The Fast Times of Albert Champion

by Peter Joffre Nye

  Pritchard, W. A. “Albert Champion a Cycle Marvel: Wonderful Records Made by Manufacturer in His Younger Days Are Recalled.” New York Sun, January 7, 1917.

  Renault, Dennis. Book Press Ink and Paper: The History of the Nineteenth Century Letter-Copying Book Process. Sacramento, CA: Mockingbird Press, 1996.

  Riggs, L. Spencer. “Carl G. Fisher, Indiana’s Best Kept Secret,” Automobile Quarterly (Kutztown, PA: Kutztown Publishing Company), May 1996.

  Rimel, Bob. “Reed Martin’s 1899 DeDion Bouton,” Classic Cycle Review (Harrisburg, PA) 2, no. 4 (1994).

  Ritchie, Andrew. Charles Terront and Paris-Brest-Paris, Part Three of Three. Sand Lake, MI: 1999.

  Rothenberg, Al. “The Mystifying Millionaire: The Best Known and Least Known of GM’s Leaders.” Automotive News (Detroit), September 16, 1983.

  Rutt, Walter. Unpublished memoir in a collection by Sammlung Wolfgang Gronen, Zentralbibliothek der Sportwissenschaften der Deutschen Sporthochschule (Cologne, Germany), Inventory Nr. 26.

  Scharchburg, Richard P. “Albert Champion,” Encyclopedia of American Business History and Biography: The Automobile Industry, 1896–1920. New York: Broccoli Clark Lyman1990.

  _____, ed. The GM Story: Corporation Created by Dynamic Flint, Bold Men. Flint, MI: General Motors Institute, 1981. Originally published as “GM Story” in the Flint Journal’s Golden Milestone Edition in 1958, celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the corporation’s founding.

  _____. W. C. Durant: “The Boss.” Flint, MI: General Motors Institute, 1973.

  Stranahan, Ann. An American Chronicle: The Stranahan Chronicles. Perrysburg, OH, June 2004.

  Stevens, O. L. “Stabling Automobiles around Harvard,” Automobile Magazine (New York), January 1901.

  Wilson, S. S. “Bicycle Technology: This Humane and Efficient Machine Played a Central Role in the Evolution of the Ball Bearing, the Pneumatic Tire, Tubular Construction, and the Automobile and the Airplane. Scientific American (New York), March 1973.

  SELECED NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

  “America Enters Grand Prix This Year.” Evening Tribune (San Diego), April 2, 1921.

  “Both Killed: Miles and Stafford, Motor-Pace Riders, Slain on the Track at Waltham before Thousands.” Boston Journal, May 31, 1900, p. 1.

  “Boxer Fights A. C. Champion Widow’s Will: Share in $6,000,000 Estate Demanded on Claim of ‘Common-Law’ Husband.” Detroit Times, June 16, 1935.

  Champion, Albert. “All Kinds of Machines at the Automobile Show.” Special to the Boston Traveler (Boston), January 19, 1904.

  _____. “Uncle Sam Now Supreme in Two Speed Classes.” Duluth News-Tribune (Minnesota), February 27, 1921.

  _____. “What Spark Plugs Means to the Motor: Facts Concerning Making of Important Little Contrivance,” Flint Journal, February 23, 1917.

  “Champion Co. Plans Branch Plants in France and England.” Flint Journal, July 18, 1919, p. 1.

  “Champion Divorce Decree Is Filed: Property Settlement Made Out of Court—Wife Goes to France.” Flint Journal, November 1, 1921, p. 15.

  “Champion Estate Suit Withdrawn: Brazelle’s Alleged Claims Apparently Ignored.” Flint Journal, June 25, 1935.

  “Charge Boxer Enslaved, Beat Mrs. Champion.” Detroit Times, June 15, 1935.

  “Charge Terrorism in Champion Suit: Kin of Spark Plug King’s Widow Accuse Former Boxer.” Grand Rapids Press, June 15, 1935.

