Great photograph of the Ford Model T 38-car. It is a “Stock Chassis Racer” entered in the Elgin National Stock Chassis Races of August 1910. Ford Motor Company entered two cars in the Fox River Trophy, 161” to 230” displacement engine class, sanctioned by the American Automobile Association (AAA). Driver behind the wheel is James Hatch and his Mechanician William Gruener. Certified AAA race car drivers and Ford Motor Company employees.
It is a stock Model T Ford chassis and required to have a 176.7 cubic inch engine. All AAA race cars must be registered with AAA in New York 30 days prior to any event in which they participate and are subject to verification by race officials prior to and after events.
The photograph was taken during a practice run in the five days before the race on 26 August 1910. This 38-car and Frank Kulick’s 31-car were both disqualified prior to the race for not meeting the minimum weight of 1,400 pounds and didn’t race. Henry Ford was at the races and refused to add weight to the cars. When challenged, the “lightweight” attribute of the Ford Model T would continue to hamper Ford’s “return to racing” in the AAA sanctioned racing circuit (U.S.) from this race through 1912.
Frank Kulick had raced in two AAA sanctioned events earlier in August 1910 without being challenged on meeting the minimum weight limits.
The Fox River Trophy was won by Eddie Hearne driving the Benz 35-car with a 211.7 cubic inch engine, 3-1/2” bore x 5-1/2” stroke.
Thank you Jay…
