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| From John Blazier and Tom Rollings 1994 book, "Forgotten Heroes of the Speedways: The Riding Mechanics" Out of print but if you search you will find. |
Riding Mechanics were often referred to in the press as "Mechanicians" until about 1912 when the term "Riding Mechanic" became more popular, despite the fact that "Racing Mechanician" continued to be used on AAA racing licenses well into the 1930's and probably until mechanicians were no longer a necessary part of racing. Because this site focuses on very early racing it uses the term "Mechanician" (and because it sounds like "magician" which was often a needed skill to keep these cars going).
Mechanicians rode in the car during practice and qualifying events, races, and other long distance competitive speed events. Hill climbs were generally short and did not need a mechanician aboard but occasionally a mechanician in training might be on board during a hill climb as a way to gain some experience with the car and driver. Tours and endurance events also did not require a riding mechanician but some sort of mechanic was needed so the driver/mechanician combination you see in the racing pictures was often repeated on hill climbs, tours and endurance runs.
The job description of the riding mechanician included maintaining fuel pressure via a pump mounted on the floor board or other handy place, warning drivers of cars approaching from behind, helping to see the road ahead especially under dusty conditions (unless you were in the lead it was always dusty; then you'd start to lap slower cars and it was always dusty again!). Mechanicians also kept an eye on the tire condition, changed tires on the course, and as one might say performed "all other duties as needed or assigned."
They traveled with the drivers to and from events and given the nature of travel in the early 1900's and the life or death dependency between the driver and mechanician functions, one can imagine that strong bonds of trust and respect were necessary in the racing community.
Mechanicians are frequently called the forgotten heroes of early speedway racing. Judging by period photos and of drivers and mechanicians, one might come to the conclusion that most mechanicians were named Unknown or Passenger, or had no names at all. Many newspaper accounts and race results omitted the names of mechanicians unless they were killed during a race.
Yet the fatality rate for mechanicians was significantly higher than that of drivers. The pay and recognition was far less. In the early days most were company employees who would resume their regular jobs at the factory as a tester or in some other capacity. In some cases mechanicians hoped to progress to driver, as was the case with Knox's Fred Belcher. But the harsh reality of racing was that his advancement came on the heels of Billy Bourque's and Harry Holcomb's deaths in the 1909 crash at Indianapolis, leaving Knox short one driver and mechanician.
Wikipedia Page on Riding Mechanics
IndyStar Article on Riding Mechanics in the Indianapolis 500
For one of the most complete lists of Riding Mechanics go to Champ Car Stats: CLICK HERE.
