DePalma & Vail

The original source reports this is a photo of the great Ralph DePalma and tough competitor Ira Vail. That's Ralph in the white Mercedes and Ira in the #9 Otto. Both were kicking up dust at Brighton Beach, New York back in 1914.
 
From auto racing historian Carl Schulz - de Palma set a record for 25 miles and won the 25 Mile Free-for-All and 10 mile race for new stock cars on Sat the 5th of Sep. on the ensuing Monday holiday he returned to win the 100 Mile Labor Day Sweepstakes. Brooklyn Daily Eagle Sep 7 1914. At the risk of belaboring the point he came back in Nov for the Matty Mathews Racing Association and won 3 of 5 races, and his brother John a victor in one also.