Auto Racing in the Shadow of the Great War by Robert Dick

Streamlined Specials and a New Generation of Drivers on American Speedways, 1915-1922

From 1915 through the early 1920s, American auto racing experienced rapid and exciting change. Competition by European vehicles forced American car manufacturers to incorporate new features, resulting in legendary engineering triumphs (and, essentially, works of art). Some of the greatest drivers in racing history were active during this time—Ralph DePalma, Dario Resta, Eddie Rickenbacker, the Chevrolet brothers, Jimmy Murphy. Presenting dozens of races in detail and a wealth of engineering specs, this history recalls the era’s cigar-shaped speedway specials and monumental board tracks, the heavy-footed drivers, fearless mechanics, gifted engineers and enthusiastic backers.

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 446
Bibliographic Info: 153 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2019

Table of Contents

Introduction 1
I: Spring 1915—Exposition Races 9
II: May 1915—Fifth Indianapolis 500 37
III: Summer 1915—Chicago’s Maywood Speedway 64
IV: Fall 1915—Phenomenal Stutz 90
V: Spring 1916—Interspeedway Racing 112
VI: May and June 1916—Indianapolis and Chicago 300 137
VII: Summer 1916—Mid-Continent Races 156
VIII: Fall 1916—A.A.A. Championship 174
IX: Spring 1917—War Impact 195
X: Summer 1917—Gloomy Atmosphere 220
XI: 1918—Handicap Season 241
XII: Spring 1919—Liberty Sweepstakes 266
XIII: Fall 1919—300-inch Finish 291
XIV: 1920—183-inch Debut 317
XV: 1921—Straight-Eight Supremacy 345
XVI: 1922—183-inch Finale 375
Appendix A. Biographical Data 405
Appendix B. Technical Data—Speedway Specials 1915–1922 413
Chapter Notes 427
Bibliography 436
Index 437