Elgin National Road Races

From 1910 until 1920, with the exception of the World War I years—1916, 1917 and 1918, an eight-mile track (actually 8 miles and 2,499 feet) of dirt and a line-up of adrenaline-fueled road racers brought in droves of people to Elgin, Ill. for the Elgin National Road Races.  Watching from specially setup grandstands or from some farmer’s field, spectators could watch national racing champions rip around what was a then-rugged route on the west side of the Fox River and what now is Larkin Avenue, McLean Boulevard, Highland Avenue and Coombs Road, competing for the coveted Elgin National Watch Company Trophy. The final checkered flag was waved in Elgin in 1933 when the road race was revived one last time as part of the World's Fair in Chicago.

Race Winners

YEAR DRIVER CAR DATE TIME MPH DISTANCE TROPHY
1910 Livingstone National Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
1910 David Buck Marmon 8/26/10* Unknown 55.1 20 laps K
1910 Eddie Hearne Benz 8/26/10* Unknown 54.0 16 laps F
1910 Ralph Mulford Lozier 8/27/10 4:52:21 62.5 305 miles E
1911 Howie Hughes Mercer 8/25/11 2:37:21 Unknown 20 laps K
1911 Don Herr National 8/25/11 3:05:55 Unknown 24 laps I
1911 Len Zengel National 8/26/11 4:35:39 66.45 305 miles E
1911 Mort Roberts Abbott-Detriot Unknown Unknown 53.8 16 laps A
1912 Howie Hughes Mercer 8/30/12 2:20:40 Unknown 18 laps A
1912 Charlie Merz Stutz 8/30/12 3:04:32 Unknown 24 laps I
1912 Ralph DePalma Mercedes 8/31/12 3:43:20 68.4 254 miles E
1912 Ralph DePalma Mercedes 8/31/12 4:25:35 (Free for all) 36 laps Unknown
1912 H. Endicott Mason Spl. Unknown Unknown Unknown 12 laps J
1913 Gil Anderson Stutz 8/30/13 4:13:38 71.5 301 miles E
1913 Ralph DePalma Mercer Unknown Unknown 66.3 301 miles C
1914 Ralph DePalma Mercedes 8/22/14 4:06:18 73.5 301 miles E
1914 Ralph DePalma Mercedes Unknown 4:05:01 73.9 301 miles C
1915 Earl Cooper Stutz 8/20/15 4:01:32 74.98 301 miles C
1915 Gil Anderson Stutz 8/21/15 3:54:25 77.256 301 miles E
1919 Tommy Milton Dusenberg 8/23/19 4:05:27 73.9 301 miles E
1920 Ralph DePalma Ballot 8/21/20 3:12 79.05 254 miles E
1933 Phil Shafer Buick 8/26/33 2:18:07 Unknown 24 laps E
1933 Fred Frame Ford V8 8/26/33 2:32:06 Unknown 24 laps JW

* Exact Date Uncertain

Trophies

E - Elgin National Watch Company Trophy

C - Chicago Auto Club Trophy

K - Kane County Cup

I - Illinois Cup

A - Aurora Trophy

J - Jenks Trophy

JW - Joseph Weidenhoff Cup