I started a thread where I intended to post copies of the news accounts of Ford Sixes (Model K) winning and placing in endurance and speed contests. However, there were too many to post the news clips, so I've transferred the results to word.

Below are over twenty five contests with Ford Sixes winning or placing. Notice the other cars the Fords are competing. Where I'm going with this is to demonstrate that the Ford K was very competitive with some of the best marquees of the day.

I may be off on some of the names due to poor copies. This is especially true of the foreign competitions. Along those lines, I've found evidence that Model Ks were in several countries in Europe. If anyone has examples of Model Ks in other countries please post the information.

Enjoy,

Rob

I'm still reading.

I'm still dreaming of a Model K 6-40.



That's some class with a capital K

Sept 14, 1907, Hartford CT Hill Climb: Frank Kulick with Ford six runabout places second in one event, behind Corbin, ahead go a Pope Hartford. Other event, 1. Ford, 2 Knox
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I'm using this thread to keep additional "contests" on until I'm able to update my notes above.

January 27, 1909. Three Fords have perfect score in reliability trial in Houston TX, Models T, N and K.
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Philadelphia "Brazier Cup" contest, Nov 4th, 1907:
1st, Apperson. 2nd, Ford. 3rd, Packard. 4th, Winton. 5th, Pennsylvania. 6th, Winton. 7th, Stoddard Dayton. 8th, Packard.

The article says the decision may be overturned due to the 1st place Apperson driver taking the wrong road to finish.
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Dec 1907 - Well, chalk the one above up to Ford. The Apperson was penalized, and the Brazier Cup awarded to the Ford.
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The "Houston's Auto Club" article above looks to be the same one posted on this thread http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/331880/334112.html?1357844750
Which I commented and added additional questions on.

For readers convenience I copied what I wrote on the other thread.


What year did this take place? Wait a minute! After about fifteen minutes, I found it. (I never have been that good at finding things by using Google or other search engines on the internet, but wanted to try it myself anyway) I found the article in the Motor magazine from January 30 1908. However that means the 20hp car cannot be a model T. It could be an error in reporting? Maybe a model S speedster? Perhaps a model B? (It would have been about three years old then?)
More mysteries. Sad about a fatality during the event. I wonder if it was the driver or navigator/spotter/passenger of the car? Or could the fatality been on the street car? What kind of car it was?
Great stuff! Again, thank you Rob!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2

Wayne,

I'm posting other K results to this thread until I'm able to come back and transfer everything to the word doc I wrote the first 20 some on.

The more I find (K top finishes) the more support there is that the Model K was a quality car that was well received by the public.

I've also found another leading 6 cylinder car maker who sold less sixes over the same time frame (1906-1908) yet is considered a leading top end auto producer of the time (another story for another thread )

Also, my mistake, I thought it was a Jan 1909 article above. The 20 hp Ford must be a typo as you said, for either a 15 or 40 hp Ford.

Rob

Rob,
No worries. I had just gotten curious about the mix of Ford models and went looking for the year and discovered it. A lot of those magazines-on-internet copies are poor quality. I wasn't sure if it was '08 or '09 till I scrolled clear to the title page where the original type was larger.
I really enjoy this research you are doing. Thank you.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2

June, 1908: Another contest with a Ford. Also, another injury. As we know, our early cars go fast and stop slowly .

This is a 100 mile race, won by a Franklin six (did someone say they weren't a good car? ), followed by:

2nd. Stearns, 3rd Pullman, 4th Ford, 5th Tourist, 6th Cadillac, 7th Stoddard-Dayton, 8th Duro Car, 9th Haynes, 10th Haynes, 11th Tourist.

A quality group of competitors.
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Scottish Reliability Tour, 1907

Model K is the one on the right. Show me a picture of a Pierce competing in England in 1907 .
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That British Napier is another car that would be incredible to own and tour with!
Sorry Rob! Their name comes up occasionally in these races and I couldn't hold it back any longer.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2

Note the TRANSVERSE front spring on the''Deasy''[pictured on LHSide]

Wayne,

Yes, the Napier 60 is a real "horse" (Bob, that's a compliment on our side of the equator ). The Napier seems to show up and do quite well in many European contests results).

Bob,

Do you have any idea how many Model Ks were exported outside the United States?

