MTFCA Forum

One hundred and fifteen years ago today, Henry Ford declared he was finished with racing, following Frank Kulick crashing through the fence surrounding the Highland Park one mile track, after reeling off unofficially lower times than the circular mile world record, driving the third iteration of Henry Ford's six cylinder racer.


This wreck kicked off a period in which the six cylinder racer reached the pinnacle of success, only to face disaster. Over the next month I'll update this thread as events unfolded, 115 years ago.

Was it the next race he slid him a $1000 bill and told Kulick to quit?

Jason,
You’re getting about four years and four or five racers ahead of the “story….”

Sorry, Rob. Patience is not a virtue I was extolled with from birth.

Henry Ford continued to report he was finished with racing following the September wreck of his six cylinder racer driven by friend and famous driver Frank Kulick. This article discusses his dilemma regarding the current racing rules of the time. It may also put to rest ideas that he was through with the six cylinder motor, at least at this point:


Henry Ford, Frank Kulick, and the six cylinder racer are not finished.......

I'm updating events 115 years ago as Ford Motor Co., Henry Ford and Frank Kulick moved toward of the record breaking year of 1907. Ford Motor Co. became the largest auto maker in the world during the year, netting over one million dollars profit from car sales for the first time in the company's history.

115 years ago today, Henry Ford gave an exhibition of the 120 horsepower Ford six cylinder racer. This was the 3rd version of the racer. Construction of the racer began in late 1903, initially at the request of Barney Oldfield that Henry Ford build him a European style racer (August 1903). For 1907, the racer was lowered streamlined and the horsepower increased. Initially it was to race in the Vanderbilt Cup races, however they were not held in 1907. By the fall of 1907 Ford was promoting the racer for the one mile circular track record, with expectations that the racer would attempt several world record over different distances. Frank Kulick had wrecked the racer on it's initial trial, bur on September 21, 1907, the racer was brought out to the track, this time to demonstrate for Ford company branch managers, in Detroit for their annual meeting.

The managers and Ford executives were treated to an exhibition of the racer making laps on a mile track, with Henry Ford at the wheel. The worlds record at this time was just under 53 seconds:


While the six cylinder racer is largely forgotten in history today, it made enough of an impact to be included in a 1914 Motor Age article about the most famous racers of the time. Ford's 999 was the first racer listed, and the "Ford Six" was mentioned among thirteen racers noted in the article:

Below, (from the “Motor Age” article above) the final version of the racer. The photo was taken by Ford Motor Co. during September, 1907. The person in the drivers seat is often mis-identified as Frank Kulick, but is actually longtime Ford employ August Degener:
To be continued.... in a few days, Kulick drives the racer again, and Henry Ford makes his last known timed trip around a track.

115 years ago today, September 25, 1907. Ford and well known driver Frank Kulick are entered with a Ford Six (Model K) in the Harlem Track Chicago IL. races. Meanwhile, Frank Kulick and the Ford six cylinder racer are headed for a meeting with destiny that will change Ford racing history.


Due to rain and poor track conditions, the Harlem meet was postponed the day of the scheduled races:

Apperson Jack rabbit

1907/08 Apperson Jackrabbit, 50 hp 4 cyl, $5,000 w/o top or lamps, $155,000 adjusted for inflation. By comparison the Ford 6-40 roadster cost $2,800, or just under $87,000 in todays value.

Interesting colorisation on the Apperson

Leo, I'm not sure why that happens. It was taken from Google books, and some of their copies are like that. It's too bad, because otherwise the photos and drawings are quite good.

In Googlebooks, all colors are recognized as equal and are welcome to find their own place in each image.

I don’t wish to get off on a tangent, but should have done this before. I “washed” the color and then enhanced the drawing:
Colorized:

You're a wizzard !

Leo, thanks, I'm a "hacker..."

