“The Kansas Whirlwind” also known as “The
Pop-Pop Doctor”
Maximus Loyd “Max” Wilson
1882 – 1934
An Early Day Professional Motorcycle Racer
Turned Auto Racer
Max
Wilson was born on May 16, 1882 (from his own handwriting on his draft
registration papers for World War I) in Sedgwick County, Kansas (although his
tombstone says he was born on that date in 1883). He was the older of the two children born to
a carpenter, machinist and blacksmith, Alva Napoleon Wilson (1859-1922) and his
first wife, Jane Cordelia “Corda” (Radabaugh) Wilson
(1860-1952). In 1892, Max Wilson won
first prize for the best constructed toy, a complete locomotive, all of the
work by his own hand.
In
1894, Max’s father, Alva Wilson, also a master machinist, built a steam powered
horseless carriage in his Wilson & Manefee
Machine and Repair Shop at 622 West Douglas Street in Wichita that was
very different in appearance from the automobiles that others would build after
that.
As
a teenager, Wilson worked as an elevator boy in the five story Sedgwick Block
office building at the corner of First and Market Streets in Wichita,
Kansas. His next job was with the Frisco
railroad in Wichita. By 1903, he was a
train engineer with that line.
FIRST MOTORCYCLE BUILT The first motorcycle built in this city has just been
completed. It was built by Max Wilson,
the son of Alva Wilson, the man who built the first horseless carriage ever
seen in Wichita. Mr. Wilson was for
some time employed by the Frisco and was the youngest engineer on the road,
being but 21 years of age. He learned
to walk beside an iron lathe in his father’s shop and today is an up-to-date
machinist, having learned the trade at an early date. He is a good hand at the business which a
glance at the machine will prove, for it was built at odd times when not at
work on his daily labor and is a complete success. It shows much skill in his workmanship as he
made all his own patterns. The machine
has a 2½ horse power air cooling gasoline engine, is erected on a tandem
frame and is a patent of his own. Mr.
Wilson has no shop at present but hopes to establish one in the near future. Wichita Daily Eagle March 12, 1905 – page 2 |
Wilson was married
in Wichita in 1904 to Edna May Hunter (1884-1949) and they honeymooned
in Birmingham, Alabama curtesy of free travel from the Frisco railroad. They became the parents of two daughters:
Evalina N. Wilson (1909-1909) and Evelyn May Wilson (1910-1910).
As
early as 1901, Wilson was entering organized bicycle races in Wichita. He began racing motorcycles in amateur meets
in 1905 and then entering professional meets beginning near the end of
1910. He was crowned the Kansas State
Motorcycle Racing Champion in 1910 by the Federation of American
Motorcyclists (FAM). Getting older,
he switched to driving racing cars in 1915 but never attained the success with
those that he had enjoyed with his motorcycle racing.
By
the time the article at right appeared in the Wichita Daily Eagle, Max
Wilson had left his employment with the Frisco railroad and was working for the
Wichita Bridge and Iron Works.
Wilson
served one term on the Wichita city council from 1910 through 1912.
Wilson opened his own machine shop and automobile repair business at his home at 1903 East First Street in Wichita in the early 1900s. Although he soon sold the business, he continued to work for the new owner, the Jones Auto Exchange at his home. Next, he went to work as the head repairman for the Hockaday Motorcycle Company in Wichita. By the 1920s, he had again opened his own machine shop and automobile repair business, this time, working out of his then home at 150 North Minneapolis Street in Wichita. Late in the 1920s, he sold that business to the Brooks Machine Company and, again, continued to do mechanical work for them at his home.
Wilson’s incomplete motorsports record is below:
July 5, 1909 – ½ mile dirt oval – Wichita Fairgrounds in west Wichita, Kansas
Motorcycles: His own 1908 Reading
Standard single, an Indian twin and a Thor
Finish: Wilson won the 2-lap,
3-motorcycle race for 2¼ H.P. motorcycles riding his own 1908 Reading Standard
in 1:53.0. Elwood Turner of Wichita, who
was riding an Indian, finished in 2nd place.
Wilson won the
4-lap, 3-motorcycle race for 2¾ to 3 H.P. motorcycles riding his own 1908
Reading Standard in 3:41.0. Ray Hockaday
of Wichita, who was riding an Indian, finished in 2nd place.
Wilson finished in 5th place in
the 4-lap, 6-motorcycle race for 3¼ to 3½ H.P. motorcycles riding a Thor. He finished behind winner Ray Hockaday of
Wichita who was also riding a Thor; Demmie Day who
was riding an Indian; Claude D. Andrews of Wichita who was also riding an
Indian and Harlie A. Stephens of Wichita who was
riding a Thor.
Wilson finished in 4th place in
the 10-lap, 4-motorcycle race for twin-cylinder motorcycles riding an
Indian. He finished behind winner
Claude D. Andrews of Wichita who was riding a Reading Standard; Ray Hockaday of
Wichita who was also riding an Indian and Demmie Day
who was riding a Thor.
Feature race winner: Tie
between Claude D. Andrews of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a Reading Standard
and Ray Hockaday, also from Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Indian.
August 1, 1909 – 70-miles over public roads – round trip from Wichita, Kansas to Wellington, Kansas via Peck, Kansas and then back on the same road to Wichita
Motorcycle: Harley-Davidson
Attendance: 5,000
Finish: Wilson won
the 1-lap, 8-motorcycle race in 1:56:30.
Wells
Bennett of Wichita, finished in 2nd place, 4½ minutes behind
winner Wilson and all 8 riders finished the race. Wilson did not take the lead until the last
half of the race.
Feature race winner: Max
Wilson of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a Harley-Davidson
September 6, 1909 – ½ mile dirt oval – Wichita Fairgrounds in west Wichita, Kansas
Motorcycle: His own 1908
Reading Standard single
Finish: Wilson won
the 4-lap race for single-cylinder motorcycles in 3:36.0. Ray
Weishaar of Wichita finished in 2nd
place on his own Indian motorcycle.
This program
rained out after five races so the eight remaining races were postponed until
September 8, 1909.
September 8, 1909 – ½ mile dirt oval – Wichita Fairgrounds in west Wichita, Kansas
Motorcycles: Thor and a
Harley-Davidson
Finish: Wilson won
the 10-lap novelty race while riding a Harley-Davidson. His winning time was 9:28.25. Floyd Hughes of Wichita finished in 2nd
place while riding a Thor. In this race,
the riders were required to dismount and hold up their hands at the starting
line on each lap.
Wilson
finished in 3rd place in the 6-lap, 5-motorcycle race for 3 to3 ½
H.P. motorcycles while riding a Thor. He
finished behind winner Ray
Weishaar of Wichita who was riding his own
Indian and Clifford Ray who was riding a Thor.