  “Court Battle Opens over Champion Will.” Detroit News, June 14, 1935.

  “Cycling in France: A Word about M. Clément.” Westminster Budget. (London), October 9, 1896, p. 28.

  “Death Race: Two Riders Fatally Hurt at Waltham.” Boston Herald, May 31, 1900, p. 1.

  “Duesenberg Is a Great Machine: Old-Timers’ Club Responsible for Start of Prominent Racer; Murphy Entered.” Harrisburg Telegraph (Pennsylvania), May 22, 1923.

  “Europe Respects U.S. Auto Craft: Albert Champion Finds Changed Attitude during Trip Abroad.” Flint Journal, October 12, 1922, p. 13.

  “‘Fixed’ the Motor: Tampering, Marks Thinks, Caused Waltham Tragedy.” Boston Post, June 2, 1900.

  “Flint Manufacturer Arrested in Hotel on Wife’s Complaint: Mrs. Albert Champion Finds Husband in Company with ‘Other Woman.’” Flint Journal, August 25, 1921, p. 1.

  “40,000 Spark Plugs Champion Co.’s Daily Average.” Flint Journal, November 30, 1918, p. 9.

  “The French Dunlop Tyre.” To-Day (London), July 18, 1896, p. 331.

  “Gen. Motors Party Now Seeing Paris: Albert Champion Is Famous Guide, Says C. S. Mott in Letter.” Flint Journal, September 20, 1919, p. 8.

  “La Belle France on Wheels: How the Dunlop Tyre Came to France.” Westminster Budget (London), July 17, 1896, p. 28.

  Martin, Martha. “Sparkplug Millions Explode in Tragedy: Death Wipes out Triangle of Champion, No. 2 and Gigolo.” New York Sunday News, April 26, 1936.

  Mayfair, Tony. “Brazelle Bares Story of Love: ‘Common Law’ Hubby Fights for Estate.” New York Mirror, April 26, 1935.

  _____. “Fatal Romance behind a Suit by a ‘Common Law Husband’: He Brings Suit for a Share in the $6,000,000 Estate His Lady Beloved Inherited from an Inventor-Husband, Who Died of a Paroxysm after Discovering Their Close Friendship.” New York Mirror, July 7, 1935.

  _____. “Mad Dream Lovers Got Costly Nest.” New York Mirror, April 28, 1935.

  “Millionaire’s Death Laid to Boxer’s Punch in Suit over Champion Estate.” New York American, June 15, 1935.

  “Old-Timers Choose Albert Champion to Head New Auto Club.” Flint Journal, January 22, 1921.

  “Pacemakers Killed: Miles and Stafford on Motor Tandem Hurled to Death.” Boston Globe, May 31, 1900, p. 1.

  “Pride of Albert Champion and Her Sister Now in Motion Pictures—Both Former Kansas City Girls.” Kansas City Star (Missouri), February 22, 1922, p. 3.

  Pritchard, W. A. “Albert Champion a Cycle Marvel: Wonderful Records Made by a Manufacturer in His Younger Days are Recalled. New York Sun, January 7, 1917.

  “Proposition Is a Big One.” Boston Herald, March 6, 1918.

  “Pugilist Painted as Sinister Guardian of Mrs. Champion.” Detroit Free Press, June 15, 1935.

  “The Romance of Business: A Word on the Birth and Growth of a New Industry.” Westminster Budget (London), May 1, 1896, p. 26.

  “Spark Plug Widow’s Life of Fear Bared.” New York Daily News, June 15, 1935.

  Stevenson, L. L. “Champion Will Fight Delayed: Brazelle Suit Postponed to June 25 after Charges He’s ‘Despoiler.’” Detroit News, June 15, 1935.

  _____. “Charge 6 million Will Plot: Friend Begins Court Battle: N.Y. Club Man Says He Lived with Mrs. Champion for 8 Years in Penthouse.” Detroit News, April 23, 1935.

  “Suit over Champion Estate Is Settled.” Lansing State Journal (Michigan), June 26, 1935.

