imca, 1921 part two

Finishing off the 1921 exploits of the IMCA through the prairie provinces and the far eastern edge of the west that includes Toronto. Research done by Don Radbruch and others finds that Fred Horey was not French Canadian. It was probably just another flight of fancy of promoter J. Alex Sloan, but it makes for good copy in the newspapers, especially when you're going to Canada:

August 6, 1921, Regina, Saskatchewan, exhibition, 1/2 mile

afternoon:

--event #1--7 laps--1st, Horey; 2nd, Anderson; 3rd, Larson--time, 4:25 1-4

--event #2--match race--1st heat--5 laps--1st, Raimey; 2nd, Hoffman; 3rd, Reynolds--time, 3:13 1-4

--event #3--time trial--one mile--Horey, 1:05 1-4 (ntr)

--event #4--3 miles--1st, Horey; 2nd, Larson--time, 3:31 1-4

--event #5--match race--2nd heat--5 laps--1st, Hoffman; 2nd, Reynolds; 3rd, Raimey--time, 3:01 1-4

--event #6--Saskatchewan Sweepstakes--5 miles--1st, Hoffman; 2nd, Larson; 3rd, Reynolds--time, 6:02 1-4


evening:

--time trials--1/2 mile--Horey, 34; Hoffman, 34 3-4; Reynolds, 35 1-4

--Dominion Derby--1st heat--3 miles--1st, Larson; 2nd, Horey; 3rd, Reynolds; 4th, Meyers--time, 3:43 3-4

--Dominion Derby--2nd heat--3 miles--1st, Hoffman; 2nd, Anderson; 3rd, Horey; 4th, Raimey--time, 3:39 3-4

--Dominion Derby--final heat--1st, Hoffman; 2nd, Larson--time, 3:17 1-4

--match race--3 miles--1st, Larson; 2nd, Louie Rogers--time, 3:38 3-4

--match race--final heat--1st, Raimey; 2nd, Hoffman; 3rd, Reynolds--time, 2:30


August 12, 1921, Yorkton, Saskatchewan, 1/2 mile (?)

results unknown


Saturday, August 27, 1921, Toronto, ON, CNE, 1/2 mile

--1st race--7 laps--1st, Norske Larson (Mooney); 2nd, Oscar Anderson (Wisconsin); 3rd, “Speed” King (Essex)--time, 4:20 2-5

--2nd race--5 laps--1st, Louis Disbrow (Essex); 2nd, Irvin Hoffman (Wisconsin); 3rd, Toots Reynolds (Simplex)--time, 3:03 2-5

--3rd race--Louis Disbrow attempted to lower the world’s dirt track record for light cars, but ignition trouble set in early in the attempt and had to give up.

--4th race--3 mile handicap--1st, Fred Horey (Briscoe); 2nd, Oscar Anderson (Wisconsin); 3rd, Meyers (Duesenberg)--time, 3:44

--5th race--5 laps--1st, Irvin Hoffman (Wisconsin); 2nd, Louis Disbrow (Essex); 3rd, “Toots” Reynolds (Simplex)--3:06 3-5

--6th race--sweepstakes--15 laps--1st, Fred Horey (Briscoe); 2nd, “Speed” King (Essex); 3rd, Norske Larson (Mooney Special)--time, 9:22 2-5

--trial against time--Fred Horey (Briscoe)--2 miles--2:15 4-5 (record is 2:15 2-5)


Monday, August 29, 1921, Toronto, ON, CNE, 1/2 mile

--class C--5 laps--1st, Disbrow (Essex); 2nd, Hoffman (Wisconsin); 3rd, Reynolds (Simplex)--time, 2:59 3-5

--Dominion Derby--1st heat--8 laps--1st, Larson (Mooney Special); 2nd, Anderson (Wisconsin); 3rd, King (Essex)--time, 4:53 3-5

--Dominion Derby--heat--1st, Horey (Briscoe); 2nd, Disbrow (Essex)

--consolation race--6 laps--1st, Reynolds (Duesenberg); 2nd, King (Essex)--time, 3:44 2-5

--Dominion Derby--final heat--10 laps--1st, Disbrow (Essex); 2nd, Horey (Briscoe); 3rd, Larson (Mooney Special)--time, 5:52 (new track record--old was 6:01)

--event no. 6--4 laps--1st, Horey (Briscoe); 2nd, Hoffman (Wisconsin Special); 3rd, Larson (Mooney Special)--time, 2:23 2-5

imca 1918, part 3

Will get this year finished and then have to miss a few days. (I'm not very good at planning far -- like a day or three -- into the future.)

