ROBY SPEEDWAY 

Located between 108th  and 112th  Streets just west of Indianapolis Blvd.  One-mile dirt track.  Operated from about 1920 through 1936.  Backstretch ran parallel with State Line Road., probably only a 100 feet or so east of the Illinois/Indiana border.  Stands condemned and track torn down in 1937.  Aerial photos still showed remnants of track (north turn at 108th Street ) in 1949.

1937

In the spring, Carl Stockholm announces AAA-sanctioned racing dates for Roby.  Races never held with Stockholm moving his race promotion to the Cook County Fairgrounds. 

1936—The Last Season

New Roby Speedway

Management of Carl Stockholm

100 lapper scheduled for 10/18, then 10/25 (rained out) and then 11/1—never held.

9/20/36—Last race program held with California ’s Rex Mays winning 50-mile event.  About 10,000 fans see Mays defeat Ted Horn and Frank Brisko.

8/30/36—Billy Winn of Detroit —feature winner.  Winn later dies from injuries suffered in crash at Springfield , Ill. mile track on 8/20/38.  Winn defeated Chet Gardner and “Will Bill” Cummings in the 45-mile event.  Earlier, Ray Pixley, 29-year-old Lynden , Wash. driver, dies from injuries suffered in crash during 10-mile qualifying event.

7/4/36—Rex Mays wins 50 miler taking starter Bill Vandewater’s checkered flag over Wilbur Shaw, Chet Gardner, Duke Nalon, Emil Andres and Jimmy Snyder.  Myron Fohr injured during the day’s racing.  Earlier, Mays and his Weirick Miller Gilmore No.1 set a new record during qualifying with a lap of 42.29 seconds.

6/7/36—Rex Mays of Glendale , Calf.—winner of 50-mile race ahead of Floyd Roberts and Frank McGurk (or Walter Brown).  A reported 16,000 fans were on hand on a cold, blustery Sunday afternoon.  Roberts finished second with broken goggles and glass in his eye.

1935

9/29/35—Thirty-one year old Elbert “Babe” Stapp of Los Angeles wins 100-mile AAA race (not part of AAA National Championship).  Kelly Petillo, 1935 Indianapolis 500 winner, was second, followed by Emil Andres and George Barringer.

9/22/35—Babe Stapp wins AAA-sanctioned 50 miler ahead of Frank Brisko, Emil Andres, George Barringer, Jimmy Snyder and Kelly Petillo.

9/15/35—Babe Stapp wins season opener, besting Jimmy Snyder in AAA-sanctioned 50-mile event.  “Wild Bill” Cummings was third followed by Wilbur Shaw, Emil Andres and Frank Brisko.  Harry McQuinn burned when his car catches fire on the 20th lap of the feature race.  He suffered burns on his arms and legs. 

9/8/35—races rained out

8/18/35—races rained out

A group of Chicago businessmen, headed by promoters Emmett T. Howard and Carl Stockholm, take over track with track and stands being remodeled for August 18 opener. 

1934

10/14/34—Duke Nalon wins 10th annual 100-mile Sweepstakes event, took lead on lap three.  Nalon defeats Chuck Neisel and Billy Rupp. 

9/23/34—Tony Calderoni of Whiting wins 100-mile stock car race.  Second place went to Chick Doe (Chick Beverlin?) of Calumet City , with three Chicagoans – John Smith, Hy Tippin and C.H. Burd rounding out the top five.

9/9/34—scheduled race program

9/2/34—Duke Nalon wins 10th annual 50-mile race driving the John Brunger (or Brunder) V8 Ford.  John Gurber (or Gerber) of Melrose Park ? was second and Bill Klein of Chicago third.  (NSSN results show Nalon, Slim Rutherford and Gurber.)

8/26/34—Wes Breeding of Chicago ( Evanston ) captures 25-mile event ahead of Slim Roberts and Jimmy Brown.

7/2934—Everett Rice defeats Jimmy Snyder and Curly Young (or Chuck Neisel).

