The Fairmount Park Motor Races, 1908-1911

For four years, early in the last century, the Fairmount Park Motor Races were run on an eight-mile course in Philadelphias West Fairmount Park. They drew half a million spectators the first year, but surprisingly they have been overlooked as part of automobile racing history and as part of the history of Philadelphia. In contrast to other racing events, such as the Vanderbilt Cup, there were never any serious injuries and not a single death, but after four years of spectacular racing, the event was banned, with safety concerns cited.