Wilson finished in 3rd place in
the 50-lap, 9-motorcycle “Free-for-All” race behind winner Ray
Weishaar of Wichita who was riding an Indian,
and Dan Randall who was also from Wichita.
Feature race winner: Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was
riding an Indian.
November 25, 1909 – 70-miles over public roads – round trip from Wichita, Kansas to Wellington, Kansas via Peck, Kansas and then back on the same road to Wichita
Entries: 15
Finish: Wilson
entered this race but any results of this race have yet to be located.
A WICHITA
GENIUS MAKES MOTORCYCLE WHICH IS SUCCESS Max Wilson
has Invented Machine which has Several Superior Features Has Built
Three CAN RUN
SLOWER THAN OTHER POP POPS Also Has
Considerable Speed and is Good Hill Climber Expects to
Keep on Building Them Although Wichita has not as yet secured a factory for the
building of motorcycles on a large scale, it can still claim the honor of
having had motorcycles – three of them – built from the ground up in this
city. These machines have all been
built by Max L. Wilson, head repairman for the Hockaday Motorcycle Company
and, incidentally, one of the mechanical geniuses of the state. This third machine, which has just been finished, is called the Wilson
Special and is not only successful in the way of developing power and
speed, but also compares favorable with
factory-built machines in general appearance.
At a recent demonstration, Mr. Wilson made the machine carry his wife
and himself up a steep hill east of the city, where many motorcyclists are
forced to walk and push their machines. The engine for this machine was, of course, purchased from a
factory, as were the tires and some other parts. The engine is a large single-cylinder
affair capable of developing from 4½ to 5½ horsepower. The tank of the machine holds three gallons
of gasoline while the oil tank holds three quarts. This supply will carry the machine 175
miles. A whistle of Mr. Wilson’s own
invention is used on the machine instead of a horn. The machine is driven by a 2-inch flat belt. The ability to regulate the speed is one of
the special features, it being possible to drive the engine as slowly as the
rider can balance, or up to 55 miles per hour. The machine was put in running order some time ago and has been
thoroughly tested by the maker to get every part working smoothly. It has just been sold to O(ra) C(linton “Orie”)
Sweet of this city at a good price. This young inventor comes by his talent naturally, his father
having been the first man to build an automobile in the country. Mr. Wilson has a picture of himself as a
boy, seated in this machine which looks like a milk wagon, in front of the
old Eagle building on Douglas Avenue. This picture was taken in 1896. Besides the three motorcycles, Mr. Wilson has a perfect working
model steam engine which he has built entirely by himself. His home on East First Street is a
veritable wonder house of toys and trinkets he has built for his own
amusement. A sort of phonographic
music box of his invention was one of the features in the Hockaday booth at
the Automobile show last fall. He is
considering the building of a fourth motorcycle at once. Wichita Daily Eagle March 6, 1910 – page 13 |
May 20, 1910 – ½ mile dirt oval – Wichita Fairgrounds in west Wichita, Kansas
Motorcycles: His own 1908
Reading Standard single, a Thor and his own “Max Wilson special” which was a
motorcycle that he had built himself. [Note: There was another man whose surname was
Wilson, who entered motorcycle races in the Wichita area in these days so that
is why Max Wilson included his first name of “Max” as part of the name of his
“Max Wilson special”.]
Finish: Wilson ran a
mile against the clock on his own 1908 Reading Standard single, going the
2-laps in 2:03.0.
Wilson won a
10-lap race in 7:05.0 while riding a Thor.
Dan Randall of Wichita finished in 2nd place while riding his
own N.S.U. double motorcycle.
Wilson finished in 3rd place in
the 25-lap, 7-motorcycle Australian Pursuit behind winner _____ Norton of
Kansas City, Missouri who was riding a Merkle motorcycle and Dan Randall of
Wichita who was riding his own N.S.U. double
motorcycle.
Wilson finished in 4th place in
the 4-lap, 6-motorcycle novelty race behind winner _____ Norton of Kansas City,
Missouri who was riding a Merkle motorcycle; Claude D. Andrews of Wichita who
was riding an Excelsior and Ray Hockaday of Wichita who was riding a Thor.
Wilson was credited with a 4th
place finish in the 10-lap, 5-motorcycle trade (professional) machine race
behind winner Ray
Weishaar of Wichita; R. L. Cooper of Topeka,
Kansas and _____ Norton of Kansas City, Missouri who was riding a Merkle
motorcycle. Wilson dropped out of the
race after 6 laps with his “wheel stand” dragging.
Wilson won the ⅛ mile “slow race” in
4:12.5 while riding his own “Max Wilson special”. 2nd place was Wells
Bennett of Wichita.
Feature race winner: Dan
Randall of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a N.S.U.
double motorcycle.
August 10, 1910 – ½ mile dirt oval – Wichita Fairgrounds in west Wichita, Kansas
Motorcycles: His own “Max
Wilson special” which was a motorcycle that he had built himself. [Note: There was another man
whose surname was Wilson, who entered motorcycle races in the Wichita area in
these days so that is why Max Wilson included his first name of “Max” as part
of the name of his “Max Wilson special”.]
Finish: Wilson
finished in a close 2nd place in the 20-lap, 2-motorcycle match race
behind Wells
Bennett of Wichita who was riding a Racycle
motorcycle. Bennett led the 1st
11 laps before being passed by Wells.
Bennett regained the lead on the 18th lap and led the final
two circuits of the racetrack.
Feature race winner: Wells
Bennett of Wichita who was riding a Racycle
motorcycle
August 13, 1910 – ½ mile dirt oval – Riverside Park at Kingman, Kansas
Finish: Wilson
finished in 2nd place in the 20-lap race behind Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an
Indian motorcycle.
Wilson finished in 2nd
place in the 4-lap novelty race behind Wells
Bennett of Wichita.
Wilson finished in 3rd place in the 9-lap Australian
Pursuit behind winner Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an
Indian motorcycle and Billy McClure of Kingman, Kansas.
Feature race winner: Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was
riding an Indian motorcycle.
August 28, 1910 – 70-miles over public roads – round trip from Wichita, Kansas to Wellington, Kansas and then back on the same road to Wichita
Purse: $40
Finish: Wilson
finished in 2nd place in the 1-lap, 4-motorcycle race behind winner Wells
Bennett of Wichita. Bennett’s
motorcycle died within ½ mile of the finish and he had to walk the remaining
distance. In spite of this, he finished
8 minutes in front of Wilson.
Feature race winner: Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas
September 17, 1910 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas
Motorcycle: His own Harley-Davidson
single
Attendance: “several thousand”
Purse: $300
Finish: Wilson won
the 10-lap race for single cylinder motorcycles followed by Paul “Speck” Warner
of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian single.