Thank you,

Rob

Another:

Kansas City Race, November 1907:

Five Mile Race, fully equipped touring cars costing $3000 or less: 1st Ford six, 2nd Stoddard Dayton, 3rd Stevens Duryea

Ten Mile Race: 1st Stevens Duryea, 2nd Oldsmobile, 3rd Ford six
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I can't equate how "well received by the public" would equate to a car that sold only 300 units per model year (or 450 per year if you count only the years it was actually being built). How happy were people who were not buying the Model K?

Royce,

It appears maybe you really don't like Fords .

Anyway, another Ford Model K doing well. This time second behind a Corbin. Notice the other cars in the $3,000 category.
Also, a Model N does well, and one of the Fords does well on a slow speed (oxymoron?) contest.

Seems to me if a person were reading the sports sections back in 07 and 08, the results showing a lot of Fords placing in races might have been positively received. But what do I know.....
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Does anyone see a trend?
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And a Sept 1906 showing. This time at Atlantic Beach.

The Ford beats a Darraq and loses to the same car in another race.


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The obvious trend of all this is to show that beyond any shadow of a doubt success at the race track did not help cars sell the Model K. All of the cars that placed in the top three "podium" positions consist of makes that were mostly out of business by 1915.

The history of Model K racing validates Henry Ford's decision to quit building large expensive unprofitable cars after he stopped making the Model K in 1907.

I love the Model K Rob. It is an enigma, a shining example of how Henry Ford saw the future, gambled all his fortune, and won by dropping the successor to the K and concentrated his efforts building the Model T.

Royce,

Good, I thought for a while you disagreed with me. Guess I was wrong. Seeing as how you spoke of the merits of the Pierce Arrow and Thomas, and those companies also went "by the wayside", guess now we're on the same page.

Rob

Another:

June 11, 1908, Long Island Races:

$2000 to $3000 cars:
1 Pennsylvania, 2 Corbin, 3 Pullman, 4 Pullman, 5 Pope Hartford, 6 Ford, 7 Midland, 8 Imperial

Six Cylinder cars:
1 Stearns, 2 Thomas, 3 Acme, 4 Hotchkis, 5 Mora, 6 Ford
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There were so many makes of cars back in those days. It is fun to read through the names of cars when there are many you have never seen. (I have never seen a Pennsylvania automobile, but have seen the name now in a couple different races.) It is even more fun to see very rare marques that you are familiar with. There is an Imperial that has been in our Regional Group a lot longer than I have. Yes, it is a good performer on tours as well as a gorgeous automobile. I have now seen the Imperial in your race results a couple different times.

Yes, Rob, I am still here, still learning, still enjoying. Thank you!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2

Wayne,

A couple of sporty "raceabouts". I'm sure one would be quite happy with either.

Rob
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Thanks Rob,
The Imperial in our club is a touring, but I can see the resemblance to that roadster. It was a solid original car, beautifully restored in the '50s (Not the typical '50s restoration). I last saw it just a few years ago and it still looks wonderful. It has one of the most beautiful and unique looking carbide/gas generators I have ever seen. It has been pictured in the HCCA Gazette a couple times.
Just a few extra side notes.

The race from Cypress to Houston reminds of one of these big Fords I saw in the vicinity a number of years ago in a barn.

I was into Model A's and V8's at the time but it was good bit larger than a T. I told him if he wanted to let it go to call me. Biggest Ford I had seen.

There are probably more of them out there than you would think. I have a V8 that Ford only made about 4,000+ units and you don't see very many of them but I still drive it. Probably no more than 400 have survived. I think I would put it up on stands in a fire protected shop if there were only 25 or 30 left.

Ken in Texas

I like to get one "new" competition a day where a Ford Model K places or scores well.
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Today's offering, Sept 11, 1906, a Ford scores a perfect score along with several "high end autos on a 95 mile reliability tour. Cars finishing with "clean scores included:

Ford, Buick, Stevens Duryea, Haynes, Olds, Jackson, White, Pierce, Winton, Pope Toledo, Rambler and Locomobile. Certainly good company.
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Seeing as this contest was held in Kansas in 1906, it is very possible that Steve Jelf as a young boy witnessed the arrival of cars in Paola Kansas .

Almost forgot, another article.

