Vintage Racing Photo Ralph DePalma Eddie Pullen Roscoe Sarles Motorsport 1921

Offering a very early racing photograph showing 3 cars. Caption in pen on back reads: DePalma lapping Pullen in first heat. Sarles just behind DePalma. 

This appears to be from Heat Race 1 of the April 10, 1921 races at the Los Angeles Motor Speedway, also referred to as the Beverly Hills Speedway or the Beverly Hills Board Track, an ambitious but short-lived (1920-1924) high-banked 1.25 mile wooden oval track in Beverly Hills, California.

DePalma (in the white #4 Ballot) won that 20 lap/25 mile heat over Roscoe Sarles by a reported 0.02 seconds at a 106.3 MPH average (if ChampCarStats is to be believed), an amazingly close finish. Pullen would finish 5th of the 8 cars in the heat, which also featured Joe Thomas, Tommy Milton, Eddie Hearne, Alton Soules, and Jimmy Murphy. There were 3 more 20 lap heat races and then a 40 lap main event on April 10, 1921, with Murphy taking the main event.

Sold as-found and I do not have any further information regarding the age or history of this photo. Vehicle and driver identifications and similar details are to the best of my ability but are not certain or guaranteed - view images carefully before purchase.

This photo measures approximately 2 1/2" by 3 1/2"

Condition: This photo has a torn off section on the lower left corner, additional bends / wear to corners, some surface staining and other wear throughout. Pen notations on the back. Overall, still a very nice vintage photograph. 

Tag DL25 E5 in PSTL