Ragtime Racers

06/14/2026

Louis Disbrow, a veteran of 4 Indianapolis 500s with a best finish of eighth in 1913, driving for the Case team. He competed in three other 500s: 1911, 1912, and 1914. This is from 1909.

https://www.firstsuperspeedway.com/photo-gallery/louis-disbrow

06/11/2026

2026 5 30 Ragtime Racers at Sonoma Raceway, CA Velocity Invitational

06/11/2026

2026 5 1 Ragtime Racers at Shafter, CA Minter Air Field HCCA Bakersfield Pre-War Swap Meet

06/11/2026

This is a photo of the wrecked #7 Westcott of Harry Knight after the most spectacular accident of the first Indianapolis 500.

https://www.firstsuperspeedway.com/photo-gallery/knights-wrecked-westcott

06/01/2026

Ragtime racers hit the track in Sonoma!! What a great time…

05/31/2026

Having a blast at the Velocity event at Sonoma Raceway!!

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1P5hQg74Mq/?mibextid=wwXIfr

05/19/2026

To finish first, first you need to finish.

1912 Indy 500 winner Joe Dawson is beside his National Motor Vehicle Company racer as Ralph DePalma pushes his Mercedes down the front stretch. DePalma led 196 of the 200 laps; his engine blew. Helping push was riding mechanic Rupert Jeffkins.

Earlier, as Dawson increased speed in the latter part of the race to try and catch the Mercedes, his crew signaled him to slow down. In disbelief he complied, only to find out later that his team could hear the Mercedes engine failing and gambled that it wouldn’t finish the race.

05/15/2026

On May 27, 1911, Harold Van Gorder wrecked his Lozier during practice at the Brickyard. Riding mechanic, Walter Bardell, was seriously injured. Ralph Mulford, in another Lozier, was second in the first Indy 500 on May
30.

This is my wife's favorite excerpt from my book, "The Legend of the First Super Speedway." Autographed copies available at the link.

05/14/2026

The formidable CASE team is ready for the 1911 Indianapolis 500. Left to right - Joe Jagersburger, Lewis Strang, and Will Jones. Hot-shoe Lewis Strang, still stinging from his heartbreaking divorce from stage actress Louise Alexander, had been approached by the Case Company in 1910 to prepare a race team for the 1911 season. As team leader, he hired fellow drivers Joe Jagersburger and Will Jones and became the first entrant in the first Indianapolis 500. Strang started from the pole.

05/09/2026

Front page from the Sunday edition of the Indianapolis Star that touted the upcoming first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway, August 15, 1909. Find a PDF of this image on First Super Speedway with dozens of links for more info.
https://www.firstsuperspeedway.com/photo-gallery/automobile-section