Speedsters at Portland: 1919

How Farnham Got the Lion's Share of the Money and Newman Gathered Up Most of the Glory at the Big Three-Day Meet

Riding like very demons, "Dusty" Farnham and "Bob" Newman, both mounted on Indians, cleaned up at Portland in the three-day meet, August 30-31 and September 1. Farnham got away with the lion's share of the money, but Newman drew the most honor, for he is now Northwest champion by virtue of his winning that event on Labor Day. The mile time trials on Saturday and Sunday were the only events on the three-day card that Indians did not carry home, these being won on the first day by "Red" Cogburn on an Excelsior, and on the second day by Harry Brandt on a Harley-Davidson.

The races throughout were the hardest fought events ever put on a card here, most of the races being decided by less than one second between first and second place. But one race, a ten-mile seven-horsepower stripped stock even had originally been scheduled as the races were run in connection with a Wild West Show of bucking contests, trick riding, etc., but on the first day a five-mile race was put on and also the one-mile time trials, the latter being continued on the two remaining days of the show.

Here is the way it all happened, day-by-day, and race by race. August 30, Saturday. Seven starters lined up for the five-mile seven-horsepower stripped stock race, and they were the cream of the Northwest racing men. It took three laps around the track to get them anywhere near in line as they came over on the flying start, as all seem to be suffering from over-anxiety or too much speed.

At the Portland, Or, races. Upper left, Bob Newman winning time trial on Labor Day; upper right, "Dusty" Farnham's, Indian's big winner; lower left. Winners - time trials, left to right, Cogburn, Brandt and Newman; lower right, Farnham, left, and Newman.

On the third attempt, five of the seven hit the line together with a sixth close behind and Newman, on an Indian, the only one lagging behind. The were given the flag on this lap, and with a mighty roar the race was on. They hit the first turn in a cloud of dust so thick that it was almost impossible to pick out a machine. On the first lap around McMorran, Indian, led with Farnham, Indian, close at his heels. White and Eppenstine on Harley-Davidsons and "Red" Cogburn, Excelsior, dropped out on the first lap, and on the second lap away went Brandt, also on a Harley-Davidson, leaving but McMorran, Farnham and Newman, all on Indians, in the running. Slowly Newman cut down the lead of the flying pair ahead, and just as surely Farnham gained on McMorran, taking the lead by a scant few inches on the fourth mile. On the last trip around, Newman pulled past McMorran, whose engine was not getting enough oil, and they finished in that order to the tune of 3:22. The mile time trials were bitterly fought for, "Red" Cogburn, Excelsior, winning over Farnham, Indian, by 1/5 of a second. Time, :50 1/5.

The ten-mile brought the crowd to its feet with a howl and kept them there till the finish of the race. Harry Bandt, Harley-Davidson, took the lead at a jump on the first lap with "Red" Cogburn, Excelsior and Farnham, Indian, right after him and all the field close behind. Brandt had blood in his eye from the way he rode, and was determined not to be headed. On the second mile Brandt took a terrific slide on the East turn. Cogburn following in his dust figuring that Brandt was about to unhorse, pulled for the pole and in doing so wrapped up in as hard a spill as has been taken on the track for many a long day. "Red" never wiggled until he heard all the rest go by and then jumped to his feet and hauled his machine off the track. All the damage done was to completely spoil his fine red whiskers.

As Cogburn hit the dirt, Farnham, Indian, flashed past him into second place with Eppenstine, Harley-Davidson, third, and Newman, Indian, fourth. For three more laps they rode in this position until Brandt's rear tire let go on the fifth lap and Farnham breezed into the lead with Eppenstine second, Newman third and White, Harley-Davidson, fourth.

Jim Davis during the competition on his Harley-Davidson

Machine Slowed Up

In the seventh mile, Eppenstine's machine slowed on him, and he pulled into the pits, leaving Farnham, Newman and White to fight it out. They finished in the order named in 8:56 2/5, with White crossing the line on one lung.

On August 31, Sunday, the time trials went to Harry Brandt and his Harley-Davidson, after a tie between that outfit and McMorran, Indian. Both riders made it in 51 seconds on their first time, but in the run-off of the tie, Brandt clipped it to the mark of the first day, 50 1/5 seconds, which McMorran could not equal, his best being 40 4/5 seconds.

Coming up to the line for final instructions for the start of the ten-mile, Brandt and Farnham got into a worded argument that almost developed into a fistic combat, but that little argument was the main reason that the crowd was given the best race ever seen on any track, bar none. An automobile pace was used for the start on Sunday and worked to perfection, as an ordinary blanket would have covered the six starters when they hit the starting line. Eppenstine, Harley-Davidson, piled up in front of the grandstand when the machine towing him gave too hard a jerk, and in the spill a pedal was cracked.
Newman, Indian, took the lead with Brandt, Harley-Davidson, Farnham, Indian, and McMorran, Indian, so close to him that daylight did not show between the first and last machines.

Coming out of the turn on the second lap Newman's chain jumped, taking all the spokes out of the rear wheel as it went. Brandt hopped into the lead by half a wheel length with Farham right at his side. Lap after lap this pair fought it out, taking terrific chances, first one then the other a few inches in the lead. In the last two miles, Farnham pushed his Indian into the clear, and managed to hold that slight lead, winning in 8:37 2/5, with Brandt just 3/5 of a second behind and McMorran, Indian, third. Never was there such a race before and it is doubtful if there will be again for many a long day, as it was a race for blood, not money, that made it such a terrific go.

On Labor Day, the last day of the meet, the time trial also went to the Wigwam, Newman romping home with it in :50 4/5 with McMorran, Indian, lacking but 1/5 of a second to tie it up. Cogburn, Excelsior, broke a valve during the time trial, and did not finish.

On the last day, as on the first, the riders wree overanxious to start, and even ran away from the pacing auto, making it necessary to stop them and get a new start. On the second attempt they hit the line together with three Indians into the first turn in the lead, "Red" Cogburn, "Dusty" Farnham and "Bob" Newman riding in the order named. Cogburn, who is 47 years old, and the granddad of all racing men, was riding as he did in his best days. Lap after lap, mile after mile, these three fought for supremacy, Cogburn dogged hanging on to his lead of a few feet. In the fourth lap, Brandt, Harley-Davidson, riding in fourth place, unloaded going into the turn and was out of the race, though not injured.

A few more Portland pictured. Upper left, lining up for ten-mile race; upper right, "Dusty Farnham, big winner on first and second day; lower left, "Red" Cogburn, the great granddad of 'em all; lower right, Bob Newman, new Northwest champion.

Newman Takes Lead

In the third mile Newman passed Farnham and rode his hardest trying to catch Cogburn. Going up the back stretch on the last lap of the race "Red's" machine slowed and Newman walked past him, roaring around the last turn and down the final stretch to the tape, with 2/5 of a second to spare. Cogburn second and Farnham third, all Indians. Time: 8:40.

The mighty crowd -- 14,000 paid admissions -- jumped and yelled all during the race, and gave Newman a cheer such as no new Northwest champion has ever heard before. Cogburn and Farnham were not forgotten either.
Newman and Farnham used the same equipment, Firestone tires, Duckworth chains, Bosch magnetos, Schebler carburetors, Troxel saddles and Anderson glass plugs.

The Indian Motorcycle and Bicycle Company of this city is deserving of a great amount of credit for the showing the Indians made in this meet, as it was due to the untiring efforts of members of that firm that the machines were put in the best of racing trim and kept in adjustment.

Reprinted courtesy of Northwest Motorsports News. Research provided by Tom Samuelsen.