As a member of the
victorious Harley-Davidson team, Wilson was one of the winners of the 4-lap
relay race that defeated the Indian team.
The Harley-Davidson team thus collected $50 from the purse.
Wilson finished in 2nd place in
the 10-lap race for twin cylinder motorcycles.
Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas won the race.
Wilson finished in 2nd
place in the 5-motorcycle Australian Pursuit riding a Harley-Davidson single,
behind winner Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an
Indian single.
Wilson won the 10-lap handicap race followed by Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an
Indian single.
Wilson finished in 2nd
place in the 10-lap handicap race for singles and twins that was won by Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an
Indian single.
Wilson finished in 2nd place in the 10-lap “Free-for-All” race behind winner Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
Feature race winner: Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
October 12, 1910 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas
These races were promoted by Earl
Nelson Sapp of Hutchinson, Kansas
Motorcycle: His own Harley-Davidson single
Attendance: 10,000
Finish: Wilson finished 2nd in the 10-lap, 4-motorcuycle “Free-for-All” handicap race behind winner Ray Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Indian single.
Wilson finished 2nd in the 20-lap, 5-motorcuycle “Free-for-All” race behind winner Ray Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Indian single.
Feature race winner: Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was
riding an Indian single.
December 26, 1910 – 52-miles over public roads – round trip from Wichita, Kansas to Newton, Kansas and then back on the same road to Wichita
Finish: Wilson DNF after breaking a drive belt.
Feature race winner: Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a 4 H.P. Indian.
April 8, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – Wichita Fairgrounds in west Wichita, Kansas
Finish: The political
battle between the motorcycle riders and the horse racing interests swung in
favor of the horse racers as they were able to secure the use of this racetrack
and to exclude the motorcycle and automobile racers from using it even though
they had obtained permission from the Midland Valley railroad, who owned the
racetrack, to use it so, these scheduled races were canceled.
|
May 4, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – Wichita Fairgrounds in west Wichita, Kansas
Finish: These races
were postponed until May 6, 1911 due to rain.
May 6, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – Wichita Fairgrounds in west Wichita, Kansas
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Purse: $150
Finish: Wilson won a 10-lap
race for single cylinder motorcycles in 6:55.8.
Ray
Weishaarof Wichita,
Kansas finished in 2nd place while riding an Indian single.
Wilson won the 17-lap
Australian Pursuit in 12:03.40. Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas finished in 2nd
place in this race as well, while riding a twin Indian.
Feature race winner: Max
Wilson of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a Harley-Davidson single.
May 20, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – Oakdale Park at Salina, Kansas
Motorcycle: His own
Wilson Special
Finish: Wilson ran
the fastest 2-lap time trial of 1:20.0.
Paul “Speck” of Ellsworth, Kansas ran the 2nd fastest 2-lap
time trial on an Indian motorcycle.
Wilson finished
in 2nd place in the 10-lap handicap race behind Paul “Speck” of
Ellsworth, Kansas ran the 2nd fastest 2-lap time trial on an Indian
motorcycle.
Wilson finished in 2nd place in
the 6-lap race for single cylinder motorcycles behind Paul “Speck” Warner of
Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
Wilson finished in 3rd place in
the 10-lap race for single cylinder motorcycles behind Paul “Speck” Warner of
Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle and Ralph L. Cooper of Topeka,
Kansas who was also riding an Indian motorcycle
Feature race winner: Paul
“Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
June 9, 1911 – 25-mile dirt road course – Oakdale Park at Salina, Kansas
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Results of
these motorcycle races have yet to be located.
[Note that Wilson had entered races at Wichita and Salina on the same
day although it is unclear if he actually participated in Salina program.]
June 9, 1911 – 25-mile dirt road course – Wichita Fairgrounds in west Wichita, Kansas
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson DNF the 50-lap, 4-motorcycle “Championship of Kansas” race
as he “smashed a tire in the seventh mile” and was forced to retire.” He was awarded 4th place behind
winner Wells
Bennett of Wichita who completed the distance in 33:48.0. Ray
Weishaar of Wichita finished in 2nd
place while Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas finished in 3rd
place.
Feature race
winner: Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas
July 4, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – Wichita Fairgrounds in west Wichita, Kansas
These races were promoted by Frank L. Wright of Kechi, Kansas
Motorcycle: All entries
in these races were limited to 1-cylinder motorcycles. Wilson entered his own Harley-Davidson single.
Finish: Wilson won
the 2-motorcycle race over Ray Weishaar
of Wichita who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
The scheduled
race between Wilson and Harold L.
Peterson of Wichita who was driving a Crawford automobile and was the
winner of the auto races on this afternoon, was canceled for an undisclosed
reason..
Feature race winner: Max
Wilson of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a Harley-Davidson single.
July 23, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – Athletic Park in Arkansas City, Kansas – Sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM)
These races were promoted by Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson won
the 6-lap open professional race in 4:03.0.
Wilson won
the 4⅛-mile Australian Pursuit in 1:07.0 (?).
Wilson won the 1-mile “Free-for-All” in
1:24.0.
Wilson won a 1-mile, 2-motorcycle match
race. Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a
4 H.P. Indian motorcycle, finished in 2nd place.
Wilson tied for 2nd place with Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a
4 H.P. Indian, in a 3-motorcycle, 1-mile exhibition race. Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas won this race by 2 seconds, in 1:14.0 while
riding a 7 H.P. Indian motorcycle.
Wilson won the 10-mile open race in 13:05.0.
Feature race winner: Max
Wilson of Wichita, Kansas who was riding his own Harley-Davidson single.
August 13, 1911 – 125-miles over public roads – round trip from Wichita, Kansas to Hutchinson, Kansas and then back on the same road to Wichita
Finish: Wilson DNF this race due to a broken exhaust pipe. It was won by Harlie
A. Stephens of Wichita who was riding an Excelsior and finished in
2:41:35.00. Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas finished in 2nd place 9:24.09
behind Stephens while riding an Indian motorcycle.
Feature race winner: Harlie A. Stephens of Wichita,
Kansas who was riding an Excelsior
August
17, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – Pratt County Fairgrounds at Pratt,
Kansas
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson won
the 4-motorcycle, 10-lap race in 6:41.5.
Feature race winner: Max
Wilson of Wichita, Kansas who was riding his own Harley-Davidson single.
August 29, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – Oakdale Park at Salina, Kansas – Sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM)
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Attendance: 1,200
Finish: Wilson’s
Harley-Davidson suffered a broken valve and DNF the 1st
6-motorcycle, 20-lap race which was won by Ralph L. Cooper of Topeka, Kansas
who was riding a Flying Merkel motorcycle.
Wilson was awarded 6th place in this race behind Paul “Speck”
Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle; Leland “Kid”
Young of Salina, Kansas who was riding a Harley-Davidson; Walter T. Cunningham
of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a Harley Davidson; and Frank Honer of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Indian
motorcycle.
