Interesting Vintage Photos of Motor Racing From the 1920s and 1930s

   

By the time racing resumed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after World War I, the Indianapolis 500 was already a renowned sporting event, attracting an international entry of drivers and cars and a crowd of more than 100,000.

Carl Fisher's dream of building a proving ground that would put machine and man to the ultimate test had become a reality. And even in those early days of the Speedway, the men in charge struggled to rein in the burgeoning technology of the rapidly advancing automotive industry - and the speed and danger that resulted from it.

 
Overland car jumping a fallen bridge in a promotional stunt, 1920 - 1929

 

Dave Carrigan at wheel of a Willys Knight car, 1926

 

Don Harkness at wheel in RAC hill climb, Royal National Park, 1926

 

Large group of men at meeting, 1920 - 1929

 

The 100,000th Willys-Overland exported car, outside Overland Sydney Ltd office, 1920 - 1929


Horse and cart on wharf with crate containing the 100,000th Willys-Overland exported car, 1920 - 1929

 

Dave Carrigan at wheel of a Willys Knight car, 1926

 

Overland car jumping a fallen bridge in a promotional stunt, 1920 - 1929

 

Group on occasion of the testing of the Genairco, the first all-Australian built plane, 1930

 

Overland car being driven down steps of Sydney Town Hall, 1920 - 1929

 

 
Cars at the end of 1,000 mile rally organised by the Overland company, 1927

 

 
Launch of car F.H. Stewart Enterprise, 1926 - 1936

 

 
13 Sir Malcolm Campbell at the wheel of the Bluebird, with crowd, 1926 - 1936

 

 
Anzac car [with Harkness & Hillier staff at Five Dock], 1928 - 1929

 

 
Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey at 10 Mile Championships, 1920 - 1929

 

Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey at race meeting, 1920 - 1929

 

Don Harkness archive re motor racing and aeronautics

 

Hydroglider outside the Harkness & Hillier factory, 1928

 

Timber straddler outside the Harkness & Hillier factory

 

Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey, 1920 - 1929

 

D.J. Harkness at the wheel of an Overland Sports car, 1920 - 1929

 

Men inspecting the frame of the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise, 1926 - 1936

 

Don Harkness and unidentifed man with hydroglider engine, 1923 - 1933

 

Avro Avian two-seater light aeroplane, 1924 - 1934

 

Norman Wizard Smith and Don Harkness and two other men (on steps of Sydney Town Hall], 1926 - 1936

 

Group portrait on board S.S. Maunganui, 1926 - 1936

 

Norman Wizard Smith and Don Harkness on board S.S. Maunganui, 1926 - 1936

 

Men inspecting the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise, 1926 - 1936

 

Men on beach with Anzac car

 

Group inspecting the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise

 

Don Harkness and unidentifed man with hydroglider engine

 

Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey

 

Don Harkness at the wheel of modified Overland car at race meeting

 

Man seated in a modified Overland racing car surrounded by crowd
Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey at race meeting



Don Harkness at wheel of Overland 6 after setting Australasian 24 hour record

 

Group and a cat inspecting the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise

 

Anzac car [with Harkness & Hillier staff at Five Dock]

 

Group inspecting the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise


(Photos via Powerhouse Museum Collection)