Playa Del Rey Board Track

Los Angeles - 1910 The Playa Del Rey board track was the first of the great wood plank automobile speedways. For years bicycle and motorcycle races were conducted on wooden velodromes, but Playa Del Rey brought the concept to events for race cars. This speedway was designed by Jack Prince, the most renowned designer of board track facilities. Board tracks rose in popularity through the 1920’s largely due to their relatively inexpensive start-up costs, but proved excessively expensive to maintain. Blindingly fast, their appeal was self evident. The opening of Playa Del Rey came in the spring of 1910. Caleb Bragg made a big statement in his breakthrough victory over Barney Oldfield and the Lightning Benz in a best of three match race. Ralph De Palma also appeared at the track. This folder contains 10 files on the topic from the Barney Oldfield scrapbook.

Oldfield Writes About Record Run

This package includes an article written by Barney Oldfield describing his perspective behind the wheel of his "Lightning" Benz when he made his record run at Daytona. Also, there is an interesting image of cars circulating the Playa Del Rey board track in Los Angeles. Other articles include a lot of color from the events at the christening of the board track. These articles were published in March and April 1910.

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