WLM | history
CHASING THE
in Cheyenne
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laxon horns, Thomas Flyers, and 4-stroke engines don’t seem to be something you
would have heard about in Cheyenne in 1909. Many may assume of a growing
Western town there would be terms related to cattle, rodeos and how the West was
tamed (or is it?). However, the Industrial Age was in full swing, and many in Cheyenne
wanted to be a part of this flourishing new revolution.
On Tuesday night, March 2, 1909, 25 local Cheyenne automobile drivers met to form a motor
club. The club’s aim was to advance the interest of other motorists in Cheyenne, and conduct
social and business meetings. The Cheyenne Motor Club wanted to bring Cheyenne to the
forefront of the automobile era – and that is exactly what they did.
Using their connections, the club spared no expense in creating one of the fastest race
tracks in the United States, able to handle the top speeds of the day in racing. Club
member W. E. Dinneen headed the sales department of the Buick Motor Car Company.
Dinneen approached C. F. Huffman, who was considered to be one of the most experienced
automobile drivers in the East, and worked directly for the Buick factory. Huffman relocated
his family to Cheyenne to support the build of the auto track, with work beginning on
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Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine | Spring 2016
Stimson Negative 1, Frontier Park
The Cheyenne Motor Club wasted no time in moving forward with their agenda in placing
Cheyenne on the auto touring map. Within 25 days of forming their organization, members
met with the Civic Improvement Committee and the Industrial Cheyenne Motor Club,
bringing with them ambitious plans to build a five mile race track north of the Cheyenne
city limits. The expense of the track was to be paid entirely by the club, as they anticipated
big races to make these funds back. The ambitions of the club and city rang through in
the headline from the Wyoming Tribune, March 3, 1909: “That Five-Mile Auto Track For
Cheyenne Will Bring A Lot of People And Money For This City.” Two plans for the
track were presented. The first of these plans was to