I like the closing line about Winnipeg knowing who J. Alex Sloan was. He had ties to the area.

So the finish of 1918:

July 26, 1918, Brandon, Manitoba, exhibition, 1/2 mile

rain delayed


July 31, 1918, Brandon, Manitoba, 1/2 mile

--event #1--3 miles--1st, Bill Endicott; 2nd, Ben Gotoff; 3rd, Verne Soules--time, 4:12 1-4

--event #2--5 miles--1st, Clifford Toft; 2nd, Jules Ellingboe; 3rd, Leon Duray--time, 6:41

--event #3--Australian Pursuit handicap--5 miles--1st, Ben Gotoff; 2nd, Vern Soules; 3rd, Sig Haugdahl--time, 9:31

--one mile time trial--Jules Ellingboe, 1:13

--event #5--2 miles--1st, Bill Endicott--time, 2:42

--event #6--Dominion Sweepstakes--5 miles--1st, Leon Duray; 2nd, Clifford Toft; 3rd, Jules Ellingboe--time, 6:31 1-2


August 2, 1918, Regina, Saskatchewan, exhibtion, 1/2 mile

afternoon events

event #1--3 miles--1st, $200; 2nd, $100--1st, Ben Gotoff; 2nd, Bill Endicott; 3rd, Larry Doyle--time, 4:02

event #2--5 miles--1st, $300; 2nd, $200--1st, George Clark; 2nd, Cliff Toft; 3rd, Leon Duray--time, 6:25 4-5

event #3--Australian Pursuit handicap--5 miles--1st, $200--1st, Verne Soules; 2nd, Sig Haugdahl; 3rd, Ben Gotoff--time, 6:38 2-5

event #4--time trials--half mile and one mile--
Bill Endicott 34 4-5 1:10 4-5
Cliff Toft 35 1:09 4-5
Leon Duray 34 4-5 1:09 4-5
Sig Haugdahl 33 1-2 1:07

--Saskatchewan Sweepstakes--5 miles--1st, $1000; 2nd, $300; 3rd, $200--1st, Bill Endicott; 2nd, George Clark; 3rd, Cliff Toft--time, 6:18


August 2, 1918, Regina, Saskatchewan, exhibition, 1/2 mile

evening events

--2 miles--1st, Bill Endicott; 2nd, Verne Soules; 3rd, Larry Doyle--time, 2:44

--Australian Pursuit handicap--2 1/2 miles--1st, George Clark; 2nd, Larry Doyle--time, 3:03 3-5

--Dominion Sweepstakes--1st, George Clark; 2nd, Ben Gotoff; 3rd, Leon Duray--time, 6:41 4-5

--time trials--Endicott, 33 3-5; Duray, 34; Clark, 34


August 5, 1918, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, 1/2 mile (?)

results unknown, was it actually run?


August 8, 1918, Winnipeg, Manitoba, River Park, 1/2 mile

--1st heat--unknown

--2nd heat--unknown

--3rd heat--1st, Clifford Toft

--last heat (heat winners)--1st, Bill Endicott; (Ellingboe and Toft also ran)

--Australian Pursuit handicap--1st, Bob Cline; 2nd, Bill Endicott--time, 3:39 3-5

--time trials--one lap--Leon Duray, 35 3-5

--note: from Manitoba Free Press: “The genial Alex Sloan, who was in charge of the auto party, is well known in Winnipeg, as he spent some time here several years ago as manager for the Happyland amusement place.”

imca 1918, part 2

Second of three goes to deal with the IMCA in Canada during 1918. More than most years as there was a tour going on in Central Canada as well as the prairies.

