1931 Clyde Adams Special

In the early 1930s the Únited States was deep in the throes of the Great Depression. Entertainment was put on the back burner in many places. However, out west in Alhambra, a suburb of east Los Angeles, the American Legion's race programs at Ascot park were drawing large crowds to watch intense racing between the best single seat race cars in the country.

Racers in this era used various engines including Winfield flatheads, Ford-based conversions, and Miller-based marine blocks. While they could all be built to perform, they also had inherent limitations. In this atmosphere, Harry Miller redesigned his power plant, creating the legendary Miller/Offenhauser race engine. Weighing in at 325 pounds, the new four-cylinder engine was 115 pounds lighter than its predecessor yet even more rugged. The Miller/Offenhauser was one of the first commercially manufactured performance engines available to the general public. The first engines were purchased by the car owners at $2,750 each. Subsequent engines were offered to the public at $2,000. One of the first to purchase the new engine was Bill White, owner of the Ascot car driven by the flamboyant and popular Ernie Triplett.

Triplett was a lanky and dandy driver who raced in bright red knickers and a black bow tie. He lived and breathed for the sport and was the first king of night racing, a Legion Ascot innovation. He was one of the most dominant west coast of the early 1930s. He placed well in the national championship point standings on multiple years, even though he refused to participate in most east coast events. His dominance was such that at one point, he won 14 straight main event victories at Ascot en route to the West Coast Championship. This Clyde Adams-built racer was his ride for the championship year.

This racer is on loan at the AACA Museum from the McConnell Collection of Úrbana, Ohio. This AACA-certified race car is rarely shown.

Source - AACA Museum

This 1933 Red Lion Miller was driven by the West Coast AAA Championship driver Ernie Triplett. It was owned by Legion Ascot Track promoter Bill White.

The body was designed by Clyde Adams. Power is from an eight-valve, 4-cylinder, 220 Miller engine.

The car was later driven by Al Gordon and Shorty Cantlin.