Barney Oldfield and Lincoln Beachey Racing, Columbus, Ohio, 1914 / THF228829
Skilled Showmen
In racing, a skilled driver means everything, but if that person is blessed with charisma and an ability to attract attention, then the fruits of promotion are close at hand. Ability behind the wheel is essential for winning races. But from the sport’s earliest days, success in auto racing also has been augmented by a driver’s ability to attract attention and build a relationship with fans. This helps generate public awareness, fundraising, and sponsorship. In our new racing exhibit, Driven to Win: Racing in America presented by General Motors, two exceptional examples—one from the early days of the sport and one from today—are featured, along with their cars.
Ford “999,” Driven by Barney Oldfield
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In the early 1900s, Barney Oldfield made himself larger than life with his widely publicized exploits on racetracks. Oldfield had a reputation as a fearless bicycle racer, and the very first automobile he ever drove was Henry Ford’s “999.” That was about a week before he raced it in the Manufacturers' Challenge Cup on October 25, 1902. Oldfield won handily, which launched his colorful auto racing career. It also produced the first of many opportunities for Henry Ford to promote Oldfield’s exploits to continue building his own reputation on the way to founding Ford Motor Company a year later.
2012 Ford Fiesta ST HFHV, Driven by Ken Block
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Ken Block has successfully used his charisma, along with his unquestionable car-control skills, to create a name for himself and to build public awareness for his sponsors and their products. Barney Oldfield was largely limited to personal appearances, posters, and newspaper stories and ads to build his brand and those of his backers, but Ken Block has been able to add video, television, the Internet, and social media to his arsenal for attracting attention. His viral “Gymkhana” videos alone have generated hundreds of millions of views around the world. The car you’ll see in Driven to Win was used in “Gymkhana FIVE: Ultimate Urban Playground; San Francisco.”
Additional Artifacts
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Beyond the cars, you can see these artifacts related to showmanship in Driven to Win.
- Racing Helmet Worn by Ken Block in "Gymkhana Five," circa 2012
- Sunglasses, Worn by Ken Block, circa 2012
- Driving Shoes Worn by Ken Block in "Gymkhana Five," circa 2012
Dig Deeper
Katherine Stinson with Barney Oldfield at Ascot Speedway, Los Angeles, California, November 29, 1917 / THF129701
Learn more about showmanship in racing with these additional resources from The Henry Ford.
- Learn even more about Barney Oldfield’s life and legacy through artifacts from our collections.
- Take a moment to get to know the “999.”
- Read our press release to learn more about Ken Block’s Ford Fiesta featured in the exhibit.
- Watch our interview with another great racing showman, Mario Andretti.
- Uncover the answers to eight questions with Vaughn Gittin, Jr. in The Henry Ford Magazine.
- See legend Richard Petty and a number of his NASCAR driver colleagues visit Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.
- Discover the story of Dale Earnhardt, Sr.’s breakthrough victory at the 1998 Daytona 500.
popular culture, Henry Ford, race cars, race car drivers, racing, Henry Ford Museum, Driven to Win
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