6/10/34—Lou Schneider wins season-opening 100 miler ahead of Red Campbell, who finished nine laps behind.  Former stock car racer Sam Scaletta finished third in the 16-car field.  Leo Strummell finished fourth.  A crowd of 4500 were on hand with only four cars running at the finish.  Walt McLean of Chicago won the five-lap “junk car” race.  Jack Leech—promoter.

1933

10/8/33—Jimmy Snyder of Chicago in his Miller Special wins 100-mile finale over Emil Andres and Vern Franke.

10/1/33—“colored” drivers races scheduled

9/17/33—Charlie Wiggins of Indianapolis wins 100-mile Negro National Championship race over his brother Lawrence and Homer Cloud of Cleveland .  Gill Cunningham is killed in an accident.

7/9/33—Clay Corbitt of Columbus, Ohio, driving the Silver Howe Special, wins the 50-mile main event over Al Theisen of Indianapolis and Ira Hall.  Corbett wins four out of five races that day.

6/11/33—Driver Malcom Fox of Philadelphia seriously injured in crash at Roby.  Hammond Times newspaper states Fox’s condition as “near death” at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Hammond .  Fox competed in Indianapolis 500 earlier in the year.  A few days later, the paper states that Fox is on the road to recovery.  Sam Hoffman of Omaha won 50-mile race over Sam Palmer and Frank Brisko.

5/27/33—Driver Virgil Livengood and riding mechanic Laddie Erban, both of Hammond , escape serious injury, crashing while attempting to qualifying for the Indianapolis 500.  Livengood, a veteran of Roby and Evanston racing with several stock car victories at Roby during the last two seasons, crashed his Dusenberg Special in turn four.

5/21/33—Sam Hoffman of Omaha wins 50-mile season-opening event over Maynard Clark, “Jitters” Foley and Babe Stapp.

1932

10/16/32—Art Foley of Chicago wins 10-mile finale.  Red Campbell and Shorty Sorenson chase Foley to the checkered flag.  Art Placky, 23, of Waukegan killed in accident during 10-mile finale.  Car flipped and crushed driver after tangling with Tony Willman.

10/9/32—races rained out

9/4/32—Mark (or Art) Placky and Walter Zale both win two races during the day’s competition as some 5,000 fans watch the action with 2,000 of them gaining admission by breaking down fences according to officials.

6/19/32—Hartwell Wilburn “Stubby” Stubblefield of Los Angeles wins 100-mile AAA Championship event ahead of Al Gordon, “Will Bill” Cummings, Howard Wilcox and Sam Ross.  Wheeling his Gilmore Lion No. 15,  Stubblefield covers the 100-lap distance in 1:18:40.20 for an average speed of 76.27 miles per hour.  Stubblefield would die from injuries suffered in qualifying crash at Indianapolis on 5/21/35.  B. Ward Beam – promoter.

5/8/32—1930 Indianapolis 500 winner Billy Arnold wins three races during the opening race meet of the season.  Ira Hall of Davenport, Iowa also wins three races, including the 10-mile finale.  Driver Dick Kroger of Indianapolis suffers serious injuries in one of the 10-mile races and dies on 5/12/32.

1931

9/27/31—scheduled race program

8/30/31—“Wild Bill” Cummings of Indianapolis defeats Bryan Saulspaugh and Gene Haustein in 100-mile race before some 6,000 fans.

6/21/31—Piloting his Bowes Seal Fast racer, Louis Schneider, 1931 Indianapolis 500 winner, captures100-mile AAA race ahead of “Wild Bill” Cummings and Sam Ross.  Ernie Triplett is the fastest qualifier with a lap of 45.84 seconds.

6/7/31—AAA event postponed because of rain

1930

10/26/30—Bert Ficken of Omaha wins AAA-sanctioned, 10-mile season finale over Tony Willman and A.E. Foley.

10/19/30—Season finale race program canceled because of cold weather.

