SPEEDWAY TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1929, Page 5

SPEEDWAY TRAGEDY

, United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.;

■NEW YORK, June 15,

Ray Keccli, the famous automobile racer, was killed on Saturday, when ills car crashed at the hundred mile mark, in a two hundred mile event at the Tipton Speedway, in Pennsylvania. Altona Keccli was leading the field through 4/4 200 mile race, when the car struck a hole in the wooden track. It shot up into the air and bounded down in the path of the former, who was close behind. He tried to avoid, tiic smash hut lost control of his machine and a second later two other machines crashed into ..him. Robinson and Ernest Triplett, another of The drivers involved, were unhurt, hut Cliff Woodbury the fourth racer, was badly injured though lie probably will recover. The petrol irom wrecked autos ignited the track, hut the fire was quickly extinguished.

25,000 .spectators were crowded around the mile and a-quarter oval which Keecli was negotiating at 119 miles an hour. The race whs halted alter the accident. The prize awards will he made on the basis of standing at the time, giving Keecli the first money. He is 28 years old and had raced considerably, but sprang into fame after ho heat Campbell’s record.