I'm primarily a Hudson historians but since all the major characters one time owned chunks of Chalmers-Detroit company have followed them back. The young owners were interested in racing and by '09 had a semi-factory team that even prepared a special small bore motor to qualify for one event. The ads and various literature bits note a number of events, some without dates, drivers or other details. Below are 14 events with all the known facts from my files. The most import of course would be the dates and drivers. It should be possible to track the cars around the country for the season.
You can correspond directly at
djksetx@yahoo.com, subject Chalmers Racing. Thanks. And yes I know about the Hammond book on Chalmers and he was a frequent correspondent before becoming sick. I wrote a 1000 word book review for the Society of Automotive Historians Journal awaiting publishing.
DJ Kava
Beaumont, TX 77706
1954 Hudson Hornet Special 2dr sd
1966 AMC Marlin
1968 AMC Rebel cv
1977 AMC Manador sd
1977 Coupe Deville
Undated 1909 Chalmers-Detroit Races
During 1909 the Chalmers-Detroit Company entered both Model 30 and Model 40 cars in numerous racing and endurance events. They are sometimes listed as 30 & 40 horsepower models.
__, 1909 Private Match Race, Pointe Breeze Track, Philadelphia, PA, CD40, driver Harvey Ringler. Match Race with Ira. L. Brown in a Buick. No stops 50 miles in 59 minutes and 46.5 seconds.
__, 1909 New Jersey Auto & Motor Club Endurance Run, CD30, Perfect Score photo shows license plate #6335.
__, 1909, Hartford Endurance Run, Hartford, CN, 40 Pony Tonneau, Lorimer. Won with Perfect Score.
___, 1909, _____, Columbus, OH, CD40, Lorimer. Won 25 mile race in 25:06 2/5.
___, 1909, Pointe Breeze Track in Philadelphia, CD40, Lorimer won 10 and 100 mile event.
___, 1909, Brighton Beach, 100 mile Marathon, Lorimer won 100 miles in 112 minutes.
___, 1909, Bridgeport, CN Hill Climb, 40 & 30, Lorimer & ? Set new records for course twice in a day. Touring car and Roadster classes $2,001-3,000. Time for Roadster 1:16 2/3. The 30 won its class. [The Champion Car p24]
___, 1909, Altadena Hill Climb, Pasadena, CA, CD40, Won Free For All for stock cars taking Perpetual Challenge Trophy, won the event for roadsters from $2,00-3,00 class. Driver unknown.
___, 1909, Plainfield, NJ, CD40, George Rankin winner $2,000-3,000 class.
___, 1909, Shingle Hill Climb, New Haven, CN, 40, won.
___, 1909, Fort George Hill Climb, New York City, CD40, Knipper won in $2,000-3,000 class.
___, 1909, Columbus, Ohio. Lorimer won 100 mile race in 112 minutes.
___, 1909, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA
CD 40 driven by Dingley(?) defeated 15 bigger cars, one 90hp, four 70hp, seven 60hp, three 50hp, beaten by 90hp car. Awarded ?Consistency Prize? because it did not stop a single time.
May ___, 1909, Harvard Trophy, Readville nr Boston. Lorimer placed 2nd in race for Harvard Trophy; 25 miles in 24 min 45 sec, forced a specially constructed foreign racer to establish a new world?s record for that distance. Car #23.
July 3rd, 2006
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