PENNSYLVANIA (USA)
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1700's - BRUNOT ISLAND
Brunot Island a 129 acre island on the Ohio river was settled by Dr Felix Brunot and his family in the late 1700's.
The floods of 1811 devastated the estate and by 1819 Brunot had sold off the island to farming interest.
In 1894 George Westinghouse bought the island and constructed an electrical plant, The Race track was built in 1903.
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1903 - BRUNOT ISLAND RACE TRACK
The construction and running of the race track was carried out by the newly formed Pittsburgh and Allegheny Driving Club.
Horse and Automobile races were held on the track, with the only access to the track for the public was by way of a ferry that departed from around Ontario Street.
Lost Speedway Community facebook Photo feature
Photo: Michael Zinger collection.
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1905 - LOUIS CHEVROLET
In 1905 a AAA Championship Car season race was won by Louis Chevrolet at the track.
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1907 - REX REINERTSEN
Rex Reinertsen died from injuries sustained in a racing accident on the 10th of September 1907.
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1907 - BRUNOT ISLAND RACE TRACK
In 1907 the owner did officially close the track to motor vehicle racing, as it was damaging the track surface for the horses.
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1915 - BARNEY OLDFIELD v DE FLOYD THOMPSON
In 1915 however racing returned to the island when Barney Oldfield in a car raced, De Floyd Thompson in an aeroplane around the track.