Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

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Rob
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Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Rob » Sun Oct 24, 2021 3:46 pm

This 1905 article reports that by 1905, it's estimated there are about 50,000 automobiles in the U.S.. The article goes on to report "the auto has surpassed running horses, locomotives and even ice boats."
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Ice boat on Lake St. Clair near Detroit at the turn of the last century (courtesy Detroit Public Library digital collection, all rights apply):

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Ford enthusiasts aren't strangers to Lake St. Clair, where Henry Ford set the world mile straightaway record in early 1904. Below, the attempt was announced prior to the event. "There will also be ice boat racing for a valuable prize."

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The day arrives, and Henry Ford and several FMC investors are on hand for the trial, as well as official timers and enthusiasts. Below, left to right, John Dodge, Alex Malcomson, John Anderson, Henry Ford, James Couzens and unknown man:

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Last edited by Rob on Sun Oct 24, 2021 6:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Rob » Sun Oct 24, 2021 3:57 pm

The Ford racer set up at the start of a two mile cleared path, with cars and ice boats looking on:

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Ed Huff held the throttle for Henry Ford as the racer did the improbable, setting the world one mile straightaway record:

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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Rob » Sun Oct 24, 2021 5:10 pm

However, this thread isn't about speed records on ice. It's about racing ice boats.

In 1910, six years after Henry Ford's record run, Ford was about to re-enter racing in a big way. In February of 1910, Frank Kulick, Ford's ace driver who had been sidelined since 1908, accepted the challenge to race an ice boat on Lake St. Clair. With his new Ford special racer, he beat one of the best ice boats on the lake. Over the two and a half mile course, Kulick drove the Ford 64 mph one way, and 75 mph on the return:

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The newspaper photograph is archived at the Detroit Public LIbrary, all rights apply:

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Last edited by Rob on Sun Oct 24, 2021 6:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Rob » Sun Oct 24, 2021 5:35 pm

Kuilick and his Ford Special weren't the first, nor last to race ice boats. Below are a few other examples that made the news.

Later in 1910, a press release and photo shows Chalmers cars testing on the ice, and racing ice boats, with reported speeds up to 70 mph:

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Below, in 1911 a Hupmobile races an Ice boat in Minnesota:

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And in 1916, as six cylinder Abbott-Detroit was scheduled to race boats in Wisconsin. However, early warming made the ice in fit and the race didn't come off:

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Next, another record on ice.

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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by perry kete » Sun Oct 24, 2021 5:44 pm

Brrrr! I get cold just reading these stories!

I can't imagine how cold these guys were racing on ice.

Great reading though
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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Sun Oct 24, 2021 6:32 pm

Oh, wow. Just imagining the day, the visions in my head have me almost speechless! What wouldn't I give to be there, THAT day, to see it all! What I wouldn't give to watch from up close as Frank Kulick made that spinning turn around the flag to reverse direction!?

I have read before a few accounts of the day. But that one in detail is new to me (maybe I missed it before?). I had often wondered about how that direction reversal was accomplished? I often wonder just how fearless Frank really was? I have commented in the past about how Frank Kulick held his head cocked slightly to one side. His body language screams of self-assuredness!

Thank you Rob! Thank you.


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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Herb Iffrig » Sun Oct 24, 2021 6:56 pm

Thanks Rob. It's always nice to see these early things.

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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Rob » Sun Oct 24, 2021 8:09 pm

Herb, my pleasure.

Wayne, Frank Kulick is probably the early Ford employee I am most impressed with. He was the consummate daredevil, yet humble and when Ford ended racing, he moved on within the organization. Most of the other high profile drivers of the time often moved from one company/maker to another.

Perry, yes, I can't imagine racing in those temps.

In 1912, following the 1911 year when Ford finished 5th in driving victories, and Kulick 8th, there was one more "miracle on ice." Frank Kulick drove the latest, and largest Ford Special on Lake St. Clair, going for the all time ice mile speed record.

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Kulick set a new record of 109 mph, driving the 410 c.i. V-nose radiator Ford Special. Imagine, a Ford frame and running gear, with a motor the size of a Chevy big block. The Ford Times summed up the race with story and photos:

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But this story isn't over. Ford had gone full circle, with Frank Kulick driving the Ford Special 999-II 109 mph on ice. But unknown to me, until earlier this week, there was one other Ford that raced on ice, that we don't (at least I didn't) know much about.

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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Rob » Sun Oct 24, 2021 10:08 pm

I just learned last week Ford had another car race an ice yacht.

In January 1906, a new "Grosse Pointe Flyer" appeared on the scene at Lake St. Clair. She was a 37'9" vessel and became one of the best and fastest ice boats in Michigan.
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In December, 1907 a race between a "six cylinder automobile and ice boat was announced, set for early 1908:

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The February 24th Detroit News article headline read "The Greatest Modern Speed Rivals:"

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Fortunately, a photo from the Detroit News survives (courtesy of Wayne State University, all rights apply):

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Frank Kulick had been severely injured in October 1907 racing the Ford six cylinder racing. Henry Ford swore off racing, and Frank Kulick was laid up in the hospital for weeks.

What I don't know is, who was driving this Model K roadster that day in February, 1908? I hope to find out.


