Legion Ascot Speedway
1924-1936
Los Angeles, California
Technically not in Lincoln Heights but should be noted for its proximity and historical importance.
It opened in 1924, and met its demise after the main grandstand burned in 1936.
updated 11/30/02
Aerial pictures courtesy of lapl.org
The racetrack was located along Soto Street from Valley Blvd. to Multnomah St.
The racetrack turn on bottom center of either picture is Hatfield Place.
Now Multnomah Elementary School and a housing tract is built on top the racetrack.
The five-eighths mile Ascot Speedway began life as the New Ascot Speedway on January 20, 1924. The banked oval that was originally dirt but constant applications of road oil soon produced a surface that was similar to pavement. The cars that raced at Ascot throughout the years were the ancestors of what we today call "sprint cars".
From 1924 to 1927 the track was only moderately successful under the promotion of several groups. In 1928 the Glendale American Legion Post took over the promotion and brought in the cars and drivers of the American Automobile Association (AAA). The AAA was the leading racing organization in the country and controlled all the major speedways including Indianapolis. The soon to be legendary Legion Ascot Speedway was born!
The hard working Legionnaires did an excellent job of race promotion and soon crowds of 10,000 and more were flocking to races held on Sundays in the winter and under the lights on Wednesday nights. The big crowds brought big purses and torrid competition.
The races attracted the best drivers in the country and Legion Ascot was creating its own stars. Men like Bill Cummings, Al Gordon, Ernie Triplett, Kelly Petillo, Wilbur Shaw and Rex Mays tangled in hard fought and crowd pleasing races.
Winning a feature race at Legion Ascot could pay up to $800---a figure that would come close to buying a house in Los Angeles in the 1920s and '30s.
Legion Ascot, at a time when top movie celebrities had their pictures taken with their racing heroes.
Movie stars rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous and served in honorary capacities.....they sought the honor.
The speed and competition came with a price. From 1924 to 1936 some two dozen drivers lost their lives in spectacular crashes. The death toll was one reason the Glendale American Legion bowed out of race promotion in early 1935---the other reason was that the emergence of midget auto racing that was cutting into the crowds at Ascot.
The track became Ascot Motor Speedway and racing continued. On January 25, 1936 the final tragedy struck during a race for two man Indianapolis cars as Al Gordon and riding mechanic Spider Matlock were both killed in a crash.
This ended racing at Ascot.
Eight months later the grandstands of the abandoned speedway burned down. Ascot was gone.
More action photos below!
Legion Ascot was definitely big and unique to Lincoln Heights.
And known worldwide!
note:click on images to enlarge view
Description and blue-bordered photos above by Don Radbruch a former racer, noted racing historian, and author.
Anyone have any pictures or stories?
I would be happy to include it here.
Your contribution will be recognized.
Please let me know
Art