Have to shake my head at the names in both series. Gaston Chevrolet, who would go on to win the 1920 Indianapolis 500, in the east. In the prairies it was Leon Duray working a fictitious French name (his real name was George Stewart) to help make Alex Sloan's International circuit very international. The name stuck and Duray started numerous Indy 500s. And the Ben Gotoff of 1918 was the Ben Giroux of 1917. French to German in the span of one year. Things were a bit loosey-goosey in the Sloan world of racing.

As with the east races there was an aviatrix, Katherine Stinson, as part of the show.

So, the results:

July 11, 1918, Edmonton, Alberta, exhibition, 1/2 mile


--first heat of free-for-all--2 miles--1st, Wild Bill Endicott; 2nd, Verne Soules; 3rd, Larry Doyle--time, 2:53


--2nd heat of free-for-all--2 miles--1st, Leon Duray; 2nd, Jules Ellingboe; 3rd, Clifford Toft--time, 2:51 1-5

--final of free-for-all--2 miles--1st, Wild Bill Endicott--2nd, Leon Duray; 3rd, Verne Soules--time, 2:34 2-5 (rolling start)

--Edmonton Sweepstakes--5 miles--1st, Clifford Toft; 2nd, Leon Duray; 3rd, Ben Gotoff--time, 6:47 from rolling start

--one mile--Jules Ellingboe, 1:07; Sig Haugdahl, 1:04 3-5 (just 1-5 second slower than world’s record)--did half mile in 32 1-5 which equals world’s record


Saturday, July 13, 1918, Montreal, Quebec, Delorimier Park, 1/2 mile, under auspices of Great War Veterans’ Association

event #1--3 mile race for dirt track championship--1st heat--1st, Chevrolet (Sunbeam); 2nd, Disbrow (Simplex)--time, 3:35

event #2--3 mile race--1st, Wonderlick (Simplex); 2nd, D’Alien (Marquette-Buick); 3rd, Woodbury (Duesenberg)--time, 4:10

event #3--time trials for world’s record--Wonderlick (Simplex), 36; Chevrolet (Sunbeam), 37; Woodbury (Duesenberg), 37; D’Alien (Marquette-Buick), 37; Braren (Disbrow Spl.), 40

event #4--wheel changing contest--1st, Disbrow (Simplex), 14 seconds.

event #5--Victory Sweepstakes--5 miles--1st, D’Alien (Marquette-Buick); 2nd, Wonderlick (Simplex)--time, 6:20

event #6--aeroplane vs. auto--5 laps--Miss Ruth Law in aeroplane defeated Chevrolet in Sunbeam car.


July 14, 1918, Edmonton, Alberta, exhibition, 1/2 mile

afternoon events

event #1--3 miles--1st, Ben Gotoff; 2nd, Bill Endicott; 3rd, Clifford Toft--time, 4:12

event #2--5 miles--1st, Leon Duray; 2nd, Verne Soules; 3rd, Larry Doyle--time, 7:15 1-5

event #3--5 miles--pursuit handicap--1st, Sig Haugdahl; 2nd, Verne Soules; 3rd, Larry Doyle--time, 6:29


July 14, 1918, Edmonton, Alberta, exhibition, 1/2 mile

evening events

event #6--5 miles--Alberta Sweepstakes (second half of afternoon event)--1st, Ben Gotoff; 2nd, Bill Endicott; Sig Haugdahl--time, 6:13

event #5--match race--2 miles--1st, Bill Endicott; 2nd, Jules Ellingboe; 3rd, Clifford Toft--time, 2:29 4-5

--special event--5 miles--1st, Jules Ellingboe; 2nd, Bill Endicott; 3rd, Clifford Toft--time, 5:59 2-5

--air pilot Katherine Stinson driving Leon Duray’s No. 11 set Canadian Woman’s mile mark--1:15 1-5


