Oldfield Cooper 1903

This is an editorial cartoon placed in the June 26, 1903 Fort Wayne Sentinel to promote a match race between Barney Oldfield and his buddy, Tom Cooper. This is another item of auto racing history provided by auto racing researcher Ken Parrotte. The cartoon appeared one week after Oldfield set a one mile closed circuit world record of 59 and three-fifths seconds at the Indiana State Fairgrounds dirt track Oldfield and Cooper staged a three heat match race with a prize of $500. The venue was the one mile Fort Wayne Driving Park dirt track. Oldfield won the first two heats, making the third unnecessary.