  “To Enter Grand Prix: American Cars to Compete for Honors in Famous Speed Classic in July.” Baltimore Sun, March 13, 1921.

  “Two Killed in Cycle Race in Waltham: Champion’s Fall Forced All Three Other Racing Teams into a Tangle.” New York World, May 31, 1900, p. 1.

  “Two Women Hurt in Auto Accidents: Coupe Hits Truck.” Flint Journal, August 2, 1921, p. 12.

  “Under Fire of Aeroplane Guns of the Germans: Albert Schmidt Returns to Flint after Five Months in French Army,” Flint Journal, January 20, 1915, p. 1.

  Un Spectator des Troisièmes. “Le Coureur Champion,” Le Cycle (Paris), April 12, 1896.

  “Work is Albert Champion’s Main Pastime—Says He Can’t Quit Now.” Detroit News, August 21, 1927.

  While every measure has been taken to contact copyright holders, the author and publisher would be grateful for information about any copyright material they have been unable to trace and would be happy to make amendments in further editions.

  The cover photo of Albert Champion is used with the kind permission from the owner, Kerry Champion Williams. She also gave kind permission to publish photos of her great-aunt Edna Crawford Champion and Albe
rt Champion relaxing with his dogs as well as the portrait photo of Albert that used to hang over the portal to the shop floor of his factory in Flint, Michigan. The photo by Boston portrait photographer Elmer Chickering of Champion riding his aero bicycle is reproduced with the kind permission of Lorne Shields.

  Excerpts from William C. Durant’s unpublished memoir William C. Durant, In His Own Words, The Unedited Memoirs of William C. Durant, are published with kind permission from Kettering University Archives, Flint, Michigan, William C. Durant Collection. Excerpts of reportage by Boston Globe reporter John J. Donovan were kindly granted by PARS International Corp., which represents the Globe.

  The photo of Henry Ford standing with Barney Oldfield seated at the wheel of the 999 racecar is published with kind permission from the collection of the Henry Ford Museum. Permission to publish the photo of Tom Cooper was generously granted by Janet Brown and Roy Drinkwater. Photos of Alfred P. Sloan, Louis Chevrolet, and William Durant from the GM Media Archive are published under licensing with the kind permission of General Motors.

  Photos of the brothers Frank Duane Stranahan, Spencer Stranahan, and Robert Allen Stranahan II have been used with kind permission from Ann and Stephen Stranahan.

  Poster Photo Archives, Posters Please, Inc., New York, graciously granted permission to publish posters of the Clément Cycle Company of Paris, Toulouse-Lautrec for La Chaîne Simpson, Orient Cycles, and Gladiator Cycles. Cherie Champion gave kind permission to publish the photo of Prosper Champion.

  Gary McCoy gave kind permission to publish the photo of Champion riding a two-cylinder Clément Gladiator motorcycle. Bernadette Murphy graciously allowed publication of the image of Champion’s mausoleum in Père Lachaise Cemetery. The Waltham Museum of Waltham, Massachusetts, gave kind permission to publish the image of Charles Herman Metz steering the ten-seat Oriten tandem. Buck Peacock granted kind permission to publish the 1900 photo of Champion riding on a motor-tricycle.

  Page numbers in italic indicate photos.

  AC = Albert Champion in subentries.

  AAA. See American Automobile Association (AAA)

  A.C., use of in product names, 279

  A.C. Sphinx Sparking Plug Ltd., 343

  AC Cico spark plug, 315

  ACDelco, 359, 360–61

  ACF. See Automobile Club of France (ACF)

  AC Spark Plug Company, 13–14, 14, 327, 340, 343, 347, 349

  part of GM after AC’s death, 359, 360–61

  sales, 350–51

  spark plugs for airplanes, 317–18, 324–25, 348, 350

  See also Champion Ignition Company

  AC Titan spark plugs, 300, 315, 324, 325, 343, 354

  furnished for US in World War I, 317–18, 322

  Acuff, Roberta, 346, 360

  advertising

  use of AC’s logo by Stranahan, 308

  use of by AC, 50, 261, 262, 349

  use of posters, 27, 34, 35, 49, 50, 60, 60, 69, 81, 81, 98, 99, 144, 230

  Albert Champion: His Victories, His Adventures, His Voyage to America (brochure from L’Auto), 225

