History Auto racing 1894-1942

Any suggestions as to what event this might be? The picture turned up on a French forum: the hand-written caption has a spelling mistake, as the driver is actually Lee Humiston, aka The Humiston Comet, the first man to "officially" exceed 100mph on a motorbike, which he achieved at Playa del Rey on December 30th 1912. The only other information I could find was that he was from Denver, but nothing on him ever racing cars.

Original source for the picture is a picasaweb album, which has one or two more racing-related pictures, probably unidentifiable.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Lsmithtwin/HistoricVehiclePhotos#

 

Vitesse, from a cursory glance it looks like one of the 1912 National team cars. In 1912 National had the #11 car at Elgin to be driven by Neil Whalen but failed to qualify for either race.

I wonder if Humiston was given a chance to show his stuff behind the wheel. Strictly a guess mind you-JIm

 

Vitesse, I couldn't find anything more on Humiston, but, I had a really good read from this site: http://www.chuckstoyland.com/national/racing/

 

Anyone know about this Argentine Napier?

 

After looking at the link in Mr Fire's post the National could be maybe 1911 or who knows maybe 1910. There was a #11 that ran at Indy in the PrestLite Trophy race on May 27 1910, driven by Merz and then again at Indy in the Remy Grand Trophy on Sept 3 both driven by Charlie Merz and both 100 miles in length. Then a National 40 ran at Santa Monica in Oct of 1911 finishing first driven by Harvey Herrick.

Can't find anything with Humiston driving in whatever records I have run across but maybe he got to drive the car whenever it carried the #11.-Jim

 

Just returned and unpacked the cars from from last weekends racing at Lime Rock Park. Follow the link at the bottom of this post to see Photographer Michael DiPlecos wonderful photos the racing action from the vintage festival at Lime Rock. He offers a total of 340 images that not only show the strong field of vintage race cars, but also highlight the beautiful Lime Rock track set amongst the hills of Connecticut.

There was a great prewar class with wonderful cars and a day of practice and two full days of racing. You should try to make it next year if possible.

The Lime Rock Historic Festival 2010 was held September 3-6th at the 1.53 mile Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, even bigger and better than last year’s record-breaking event.

The 28th edition of the Lime Rock Vintage Festival saw 10 racing groups of 30+ cars each for a total of 320 vintage race cars, with each class hitting the track four times. The 2010 Historic Festival was the second year for Event Chairman and Organizer Murray Smith, as well as Vintage Sports Car Club of America (VSCCA) as the sanctioning body. The Honored Guest was John Lamm, the noted automotive photographer and journalist. The Joe Freeman collection was also featured.

http://www.sportscardigest.com/lime-rock-historic-festival-2010-results-and-photo-gallery/

 

This guy looks like he was left by the rest of the field. I wonder how many times he was lapped.

 

It's the aerodynamic drag caused by his mustache...

 

A few more of Photographer Michael DiPlecos wonderful images from Lime Rock Park.....

 

Lime Rock Park....

 

Looks like a Stearns...c.1909-1911?

 

I hear the poor guy does'nt have a clue as he always brings a car which is slower than the rest of the field as it is so much older and also kind of shabby..... A lot like himself......

 

Anymore info on this car? year? driver?. Looks to be running a chev 4 as the writing on the side suggests and is that a chev bowtie on the radiator?

 

Sorry the photo came w/no details.....But it appears to have two pipes leading from the head which would at least date the cylinder head 1928. There is also a chance it may have an Oldsmobile head which had three exhaust ports but it is hard to see the details clearly in the photo.

 

No TH, it's a two port '28. See the plug wires going up over the head from the distributor? Right where the center port on an Olds would be.

Herb Kephart

 

This is a ".pdf" that I came across.

http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com/sites/default/files/May_30_1910_Brickyard.pdf

 

A publicity photo that was produced to promote the 1938 Warner Brothers crime / auto racing film, DAREDEVIL DRIVERS, which starred Beverly Roberts, Dick Purcell, Gloria Blondell, Gordon Oliver, Charley Foy, Donald Briggs, Eric Stanley, Max Hoffman Jr., Ferris Taylor, Cliff Clark, Earl Dwire and William Hopper. The film was directed by B. Reeves Eason.

 

A photo taken in circa 1910, possibly in Seattle, Wash.

 

Kissel at Elgin, year unknown.

 

A nice story about a former Kissel mechanic written by his grandaughter.

www.maryannlaun.com/Bill%27s%20story20030708.htm

 

Fiat 500 Testa Siata at the 1938 Mille Miglia.

 

A Peter Helck image of Dario Resta driving a Peugeot to victory in the sixth Grand Prize Race held in 1915 at San Francisco.

 

Hello everyone. I am a Steinway Restorer involved with the restoration of Harry S. Harkness Steinway Grand see link
http://earlyaviators.com/eharknes.htm

I am looking for any high quality or close up shots if any of Harry S. Harkness in his racing car or anything to do with him. Does also anyone know if there is a car model of the cars he raced that are built already or kits? All information would be so greatly appreciated.

 

Welcome to the HAMB Don, never knew the detailed history of Harry Harkness before thanks for the link. Sheepshead Bay was one heck of a track in its day.