Barney Oldfield
Driver
Berna Eli "Barney" Oldfield was an American pioneer automobile racer "whose name was synonymous with speed in the first two decades of the 20th century". He began racing in 1902 and continued until his retirement in 1918. He was the first man to drive a car at 60 miles per hour.
Oldfield was lent a gasoline-powered bicycle to race at Salt Lake City, which led to a meeting with Henry Ford, who had readied two automobiles for racing, and he asked Oldfield if he would like to test one at Ford's Grosse Pointe track. Oldfield agreed and traveled to Michigan for the trial, but neither car started. Despite the fact that Oldfield had never even driven an automobile, he and fellow racing cyclist Tom Cooper purchased both test vehicles when Ford offered to sell them for $800. One of them was the famous "No. 999" that debuted in October 1902 at the Manufacturer's Challenge Cup. Today it is displayed at the Henry Ford Museum in Greenfield Village.
Subject ID: 29815
MoreBerna Eli "Barney" Oldfield was an American pioneer automobile racer "whose name was synonymous with speed in the first two decades of the 20th century". He began racing in 1902 and continued until his retirement in 1918. He was the first man to drive a car at 60 miles per hour.
Oldfield was lent a gasoline-powered bicycle to race at Salt Lake City, which led to a meeting with Henry Ford, who had readied two automobiles for racing, and he asked Oldfield if he would like to test one at Ford's Grosse Pointe track. Oldfield agreed and traveled to Michigan for the trial, but neither car started. Despite the fact that Oldfield had never even driven an automobile, he and fellow racing cyclist Tom Cooper purchased both test vehicles when Ford offered to sell them for $800. One of them was the famous "No. 999" that debuted in October 1902 at the Manufacturer's Challenge Cup. Today it is displayed at the Henry Ford Museum in Greenfield Village.
Oldfield agreed to drive against the current champion, Alexander Winton. Oldfield was rumored to have learned how to operate the controls of that car the morning of the event. Oldfield won by a half mile in the five mile race. He slid through the corners like a motorcycle racer did instead of braking. It was a great victory for Ford and led both Oldfield and Ford to become household names.
Subject ID: 29815
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Subject ID: 29815
Curators
Master Variant
Master Subvariant
1902 Ford Model '999' Land Speed Record Car
Model Racing Cars
Estimated Value
Master Variant
Master Subvariant
1902 Ford Model '999' Land Speed Record Car
Model Racing Cars
Estimated Value
- Type: Model Racing Cars
- Brand: RIO Models
- Scale: 1/43
- Reference #: 69
- Related Subjects: Barney Oldfield , Ford , Henry Ford , Lake St. Clair Michigan , Land Speed Record
- Brand: RIO Models
- Scale: 1/43
- Reference #: 69
- Related Subjects: Barney Oldfield , Ford , Henry Ford , Lake St. Clair Michigan , Land Speed Record
Estimated Value
Master Variant
Master Subvariant
Model Racing Cars
Estimated Value
- Type: Model Racing Cars
- Brand: Brumm Models
- Series: Revival
- Scale: 1/43
- Reference #: R081
- Related Subjects: Barney Oldfield , Benz , Indianapolis 500 , Indianapolis 500 1911
- Brand: Brumm Models
- Series: Revival
- Scale: 1/43
- Reference #: R081
- Related Subjects: Barney Oldfield , Benz , Indianapolis 500 , Indianapolis 500 1911
