Old Race Tracks

[Roger Dowding]

Ken H,
great story, good to see you posting again, after your medical bit got sorted
I knew of races at Coronado - the Airforce Base but not the Road Circuit at San Diego - even though I visited a mate in 1982 who ran this Healey and came from San Diego, is still there and still into Healey's although mainly Sprite's these days - Terry Cowan -he may deal with Moss Motors too.

BMC BOY on the left, Bryan Harris also from NZ, and Terry Cowan.. whose workshop was called the Toy Shop - back in 1982 ..

[Ray Bell]

Those races were done and dusted before Healeys were ever a twinkle in Donald Healey's eye...

As were the ones at Savannah.

[khyndart in CA]

Roger,
I have driven these roads many times and it wasn't until last month that I learned about this 1915 race taking place.
Thanks for allowing me to ramble on once again, I hope to start work again within 2 weeks.

The Start / Finish line was set up towards the end of a two mile straight along Rosecrans St. and the main grandstand was situated to show spectators the cars going by at their top speeds around 100 MPH. But many of the crowd assembled at the corners as they wanted to see the action at those points.
Some scenes of the start to the 1915 race.

(Note the winning Stutz # 8 started away back in the field. )

Waiting for the flag to drop. The # 3 Tahis has an interesting torpedo shaped extra coolant reservoir above the engine.

Temperatures and tempers are rising in this photo of the start as the cars are about to head north along Rosecrans.
Air pollution apparently was not an issue back then !

The start line area today looking north along Rosecrans St towards the first corner.

The start line area today looking back south along the Rosecrans two mile straight.


(Ken H..)

[Paul B]

Gee, there are some great old bangers in those pics above, I love the open cars of that vintage.

Here is a picture I found of the old Levin race track.

[khyndart in CA]

Ray,
I have been delayed with my inputs because I have been reading your wonderful detailed writings of travelling around the States. Thankyou for all the good information, better than any travel guide.

Paul, I agree about these race cars from this era. Magnificent machines and I will always remember watching Len Southward drive Mr. Muldoon around Pukekohe before the 1976 NZGP. in his 1915 Stutz. # 5.

KH photo.

Ken H.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by khyndart in CA
Ray,
I have been delayed with my inputs because I have been reading your wonderful detailed writings of travelling around the States. Thankyou for all the good information, better than any travel guide.....

Glad to have you join in, Ken...

The best part is the first trip, in which my late wife's diary features. She had different views to me on many of the things we saw, such a shame she couldn't make the later journeys.

It's no quick read, though, as I'm sure you realise. I think I'm up to 3,500 photos and maps so far. Seventeen circuits plus bits of the Targa Florio and Mille Miglia.

With regard to this San Diego circuit, I have a friend who lives there in San Diego and who I visited on the second trip. He used to have a big part in the Nissan team in the US, though he came from Adelaide. I'm sure he doesn't know about this track.

[khyndart in CA]

The 1915 field description;
With the driver and his "Mechanician"

Famous American driver Barney Oldfield rounding the corner onto Rosecrans in his Maxwell # 14.

1915.Heading along Rosecrans. Note the power poles and spectator parking !

1915. Eddie Rickenbacher, who later went on to be a famous pilot and air ace, driving his Peugeot down the straight completing another lap. (Note the position of the pole and the spectators !)
( Were the power lines moved away for the event and there was not enough time to move the pole ?
All opinions are welcome !) They were two brave / stupid spectators !



( Ken H..)

[jellywrestler]

The 1915 field description;
With the driver and his "Mechanician"

[ATTACH=CONFIG]66856[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]66857[/ATTACH]
Famous American driver Barney Oldfield rounding the corner onto Rosecrans in his Maxwell # 14.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]66860[/ATTACH]
1915.Heading along Rosecrans. Note the power poles and spectator parking !

[ATTACH=CONFIG]66859[/ATTACH]
1915. Eddie Rickenbacher, who later went on to be a famous pilot and air ace, driving his Peugeot down the straight completing another lap. (Note the position of the pole and the spectators !)



( Ken H..)

no flour spray cans to mark the hazard in those days either

[Ray Bell]

They certainly knew how to throw up grandstands those days...

[khyndart in CA]

In 1915 spectator safety was not a top priority as seen in this image showing # 19 Duesenberg powering through the turn going up Chatsworth Blvd.

Here an MGB powers through the same corner in this 2019 photo.

(Ken H..)

[khyndart in CA]

1915. The illustrious Barney Oldfield with the usual cigar clenched between his teeth, driving his Maxwell down Canon St.
His mechanician, George Hill, is hanging on but they seem to be enjoying themselves.
(Note the horses off to the right with their harnesses set up to grade the track surface. The track was surfaced with disintegrated granite. DG. )

(Ken H..)

[Ray Bell]

We call that 'decomposed granite' here, Ken...

Wonderful stuff, smooths out nicely and provides a good slippery surface.

[khyndart in CA]

Ray,
I got my 1915 DG input from this;

[Ray Bell]

I see... 'as DG was called back then.'

So maybe they now call it 'decomposed granite' as I'm used to.

This is all pretty good stuff, Ken, can you keep it coming?

[khyndart in CA]

The three Peugeot entered in the race all had engine failures due to broken connecting rods which may have been due to oil supply issues during the long climbs on the course compared to racing at Indianapolis and Savannah etc. on flat tracks.
Due to the war in Europe it was hard / impossible to get replacement parts. One of the drivers, Bob Burman, made arrangements to have his own replacement engine built by his friend, Harry Miller after this event.

Bob Burman at the 1915 start with mechanician Eric Schrader in Peugeot # 6.

After 7 laps of the 6 mile course the Burman Peugeot was out with a broken connecting rod. Burman and Schrader checking the damage.
(Excuse what may be a dumb question but what did this machine use for brakes ?)

Another Peugeot # 9 out with broken connecting rod.
( Judging by the hats the ladies got well dressed up for this racing occasion in San Diego. ( Jan. 9th. 1915.)




(Ken H..)

[Oldfart]

The Peugeots came from racing in Europe which were not flat courses. As you say Ken it sounds like a lubrication issue, but for me it doesn't stack up to say the hills were causal. Maybe the mechanician had a role in pumping oil as they did for fuel tank pressure? I'm now on the hunt for info! Keep them coming please.
Brakes, rear only, just like my one. I could post a pic, but would be OT.

[khyndart in CA]

Rhys,
Why was the braking to the rear wheels only on such a large machine ?



Ken

[Ray Bell]

Simple...

4-wheel brakes were yet to be developed.

Oh yes, there were hills...



This is the 5-mile straight on the circuit on which these cars made their successful debut. And this...



...is a part of the return leg on that circuit. Hills were not steep, but they were there, and there was plenty of sustained speed.

These photos are going up tonight in the next episode of my trip thread. My last day in Europe.

[Oldfart]

It was probably a whole lot more windy when they raced there too!

[Oldfart]

Brakes, check this out! http://www.grandprixhistory.org/peug1912.htm
Perhaps the Americans took them off because they show on the site I have copied. It doesn't give the year though for the pics showing brakes, although does say 1912 .
Lubrication; reading more I discover they were dry sump engines, front and rear mains were roller bearings, and the centre one a double row ball bearing. It doesn't give any clues to big ends.
Another link https://primotipo.com/2015/12/11/191213-peugeot-gp-car-especially-its-engines/