Ken Parrotte Research

Oldfield 1903 Empire City World Record

Thanks to Ken Parrotte, we have for our pleasure solid information in a pair of articles about Barney Oldfield's closed-course mile track record set in July 1903 at the Empire City horse track.
Hulman Purchase of IMS

Thanks to auto racing history researcher Ken Parrotte we can present this collection of articles from 1944 and 1945 that chronicles the change of ownership of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Speedway Association of America 1915

Thanks to auto racing history researcher  Ken Parrotte we have a pair of articles from 1915 that reflect the unrest and tension between the primary auto racing sanctioning body, the American Automobile Association (AAA) Contest Board and dirt track venues across the country.
William H. Pickens Saturday Evening Post

Thanks to auto racing history researcher Ken Parrotte, we have this series of six articles written ultra-promoter William Hickman Pickens for the Saturday evening post in 1927 and 1928.
William H. Pickens Saturday Evening Post

Thanks to auto racing history researcher Ken Parrotte, we have this series of six articles written by ultra-promoter William Hickman Pickens for the Saturday Evening Post&nbs
Barney Oldfield in Atlanta 1906

Thanks to auto racing history researcher Ken Parrotte, we have the attached article from the March 22, 1906 Atlanta Constitution. The article is full of color, focusing almost exclusively on the spectacle of just being at the track. The sport was still in its nascent stage and it is obvious the sights and sounds of automobiles at speed were still a marvel to the average person.
Oldfield at Ascot Park

Thanks to Ken Parrotte for this important 1910 Los Angeles Daily Times article about Barney Oldfield racing at Ascot Park. See an associated image elsewhere on First Super Speedway.
Winton's Percy Owen

First Super Speedway contributor Ken Parrotte assembled the information that you will find attached here, and wrote the attached article. It is a biographical sketch of Percy Owen, who was, agruably, Alexander Winton's right-hand man.
Evolution of Race Flags

First Super Speedway contributor Ken Parrotte assembled the information that you will find attached here, and wrote the attached article. The article discusses early days racing flags from the turn of the twentieth century, such as the red flag to start a race or communicate that the course was clear. Read on!
Rickenbacker Versus Beachey

Thanks to auto racing history researcher  Ken Parrotte for providing this article. It's a little-known fact that Eddie Rickenbacker "raced" aviator Lincoln Beachey on a mile dirt track. These articles report on that September 1914 event at the Iowa State Fair.