3 replies to this topic

[Darren Galpin]

On the 5th July 1915, a road race from Albuquerque to Socorro, New Mexico, was held with 15 entrants. Does anyone have any further details on this event at all?

 

Cheers,

 

Darren

[vivafroilan!]

Hi Darren,

      The Albuquerque Morning Journal reports a race on that day between Albuquerque and Magdalena (about 30 hilly miles west of Socorro) and back, going through Socorro, for a total distance of 216.4 miles, won by E.F. Bennett of Silver City, N.M. in a 1914 Marmon, with a time of 7 hrs. 15 min. 48 sec..  The Journal (July 6, 1915) said that the crowd gathered in Albuquerque for the finish "was probably the greatest that ever has gathered in Albuquerque for any event."  It looks like 15 cars started but only three finished, with Charley Davidson of Albuquerque 2nd at 7 hrs. 28 min. 24 sec. in a Ford, and W.F. Brunson of Magdalena 3rd in an Overland at 7 hrs. 49 min. 10 sec..

     A July 4, 1965 Journal article speaks of the race having been run "across wagon roads where mules often got stuck." (Though a 1916 New Mexico map shows a Transcontinental Auto Road, the Ocean Highway, running between Socorro and Magdalena...)  The 1915 report, in a litany of competitors' mechanical woes, has this: "W.F. Morrow's Buick buckled when the frame broke cleanly in two at Kirkpatrick Springs on the downward trip.  Both Morrow and his mechanician miraculously escaped injury.  The car was traveling at twenty-five miles an hour at the time."  The three who did make it to the finish ran into a driving rain and hail storm about 30 miles before Albuquerque, and "When the Marmon crossed the line and turned down to Gold Avenue, Bennett and his mechanician were shivering with cold.  Bennett could release his grip on the steering wheel only with unusual effort."

     Bennett's average speed was 29.9 mph., and he won $1800.

 

     This link should go to the 1915 Journal page, and from there to a few reports in the newspaper's daily issues from the days before the race.

 

     http://chroniclingam...-06/ed-1/seq-5/

 

     Hope this helps...

[Darren Galpin]

Just what I am after - many thanks!

[vivafroilan!]

My pleasure!