Wednesday 13th April 1910

Four thousand people were on hand at the new Los Angeles Motordrome on a weekday during the track’s opening week to see Barney Oldfield smash the half mile racing record, driving more than 100 mph in his Blitzen-Benz on the mile round course made out of 2-by-4 planks. The Playa Del Rey track was built in 16 days and was wide enough for four cars to race abreast. Sports writers called the track the “Pie Pan” because it sloped down from the outer edge.