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August 25, 1923. "Auto races at Rockville Fair." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.
Note that there seems to be a typo in the following article. Two cars are listed as #18. The car to the left in the photo appears to be #16. I believe the trailing car, second from the left is #55: Bunce in the Haynes 12.
Also note that in addition to racing there were two auto polo events.
World speed records will be placed in jeopardy at Rockville fair this afternoon when a half score of professional drivers, including speedway and dirt track auto race monarchs, will compete in a seven-event program, made public today by Promoter Austin C. Wilson, of the Midwest Motor Contest association.
Featuring an exceptional program is the record trials in which Frank Ripple, Canadian speed star and dirt track champion, will drive his 140 horsepower aeroplane motor Disbrow in an effort to hang up some new time marks. Every driver on the track will be eligble to enter the time events, but speed fans look to Ripple to set the best record.
Happy Jack Cottrel, noted speedway driver and champion of the South, but his Frontenac to a test yesterday and declared that the track is in perfect shape for the competition. In the races here saturday he hopes to defeat Ripple, and jump into the lead in the 1923 dirt track race championship.
Two foreign machines and six american-built cars are listed to start, according to the program. Ripple, with a Disbrow, and Johnny Rose in a Benz special, both high-powered mounts, are expected to be sensation in the competitive events. Cottrell has also brought a Wisconsin special car from Indianapolis.
First-event - Introduction of the drivers and cars as they appear on the track:
Name of car and driver .................... Number Disbrow, Ripple ...............................18 Haynes 12, Bunce ..............................55 Deusenberg, Reich .............................18 Fetterman Special, Fetterman ..................61 Benz, Rose ....................................32 Wisconsin, Special, Condon ....................14 Frontennac, Cottrell ..........................17 Marmon, Clark .................................66
Second event - One-mile dash, all cars entered.
Third event - First heat of the Texaco trophy.
Fourth event - Second heat of the Texaco trophy.
Fifth event - Those finishing first and second in the third and fourth events will compete in this event. Seven laps.
Sixth event - Time trials to establish a track record.
Seventh event - Free for all. ten miles.
There will also be two periods of auto polo.
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