona, it is the 120th lap and Ray Keech is lapping Bob Robinson when Robinson's car spun into the upper guard rail. The impact tore about 60 feet of the rail loose and it came down across the track hitting Keech's car causing it to flip several times. The winner of the 1929 Indianapolis 500, racing for the first time since his victory, was dead.

The eight years of racing and weather had not been easy on the boards of Altoona and, after the stock market crash of '29, money was hard to find for badly needed repairs. Finally in 1931 the owners threw in the towel and Altoona was closed after a series of 100 mile races were financial flops.

Altoona stood splintered and rotting until May 19, 1936 when fire turned the once pride of Pennsylvania into a charred shell.

Google
 


To report wrong or dead links, click here to send E-Mail to webmaster@nj3.com
Back to the Wheels of Speed home page

© Copyright 2007 Wheels of Speed     -      Designed & Maintained By John & Mike Calla (Webmaster nj3.com) and best viewed at 1024 x 768 resolution.