10/12/30—Twin features held with Emil Johnson of Gary and his DeSoto winning a 25-mile race over John Adams and Virgil Livengood.  John Adams of Chicago captures another 50-mile contest over Bob Cleveland and Livengood.

10/5/30—H.M. Lewis wins 100-mile race.

9/14/30—Emil Johnson of Gary in a DeSoto wins 75-mile race over Virgil Livengood.

9/7/30—races rained out

8/24/30—John Adams of Chicago wins 25-mile and 50-mile races, both times defeating Emil Johnson.

6/29/30—scheduled races (stock cars)

6/15/30—Frank Sweigert of Indianapolis wins rain-shortened 68-mile Western Championship Race (scheduled for 100-miles).  Sweigert defeated B. Krueger.  National Guard plane crashes and kills three-husband/wife and granddaughter.  Crash occurred outside of speedway property near turn three.  Mother of child seriously injured.  Borrowing the plane, pilot Lt. Wilson Newhall and mechanic James Van Meter cleared by coroner’s inquest.  Jack Leech – promoter.

5/25/30—Ralph Miller of Hammond and Carl Young of Chicago win twin 75-mile stock car races.  Miller in a Chrysler defeated John Adams and Forrest Hart of Pontiac , Mich.  Joe Roemer seriously injured (unconscious) in crash (roll-over) while leading first 75 miler.  Young beats L. M. Altman of Sterling , Ill. and H.M. Lewis of Chicago in second 75.  Fred Barney crashes on the backstretch while leading second race.  

5/4/30—Fred Barney of Indiana Harbor and Lionel Whitaker of Hammond capture 50-mile races during the track’s season-opening program.  Virgil Livengood finishes second in both races.

1929

10/27/29—Emil Johnson of Chesterton , Ind. wins 50-mile stock car race, defeating H.M. Lewis of Chicago and Bob Cleveland of Gary .

10/6/29—L.R. Whitaker of Hammond , driving an Oldsmobile, wins 100-mile stock car race.  Carl Adams of Chicago drives a Chrysler 65 to victory in another feature for cars under 244 cubic inches.  Russell “Bud” Dagler of Fort Wayne injured during morning preliminaries/dies 10/9/29.

9/29/29—races rained out

9/8/29—Ralph Miller of Hammond won 250-mile stock car race. Driving a Chrysler 70, Miller led all the way with a time of four hours, seven minutes and 26 seconds.  Lionel (or Lyle) Whittaker of Chicago,  referred to as high point winner at Roby in 1929, finished second in a DeSoto.  Carl Adams in a Chrysler 65 was third, followed by F.R. Barney of Indiana Harbor in a Chevrolet and A. Barnard of Chicago in an Oldsmobile. A crowd of 7500 was on hand. 

8/4/29—Gus Schrader wins 20-mile feature.   

7/14/29—H.M. Lewis wins 12-hour stock car race.  Alex Karp finishes second.

6/23/29—Gus Schrader of Cedar Rapids winner of 20 mile race, beating G.A. Hardy and Carl Young.  J.E. “Jack” Leech of Hammond – promoter. 

5/26/29—Gus Schrader captures season-opening 20-mile feature over Dutch Baumann and G.A. Hardy. 

1928

10/7/28— Wisconsin ’s Tudy Marchese wins 150-mile event over Harry Nichols and Glenn Fites.  Marchese drives a Frontenac and finishes seven laps ahead of second place Nichols.

9/16/28—Carl Marchese defeats his brother Tudy and Walter Martins in a 100-mile main event.

8/26/28—About 5,000 fans witness Charles Wiggins of Indianapolis win the 40-mile National Dirt Track Colored Championship race over Bill Carlson of Chicago

8/12/28—George Young wins 50-mile race ahead of Walter Martins and Ralph Eckstrom.

7/22/28—Wilbur Shaw, calling Detroit home, drives the Whippet Special to victory in the 20-mile feature over Louis Schneider.

7/1/28—Louis Schneider defeats Carl Marchese in a 50-mile race.