Wilson finished in 2nd place in
the 2nd 6-motorcycle, 20-lap race behind Ralph L. Cooper of Topeka,
Kansas who was riding a Flying Merkel motorcycle. Wilson’s 2nd place finish earned
him $20 in merchandise prizes.
Feature race winner: Ralph
L. Cooper of Topeka, Kansas who was riding a Flying Merkel motorcycle.
August 30, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – Conway Springs Fairgrounds at Conway Springs, Kansas
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson won
the 1st single cylinder race which paid him $20 from the purse. Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an
Indian single, finished this race in 2nd place.
Feature race winner: Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was
riding an Indian.
September 5, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – McPherson County Fairgrounds at McPherson, Kansas – Sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM)
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson finished
in a close 2nd place behind winner Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth,
Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle in the 5-motorcycle, 20-lap race in
7:19.0.
Feature race winner: Paul
“Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle
September 6, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – McPherson County Fairgrounds at McPherson, Kansas – Sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM)
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson won
the 4-motorcycle, 10-lap race in 6:54.5 over Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth,
Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
Feature race winner: Max
Wilson of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a Harley-Davidson single.
September 7, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – McPherson County Fairgrounds at McPherson, Kansas – Sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM)
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson won
the 3-motorcycle, Australian Pursuit in 2:30.0 to collect $20 from the
purse. Sid E. Reimer of Wichita finished
in 2nd place.
Feature race winner: Max
Wilson of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a Harley-Davidson single.
September 27, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas
Motorcycle: His own Harley-Davidson
single
Finish: Wilson ran
but did not place in the 7-motorcycle, 6-lap “Free-for-All” race for stock
motorcycles won by Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an
Indian motorcycle. Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas finished in 2nd
place while riding an Indian motorcycle.
Wilson ran but
did not place in the 7-motorcycle, 6-lap “Free-for-All” race for stock
motorcycles with all equipment on it that was won by Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an
Indian motorcycle. Leland “Kid” Young of
Salina, Kansas who was riding a Harley-Davidson finished in 2nd
place.
Wilson finished in 4th place in
the 4-motorcycle, 6-lap “Free-for-All” for single single-cylinder motorcycles,
behind Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle; Paul
“Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was also riding an Indian motorcycle
and Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an
Indian motorcycle.
Wilson finished in 3rd place in
the 4-motorcycle, 20-lap championship race behind Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle and Paul
“Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle
Wilson finished in 3rd
place in the 4-motorcycle, 10-lap match race behind Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an
Indian motorcycle and Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding
an Indian motorcycle.
Wilson ran the 4th
fastest 2-lap time trial of 1:17.2. That
was slower than the time trials run by Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an
Indian motorcycle; Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was also riding
an Indian motorcycle and Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
Feature race winner: Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
October 7, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – Douglass Fairgrounds at Douglass, Kansas
Motorcycles: He entered a
4 H.P. Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson won the
3-motorcycle, 10-lap motorcycle race in 7:34.0.
He was followed by Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle and
finished in 2nd place. Frank Honer who was also from Wichita, finished in 3rd
place also on an Indian motorcycle.
Feature race winner: Max
Wilson of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a Harley-Davidson single.
October 12, 1911 – ½ mile dirt oval – Oakdale Park at Salina, Kansas – Sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM)
Max Wells was one of 4 Kansas motorcycle racers that were promoted
to professional status by Dr. B. J. Patterson, vice-president of the Federation
of American Motorcyclists (FAM) after these races were run.
Motorcycle: Wilson’s own
Harley-Davidson single
Attendance: 1,500
Finish: Wilson ran
the fastest 2-lap time trial for a closed port motorcycle of 1:23.0. which
broke the old track record for that class of motorcycle by 3 seconds.
Wilson finished in 4th
place in the 4-motorcyhcle professional race for closed port motorcycles. Finishing ahead of Wilson were winner Leland
“Kid” Young of Salina who was riding a Harley-Davidson. Young’s time for the 20-laps was 6:46.6. Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas
finished in 2nd place while riding an Indian motorcycle and Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle finished
in 3rd place.
Wilson finished in 3rd
place in the 4-motorcycle, 20-lap professional race for open port
motorcycles. Finishing ahead of Wilson
were winner Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian
motorcycle. Leland “Kid” Young of Salina
who was riding a Harley-Davidson, finished in 2nd place. For his 3rd place finish in this
race, Wilson received a “reliner, a Hagstorm Porcelain & Mica motorcycle spark plug and
blow out patch.”
Wilson finished in 2nd
place in the 10-lap, 3-motorcycle professional race for “stock machines” behind
winner Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian
motorcycle. Warner and Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle, started
this race holding onto each other for 1-lap.
When Wilson passed the two, they parted and Warner was able to repass
Wilson. Wilson received 8% of the gate
receipts for his 2nd place finish.
Wilson finished in 3rd
place in the 18-lap Australian Pursuit behind winner Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle and
Leland “Kid” Young of Salina who was riding a Harley-Davidson. Wilson won a Hagstorm
Porcelain & Mica motorcycle spark plug and face mask for his 3rd
place finish. Hogstorm
spark plugs were made in Lindsborg, Kansas at that time.
Feature race winner: Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
November 30, 1911 – 60-miles over public roads – round trip from Wichita, Kansas to Wellington, Kansas and then back to Wichita
Finish: Wilson
finished in 2nd place in the 1-lap, 6-motorcycle race behind winner
Walter T. Cunningham of Wichita who was riding a Harley-Davidson. Wilson’s time was 1:45.20 which was just 6
seconds slower than Cunningham’s time.
Feature race winner: Walter
T. Cunningham of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a Harley-Davidson.
January 21, 1912 – Various streets around the city of Wichita, Kansas
Motorcycle: Wilson’s own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson won
the 1-block slow race with George Woodwell finishing
in 2nd place on an Excelsior.
Wilson
finished in 2nd place in the quick stop contest behind Will Braitsch of Wichita who was riding an Excelsior.
Wilson finished in 2nd
place in a race to pedal a motorcycle for 1-block. That race was won by Harlie
Stephens of Wichita who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
Wilson tied with Will Braitsch of Wichita at 59.0 seconds in the 1st
2-motorcycle race around a square block.
Braitsch was riding an Excelsior. To break the tie, it was decided to rerun the
race.
Wilson tied with Will Braitsch of Wichita at 55.5 seconds in the 2nd
2-motorcycle race around a square block.
Braitsch was riding an Excelsior. To break the tie, it was decided to run the
race again for a 3rd time
Wilson finished in 2nd
place behind Will Braitsch of Wichita who was riding
an Excelsior. Bratisch
rode the distance in 55.25 seconds while Wilson finished in 55.75 seconds in
the 3rd 2-motorcycle race around a square block..
