The Washington times., 1922-09-03
FIRST Of RACES
BY ,OLDF|ELD
70 YEARS AGO
Ford Recalls How Speed De-
mon Won With His Car, the
Historic "oeo."

On September 81 there will be
celebrated among automobile fans
everywhere, and along many an
auto row, the twentieth anniversary
of the first automobile. race meet
ever held. This was at Crosse Point,
Mich, and the affair marked an
epoch in the automotive industry as
well as registering the natal day Of
all speedway classics.
Two men. today outstanding fig.
ures in motordom. figured in the
winning of this auspicious event.
The winning car was owned, and had
been built, by Henry Ford. Its
driver was Barney Oldfield.
Barney Oldfield! What a name to
conjure with! What memories
crowd before the minds eye Of
racing engines terrific roar, the
flash OF a submarine like chassis, a
serene but dusty figure gripping the
driving wheel. his cigar still poised
at the familiar angle!
With the nearness OF the coming
anniversary motor fans will be in
terested to learn something of the
eventful life history OF Barney Old
field, the wonder racer, PAGER, tire
maker, and recognized expert in the
automotive field, for, although he has
been five years in retirement as a
racer, he is not only a prominent
man in automobile racing today, not
actively at the wheel. but stands, as
well, at the head of the tire company
bearing his name-the concern that
mas produced the tires equipping
most of the cars winning the speed
way classics of past years.
Born on farm near Wauseon.
Ohio, in 1878. young Oldfield got the
dust OF the race track upon his shoes
early in his teens. AS water boy for
a railroad gang, and later as an
elevator boy. he saved $65 from his
slender earnings and bought q bi.
cycle. Entering the Ohio State cham.
pionship at Canton, he showed his
genius for speed, even at this early
date, by winning two medals and a
gold watch. A year later he was &C.
knowledged bicycle race champion
of Ohio, and his services soon were
in great demand as a cycle sales.
man.
An event that perhaps had far.
reaching effect on the autofnotiye in.
dustry as IL Is today is seen in
Barney Oldfield's connection shortly
after 1909. with Henry Ford. then n
obscure engineer, but fast bringing
to completion, IL not perfection, the
car destined to be the forerunner ~
his present vast enterprise.
This first car. named by Mr.. Ford
the "999," Barney undertool: IN nilot
in the face Of entries from all ma arts
or the country, most of them much
more powerful, in appearance at
least, than the little 1899" Is his.
tory now that Bsrney won. and from
that day, until his retirement from
actual racing sixteen years later
this wonder speedster's career was
consistent record of great and
astonishing successes on the track.
In connection with Mr.. OldfIeId's
first association with Henry Ford
the latter has this to saw. IN, the
course NJ hts autobiography apbear
ing in McClure's:
IT did not want the resnonsibilitv
OF racing the 'ooa.' neither d,d
Cooper Mr. Ford's partnerl
Cooper said he knew a man who
lived on speed-nothins could 20
too fast Tor him. He wired to Salt
Lake City and on came a rrofes.
sional bicycle rider named Barney
oldfteld. He said he would .ry
ANYTHING.
Said Oldfield 'ust he,ore tho
race at Crosse Point: We'll, thIs
chariot NAV k'll me, hut they viii
say afterwards that was going
Ike h when she took me over
the bank And he did co like ~.
He was about half a mile ahead of
the nearest man at the end Of the
race"
Past forty, Barley still kent win.
ming, hut In 1919 he hecame presi.
dent OF the oidteId Tire connarv.
devoting his uncomfortable knowI.
edge OF tire requirements 10 the
manufacturing ot that product.
TirNs had been the motor masters =
study for twenty wears, now ne
would share his unique experience
with all