The First Automobile Races in America (Upd. Cranston, Rhode Island)

I'm not certain the RI Legislature is much of a historical reference... but this is the best I can do on short notice. I'm certain a search of newspaper archives would turn up more.


96-H 9242

Passed in House

Jun. 13, 1996.

HOUSE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF AUTO RACING ON OVAL TRACKS

WHEREAS, a record-breaking attendance figures indicate that the largest spectator sport in this country is auto racing in its various forms, with the most popular being held on oval race tracks; and

WHEREAS, two of the premier sanctioning bodies in this country, the United States Auto Club (USAC) and the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) race almost exclusively on oval tracks; and

WHEREAS, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has this year inaugurated a new oval track racing series, designated as the Indy Racing League (IRL), which has just successfully concluded its first season, with races at Disney World, Phoenix and Indianapolis; and

WHEREAS, the very first oval track race in the United States took place on September 7, 1896, one hundred years ago, as part of a one-week series witnessed by 50,000 fans at Narragansett Park Speedway, a one-mile irregular dirt fairgrounds track, located between Auburn and Knightsville in Cranston, Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, this first oval race featured seven contestants, five of whom drove Duryea automobiles while the other two drove electric-powered vehicles; and

WHEREAS, roaring off with the starter's command, "Now go, if you can," the winner of the event was A.L. Riker, driving his homemade Riker Electric, covering the five mile distance in 15 minutes and 1 second; and

WHEREAS, for years thereafter the "Providence 100" was a regular stop for such world-famous Indianapolis drivers as Barney Oldfield, Ralph DePalma, Ira Vail, Eddie Rickenbacker, Tommy Milton, Earl Cooper, Joe Boyer and Louis Chevrolet;

NOW BE IT RESOLVED, That the 100th anniversary of the first oval race in this country, held on September 7, 1896, at Narragansett Park Speedway, Cranston, Rhode Island, be appropriately recognized and commemorated by the Honorable House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and that Anton "Tony" George, President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, be congratulated on bringing the sport of auto racing full circle, back to its roots in Rhode Island

If you google "Auto Race Cranston 1896" you'll come up with all sorts of local references.

We take our history seriously, and our geography.

You are correct. But we stand by our story, which is also correct. Everybody gets to be right.

Narragansett Park where the 1896 Horseless Carriage Race was held as a feature of the Rhode Island State Fair was located in Cranston, RI--4 miles from Providence.

The 'other' Narragansett Park you refer to in your comment was located in Pawtucket, RI--3 miles from Providence. This track opened on August 1, 1934, two months after gambling on horse races was made legal in Rhode Island, and operated until 1978. Famous horsed including Whirlaway, Seabiscuit and War Admiral and others raced at 'that' Narragansett Park--but not horseless carriages in 1896.

I think we can all agree that the first automobile race held on a track in the U.S. was held at Narragansett Park near Providence, RI on September 5, 1896 and won by A.L. Riker driving the Riker Electric Trap No.1

Thanks, Joe. I'm familiar with your early automobile images and appreciate your comment.

We would welcome your clarification from the contemporary (1896) account of the race published in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN:
-both the headline and the photo caption read "THE PROVIDENCE HORSELESS CARRIAGE RACE"
-the text of the story also reads, "an account of the first two heats run on the Narragansett Park track at Providence R.I.

Were it not for this, I would gratefully acknowledge your updated information. However, given that this was how the story was published in an authoritative publication like SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN in 1896, let's take this as an opportunity to look into the question more closely.

I also correspond with others who are quite interested in confiming the correct answer.

We also share files of the photograph that accompanied the SA story in 1896, reading: THE PROVIDENCE HORSELESS CARRIAGE RACE - THE START, that we would be happy to share.

The "Narragansett Park" where the race took place is not the horse racing track with the same name, also located near Providence (and often confused with the correct site). The race took place in Cranston, Rhode Island and part of the site was used to build the Cranston Stadium. If you google "Cranston Stadium" you will get a map that shows the surrounding streets, like Peerless, Packard, Overland and Fiat.
Joe Puleo