Wilson finished in 2nd
place behind Will Braitsch of Wichita who was riding
an Excelsior. In 25.0 seconds, Braitsch rode 3 laps around a tight circle of 4 men
standing in the street.
Feature race winner: William
Henry “Will” Braitsch of Wichita, Kansas who was
riding an Excelsior.
February 11, 1912 – Hill climb on the west side of the 60-foot Observatory Hill on the east edge of Winfield, Kansas
Motorcycles: He entered a
new 4 H.P. 1912 Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson won
the single cylinder class as he was the only one in that class to reach the
summit of the hill. Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an
Indian single was awarded 2nd place for making it up the hill
farther than any of the competitors except Wilson.
Feature race winner: Phillip
D. Gardiner of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Excelsior twin.
After
the hill climb in Winfield, the 22 riders ate lunch at the Jewel restaurant in Winfield
and then traveled as a group to Douglas, Kansas, via the Walnut River road, to
Douglass where the 2nd race meet of the day was held.
February 11, 1912 – ½ mile dirt oval – Douglass Fairgrounds at Douglass, Kansas
Motorcycles: He entered a
new 4 H.P. 1912 Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson
finished in 2nd place in the 2-lap race for single cylinder
motorcycles behind winner Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an
Indian.
Wilson
finished in 2nd place in the 4-lap race for both single cylinder
motorcycles and motorcycle twins that had finished in the 1st two
positions in preceding races. The winner
was Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an
Indian single.
Feature race winner: Ray
Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was
riding an Indian single.
May
11, 1912 – ½ mile dirt oval – Oakdale Park at Salina,
Kansas
Motorcycle: Wilson’s own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: These races
were postponed until May 14, 1912 due to “bad weather”.
May
14, 1912 – ½ mile dirt oval – Oakdale Park at Salina,
Kansas
Finish: Wilson’s name
does not appear in the published race results.
Feature race winner: Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas.
July 4, 1912 – ½ mile dirt oval – Cowley County Fairgrounds on the west edge of Winfield, Kansas
These races were promoted by Martin Baden & Roy Nunn of
Winfield, Kansas.
Motorcycles: Wilson
entered two Harley-Davidson singles
Attendance: 4,000
Finish: Wilson
finished in 2nd place behind winner Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a Thor single in the
5-motorcycle, 2nd 20-lap heat race after Wilson, tumbled over his
handlebars, then slid over the banking and off of the racetrack in the
southeast turn. 2 of the other
motorcycles passed him before he could get back onto the racetrack.
Wilson was running a close 2nd place behind winner Wells Bennett of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a Thor single in the 5-motorcycle, 3rd 20-lap “Free-for-All”, but Wilson blew a tire out and had to retire from the race.
Feature race winner: Wells
Bennett of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a Thor single.
Augusta Daily Gazette Augusta, Kansas June 15, 1915 – page 4 |
September 3, 1912 – ½ mile dirt oval – McPherson County Fairgrounds at McPherson, Kansas – Sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM)
These races were promoted by Phil Zimmerman & M. M. Huyett.
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson
finished in 2nd place in the 6-lap race behind winner Paul “Speck”
Warner of Ellsworth of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
Wilson
finished in 2nd place in the 10-lap race behind winner Paul “Speck”
Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
Feature race winner: Paul
“Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
September 4, 1912 – ½ mile dirt oval – McPherson County Fairgrounds at McPherson, Kansas – Sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM)
These races were promoted by Phil Zimmerman & M. M. Huyett.
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Attendance: 3,000
Finish: Wilson
finished in 2nd place in the 6-lap race behind winner Paul “Speck”
Warner of Ellsworth of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
Wilson
finished in 2nd place in the 10-lap race behind winner Paul “Speck”
Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
Feature race winner: Paul
“Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
September 5, 1912 – ½ mile dirt oval – McPherson County Fairgrounds at McPherson, Kansas – Sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM)
These races were promoted by Phil Zimmerman.
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson
finished in 2nd place in the 10-lap race behind winner Paul “Speck”
Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
Feature race winner: Paul
“Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
September 6, 1912 – ½ mile dirt oval – McPherson County Fairgrounds at McPherson, Kansas – Sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM)
These races were promoted by Phil Zimmerman.
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson
finished in 2nd place in the 6-lap race behind winner Paul “Speck”
Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
Wilson
finished in 2nd place in the 10-lap race behind winner Paul “Speck”
Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle. Wilson actually passed Warner on the straightaways
only to have Warner pass him back in the turns.
Feature race winner: Paul
“Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
September 21, 1912 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas
These races were promoted by Harry Taylor.
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson
finished in 3rd place in the 1st 6-lap race behind winner
Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle
and Walter T. Cunningham of Wichita who was riding a Harley-Davidson.
Wilson
finished in 3rd place in the 2nd 6-lap race behind winner
Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle
and Walter T. Cunningham of Wichita who was riding a Harley-Davidson.
Feature race winner: Paul
“Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
October
12, 1912 – ½ mile dirt oval – Oakdale Park at Salina,
Kansas
These races were promoted by Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth,
Kansas
Motorcycle: Wilson’s own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson’s name
does not appear in the published race results.
Feature race winner: Leland
“Kid” Young of Salina
October 29, 1912 – ½ mile dirt oval – Pratt County Fairgrounds at Pratt, Kansas – Sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM)
These races were promoted by Dr. Anthony of Pratt, Kansas.
Attendance: 2,500
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson ran
the 3rd fastest 2-lap time trial of 1:19.0. That was only slower than the time trials run
by Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle
and Roy Good of Coffeyville, Kansas.
Wilson
finished in 2nd place in several races run on this afternoon but
just which races and how many races have yet to be learned.
Feature race winner: Roy
Good of Coffeyville, Kansas
By 1913,
race promoters across Kansas had begun touting Max Wilson, now aged 31, as the
oldest motorcycle racer in the Midwest.
July 4, 1913 – ½ mile dirt oval – Cowley County Fairgrounds on the west edge of Winfield, Kansas
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Attendance: 6,000
Finish: Wilson
finished in 4th place in the 1st 4-motorcycle, 10-lap
heat race behind winner Roy Rinehart of Arkansas City, Kansas who was riding an
Indian motorcycle; Frank Mansfield of Arkansas City and also riding an Indian
and Pete Hickerson of Winfield, Kansas who was riding an Indian as well.
Wilson was credited with finishing in 4th place in the
2nd 4-motorcycle, 10-lap heat race behind winner Roy Rinehart of
Arkansas City, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle; Frank Mansfield of
Arkansas City and also riding an Indian and Pete Hickerson of Winfield, Kansas
who was riding an Indian as well. Wilson
started last and passed leader Rinehart on the 5th
lap of the race but he only held the position for a quarter of a lap before
suffering engine trouble and dropping out of the race.