  Albert Champion Company, 247, 247–50, 248, 249, 257, 258–63, 265–67, 269–72, 361

  AC and Robert Stranahan Jr., 271–72

  AC efforts to improve spark plugs (see spark plugs)

  AC importing Nieuport ignition products, 249, 254, 257, 260

  upgrading to the Champion Nuport plug, 260–63, 261

  after Stranahan buyout

  dissolved by Frank Stranahan, 307

  reorganized as Champion Spark Plug Company, 304 (see also Champion Spark Plug Company)

  temporarily known as The Champion Company, 282

  and Buick Motor Company, 272–73, 276–79

  Frank Stranahan buying out AC, 278–79

  Stranahan keeping name after buyout, 279–80

  See also Champion, Albert, as a businessman

  Alcohol Exhibition, 217

  aluminum production allowing for lighter engines, 77

  American Automobile Association (AAA), 159–60, 170, 327

  American Bicycle Company, 102, 208

  American Crayon Company, 104

  American Racing Motorcycles (Hatfield), 130

  Armstrong, F. C., 88

  Arrow (racecar), 168

  Associated Press, 356

  Asters (water-cooled engines), 112, 124, 127, 128–30, 238

  Atlanta: Champion-Walthour match races, 182–87, 213–14

  Atlanta Constitution (newspaper), 187, 213–14

  Atlanta Journal (newspaper), 184

  Autogo, 125

  Automobile, 53–54, 101

  costs of in 1900, 124

  demonstrating reliability of, 246

  gas vs. electric engines, 100–102, 123–24, 138–39

  growth of autos, 141, 203, 208, 210–11, 268, 269, 310

  sold without headlights, 267

  Automobile (publication), 171, 172, 188, 192, 195, 210, 249, 259, 260, 267, 271, 283, 303, 333

  Automobile Club of America, 137

  Automobile Club of France (ACF), 159, 329, 333

  Automobile Club of New Jersey, 246

  Automobile Magazine, 125

  Automobile Topics Illustrated (publication), 17, 193, 195–96

  Automotive News (magazine), 327

  B. F. Goodrich, 132

  Baby Grand touring car, 298

  Baker, Walter C., 188

  Ballot, E. U., 332

  Ballot cars, 322, 330, 343

  baseball, compared to cycling and racing, 10, 98, 105, 145, 148, 155, 167, 183, 258, 327

  Bastide, Roger, 54

  Batignolles area in Paris, 13–14, 16–19, 55, 83, 96, 141

  Battle of Gettysburg, recounting of, 115–16

  Battle of the Somme, 319

  Bayard, Pierre, 26, 29, 51, 60

  Clément changing name to Clément-Bayard, 217

  Bearings (publication), 70, 73, 74, 80, 327

  succeeded by Cycle Age and Trade Review, 96

  Beau, Jules, 57, 64, 72, 75

  Becker, Burton, 268

  Belly, Eugène, 14

  Bennett, F. S., 283

  Bennett, Floyd, 347

  Berlin Grand Prix, 226–27

  Berlin World Championships in 1902, 232

  Bernin, Marius G., 188, 193, 194

  Bessemer, Henry, 53–54

  Bicycle and Automobile Insurance Industry, 217

  “Bicycle Built for Two” (song), 105

  bicycles, 27–29

  development of chain-drive bicycles, 29

  English bicycle industry, 25, 29, 38, 54

  numbers of in US in 1899, 102

  See also Champion, Albert, and bicycle racing; high-wheeler bicycles; motor-pacing; motor-tricycles; tandem bicycles; unicycles

