Shifting Gears

One of the ways the auto industry was able to advertise the usefulness of cars was through racing, hill climbing, and endurance tests. Thousands of people gathered to watch auto races in St. Louis at Fairground Park, which by 1914 was said to have the fastest circular dirt track in the United States.

The Great 24-Hour Race was held July 3–4, 1907. The race started at 10 p.m. on July 3rd and finished 24 hours later. The racetrack was lit with 130 gasoline lamps, which allowed the 5,000–8,000 spectators to see the race clearly. The winner of the race was a Jackson car driven by Robert Burman and E. F. Schuefler. The car only had one minor repair done during the race and the tires were changed four times.

Drivers also participated in annual “reliability tours,” the first taking place in 1907 with 26 entrants driving 85.5 miles through St. Louis County. More daring drivers tried their hands at “endurance contests” such as the Great 24-Hour Race in 1907. The St. Louis Automobile Manufacturers and Dealers Association also promoted auto racing and started long-distance reliability tours in 1910. The first tour went from St. Louis to Hannibal, Missouri, through Mexico, Missouri, and back to St. Louis, and was open to any kind of car by any manufacturer or dealer in St. Louis.

The start of the Great 24-Hour Race at Fairgrounds Race Track, 1907.

Ashley Gray driving a 1907 Dorris to victory in a race going down Valley Park Road against a Stevens Duryea, 1907.

Jack McKibben driving a 1908 Stoddard Dayton stock car at Fairgrounds Race Track, 1908.

Auto Races: Maxwellton Park Race Track Official program, 1915.

Driver Eddie Hearne, racing legend Barney Oldfield, and Maxwellton Park Race Track manager Alex Sloan (left to right) in front of a 1912 Golden Submarine racer, 1914.

Trophy for perfect road and technical score, 1911.

Won by the Dorris car for a reliability run across the state of Missouri, August 14-18, 1911. Presented by Motor Accessories Association of St. Louis.