Wilson was credited with finishing in 4th place in the 4-motorcycle, 20-lap “Free-for-All” race behind winner Roy Rinehart of Arkansas City, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle; Pete Hickerson of Winfield, Kansas who was also riding an Indian and Frank Mansfield of Arkansas City, Kansas who was riding an Indian as well. While Mansfield did manage to finish the race, he only did so after twice crashing into the fence around the south curve of the racetrack and being thrown from his motorcycle. Wilson did not actually finish this race due to engine trouble. Rinehart received $37.50 from purse for the afternoon and Mansfield was paid a like amount for his.
Feature race winner: Roy
Rinehart of Arkansas City, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
November 27, 1913 – ½ mile dirt oval – Cowley County Fairgrounds on the west edge of Winfield, Kansas
Motorcycle: Wilson
entered his own Harley-Davidson single but wound up riding an Indian motorcycle
for 145 laps of the 200-lap “Kansas State Championship” race.
Attendance: “large crowd”
Finish: Wilson finished in 5th place in the 8-motorcycle, 200-lap “Kansas State Championship” race behind winner Lou Hoyt of Milan, Kansas who was riding a Harley-Davidson; Walter T. Cunningham of Danville, Kansas who was riding a Harley-Davidson; Elza C. Swigert of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Indian and Frank Mansfield of Arkansas City, Kansas who was also riding an Indian.
Feature race winner: Lou Hoyt of Milan, Kansas who was riding a Harley-Davidson.
December 25, 1913 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kay County Fairgrounds northeast of Newkirk, Oklahoma
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Results of these races have yet to be located.
April 15, 1914 – ½ mile dirt oval – Anthony Downs on the northeast edge of Anthony, Kansas
Motorcycle: His own Harley-Davidson
single
Attendance: 3,000
Finish: Wilson started in 14th position in the 15 riders who started the 200-lap feature race but he did not finish in any of the 1st three positions, which were all of the results that have been currently been located.
Feature race winner: Ed
Roy of Wichita, Kansas who was riding a Thor.
June 6, 1914 – ½ mile dirt oval – Anthony Downs on the northeast edge of Anthony, Kansas
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson
finished in 2nd place in the Australian Pursuit behind winner Paul
“Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
Wilson finished in 3rd place in the 10-lap feature race behind winner Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle and Ray Weishaar of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Excelsior.
Feature race winner: Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth, Kansas who was riding an Indian motorcycle.
June 13, 1914 – ½ mile dirt oval – Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas – Sanctioned by the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM)
This race was promoted by Walter T. Cunningham of Danville,
Kansas
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Attendance: 700
Finish: Wilson was running in 2nd place on the 130th lap of the 200-lap feature race when he was forced out of the event with a broken intake valve. 11 riders had started the race.
Feature race winner: H. Swigert of Wichita, Kansas who was riding an Excelsior.
July 4, 1914 – ½ mile dirt oval – Cowley County Fairgrounds on the west edge of Winfield, Kansas
This race was promoted by Col. Carl L. Dees, Roy Rinehart and Roy Hume, all of Arkansas City, Kansas
Attendance: 900
Finish: Wilson finished in 2nd place in the 200-lap, 7-motorcycle race in 2:10:00 which was 4 minutes behind winner Roy Rinehart of Arkansas City, Kansas. Wilson had installed an extra gas tank on his Harley-Davidson so he could go the distance without stopping but that gas tank sprung a leak so that Wilson not only had to stop, but he also had to tear the added gas tank off his motorcycle as well.
Feature race winner: Roy Rinehart of Arkansas City, Kansas.
July 19, 1914 – ½ mile dirt oval – El Dorado Fairgrounds at El Dorado, Kansas
Attendance: 700
Motorcycle: His own Harley-Davidson single
Finish: Wilson’s name does not appear in the published results of these races.
Feature race winner: Max Wilson of Wichita, Kansas who was driving his own
Ford that he had built himself from Ford parts.
July
22, 1914 – ½ mile dirt oval – Ellsworth County Fairgrounds east
of
Ellsworth,
Kansas – Sanctioned by the Federation of American
Motorcyclists (FAM)
These races were promoted by Paul “Speck” Warner of Ellsworth,
Kansas
Motorcycle: His own
Harley-Davidson single
Attendance: 800
Finish: Wilson’s name
does not appear in the published results of these races.
Feature race winner: Ray
Weishaar of
Topeka, Kansas who was riding an Excelsior.
April 22, 1915 – 2.409 mile paved straightaways with dirt corners, road course – Carhart in Linwood Place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by the American Automobile Association (AAA)
This race was promoted by C. R. “Dick” Carhart of Oklahoma City
Car: Wilson entered his own Ford special 2-seat roadster that he had built himself during the last half of 1914 from $250 worth of Ford parts.
Purse: $5,000
Finish: These races were postponed until April 29, 1915 due to rain.
April 29, 1915 – 2.409 mile paved straightaways with high banked dirt corners, road course – Carhart in Linwood Place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Sanctioned by the American Automobile Association (AAA)
This race was promoted by C. R. “Dick” Carhart of Oklahoma City
Car: Wilson entered his own Ford special 2-seat roadster that he had built himself during the last half of 1914 from $250 worth of Ford parts.
Attendance: 14,000
Purse: $5,000
Finish: Wilson’s name
does not appear in the published race results.
Feature race winner: Bob Burman of Jackson, Michigan who was driving a Peugeot
June, 1915 – ½ mile dirt oval – Griswold a.k.a. South Riverside at the west edge of South Riverside Park in Wichita, Kansas
These races were promoted by Max Wilson, W. W. “Billie”
Hedrick and George T. Walker who were all from Wichita, Kansas
Car: Wilson entered his own Ford special 2-seat roadster that he had built himself during the last half of 1914 from $250 worth of Ford parts.
Purse: $50 with Wilson and George T. Walker to each put up half. When the race had to be postponed, the purse
was doubled.
Finish: Wilson challenged W. W. “Billie” Hedrick of Wichita, Kansas who was driving a 1910 Model 10 Buick owned by George T. Walker who was also from Wichita, to a best 2-out-of-3, 2-car, 6-lap match race. Hedrick and Walker accepted the challenge so Wilson applied to the Wichita city commission for permission to use the racetrack. That permission was denied so the best 2-out-of-3 series of races was postponed until June 20, 1915 and moved to the El Dorado Fairgrounds at El Dorado, Kansas.
June 20, 1915 – ½ mile dirt oval – El Dorado Fairgrounds at El Dorado, Kansas
These races were promoted by Wilbur A. Beaumont of El Dorado, Kansas
Car: Wilson entered his own Ford special 2-seat roadster that he had built himself during the last half of 1914 from $250 worth of Ford parts.