Sunday, July 14, 1918, Montreal, Quebec, Delorimier Park, 1/2 mile, under auspices of Great War Veterans’ Association

event #1--3 mile race--2nd heat--1st, Chevrolet (Sunbeam); 2nd, Disbrow (Simplex)--time, 3:46 2-5

event #2--3 mile race--1st, Wonderlick (Simplex); 2nd, Woodbury (Duesenberg); 3rd, D’Alien (Marquette-Buick)--time, 3:53 2-5

event #3--time trials for world’s record--half mile--Wonderlick (Simplex), 35 4-5; Chevrolet (Sunbeam), 36; Woodbury (Duesenberg), 36 1-5; D’Alien (Marquette-Buick), 36 4-5

event #4--wheel changing contest--1st, Chevrolet (Sunbeam)--time, 19

event #5--Victory Sweepstakes--5 miles--1st, Chevrolet (Sunbeam); 2nd, Wonderlick (Simplex); 3rd, Disbrow (Disbrow Special)--time, 3:32

event #6--aeroplane vs. auto--5 laps--Miss Ruth Law in aeroplane--time, 2:40


July 20, 1918

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, exhibition, 1/2 mile (?)

--3 miles--1st, Bill Endicott; 2nd, Ben Gotoff; 3rd, Leon Duray--time, 3:41

--5 miles--1st, Jules Ellingboe; 2nd, Clifford Toft; 3rd, Leon Duray--no time given

--Australian Pursuit--5 miles--1st, Sig Haugdahl--time, 5:40

--mile--Sig Haugdahl and Jules Ellingboe tied--time, 1:05 3-5

--2 miles--1st, Bill Endicott; 2nd, Jules Ellingboe; 3rd, Clifford Toft

--Dominion Sweepstakes--10 miles--1st, Jules Ellingboe; 2nd, Clifford Toft; 3rd, Bill Endicott

research further afield (the fields of Winnipeg)

One thing leads to another. And finding an International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) race in Vancouver, BC, at Hastings Park in 1920, as well as wire reports from the prairies, got me looking beyond the Vancouver newspapers to the prairie newspapers. Lots of races from 1915 through to, well, the mid-1920s and later.

It's been said that the IMCA ran racing in North America 364 days a year. The 365th day was the Indianapolis 500, sanctioned by the American Automobile Association (AAA).

I'm going to post yearly reports of these races, hopefully once a week. Just to get started here's an ad from the Winnipeg Tribune for an early pair of 1915 IMCA races. The promoter was J. Alex Sloan, known to the Winnipeg population as a promoter of a fun fair named "Happyland". It doesn't appear that Louis Disbrow did attend but drivers like Eddie Hearne and Tommy Milton went on to be well known in the AAA.

Here's the box score cobbled from the Winnipeg Free Press and Winnipeg Tribune:

Friday, July 9, 1915, Winnipeg, MB, exhibition grounds, 1/2 mile

--time trials--Eddie Hearne, 38

--3 miles--300 cubic inches--1st, Wild Bill Endicott

--novelty race--tire change--1st, Tommy Milton (Zip)

--mile--Eddie Hearne (Jay Eye See), 1:17 2-5; Johnny Raimey (Case Comet), 1:13 4-5 (track record is 1:13 1-5)

--5 mile Australian pursuit--1st, Raimey

--3 mile--free-for-all--final--Eddie Hearne


Saturday, July 10, 1915, Winnipeg, MB, exhibition grounds, 1/2 mile

--postponed, rain


Monday, July 12, 1915, Winnipeg, MB, exhibition grounds, 1/2 mile

--mile--Johnny Raimey--1:13 1-5 (ties track record)

--3 mile match race--1st, “Wild Bill” Endicott (Belgian Scat); 2nd, Kizer (Mercer)--$250 to winner--ten second handicap start for Kizer

--novelty tire change--Eddie Hearne--16 1-5 seconds (3 2-5 slower than world’s record)

--free for all--final heat--1st, Johnny Raimey; 2nd, Eddie Hearne--winner, $300

--free for all handicap--1st, Milton

--other participants: Kizer (Mercer); Le Cocq (Bullet); Endicott (Scat); Milton (Zip); Hearne (Case); Raimey (Case)