During September, 1907, Frank Kulick and Ford saw their June 1907 24 hour record finally beaten. There were ten sanctioned 24 hour races in the U.S. during 1907, and one of the last, in Milwaukee WI., saw a pair of Locomobiles (5 of the races, including the Detroit race Ford won, were relay type, allowing two cars per team) set a new 24 hour world record, beating the Ford record by 11 miles over 24 hours:


Below, from the Chicago 1908 Almanac, Locomobile holds the 24 hour relay record, with Ford second. Press reports indicated this was the most popular motor car race in the U.S. during 1907:

I don't have an hour by hour breakdown of the Locomobile teams 24 hour miles, but press reports listed several totals at specific hours. When compared with the Ford "Six" hour by hour total, the Locomobile set the record by finishing with a burst in the final hours. As of the 20th hour, Ford was still ahead of the Locomobile total, and one mile behind at the end of the 23rd hour:
When reviewing the makes of cars wining the other 24 hour races, the quality of competition stands out.
However, Frank Kulick and Henry Ford had their sights set on another world record, with the six cylinder racer.

I'm waiting for the next 115 year date, as Frank Kulick and the Ford team prepared the six cylinder racer for the world record sanction. September was a busy month regarding the coveted one mile circular track record, with Walter Christie making he new world's record on September 7th, 1907. Christie, better known to military historians as the inventor of the "Christie Suspension" used on armored vehicles since the 1930's, had long been setting records with his front wheel drive racing creations:

115 years ago today, the Chicago "Inter Ocean" newspaper ran this story. Ford Chicago Branch Manager Tom Hay told about seeing Henry Ford demonstrating the Ford "Six" racer during the branch managers meeting in Detroit. He reports Ford was timed driving the racer on the newly acquired Highland Park one mile track in 55 seconds. As we saw above, the world record was set earlier in the month by Walter Christie driving his 135 hp racer at 52 seconds. This is the last evidence I've found of Henry Ford being timed driving a racer.



Photo courtesy of The Henry Ford, all rights apply.

115 years ago today. The six cylinder racer saga continues. Henry Ford began designing/developing the six cylinder racer in late 1903. It may be traced to a request by Barney Oldfield to develop him a "European type" racer, while Oldfield was still racing Ford's 999 in the summer of 1903 (press reports).

On October 11, 1907, the following article made the rounds, acknowledging the use of both vanadium steel and the Ford front axle system on the six cylinder racer:


Below, August Degener, longtime Ford employee, hold the background sheet while the six cylinder racer is photographed prior to attempts to set a new world record in the mile:


On October 10th, a report that the racer had indeed set the world record on this date 115 years ago:


Unfortunately for Ford and Frank Kulick, Walter Christie had lowered the world record a few weeks prior (52 seconds, earlier post). Henry Ford and Frank Kulick began preparations for one more attempt at the official circular track record, requesting a sanction and official timers.

I am still reading! Thank you for posting.

Wayne, thank you for your post. Almost to the end of the six cylinder racer. And to the beginning of a controversy that exists among FMC historians to this day.

115 years ago today, October 13, 1907, Henry Ford is again reported to have withdrawn from track racing. He is quoted saying "I believe track racing is of inestimable value to the trade and to the development of the art of automobile building." He goes on to recommend a motor maximum of 250 cubic inches, allowing the producer/developer to design the engine with any number of cylinders or other features, but staying under the maximum.
Below the Ford article, Peerless announces a 10% dividend for shareholders. I left this clip on, as this is at the height of the financial crisses of 1907, and thought it of interest.

Meanwhile, Henry Ford and Frank Kulick continue to prepare the 1100 cubic inch six cylinder racer for it's record attempt at the circular track one mile record.

This is an interesting way to lead us to "step through history". I like it.
I wonder how Barney Oldfield felt bout the "Hippodrome" comment? He and Henry had worked together and done business for several years by that time. But Barney was already becoming more about self promotion than serious racing! He later soon was banned from AAA sanctioned racing for participating in unsanctioned speed contests. I often wonder about Barney Oldfield and his fame. Certainly, he was a serious racer early, very daring and bold, compared to most pre1903 drivers. But it soon became apparent he wasn't so willing to mix it up as cars became much faster. He owned Ford's 999 and Arrow cars for awhile, and then (I think a couple?) Green Dragon Peerless cars. None of those cars in spite of their world class abilities did much serious racing during his ownership. Perhaps Barney was just smart enough to make the money while not taking the more dangerous risks?
Through most of his career, Barney and his cars were more famous for being famous than they were for real racing.
Perhaps Barney even influenced Henry to quit racing a couple times? A lot to wonder about.

Quite a step in Henry's suggestion. The wrecked racing car had 1100cid, while his suggestion was a cutoff at 250cid. Less than a quarter the size displacement!

Fun stuff Rob! Thank you again.