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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by KeithG » Sun Oct 24, 2021 10:15 pm

Great story, Rob. Those of us out here in the peanut gallery also want to know who was driving the Ford Six that day.
We're sitting here at the edge of our chairs waiting to find out...
Thanks for putting this all together.
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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Rob » Sun Oct 24, 2021 10:42 pm

Keith, thanks. I actually just came across this photo and chased down the news article from there. I hope to get a higher resolution photo but doubt we’ll be able to determine who the driver or passengers were. One of the Dodge brothers was a Commodore of the Grosse Pointe Ice Boat club so I wonder if he helped line up the race.


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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by CraneJon » Sun Oct 24, 2021 11:41 pm

Rob
You did not include the recipe for the Muskrat stew that Ford and Kulick ate at dinner after beating the ice boat!
New Baltimore still has a winter festival that feature "plungers". Plungers are ordinary folks on other days, but they done their swim suits and jump in the water through a hole cut in the ice during the winter festival!

I tired to get a vintage car race going as part of the Plunger event as there are still a few of the older stern steering iceboats around and plenty of older race cars. Was thinking of a pre 1932 event along the lines of the Lincoln Hillclimb and Race of Gentlemen. City was interested. Could not get insurance. Carriers would not even return the phone call! I guess racing a 90+ year old car against and iceboat on a frozen lake was just to much for the insurance folks to process!

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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by DHort » Mon Oct 25, 2021 1:09 am

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Jon,

The Milwaukee Club used to have races on the ice. You can see me in this shot on a day that the ice was melting. It was a riot. Tod Wirth had the fastest run. I know there are still ice boats in WI, but we did not see any that day. We had about a 1/8 mile oval and we raced against the clock. There were about 40-50 people on the ice. Good thing we did not go fast enough to fly off the track. No ambulance on stand by.

Someone later called the ins company to find out about coverage. First question, you were driving where - on the ice. Second question, you were racing - yes. Sorry, you are not covered.

p.s. We had chains on the rear wheels. We tried ropes one year. Another member screwed sheet metal screws into his tires.

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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Rob » Mon Oct 25, 2021 7:44 am

Jon, hard to pass up a good muskrat dinner.........

A few more ice boat pics, "lifted" from the Detroit Public Library and colorized. All rights apply:
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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Rob » Wed Oct 27, 2021 10:39 pm

We'll, I did get a higher resolution copy. It doesn't look like Frank Kulick driving or in the passenger seat.
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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Thu Oct 28, 2021 3:57 am

Interesting!

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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Rob » Thu Oct 28, 2021 11:13 am

Wayne,
My guess is it may be Detroit Ford Branch Manager Cunningham may be the driver. He drove one of the Model R in the 24 hour race in 1907, and at one time was an extra driver for 999 (when Cooper an Oldfield barnstormed with the two Ford creations. Below, he looks over what remains of the six cylinder racer following Frank Kulick's disastrous wreck in October, 1907 (man on the left):

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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Fri Oct 29, 2021 2:23 am

It does look like it could be him? Hard to tell, neither picture is that good, angles different. Hair looks about the same.
I have looked closely at that wreckage photo several times before (not colored of course!). It always amazes me that Frank Kulick could have survived that! And he almost didn't! Also amazing is that a few years later they were back at it!
The wreck Henri Depasse survived (mechanician killed) was no less incredible.
Automobile racing in those days was a serious sport.

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Re: Racing the wind.......... Fords on ice.

Post by Rob » Fri Oct 29, 2021 8:52 am

Wayne, I too am often amazed at those who survived total wrecks. It appears drivers and Mechanicians were best off being thrown clear of the debris and "shrapnel" from a crash. I'm somewhat amused (is that the correct word?) when modern venues require vintage machines to have seat belts. The last thing I want to do is "ride it out" with a skeleton machine that is becoming dismembered as it travels and bounces through space.

A few "spectacular" wrecks where Fords were involved. First, the Depasse wreck of the Ford Special racer in France. Depasse and his mechanician were practicing for the French Grand Prix, reportedly traveling at 75 to 80 mph when a tire came apart. The mechanician was killed and Depasse shaken. The racer was rebuilt and in less than two months placed 2nd overall in Europes most prestigious hill climb, Mont Ventoux:
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A nationally publicized Ford Six accident occurred outside Manitou Springs CO in 1907. The three passenger roadster was carrying 8 passengers at speeds reported over 60 mph at night when this accident occurred. 3 of the 8 riders were killed. The roadster was repaired and in less than two months was reported travelling through Kansas with the owner/driver and one of the passengers from the original wreck. The driver became Colorado's first driver charged with drunk driving, but not convicted:

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Ford's Arrow racer wrecked in 1903. Tom Cooper and Barney Oldfield weren't available at the Wisconsin State Fairground event, and an inexperienced man, Frank Day, became Ford's first racing fatality (although technically it wasn't owned or operated by FMC at the time). The racer was rebuilt by Henry Ford, and used to set a new one mile speed record in early 1904 on Lake St. Clair with Henry Ford driving:
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The Pope Toledo racer below was driven by Herb Lytle, Pope's top driver, when it wrecked during the 1907 24 hour race won by Frank Kulick and Lorimer driving a Ford six. Lytle was thrown free, and quickly secured Pope's second car, resuming the race and finishing second overall:

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Another 1907 Ford Six accident occurred in California. Jack Stoner, Ford agent, was racing Bert Dingley with his 70 hp Thomas when he became blinded and ran off the track. Both Stoner's ankles were broken, and he recovered to race again.

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