1916 Ford Model T Board Track Racer

The first board track for motor racing was the circular Los Angeles Motordrome, built in 1910 in the area that would later become the city's Playa del Rey district. Based on the same technology as European velodromes used for bicycle racing, this track and others like it were constructed with 2-inch x 4-inch boards, often with turns banked at up to 45 degrees. In some cases, such as the track at Culver City, banking was 50 degrees or more. Longer tracks were later built - some up to 2 miles long by 1915 - and lap speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour became commonplace.

Interest in motorsport was exploding during this period and by 1929, at least 24 board tracks had been built around the country, although by 1931, 20 of the 24 had been shut down or abandoned, and from 1932 on there were no more championship-level races run on boards. The tracks were relatively inexpensive to construct compared to more permanent facilities - the total facility cost of the 2-mile Tacoma Speedway was just $100,000 in 1915, compared to the $700,000 spent in 1909 just to pave the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan
Engine: 4-cylinder 177 cubic-inch 40 horsepower, Winfield carburetor
Transmission: Stock planetary two speed with Muncie three-speed auxiliary
Frame and chassis: Ford Model T steel frame with Franklin steering
Wheels: Wire wheels, mechanical rear brake and transmission brake
Body: Hand riveted steel