Playa Del Rey Board Track

Los Angeles - 1910
The Playa Del Rey board track was the first of the great wood plank automobile speedways. For years bicycle and motorcycle races were conducted on wooden velodromes, but Playa Del Rey brought the concept to events for race cars. This speedway was designed by Jack Prince, the most renowned designer of board track facilities. Board tracks rose in popularity through the 1920’s largely due to their relatively inexpensive start-up costs, but proved excessively expensive to maintain. Blindingly fast, their appeal was self evident. The opening of Playa Del Rey came in the spring of 1910. Caleb Bragg made a big statement in his breakthrough victory over Barney Oldfield and the Lightning Benz in a best of three match race. Ralph De Palma also appeared at the track. This folder contains 10 files on the topic from the Barney Oldfield scrapbook.

Records Fall at Playa Del Rey

This collection of articles from Barney Oldfield's personal scrapbook capture some of the wonder and excitement around the unveiling of the first wood plank speedway for automobiles. The track, designed by Jack Prince (see attachment), was Playa Del Rey in Los Angeles.
Caleb Bragg Defeats Barney Oldfield

These articles from Barney Oldfield's scrapbook cover events at the opening race meet at the Playa Del Rey boad track in Los Angeles.
De Palma, Oldfield at Playa Del Rey

These articles report on events both at the world's first board track automobile speedway at Playa Del Rey and the beach of Daytona where many speed trials were held in the first quarter of the 20th Century. A much anticipated match race had been organized between Barney Oldfield and Ralph De Palma, but it was canceled when De Palma's Fiat Cyclone broke a piston. Oldfield then drove his Lightning Benz in hastily arranged match race with upstart Caleb Bragg. There is also an article on events at Daytona Beach speed trials from earlier in the year.
DePalma and Oldfield Plan Match Race

Reflecting the hodge-podge nature of Barney Oldfield's scrapbook this collection combines an article about a race at an unnamed fairgrounds track, Daytona Beach and the world's first board track at Play Del Rey in Los Angeles.
Oldfield vs. De Palma Plus Daytona Runs

This collection is more material from Barney Oldfield's personal scrapbook. It mingles articles on the new board track at Playa Del Rey in Los Angeles and the world land speed record trials in Daytona Beach. This includes a decent image of Oldfield's "Lightning Benz." These articles were published in March and April 1910.
Bragg Stuns Oldfield

This is a package of more clips from Barney Oldfield's personal scrapbook. It includes a selection of articles on events at the Playa Del Rey (Los Angeles) board track, the first in the world, as well as Daytona Beach.
Oldfield Writes About Record Run

This package includes an article written by Barney Oldfield describing his perspective behind the wheel of his "Lightning" Benz when he made his record run at Daytona. Also, there is an interesting image of cars circulating the Playa Del Rey board track in Los Angeles. Other articles include a lot of color from the events at the christening of the board track. These articles were published in March and April 1910.
Playa Del Rey Records Chart

This collection from Barney Oldfield's scrapbook contains some interesting images from the Playa Del Rey board track in Los Angeles. Also, there is a good overview article and a useful chart summarizing the records that were established at the meet. These articles were published in April 1910.
World Records Lowered

From Barney Oldfield's scrapbook, here is an account of the record shattering drives of top drivers at the new board track at Playa Del Rey in Los Angeles in April 1910.
De Palma Visits Playa Del Rey

The attached article about racing champion Ralph De Palma visiting the Los Angeles-based Playa Del Rey board track was originally published in the February 13, 1910, Indianapolis Star.