1915 PANAMA CALIFORNIA EXPOSITION

The Panama California International Exposition of 1915-1916 celebrated the completion of the Panama Canal while promoting San Diego as the first U.S. port of call. A road race featuring the country’s top racers attracted 50,000 people to the exposition. Eighteen drivers started the race, driving for six hours and over 300 miles on a route through Point Loma that still exists today - along Rosecrans, Chatsworth, Catalina, and Canon Streets. Only five cars finished, with Earl Cooper in Stutz #8 winning with an average speed of 65 mph.

San Diego Exposition Road Race - Panama-California Exposition (pancalarchive.org)