It was only one week before the 1928 Indianapolis Classic, that finally (almost) all of the participants, as well as (almost) all of their cars of the 33 allowed starting positions were known. Here a sum up of those, who were going for the yearly battle on the brickyard.
Text and jpegs by courtesy of hathitrust.org www.hathitrust.org, compiled by motorracinghistory.com
Motor Age, Vol. LIII, 53, No. 18, May 24, 1928
May Set Record at Indianapolis
Track Fast Following Repairs, Causing Belief Marks Will Fall – 120 M. P. H. BY DURAY
By C. Edward Packer
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., May 20 – A number of factors have combined to indicate that old records will fall before the onslaught of the 33 cars scheduled to start in the Decoration Day race this year.
While only 33 are allowed to start there are at this time actually 36 entries. All of these cars are now at the track and in fact have been there for some time past. Among these are the following:
Car Driver
Duesenberg Spec Benny Shoaff
Green Special Unnamed
Stutz Special Unnamed
Stutz Special Anthony Gullotta
Detroit Special Cliff Durant
Flying Cloud Spec Peter De Paolo
Unnamed Cliff Bergere
Miller Special Leon Duray
Elgin Piston Pin Spec H. Kohlert
Unnamed George Souders
Unnamed Unnamed
Boyle Valve Spec Cliff Woodbury
Boyle Valve Spec Fred Comer
Boyle Valve Spec Billy Arnold
Unnamed Phil Shafer
Unnamed Babe Stapp
Chromilite Spec Earl DeVore
Miller Special Louis F. Schneider
Miller Special Lou Moore
Miller Special Deacon Litz
Miller Special Unnamed
Duesenberg Spec. Unnamed
Duesenberg Spec. Unnamed
Miller Special Buddie Marr
Bugatti Special Shorty Cantlon
Sievers Junior 8 Hernian Schurch
Aranem Special Sam B. Ross
Miller Special Norman Batten
Marion Chevr’t Spec. Jimmy Hill
Marmon Special Peter Kreis
Marmon Special Johnny Seymour
Marmon Special Unnamed
With this the first race of the season the boys have had all winter to get their cars ready. While this time has been well spent the track is now a laboratory in which the entries are being groomed as never before.
During the last month Fred Duesenberg has been almost constantly at the track evidently working to perfect that which already appears perfect, but in the 500-mile grind there is no detail anywhere on any car that is too small for the most careful attention of the designers.
Last Monday, May 21, Harry Miller arrived from Los Angeles to oversee the work on the cars carrying his name. Since the opening up of weather that would permit, workmen have been going over the old brick track to put it in better shape than it has been in during the last few years.
As is well known this track is of brick and was first used in 1911. Since that time it has sagged in several places. The result was danger to car and driver and a lower speed than would be possible with a smooth sur- face. The work on the track, however, has resulted in the elimination of several of the worst bumps and hollows and should be a big factor in helping the little cars attain a higher speed this year than ever before.
That there is a good chance of this is seen in the high, though unofficial lap speed made in practice by Leon Duray. Driving his Miller special to see what it could turn up; he was clocked for minute 15 and 31 hundredths seconds for the 2½ miles or a speed of approximately 120 m.p.h.
Some speculation has been set at rest with the announcement that Ray Keech has finally purchased one of Lockhart’s two cars which were entered as Stutz specials.
As was previously announced Anthony Gullotta will drive one of these jobs and now everything is set for the world’s speed champion to handle the other. And those who have seen Ray in traffic on the dirt tracks feel that he should make a good showing.
Who Will Smile on Decoration Day? Look ‚Em Over and Take Your Choice
Cliff Durant – Norman Batten – Bill Spence – Johnny Seymour – Ira Hall – Fred Comer
Phil Shafer – Peter Kreis – Sam Ross – Shorty Cantlon – Lou Moore – Bud Marr
Herman Schurch – George Souders – Earl Devore – Dave Evans – Deacon Litz
Benny Shoaf – H. Kohlert – Al Melcher – Jack Petticord – Leon Duray – Anthony Gullato Don Ostrander -Cliff Woodbury -Fred Lecklider -Cliff Bergere -J. R. Hill -„Babe“ Stapp Peter De Paolo – Ralph Hepburn – F. Elliott – Louis Schnider – Wilbur Shaw
