The first Ford timed at 100 mph, as it looks today.
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2023 2:26 pm
We were fortunate to see the 1100 cubic inch Ford six cylinder racer at THF, off site, during Old Car Festival. Firsts for this racer include the first timed 100 mph run, a beach race trophy, and the last known racer Henry Ford raced. It’s also the last known racer Henry Ford took out on the track, demonstrating it to his branch managers in 1907. That was only days before it came apart, almost killing Ford driver Frank Kulick, as he attempted a world mile speed record on the Michigan Fairground track.
Click on the Dropbox link to see the video (courtesy of Bruce Balough):
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/q473ae5v ... vffmw&dl=0
This is also Fords longest lived racer. Ford began racing it in January 1905, and it was rebuilt in 1909 in anticipation of racing in timed events at the inaugural Indianapolis Speedway. As seen in the video, the racer wasn’t completely rebuilt, and didn’t make the races.
Shortly before Kulick’s near fatal attempt at the 53 second circular track record, Henry Ford demonstrated his “speed creation” to his branch managers at their annual gathering in Detroit:
Atlantic City beach races, September 1905. Frank Kulick defeated A. L. Cambell driving his Darracq for this heavyweight class trophy. Ford had just set the Mile competition record against Cambell, but the Darracq team protested and the race was rerun.
Of course, we all know Henry Ford hated the six cylinder car.
Click on the Dropbox link to see the video (courtesy of Bruce Balough):
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/q473ae5v ... vffmw&dl=0
Shortly before Kulick’s near fatal attempt at the 53 second circular track record, Henry Ford demonstrated his “speed creation” to his branch managers at their annual gathering in Detroit:
