The Wichita Beacon

Wednesday, October 5, 1921 – Page 13:

At Last Wichita Has a Speedway

Speed Proves It

Motorcycle Racers Make 90 Miles an Hour on Meridian Track

Real Speed!

When Freddie Ludlow hurtled around the new 1½ Meridian Speedway Tuesday afternoon on a motorcycle at better than 87 miles an hour, and when other riders in various other events attained speeds up to above 90 miles an hour, it was demonstrated to Wichitans that at last a real speedway had been built here and that Wichita, in the future, could see the best speed in the country.

Today’s program shifted to automobile events with 20 of the fastest cars in the country due to enter.  Speedway officials declared today they expected speed much in excess of 90 miles an hour to be displayed this afternoon.

Best Ever

The best races they ever saw in Wichita, was the expression heard from many persons.  A large crowd was expected today.  Events were scheduled today to start promptly.

Thrilling professional sidecar races following fast professional solo races in which (Freddie) Ludlow, Ralph Hepburn and world and international dirt track Harley-Davidson factory ride-track speed champions, took most of the honors.  With the arrival last night of four factory Indian riders, the competition in the second day of motorcycle races Thursday is expected to be keen.

The events have been somewhat split up.  For instance, Thursday’s 24-mile motorcycle race was split in half, twelve of which was to be run as a starter for today’s automobile races, to give the program variety.  An Automobile race also will head the events in Thursday’s motorcycle program.

A Wonderful Track

Considering the fact that the track never had been used before, professionals said a speed of 90 miles an hour is remarkable.  The spectators certainly felt that it was, as they watched the machines roar around the big circle without a let-up at any of the four big turns.

An accident, which might have been fatal, occurred on a back stretch in the start of the 6-mile professional side-car.  Hart Bowman, riding an Indian, being thrown from his machine and somersaulted through the air with only slight injuries.

Daredevil Armstrong made a perfect parachute descent from a mile-high airplane.  He plans to do wing walking and stand on plane wings today while the plane loops.

No Dust

The slight banking of the track sped-up the races and the oil on the course elixated all dust.

Ralph Hepburn won the 24-mile professional solo in 17:53.0.  Bagley, on an Indian, second.  S. E. Daily of Wichita won the 6-mile novice side-car.  Ludlow taking the 12-mile professional solo, Hepburn second.  Foote won the 6-mile professional side-car with Kuntz second.

Today’s events include events of various distances and competition is expected to be close.

 

1-Mile Time Trials

Place

Rider

From

Motorcycle

Time

1

Freddie Ludlow

Los Angeles, California

Harley-Davidson

1:03.0

2

Ralph Hepburn

Wichita, Kansas

Harley-Davidson

 

3

Orville Lovette

Kinsley, Kansas

Indian

 

4

John Bagley

Omaha, Nebraska

Indian

1:06.4

 

 

24-Mile Professional Solo Race

Place

Rider

From

Motorcycle

Time

1

Ralph Hepburn

Wichita, Kansas

Harley-Davidson

17:53.0

2

John Bagley

Omaha, Nebraska

Indian

 

DNF

Freddie Ludlow

Los Angeles, California

Harley-Davidson

 

      Ludlow’s Harley-Davidson lost a wheel on the first lap of this race.

 

 

6-Mile Novice Side-Car Race

Place

Rider

From

Motorcycle

Time

1

S. E. Daily

Wichita, Kansas

 

 

 

 

12-Mile Professional Solo Race

Place

Rider

From

Motorcycle

Time

1

Freddie Ludlow

Los Angeles, California

Harley-Davidson

 

2

Ralph Hepburn

Wichita, Kansas

Harley-Davidson

 

 

 

6-Mile Professional Side-Car Race

Place

Rider

From

Motorcycle

Time

1

Lester Foote

Greeley, Colorado 

Harley-Davidson

5:53.0

2

Frank Kunce

Loveland, Colorado 

Harley-Davidson

 

3

Walt Cunningham

Wichita, Kansas

Harley-Davidson

 

DNF

Hart Bowman

Wichita, Kansas

Indian

 

     Erret VanGundy was riding in Bowman’s side-car when the machine crashed and then summersaulted

several times.  Both men escaped injury.

 

 

15-Mile Professional Solo Race

Place

Rider

From

Motorcycle

Time

1

Freddie Ludlow

Los Angeles, California

Harley-Davidson

 

2

Ralph Hepburn

Wichita, Kansas

Harley-Davidson

 

3

John Bagley

Omaha, Nebraska

Indian

 

 

 

 

John Boling of Tulsa, Oklahoma, driving the C. L. Richards special racing car, and Harold R. “Harry” Peterson of Wichita, driving Bill Lassen’s 16-valve Lassen Dodge special, ran several exhibition laps on this afternoon.