Van Johnson Skidding in a Sprint Car Race at Williams Grove Speedway, 1957

THF73135 / Van Johnson Skidding in a Sprint Car Race at Williams Grove Speedway, 1957
01

Artifact Overview

The front engine and high body on Van Johnson's vehicle are two typical characteristics still seen on contemporary sprint cars. In contrast to current day sprint cars, safety features severely lacked for racers during Johnson's era, leading to many fatal accidents, including his own death in a 1959 race back at Williams Grove Speedway.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

13 October 1957

Collection Title

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

2009.103.8

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 5 in
Width: 7 in

Inscriptions

Handwritten in ink on the back of the image: 2833-1 / V. Johnson / WG / 10-13-1957 Handwritten on scrapbook page in white ink: VAN JOHNSON / #2833-1 / WILLIAMS GROVE / 13 OCT 1957