Details
Cleveland’s racing history dates back to the earliest days of the automotive industry, when local automobile companies like Baker, Peerless, White and Winton gained national fame for their company’s race cars. Speed trials were often held on Clifton Boulevard, one of the longest stretches of paved road in Cleveland, or on the horse-racing track in neighboring Glenville.
As the technology rapidly improved, records were created and shattered constantly, as men such as Walter Baker, Walter White and Alexander Winton became household names along with some of the famous cars that their Cleveland companies created like the Winton Bullets and the Peerless Green Dragon. Racing evolved from a publicity event into a sporting event by the 1920s. Cleveland companies played less of a role and racing shifted from the streets and horse tracks to purpose-built race courses.
On Display:
- 1953 Ford Crestline pace car, this factory built pace car marked Ford Motor Company’s 50th anniversary. As this particular car rolled off Ford’s Long Beach, California assembly plant on April 27, it may have been used at the Speedway for racetrack events.
- 1961 MG Midget race car, in which driver Cat Kizer became the first woman to win a SCCA Runoffs National Championship
- 1982 March Indycar, in which Medina, OH, native Bobby Rahal won his first Indycar race in his rookie season at the inaugural Cleveland Grand Prix
- 1970 McLaren M10B, which was driven to U.S. F5000 championships by John Cannon in 1970 and David Hobbs in 1971.
- 1993 Electric Falcon, built by Bowling Green State University students to compete in the SCCA Formula Lightning race series and in a support race at the Cleveland Grand Prix.
Highlights