Attendance: “several hundred”
Finish: Wilson ran the 3rd fastest 2-lap time trial which was only slower than the time trials run by Harold Peterson of Wichita, Kansas who was driving a 24-H.P. Buick and W. W. “Billie” Hedrick who was also from Wichita and who was driving a 1910 Model 10 Buick owned by George T. Walker who was also from Wichita. Walker’s 1910 Model 10 Buick was named “Hellen Blazes”.
Wilson was defeated by W. W. “Billie” Hedrick of Wichita, Kansas who was driving a 1910 Model 10 Buick owned by George T. Walker who was also from Wichita, in the best 2-out-of-3, 2-car, 6-lap match races.
Wilson finished 3rd in the 6-lap, 4-car “Free-for-All” race behind winner W. W. “Billie” Hedrick of Wichita, Kansas who was driving a 1910 Model 10 Buick owned by George T. Walker who was also from Wichita, and Harold Peterson of Wichita, Kansas who was driving a 24-H.P. Buick.
Wilson won the 10-lap, 3-car feature race in 7:18.0, followed by W. W. “Billie” Hedrick of Wichita, Kansas who was driving a Model 10 Buick owned by George T. Walker who was also from Wichita; and Harold Peterson of Wichita, Kansas who was driving a 24-H.P. Buick.
Feature race winner: Max Wilson of Wichita, Kansas who was driving his own Ford that he had built himself from Ford parts.
Max
Wilson seated in his Wilson special Ford The
Wichita Daily Eagle Wichita, Kansas October
12, 1915 – page 7 |
September 5, 1915 – ½ mile dirt oval – El Dorado Fairgrounds at El Dorado, Kansas
These races were promoted by M. J. Main
Car: Wilson entered his own Ford special 2-seat roadster that he had built himself during the last half of 1914 from $250 worth of Ford parts.
Attendance: 500
Purse: $400
Finish: Wilson won the 24-lap Australian Pursuit over Charlie Shaffstall of Coffeyville, Kansas who drove a Studebaker special to a 2nd place finish.
Wilson won the 20-lap race in 12:16.0 with L. O. Gribble of Marion, Kansas who finished in 2nd place driving a National.
Feature race winner: Max Wilson of Wichita, Kansas who was driving his own
Ford that he had built himself from Ford parts.
October 14, 1915 – 1½ mile dirt oval – Speedway Park at Wichita, Kansas
These races were promoted by Tom Hurst of Wichita, Kansas
Car: His own Wilson special Ford roadster
Attendance: 14,125
Finish: Wilson
finished in 4th place in the 7-lap K.O.M. Classic
auto race behind winner William “Candy” Cunningham of Fredonia, Kansas who was
driving the Yellow Kid Ford; Herbert LeRoy
“Roy” Gillett of Fredonia, Kansas who was driving the Wampus Cat Ford
and William Ernest “Ernie” Crum of Wichita, Kansas who was driving a
Buick. 7 cars were scheduled to start
this race but only 5 were able to actually start the race.
Feature race winner: William
“Candy” Cunningham of Fredonia, Kansas who was driving the Yellow Kid Ford.
October 21, 1915 – ½ mile dirt oval – El Dorado Fairgrounds at El Dorado, Kansas
Car: Wilson entered his own Ford special 2-seat roadster that he had built himself during the last half of 1914 from $250 worth of Ford parts.
May 25, 1916 – ½ mile dirt oval – 9-mile unnamed road course at Alva, Oklahoma
Attendance: “the largest crowd ever assembled in Alva”
Car: 4-cylinder Buick
Finish: Wilson was credited with finishing in 3rd place after he broke a spring in the 3-car, 100-mile race behind winner H. A. Noah of Alva, Oklahoma who was driving a 4-cylinder Studebaker and William Halbert “Hal” Kruegel of Pond Creek, Oklahoma who was driving a Ford.
Feature
race winner: H. A. Noah of Alva, Oklahoma who was
driving a 4-cylinder Studebaker.
May 26, 1916 – ½ mile dirt oval – 9-mile unnamed road course at Alva, Oklahoma
Car: 4-cylinder Buick
Finish: Wilson was credited with finishing in 4th place in the 6-car, 150-mile “Free-for-All” race after he dropped out of the race on the 15th lap. Those finishing ahead of Wilson were winner R. A. Pittman of Woodward, Oklahoma who was driving a “light 6” Buick and finished the race in 2:59.32 to collect $400 from the purse; Jake Struckler of Enid, Oklahoma who was also driving a Buick “light 6” and William Halbert “Hal” Kruegel of Pond Creek, Oklahoma who was driving a Ford.
Feature
race winner: R. A. Pittman of Woodward, Oklahoma
who was driving a “light 6” Buick.
May 31, 1916 – ½ mile oiled dirt oval – Stock Pavilion 1-mile east of Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma
Attendance: 1,000
Car: 4-cylinder Buick
Finish: Wilson was leading the 4-car feature race and hugging the inside rail when he lost a wheel forcing him to swerve dramatically before pulling off of the racetrack and dropping out of the race leaving the victory to Kruegel. Jake Struckler of Enid, Oklahoma who was driving a Buick “light 6”, was slightly injured when he swerved to miss Wilson’s car, ran off of the racetrack and over an embankment.
Feature
race winner: William Halbert “Hal” Kruegel of Pond Creek, Oklahoma who was driving a Ford.
April 5, 1919 – ½ mile oiled dirt oval – Stock Pavilion 1-mile east of Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma
These races were promoted by Jake Strickler of Enid, Oklahoma
Car:
Chevrolet
Scat
Attendance: 4,000
Finish:
Wilson ran the 5th fastest 2-lap time trial of 1:35.0 which was only
slower than the time trials run by Jake Strickler
of Enid who was driving a Hudson “Super Six”; Glenn Breed of Dallas,
Texas who was driving a Hudson “Super Six” #1; Leo Rice of Ardmore, Oklahoma
who was driving a Dodge special and Johnny Mais
who was driving his own Mercer #24 he had named “The Texan”.
Wilson finished in 2nd place
behind winner Johnny
Mais who was driving his own Mercer #24 he had named “The Texan”, in
the 5-car, 10-lap race for “light cars”.
Wilson won $25 from the purse for his 2nd place finish.
Wilson
was seriously injured as the cars entered the 1st turn of the 30-lap
feature race. He suffered a broken
collar bone, 3 broken ribs, a wound to the forehead and internal injuries as a
result of the smashup. His Chevrolet
Scat was struck from the rear by a Chalmers being driven by Ray Rice of
Enid. The collision caused Wilson’s
Chevrolet Scat to be boosted up into the air before it overturned throwing
Wilson over the windshield and to the ground 10 to 12 feet from the
racetrack. The Chevrolet Scat “was a
total wreck having the radiator broken, the front wheels completely demolished
and the steering gear a mass of splinters and twisted iron. Wilson was rushed to the Enid Springs
Sanitarium after the accident.” A
collection was taken for Wilson among both the drivers and the crowd and
$191.40 was raised for the injured driver and his wife.
