Legion Ascot Speedway

Racing impresario George R. Bentel and his talented publicist, Bill Pickens, opened The Legion Ascot Speedway on Valley Boulevard/Soto Street, on January 20, 1924.[2] When the track first opened, Jimmy Craft crashed his Frontenac into the guardrail on a curve, and Norris Shears crashed into him, both were killed instantly. In 1926, Bill Bundy and Jack Peticord fatally crashed into Nick Guglielmi, but racing continued. In 1928 the Glendale American Legion Post started promoting the track, and bringing in cars and attracted the best race car drivers such as Bill Cummings, Al Gordon, Ernie Triplett, Kelly Petillo, Wilbur Shaw and Rex Mays, from the American Automobile Association (AAA), it also attracted celebrities such as, Bing Crosby, Andy Devine, Loretta Young, Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Clara Bow and Carole Lombard.[3] In 1929 it reopened as Legion Ascot.

Due to the speeds they obtained, there came notable and heavy spectacular crashes at the speedway. Twelve years since the Legion Ascot Speedway opened, only 24 drivers died, it had a reputation for deadly accidents, earning it the nickname “Killer Track.” [4] by 1933 six drivers died, but still racing continued, and Ascot's crowds were bigger than ever.[5]

In 1934 a half-mile oval was built inside the old track. In 1935, Glendale American Legion stopped promoting the races. On January 25, 1936 Al Gordon and riding mechanic Spider Matlock were both killed in a crash, the tragic event caused the end of Legion Ascot Speedway. Four months later the grandstands of the abandoned speedway burned down. Seven years later, Linden Emerson, a former janitor at the track, turned himself in. He confessed that he burned down the grandstand. Today, Multnomah Elementary School and a tract of houses now cover Legion Ascot Speedway.