1907, England, a Ford Model K is second to a 60 hp Napier on a hill climb competition.
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I don't think I'm "doubling up", but I'm finding a lot and hope they're not duplicated. If they are, I'm sure I'll be made aware of it

Rochester Hill Climb

October, 1906: 31 to 40 hp class: 1st Pope Toledo 40 hp, 2nd Ford 40 hp, 3rd Royal Tourist 40 hp, 4th Stoddard Dayton 30-35 hp
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A mistake, the Ford and Pope Toledo tied for 1st.

June, 1909: Next up, late in the run of Model K Fords, twenty five vehicles participated in an endurance run/scavenger hunt on Long Island.

A Ford Six and Chalmers Detroit tied for first place. The trophies alone are valued at $250 (first) and $100 (second)

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Another account of the New Orleans two day meet. The earlier account only listed winners, so the five mile race, cars $3000 or less was already listed, a Ford six winning. A White was second.

Not listed before:

Second day, cars selling for $3000 or less: 1st Stoddard Dayton, 2nd Ford six, 3rd Buick.

Five Mile handicap: 1st Renault, 2nd Ford six, 3rd Pope Toledo



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Nice Rob,but I liked it better when you owned a Model T .

Jack,

I still do! Wait until I get to that race history. I'm passing up a lot of NRS and T race results collecting this.

Sorry for the length, but this is a good way for me to collect things as I "stumble" upon them. Some links were sent by MTFCA guys (blame them too .

Rob

Another: August 1906. This would be one of the first Model Ks. It comes in 17 th on an endurance tour among cars costing over $1700 and under $2500. Cars finishing after the K include Premier, Rambler, Olds, Moline and Cadillac.
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February 23, 1909 race at the Tampa Bay Hotel.

Five Mile race: 1st Premier, 2nd Ford six, 3rd Cadillac

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April, 1907: This is a small town "match" race between a Ford six and a Cadillac. The Ford wins.
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Maybe the last one. This was another Ormond Daytona Beach race, January 1906. Several records were broken with many high horsepower foreign competitors. The Ford six 4th in a "flying start" one kilometer race.

This is a big race event and involves several days of racing. I happened on the results searching Ford driver Frank Kullick. Interestingly, only an English journal carried the place finishers far enough out to show the afford six placing. I'll post another clearer picture that shows the top two finishers.
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A few more K race results:

Another Minneapolis MN race, Sep 28, 1906.

1st, Ford 40 hp, 2nd Jackson, 3rd Oldsmobile, 4th Glide, 5th Queen. Also, Model Ns doing well.
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Chicago, October 14, 1908: 1st Cadillac, 2nd Apperson. 3rd Mitchell, 4th Tichner, 5th Ford, 6th Pope Toledo, 6th Stearns (crashed)

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Kansas City, 1906:

five mile touring cars costing $1800 to $2800 - 1st Stevens Duryea, 2nd White, 3rd Ford,

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Indianapolis IN, July, 1906: a Ford six wins one race (of 2) against 2 Marmons.
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Sort of makes you wonder if the Ford could have won more of the races with the correct driver. They also never explain how close the races were. Differences of seconds or minutes. We will never know.

Dave,

Several of the original clips show the times too. Often the times are so close they are shown in fraction of seconds.

The following examples show Fords winning, often by a few seconds or less. In one race, a Pope Hartford and Ford six tie.
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Another K win:

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June 1907, Model K wins four mile for cars costing $1500 -$3000. Third in six mile race.
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1907, Model K wins "free for all" race at Vermont State Fair. 40,000 watch feature race with the Ford six winning.
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Cadillac beats Ford six, Pope Hartford, Stearns, Buick, Apperson, Mitchell and Tincher in two races, 1907.

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Ford six and Pope Hartford racing, horse walks out, one killed:
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Minnesota, May 1906. Six cylinder Fords place 3rd and 4th in hill climb. I'm assuming these are dealer owned Fords. They would be two of the earliest Model Ks for sale.

1st Mitchell, 2nd Olds, 3rd Ford six, 4th Ford six, 5th Rambler, 6th Olds, 7th Frayer Miller, 8th National, 9th Franklin, 10th Marmon.

In the Minneapolis Journal article, L.H. Fawkes was an automobile dealer.

M.W. Savage was Marion W. Savage, owner of the world famous pacer Dan Patch.

Erik,

Both Fords were early Model Ks. Do you know if either owner (Wheeler owned one, drove both according to this) was a Ford Agent?

Rob

Rob

Getting long. Time for a new posting. Same subject is fine with me.