Ray Weishaar

Lawrence Ray Weishaar was born on September 9, 1890, in Oklahoma; he grew up in Wichita, Kansas.

Weishaar sought work to help support his family, and as a teenager he got a job with Bell Telephone.

He eventually saved up enough money to buy himself a motorcycle which was, at the time, the most cost-effective form of transportation.

He was forced to drop out of the race on the 24th lap when his gas tank began leaking; at the time he was vying for the first-place position.

There was considerable dispute for several laps as a result of their determination to make Weishaar stop and put on his helmet again.

His greatest victory was in Indiana, in the Marion Cornfield Classic Road Race, which took place in 1920.

His wife, Emma, drove him to the Los Angeles General Hospital, where he died in a matter of hours from his internal injuries.

Smaller engine classes were created, but as with most racing sports the speeds began to climb again.