5/6/28—Frank Brisko captures the season-opening 25-mile feature over George Young and D.D. Morris.

1927

10/9/27—Dutch Baumann of Indianapolis wins 100-miler in front of Shorty Cantlon and Colorado ’s Walt Higley.  5,000 “shivering” fans watch Baumann drive his Fronty-Ford to victory.

9/18/27—Twin 50-mile features are held with Louis Schneider wins both races.  Schneider wins the 50-mile stock car race in an Auburn ahead of H.M Lewis and Harry Nichols.  Race described as the first stock car race in the Chicago district in several years.  Schneider also wins the 50-mile race car event, besting Wilbur Shaw and Sam Ross.  Schneider drivers a Miller in the race, which sees Dutch Baumann drop out.

8/28/27—Louis Schneider is the winner of “twin” 20-mile races.  Dutch Baumann and Wilbur Shaw finish second and third respectively in both races.

8/7/27—Wilbur Shaw captures 20-mile contest in front of Dutch Baumann and Frank Taylor.

7/10/27—George Souders, 1927 Indianapolis 500 winner, captures 75-mile race in front of Shorty Cantlon and Jack Petticord.  6,000 fans see Souders drive his Dusenberg to victory.

6/12/27—Dutch Baumann wheels his Fronty-Ford to victory in a 50-mile chase over Bruce Miller and Louis Schneider.

5//22/27—Wilbur Shaw and Walter Martins of Chicago are winners of 20-mile races during AAA-sanctioned action.  4,000 fans see Shaw wins the feature for 183ci cars and Martins the race for 300ci cars. 

5/1/27—Jack Ross of Seattle wins 30-mile AAA-sanctioned race over Shorty Cantlon and Lewis.  

May—Billy Arnold wins 100 lapper, driving the Burt Special.  Earlier, set new qualifying mark of 46.2 seconds.  (I can’t find a story/report to document this.  Found this info in an old Larry Sullivan column in NSSN.)

1926

10/10/26—Leslie “Bugs” Allen of Chicago wins 150-miler, driving his Fronty Ford to victory over D.D. Morris and Bruce Miller of Detroit .

9/19/26—Louis Schneider of Indianapolis defeats Wilbur Shaw in 100-mile contest.  Either Frank Brisko or Dutch Baumann finished third.

8/22/26—Charles “Dutch” Baumann of Indianapolis captured 75-mile main event ahead of Walter Martins and Clyde Currey.  “Shorty” Cantlon injured during the program.

6/13/26—Dutch Baumann wins 50-mile feature in front of Louis Schneider and Walter Martins of Chicago.

5/23/26—Wilbur Shaw is the winner of a 30-mile chase, besting Louis Schneider and Walter Martins.

5/2/26—Dutch Baumann wins 25-miler during season opener, defeating second year driver Billy Arnold and Fred Harder in front of 6,000 fans.

1925

11/8/25—Races scheduled

10/18/25—Leslie “Bugs” Allen (B: 2/5/1904) wins 100 miler ahead of Walter Martins, Clyde Currey third and Gus Schrader in Cliff Woodbury’s Peugeot was fourth, followed by D.D. Morris in Sonny Talamont’s Rajo Ford.

9/27/25—A reported 10,000 fans see Cliff Woodbury win 100-miler over Clyde Currey and Harry Nichols.

8/16/25—Ray Campbell of Detroit wins 75 miler ahead of Wilbur Shaw, Paul Clancy of Chicago, Bennie Shoaff of Springfield and Fred Roberts of Covington .

6/28/25—Ralph Ormsby of Indianapolis , driving a Fronty Ford, wins 50-mile National Dirt Track Championship race ahead of “Bugs” Allen of Chicago, Curley Young of Chicago and Roy Ketcham of Chicago .

6/7/25—Harry Nichols of Chicago in Walter Martin’s new Fronty Ford wins 30-mile race ahead of Cliff Woodbury and George Beck.  Chance Kinsley of Indianapolis was killed during time trials with Kinsley’s mount flipping three times in the first turn.

