Saturday 7th August 1915

Des Moines, Iowa, mile board track opened with a 300-mile race in front of 10,000 spectators. The day was to be marked by tragedy, however. Two racers were killed and two seriously injured. One of the two-man cars went off the top of the saucer, another turned over and rolled 50 feet to the infield. Driver Joe Cooper of Sebnng, Ohio was killed and his mechanic, Louis Peio, was badly injured. Morris (Stiibs) Keeler of St. Paul, Minnesota, mechanic for Billy Chandler, also died and Chandler suffered serious injuries. Winner of the 300-miler was Ralph Mulford in a Duesenberg. He averaged 87 mph despite the wrecks, clocking a time of 3 hours 27 minutes 5.35 seconds.