Thursday, October 6, 1921 – Page 8:
Seymour Wins Thrilling Motorcycle Event On His Indian Machine
Lovers of speed wagons had another big outing at the second day’s racing at Meridian Speedway yesterday. Not only did the fans see some spectacular motorcycle racing but some thrilling auto races as well.
John Seymour on his Indian at Meridian Speedway Photograph from ‘Motorcycle & Bicycle Illustrated’ Magazine
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The big feature race of the day was the 18-mile motorcycle race which was won by John Seymour on an Indian.
The motorcycle race set the crowd wild with its thrills. There were six starters and the race was imp and tuck with first one rider and then another taking the lead up to the 10-mile mark when Seymour pulled out ahead and managed to hold the lead by a narrow margin down to the end. However, the race was so close up to the finish mark that the winner had but few yards to spare over his closest competitor who was (John) Springs, also riding an Indian.
Ralph Hepburn, the Wichita boy who won the big race Tuesday on his Harley, came in third.
Freddie Ludlow, holder of all records up to 50 miles, had hard luck on this Harley and threw a tire early in the race putting him out of the running.
Seymour made the remarkable time of 13 minutes, 18 seconds for the 18 miles or an average of 85 m.p.h. Seymour, in his time trials, went around a lap in 1:01.8, or at an average of 89 m.p.h. This was better than Ludlow’s time Tuesday in the time trials.
There will be another big racing program today with the motorcycle drivers having the field again with the exception of one auto race, a 15-mile open event. The track was worked on again last night and all ruts taken out. The visiting riders say that this is the finest new track they have ever raced upon and look to see the national races here next year.
Thursday, October 6, 1921 – Page 8:
Fast and Exciting Races Mark Second Day at New Wichita Speedway
Lovers of speed wagons had another big outing at the second day’s racing at Meridian Speedway yesterday. Not only did the fans see some spectacular motorcycle racing but some thrilling auto races as well.
W. W. “Cockeyed” Brown, in his ‘Peerless 8’ racing marvel, won the big auto event of the day in the fast time 58 minutes and 50 seconds. Johnny Mais, in his stock car Dodge, was second, and (John) Lee in a Dodge was third.
This race was the most exciting auto race of the day. There were 15 starters. First one car and then another would take the lead and the way the speed buggies passed each other in front of the stands brought the spectators to their feet every other second.
The Richards Special, the biggest and probably the fastest car in the race, had hard luck or it might have won the race. (John) Boling, driving this car, broke an oil line at the very start of the race. Withdrawing his car to get the line fixed, the other cars were five laps ahead by the time he reentered, however, he kept up a dizzy pace and turned in fourth.
(Harold) Peterson broke a steering arm early in the race and his car was thrown off the track.
The Fronty Ford with (Henry) Rompel driving, also had trouble, losing a king pin in the front wheel and turning around several times but without spilling. There were no injuries in either accident.
OFFICIAL AUTO RACE RESULTS |
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Time Trials – 1 laps (1½ miles) |
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Place |
Driver |
From |
Car |
Time |
Average Speed |
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Merle Warren |
Newton, Kansas |
Essex special #2 |
1:22 |
66 m.p.h. |
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J. Waide* |
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Duesenberg |
1:22 |
66 m.p.h. |
Ford Race – 10 laps (15 miles) |
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Place |
Driver |
From |
Car |
Time |
Average Speed |
1 |
Frank Ohrazda** |
Independence, Missouri |
Fronty Ford |
15:30 |
58 m.p.h. |
2 |
Henry Rompel |
Kansas City, Missouri |
Fronty Ford |
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3 |
Otis, Kansas |
Ford |
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Miss and Out Race – 6 cars |
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Place |
Driver |
From |
Car |
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1 |
Kansas City, Missouri |
Peerless 8 |
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2 |
Salina, Kansas |
Dodge |
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Feature Race – 40 laps (60 miles) – 15 cars |
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Place |
Driver |
From |
Car |
Time |
Average Speed |
1 |
Salina, Kansas |
Dodge |
58:50 |
61 m.p.h. |
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2 |
Kansas City, Missouri |
Peerless 8 |
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3 |
Wichita, Kansas |
Dodge |
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4 |
Tulsa, Oklahoma |
C. L. Richards special |
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Frank Ohrazda** |
Independence, Missouri |
Fronty Ford |
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J. Waide* |
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Duesenberg |
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Otis, Kansas |
Ford |
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DNF |
Merle Warren |
Newton, Kansas |
Essex #2 |
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DNF |
Wichita, Kansas |
16-valve Dodge special |
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DNF |
Henry Rompel |
Kansas City, Missouri |
Fronty Ford |
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Merle Warren started the feature race from the 12th starting spot and worked his way up to 2nd place before he dropped out of the race when his interment board was jarred loose by the rough racetrack and he experienced trouble with an air line.
Friday, October 7, 1921 – Page 10:
Johnny Mais, in a Dodge, was declared winner of the disputed 60-mile race at the Meridian Speedway Wednesday on a final decision of the judges of the races yesterday. It was at first decided that Mais had won and then the decision was reversed giving first place to (W. W.) Brown in a Peerless. Yesterday, the judges got together and checked over the charts deciding that Mais was the real winner as announced at first.
Today’s racing will wind up speed demonstrations for the week and also for the year. Auto racing on the program with the ….
These photographs were taken at the Kansas Wheat Exposition at Meridian Speedway, Wichita, KS in October of 1921
Both of these photographs are from the Cossitt collection – Local History Section, Wichita Public Library
Friday, September 30, 1921 – Page 16
* This was probably George Wade, a wealthy sportsman from Kansas City, Missouri.
** Frank Robert Ohrazda, Sr. (1900-1973) of Independence, Missouri