  Bicycling World (magazine), 167, 212

  Blue Ribbon buggies, 273–75, 287

  Boillot, André, 332

  Bol d’Or [Golden Bowl] award, 84

  Bookwaiter, Charles A., 170–71

  Booth Brothers (bike shop), 31

  Bor, Paul, 91, 92, 93, 96

  Borgeson, Griffith, 181, 300–301, 321

  Boston Automobile Dealers’ Association, 242, 245, 258

  Boston Globe (newspaper), 101, 116, 130, 196, 356

  John J. Donovan writing for, 107, 109, 113–14, 117, 118, 120, 122, 123, 126–27, 128, 133, 134, 135, 163, 172, 174, 177, 197–98, 201, 207, 212

  Boston Herald (newspaper), 123, 162, 196, 209, 210, 243, 255, 317

  Boston Journal (newspaper), 243

  Boston Post (newspaper), 122, 129–30

  Boston Traveler (publication), 200

  Bouhours, Emile, 87–88, 91, 92, 93, 230, 231, 232–33, 235

  Bouton, Georges, 77–78

  Boyden, Charles, 125–26

  Braden, Hulda Rae, 345

  Bradley, W. F., 329, 332, 333

  Brady, William A., 109–111, 128, 148

  Brasserie de l’Espérance [Bar of Good Hope], 79–80, 90, 91


  Brazelle, Charles, 345–46, 354–55, 359–60

  arrest of after AC’s death, 356

  Brécy, Charles, 231, 232, 233, 237–38, 241

  Breyer, Victor, 82, 82–84, 91–94, 96–97, 150, 212, 216–17, 220–21, 223, 233

  Brighton Beach race track, 179, 187–88, 191–96, 200, 203

  Broc (Clément’s mechanic), 79, 90, 91, 92–93, 94, 96

  Bruni, Eugenio, 226, 228, 229, 231, 232, 233, 234

  Bryan, Vincent P., 237

  Buffalo, NY, 208, 243, 265

  Buffalo Vélodrome (Paris), 59, 84, 87, 216–19, 220–25, 222

  Bugatti cars, 343

  Buick, David Dunbar, 275–76, 284, 296, 309, 340

  Buick cars, 267, 268, 272, 275, 276, 286, 296, 305, 306, 344

  Buick Motor Company, 246, 272, 275, 289, 293, 296, 304, 317

  and AC, 277–82, 287–88, 290–92, 299, 305, 314

  Buick dealerships, 246, 266, 272, 276, 305

  Buick racing program, 283–84, 286, 287, 289

  originally Buick Manufacturing Company, 276

  part of GM, 281, 287, 291, 311, 313–14, 323–24, 344

  Bullet and Bullet II (racecars), 169, 188, 190, 209

  Burman, “Wild” Bob, 283, 287

  Byrd, Richard E., 347, 350

  “C.H.” See Metz, Charles Herman

  C.H. Metz Company, 157

  Cadillac, Antoine de la Mothe, 270, 299

  Cadillac cars, 187, 283, 294, 297, 351

  AC owning, 311, 335, 347

  Cadillac Motor Company, 203, 272, 282, 291

  originally Cadillac Automobile Company, 294

  part of GM, 282, 287, 291, 295, 314, 344

  Campbell, Albert, 251, 252–53

  Candy/Candy Junior (motor-tandems), 154, 184, 187

  Celeste, Marie, 244–45

  Chamberlain, Clarence, 348, 350

  Champion, Albert, 14, 42, 85, 145, 156, 198– 99, 205, 288–89, 310–11, 327, 342, 352

  accidents involving, 120–23, 121, 150

  at Brighton Beach in 1903, 194–96

  developing a crank to counteract damages from Brighton Beach accident, 202, 203, 219

  after 1904 race at Buffalo Vélodrome, 222, 223

  at 1904 Walthour-Champion match race, 214

  racing a motor-tricycle in 1901, 144

  recuperating from Brighton Beach accident, 201–202, 203, 207, 208–10

  relapse from Brighton Beach accident, 224–25, 226–27, 232, 234