DJKSETX Posted July 3, 2006 Share Posted July 3, 2006 I posted this on the Chalmers board. I'm primarily a Hudson historian 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 KavaBeaumont, TX 777061954 Hudson Hornet Special 2dr sd1966 AMC Marlin1968 AMC Rebel cv1977 AMC Manador sd1977 Coupe DevilleUndated 1909 Chalmers-Detroit RacesDuring 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, CD40, 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, PACD 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted July 3, 2006 Share Posted July 3, 2006 I'll be posting 6 photos from a scrapbook that was put together at the time of these races. H.D.Carpenter of Philadelphia put the collection together from magazine cutouts. He would later go on to own two INDY 500 cars raced by Ira Vail, and was an investor in several race tracks in the Philadelphia area. Photo #1 shows Dingley in a Chalmers-Detriot with that looks like a letter "H" on his car, wonder if this was actually a number 11 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted July 3, 2006 Share Posted July 3, 2006 PLEASE NOTE: This post is a great example of this website haveing far too many sub groupes IMO. I've never visited the Chalmers section, but I LOVE Vintage Race cars, if someone knows how to move my photos and text to the Charlers room please do so. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />Photo #2 shows Matson in his Chalmers-Detroit "Bluebird" Car number 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted July 3, 2006 Share Posted July 3, 2006 Closeup of The Winner Matson......looks grumpy to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted July 3, 2006 Share Posted July 3, 2006 Photo #4: Chalmers car #23 driven to first place at a 100 mile cace at Point Breeze by Lorimer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted July 3, 2006 Share Posted July 3, 2006 Last photo, Dingley in the #5 Chalmers at the start of some unknown race, car #4 is aSimplex drived by Robertson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted July 3, 2006 Share Posted July 3, 2006 Almost forgot this one. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Dingley finishing in second place in car #5, race unknown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJKSETX Posted July 4, 2006 Author Share Posted July 4, 2006 The second post has a file match on car number 19 and driver Matson and must be: June 18, 1909, AAA Indiana Trophy Race, Crown Point, IN. Mechcanic named Schnor. Thanks for the posting. DJ Kava Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Laferriere Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 I heard that there was a 1917 Chalmers Speedster. I have a 1917 Chalmers running and driving chassis with hood and cowl but no body. Seems only obvious to build a speedster body. Any photos of this mystery Speedster?Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I heard that there was a 1917 Chalmers Speedster. I have a 1917 Chalmers running and driving chassis with hood and cowl but no body. Seems only obvious to build a speedster body. Any photos of this mystery Speedster?Thanks </div></div>I haven't thought about that car in a long time but there was one at the Bennington, Vt. Meet years ago when they used to hold the meet at the airport. Cars was restored, all white, body wheels 7 chassis. I think there was a brass plaque on the dash from some Endurance Race it won. I've got photos of it buried somewere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Laferriere Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Would love those photos if you can find them. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJKSETX Posted July 5, 2006 Author Share Posted July 5, 2006 The white 1917 Chalmers speedster was featured in Automobile Quarterly, 35-3 (July '96) beginning on page 98. There ae Several good photos. The car set a 24hr chassis record at Sheepshead Bay in November, 1917 driven by Joe Dawson. There is a plaque on the dash.DJ Kava Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted July 5, 2006 Share Posted July 5, 2006 Thanks DJ, My AQ series ends with #29-4, guess I need to fill in what I've missed. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Laferriere Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 off to ebay I go. Thanks DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Laferriere Posted July 8, 2006 Share Posted July 8, 2006 Ebay is a wonderful thing. I received the AQ book featuring the speedster. Nice car, but not what I thought it would look like. Hmmm, back to the drawing board for this speedster design. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted July 8, 2006 Share Posted July 8, 2006 I rembemer thinking it was about 10 years ahead of its time design wise when I saw it up in Vermont years ago. Wonderwere it's living now? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMoneyPit Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 There used to be a CMC racer that had been a speed record holder in the tees that showed up at a small show in the Lowell Mass area about 20 years ago. It was quite the machine, but I don't think I appreciated it as much as I would now. As far as Chalmers-Detroit, the only thing I have ever seen is the emblem to the lower left of the attached photo. Rare Car indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMoneyPit Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 Oops... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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