Legion Ascot Speedway
[4] After the construction of a 5⁄8-mile dirt oval near Lincoln Park had been announced in early December 1923,[5] the new Ascot speedway, which was built by promoter George R. Bentel and his publicist Bill Pickens,[3] opened on January 20, 1924, when 35,000 spectators attended the inaugural event, which featured both auto and motorcycle racing.[3] Major drivers raced at the track such as Bill Cummings, Al Gordon, Ernie Triplett, Kelly Petillo, Wilbur Shaw and Rex Mays.[18] It also attracted celebrity spectators such as Bing Crosby, Andy Devine, Loretta Young, Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Clara Bow and Carole Lombard.[20] It was built inside the old track,[21] the banked five-eighths-mile oval, which at some point had been paved with asphalt[20][22] and was reopened in November of the same year after its south curve had been refurbished for safety purposes.[22] With the bulk of its tenure a profitable effort, the Glendale American Legion post had been facing a host of problems since 1934: anti-racing sentiment in the public, upcoming competition from midget car racing luring away popular drivers and waning interest among the fans as a consequence, as well as disagreements with the lessors on rent and other issues.