Fairmount Park Race 1908 - Locomobile

[West Peterson]

I've been asked for more information on the history of a tall silver trophy that resides in this person's neighbor's possession. Here is what is written on the trophy... Also, does anyone know if the car still exists?

"The Founders Week Cup."

The Quaker City Motor Club

Won By

"The Locomobile"

Type I, 40 H.P., Touring Chassis

Entered By

Irving J. Morse

Driven By

George H. Robertson

The Quaker City Motor Club

Stock-Chassis-Road-Race

200 Miles

Fairmount Park October 10, 1908

[oldford]

I did a yahoo search on the race and found a reference at the following Italian web site

http://www.gdecarli.it/Risultati/Piget/2005/2b%20-%20indies.pdf

For 1908 it showed:

Founders Day Trophy 195 (USA) Philadelphia-Fairmount Pk 8 (Sep 26) George Robertson (Locomobile)

would you believe that is all I found???

Frank

[1937hd45]

West, I'm sending you a PM on this, I know someone that may have the answer. THANK YOU for the Mercer photos on the inside of the front cover of AA. I'm hoping that will be a new feature, "Photos of the Hobby 50+ Years Ago". <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Guest imported_Bookreader]

West, here is a book review that I did several months ago from a book in our AACA Library. As the saying goes---Go to the AACA Library FIRST! Fran Shore

THE FAIRMONT PARK

MOTOR RACES

1908-1911

By Michael J. Seneca

Published by: McFarland & Company, Inc. N.C. 2003

The front cover of the book has a painting by Peter Helck,

? 1909 Fairmont Park- ?Big George? Wins again.?

The back cover is a photograph of the 1908 FOUNDERS? WEEK CUP given as the first year?s prize to the winner. This photo along with many others in the book is credited from resources at our own AACA Library and Research Center.

This is the story of the four years of exciting racing by such figures as Robertson, Harroun and DePalma over a difficult course. Early autos such as Lozier, Locomobile, Mercer and Benz went speeding through Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?s Fairmont Park.

Seneca gives accurate descriptions of the times, the people in political power, the ?old? money residents and the race course along with the racers and their cars.

The old photographs are interesting yet very dark. The reader will wish they had been lightened to see them more easily. The research done by Seneca is thorough. It provides good reading and the feeling of ?being there.? The detail of information is great. The author used many libraries and other resource centers such as newspaper archives to make this a factual account.

Seneca describes the pre-race nervousness of the drivers who drove with minimal sleep due to the early morning start and the need for the preparing of the cars. The race used staggered starting by seconds but was immediately ?bunched? and passing took place. Many problems occurred in all four years and many of these problems were tire blowouts along with the failure of parts.

George Robertson won the first two years of 1908 and 1909. With his careful driving compared to the other driver?s who tried for burst of speed and careless movements; this racecourse was determined to be won by good driving. Fairmont Park Races became known as ?a driver?s race.?

By 1910, it had become a major East Coast race and the political powers of Philadelphia were strongly encouraged to continue the race. Robertson did not race in 1910 but Ray Harroun did although he did not win.

The 1911 race fans watched DePalma race in a Mercer and he also was a no winner.

This book is in our AACA Library and can be bought by order through stores. It is historically detailed information of the years of a forgotten port and almost unacknowledged part of racing history

Review by Fran Shore

[1937hd45]

Thanks Fran, sounds like I need to add that book to my library. I always find it rather spooky how old race cars and events are interrelated. The post I started yesterday about my old photo that hangs on the wall in Steves office has a car that was in the 1911 Fairmont Park Race. Spencer Wishart finished in second place but was denied the position for dropping of his mechanic on the last lap. The photo of Wisharts Mercedes is in a scrpbook I I've had for over 30 years. A young H.D.Carpenter of Philadelphia chiped out the magazine photos and entered the info on the races. Later in life he would own the 1919 Hudson that Ira Vail drove in the Indy 500 and after that he owned a 122 Miller. There were many high end race teams based in Philadelphia.