When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
This is aHistoric Original Race Car DEATH Crash Photos Lot (4), depicting the untimely car crash & death of "Red" Clark (1907 - 1935), at the Ascot Speedway, which was located near Gardena, California in Los Angeles County. The First Photo depicts "Red" Clark in the seat of his hotrod Chrystler midget car, with "Mendell SPC" and "#7" painted on the chassis. Photo Two shows Clark, with a friend posing for a photo in front of Clark's automobile garage. Photo Three is the most dramatic of all of these images and shows the aftermath of Clark's fatal crash at Ascot Speedway. It is titled in ink on the photo's surface: "June 12, 1935. Ascot Speedway." Several people rush to both the automobile, and the fatally injured Clark, possibly attending to the medical injuries of the driver, who was pulled from the car. Beyond the chain link fence, dozens of children, and ethnic minorities such as Latinos and African Americans can be seen witnessing the crash. The sad truth is that in the 1930's, these racing fans likely were not permitted to enter, and had to view the race from outside the gate. Photo Three highlights this historical inequity, and the sad fact that many children of elementary school age watched a dying man in the dirt before them. Photo Four is much more somber and depicts several people gazing at the mangled wreckage of "Red" Clark's race car. The wheels are bent inward, and the overall condition of the vehicle reveals that a serious impact has occurred. This photo is titled in ink, on the surface of the picture: "Ascot Speedway. June 12, 1935. Driver Red Clark Killed." Each photo is approximately 8 x 10 inches. Good condition for nearly a century of age and storage, with some expected scuffing, light creasing, and fleabites to the edges (please see photos.) The overall frame itself is approximately 17 1/2 x 21 1/2 inches. These are the only publicly known photographs of racer Loren "Red" Clark (1907 - 1935,) or the infamous Ascot Speedway crash, to exist, anywhere. Priced to Sell. Acquired from an old collection in Los Angeles County, California. If you like what you see, I encourage you to make an Offer. Please check out my other listings for more wonderful and unique items!
About "Red" Clark:Red ClarkComplete name:Loren M. ClarkBirth date:28.Sep.1907Birth Place:Tulare County, CA, United StatesDeath date:13.Jun.1935Death Place:Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA, United StatesNationality:United StatesGender:maleAge at death:27Event date:12.Jun.1935Series:American Automobile Association Pacific Coast Big Car ChampionshipRace:unknownEvent type:practiceCountry:United States (California)Venue:Legion Ascot SpeedwayVariant:5/8-mile oiled dirt oval (1924-1936)Role:driverVehicle type:carVehicle sub-type:single seaterVehicle brand/model:unknownVehicle number:7
Notes:
"Red" Clark died of injuries received when his car lost a wheel and went out of control during an afternoon practice session at Legion Ascot Speedway in Los Angeles, California, United States. Clark's machine, owned by Henry Jacques, plunged through a guard rail and went down an embankment. He suffered a fractured pelvis and internal injuries that were not thought to be life threatening, but died the following evening despite the best medical attention.Some newspapers listed his name as Fred "Red" Clark but the California Death Index confirms the name Loren M. Clark.Clark was a native of California, but lived most of his life in Texas, where he started his racing career. He was also a pilot, and did some airplane stunt work for the movie industry. He had been driving at Ascot for 2 years, and finished seventh in AAA Pacific Coast Championship points in 1934.Red Clark was survived by his widow, three small children - one of them named Fred - and his father. He was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park in Burbank, California, but his grave had no marker until one was placed by the National Sprint Car ADVANCE-REGISTER (JUNE 14, 1935)
RACE DRIVER KILLED LOS ANGELES, June 14 (UP) Injuries received Sunday when his racing car plunged the track at the Ascot Speedway during a practice run, today caused the death of Loren "Red" Clark, automobile race driver. He suffered a fractured skull and internal injuries when the machine hurtled through a fence and down an embankment.
About Ascot Speedway:
Ascot Park, first namedLos Angeles Speedwayand laterNew Ascot Stadium, was adirt racetracklocated nearGardena, California. Ascot Park was open between 1957 and 1990. The track held numerousUnited States Auto Club(USAC) national tour races and threeNASCARGrand National (nowNASCAR Cup Series) races. TheTurkey Night Grand Prixwas held at the track for several decades.
Ascot Park was the fourth of four Ascot sites in Los Angeles after the original one-mile Ascot Speedway at Central & Florence was open between 1907 and 1919.A second site namedLegion Ascot Speedwayheld races between 1924 and 1936.Legion Ascot closed after 24 drivers died while racing at the track.A third site named Southern Ascot held races between 1937 and 1942 in South Gate on a half mile dirt oval.
Los Angeles Speedway opened in 1957, on the site of a formercity dump. It was built less than 1 mile (1.6km) from the former site of Carrell Speedway, which had been closed in late 1954 to make way for theArtesia Freeway. The track was renamed to New Ascot Stadium in October 1958 as part of a management change.The track assumed the name it held until its closure, Ascot Park in 1961.J. C. Agajanianpromoted major races at the venue, and later leased the track from 1976 until his death in 1984, when his family continued operating the venue. His radio advertisements ended with the phrase "Come to Ascot, where the 110, the 405 and the 91 freeways collide!".
With seating for only 7,500, Ascot Park was smaller than the other tracks of the area including theOntario Motor Speedway(closed in 1980), and theRiverside International Raceway(closed in 1989). However, the park was equally well-known, due to its being surrounded by freeways for easy access, its regularly scheduled races, and its heavy radio advertising.
The half-mile course featured tight semi-banked turns, long straight-ways, and a tacky surface that was conducive to dramaticsprint car racing. Other motorsport events, such asFigure 8 racingand motorcycle flat track, TT racing and motocross, were also held at Ascot.
The dirt racetrack hosted races in theUnited States Auto Club(USAC) sprint car championship, theAMA Grand National Championshipmotorcycle series. Ascot was also the site of the annual USACTurkey Night Grand Prixmidget raceon Thanksgiving.
Though he began doing stunt jumps in 1966 at small venues such as fairs and carnivals,Evel Knievel(Robert Craig Knievel) gained international attention with his first televised jump onABC’s Wide World of Sportsat Ascot Park Raceway on March 25, 1967, successfully clearing 15 cars.
The racetrack was also used in movies and TV shows like the originalGone in 60 Seconds,A Very Brady Christmas,Pit Stop,T J HookerandCHiPs.
The 50th annual Turkey Night Grand Prix for USACmidget carsbecame the last of more than 5,000 main events held since the track opened. Ascot Park was closed in November 1990.It remained unused after a failed development project occupied the former site for a number of years. The track site was later replaced by Insurance Auto sales building and storage yard.
ESPNwas hosting live races ofThursday Night Thundersprint car racing from 1988 to the track's closing in 1990 and later went over toIndianapolis Raceway Parkand the show was later moved to Saturday night, some of the most famous driver to race at Ascot wasJeff Gordon,Sleepy Tripp,Dick Mannamong others.
ThreeNASCARGrand National Seriesevents were held at the track. The 1957 event was held on the 0.5-mile (0.80km) track. It was won byEddie Pagan. The second NASCAR event was a 500 lap event on the 0.4-mile (0.64km) track, and it was won byParnelli Jones. The final event was held in 1961 on the 0.5-mile (0.80km) track.Eddie Graylapped the field for the win.