5/17/25—Ralph Ormsby of Indianapolis wins 15 mile race for “light cars” ahead of Esthan Wenneston and Sonny Talamont of Chicago Heights.  Ormsby also won the 15-mile “open” race ahead of Talamont, Wenneston and Al Cotey.

1924

11/9/24—Cliff Woodbury wins 20-mile season finale over Roy Ketcham and Ralph Eckstrom.  Event held for the benefit fund of the Central Race Drivers Association.

11/2/24—Cliff Woodbury captured 50-mile feature race over Dick Curry and Cliff Henderson.  Al Karp crashes during the event and is injured, pinned under his car.

10/19/24—Ralph Ormsby of Indianapolis wins 100-mile headliner over Clarence Kingsley, Wilbur Shaw and Bugs Allen.  Cliff Woodbury, George Beck and Curry – all DNF’s.  Winner takes home $1150.

9/14/24—Cliff Woodbury in a Frontenac wins 20-mile contest ahead of Al Karp and Barney Sullivan.

8/24/24—Leslie “Bugs” Allen captures 50-mile Midwest Dirt Track Championship race over Paul Clancy and Sonny Talamont.

7/27/24—Paul Clancy in a Frontenac wins 20-mile Sheldon Clark Trophy Race ahead of George Beck and Cliff Woodbury.

7/13/24—“Bugs” Allen scores 25-mile victory over Al Waters and Paul Clancy.

6/15/24—William “Shorty” Cantlon of Detroit is the winner of 25-mile main event ahead of Al Cotey and Barney McKenna. 

6/1/24—Races canceled because of a muddy track.

5/18/24—Season opener sees Cliff Woodbury wins 15-mile “open” event ahead of Barney McKenna and Al Waters.  Woodbury also victorious in a 20-mile race.

1923 

10/28/23—Cliff Woodbury wins 50-mile Gold Cup race over Gus Schrader and Esthan Wenneston.  Six of 16 starters finished.

10/7/23—Esthan Wenneston captured 20-mile feature over George Beck and Sonny Talamont.

9/23/23—Cliff Woodbury in a Frontenac wins 25-lap main event over Esthan Wenneston and Boling.

9/9/23—Cliff Woodbury captures 25-mile headliner over Harris and Young.

8/19/23—Paul Clancy wins 30-mile main event over Harry Nichols and Ben Gotoff.

8/5/23—Paul Clancy is the winner over Cliff Woodbury and Esthan Wenneston in a 20-mile event. 

6/24/23—Paul Clancy captures 25-mile feature.

6/10/23—Esthan Wenneston wins 25-mile main event.  Rance Olds fatally injured during the season-opening program when his car turned over in a ditch during qualifying trial and crushed him.  

1922

10/11/22—Sonny Talamont wins 50-mile championship race.

6/25/22—races also scheduled

6/11/22—Inaugural event of 1922.  Races for Ford and “heavy” cars held.  10-mile Ford race won by Nichols of Chicago, followed by Newman of Hobart and Lorara of Gary.  10-mile “heavy” race won by Watters of Hammond, followed by Baddell of Hammond and Freeman of Hobart.  Final race similar to an “Australian Pursuit” with Esthan Wenneston in a Ford winning.  J.E. Leech of Hammond – Manager.  $10,000 worth of improvements made

1921

7/10/21—Roy Newman wins 25-miler over Emil Huff and Brink.

1920

8/29/20—Match race between Sliger Brothers Indian motorcycle and Dusenberg or Case car owned by Hammond Auto Paint and Top Co., also 5-mile open, 10-mile “light” car and 25-mile open races to be held.  Bill Harris wins 25 miler over Chuck Hatala and Lou Freeman

8/1/20—Grand Opening Motorcycle Race Meet, $500 in prizes

Compiled by Stan Kalwasinski

Updated:  1/17/09