Feature race winner:
Glenn Breed of
Fredonia, Kansas who was driving his own Hudson “Super-Six” #1.
April 6, 1919 – ½ mile oiled dirt oval – Stock Pavilion 1-mile east of Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma
These races were promoted by Jake Strickler of Enid, Oklahoma
Car:
Chevrolet
Scat.
Finish:
Wilson and Glenn Breed of Fredonia, Kansas had previously arranged to
run a 2-car match race on this afternoon but that race was canceled due to
Wilson’s injuries and to his Chevrolet Scat being destroyed in the accident.
Feature race winner: Leo Rice of Ardmore, Oklahoma who was driving a
Dodge special.
After
World War I, Wilson founded a company to build miniature live steam locomotives
and, by the early 1930s, Wilson was not only known as an auto mechanic but also
as an expert machinist and miniature train builder. He helped Herbert J. “Herb”
Ottaway (1912-2004) built his first miniature live steam locomotive in the
early 1930s. Ottaway toured the Midwest
with that train for a few years and found it to be so popular that he decided
to build a permanent home for it. That
permanent home became the Joyland Amusement
Park in Wichita.
Wilson
eventually sold his Max Wilson Miniature Railroad Company to Ottaway and
the business went on to build a total of 89 miniature trains.
Max
and May Wilson divorced in the summer of 1916 and Max moved to Garden Plain,
Kansas where he went to work as a mechanic at the Wulf Brothers Auto Company. He also put his auto racing on hold during
this time. The couple remarried in 1919
and moved back to their home at 1903 East First Street in Wichita. In place of the time that had been spent
racing, the couple now took several camping trips throughout the western United
States.
Max
Wilson had lived in the Wichita area his entire life, passing away in a local
hospital from pneumonia on March 19, 1934.
He was buried beside his infant daughter, Evelyn Wilson, in Maple
Grove Cemetery in Wichita. His wife
passed away 15-years later and is buried beside them.
If
you know anything more about Maximus Loyd “Max”
Wilson and his involvement in motor racing, please contact Bob Lawrence
at: sprintguy @ cox.net
Autograph signed in 1918
This photo was taken on April 17, 1896 at 111 East Douglas
Avenue in downtown Wichita, Kansas
Alva
Wilson’s Auto, Model 1896
Crowds who visit the Wichita Auto show
this week at the Forum will scarcely be able to believe that it was only in the
spring of 1896 when the first horseless carriage on the streets of Wichita
appeared. This vehicle looked about as
much like Col. Amidon’s 1913 touring car as the little eohippus looked like
John R. Gentry. Nevertheless, it was a
six-passenger car and attracted a flurry of excitement as may be judged by the
photograph taken in front of the old Eagle office on Douglas Avenue. This machine was built and owned by Alva
Wilson, a Westside blacksmith. His son,
Max Wilson, who now runs a motorcycle shop in Wichita, was the driver. Alva Wilson, the builder, stands at the
entrance of the car in the picture and his son, Max, is driving. Dave Leahy, then city editor of the Eagle,
stands in front of the bulletin board.
Many of his friends at the Eagle office claim he still wears the same
cap at the present time, when he has a particular hard job of deputy marshaling
to do. At the rear of this ancient
machine was the engineer’s platform. He
fired the twin cylinder, 14-horsepower engine with peanut coal from a bin
carrying 500 pounds of fuel. A water
tank, with a capacity of 25 gallons, was also part of the machine. The machine is said to have run for ten hours
at the rate of 15 miles-an-hour on 25¢ worth of peanut coal. There was no reverse on the machine and it
could go only straight ahead. It weighed
2,300 pounds.
Charles Payne, the well-known dealer in
wild animals, bought the machine and used it to haul animals in. It was such a good car for that, that Mr.
Payne wore it out hauling them.
The Wichita Daily Eagle
Wichita, Kansas
March 11, 1913 – page 1
The Wichita Beacon
Wichita, Kansas
June 19, 1915 – page 12
This very poor-quality, posed publicity photo was taken on the ½ mile racetrack at the El Dorado Fairgrounds at El Dorado, Kansas in June of 1915. It shows Billie Headrick at left in the 1910 Model 10 Buick race car owned by George T. Walker and known as “Hellen Blazes”. On the right is Max Wilson in his own stripped-down Wilson special Ford. All three men were from Wichita, Kansas. These were the two competitors in the best 2-out-of-3 challenge match race.
Comments by Verne
Shirk after seeing the photo above:
“The Buick, well yes, it does resemble a
Buick. The chassis appears to be Buick. They had a tube front axle
with a dip in it and springs oriented that way. But, Wilson's car...I
think in your write-up you said he constructed it from parts. Well, the
frame is not Model T. The car that would have used that frame would have
sat pretty low, like an American Underslung...but that isn't it. Their
springs were on top of the frame. (I've heard that American Underslung
got the idea for lowering the car like that by seeing frames turned
up-side-down at the factory.) What is unusual about the frame in the
photo is that is is "dipped" on both ends
of the car. I have seen that on a car but can't think at this time who
used that. I will check with a friend of mine to see if he knows.
The Buick Model 10 was the small 4-cyl. of the line-up. It would have
been rated about the same H.P. as a Model T (actually, they claimed a little
more...like maybe 22 or 23 H.P. and I believe them). The Model T was 20
H.P. Of course, the stock T would have been a flathead and the Buick was an OHV. It would be interesting to know what parts
he used on the Model T. The OHV craze for the Model T was yet to
come. The real early (1909-10?) T heads were a higher compression.
The 1911-1918? were a lower compression and the 1919-1927? were even lower
compression. The 1909-10 heads are hard to find now. Another thing
I wonder is about the steering column on the Model T. The 1910-11 Model T
Torpedo body styles used a long steering column. The one in the photo
looks to be a long one. Boy, I'd like to find that car now!!! What
a survivor that would be!”
Verne Shirk, Editor of
the “Spark Plug”
Wichita Regional
Newsletter
National Horseless
Carriage Club of America
One of the
miniature live steam locomotives built by Max Wilson in 1931. Max operated this train in “Mathewson’s pasture”
for several years. At that time, Mathewson’s
pasture was located just northeast of what is now downtown Wichita, Kansas.
Bill Jackson collection
Max, wife Edna and daughter Evelyn
Wilson’s tombstone in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Wichita, Kansas.
Bob Lawrence photo
Thank You:
Verne Shirk