Speed King Auto Racer

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The Speed King Auto Racer was a midget two-seat roadster built by the R. E. Chambers Company of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania for use at the 1939 New York World's Fair where a 60-by-200 foot oval racetrack (the attraction was called the "Midget Auto Racers") saw approximately twenty Speed Kings in constant use whenever the Midway was open. As expected, the Speed King cars were very heavy and sturdily-constructed to hold up under such hard usage.
Earlier and simpler but similar models were built by the Traver Engineering company, Chambers' predecessor, and these older cars are still in regular use at the Kennywood amusement park in Pennsylvania.
The Speed King Auto Racer utilized a single-cylinder air-cooled and rear-mounted Cushman Husky Model 15M 71 engine and mechanical rear-wheel drum brakes. Power was transmitted through a centrifugal clutch to a jackshaft and thence by chain drive to both rear wheels.
Tires were 4.00x8.
Each car was 36 inches wide and 91 inches in length with a wheelbase of 65 and 1/2 inches. Bodies were hand-formed, but the American Bantam Car Company of nearby Butler, Pennsylvania supplied pre-stamped radiator grilles and front axles to Chambers for Speed King cars.
Ross supplied the steering box, the steering and braking mechanisms were nearly identical to those used by American Bantam, and a unique single-pedal foot control operated both the throttle and both rear-wheel mechanical brakes for its specialized use on the midway. When that pedal was depressed the car accelerated under throttle, and when the pedal was released, the brakes were automatically actuated.
In addition, a remote braking mechanism was utilized; a forward-facing hook was mounted below each car, and the ride operator had only to raise a cable to stop all the cars. As each car passed over the cable, it snagged the hook, which activated the brakes.

For drivers, the single foot pedal actuated an arm that controlled both the throttle and brakes. A large spring kept the brakes engaged while loading and unloading drivers and passengers at the start and end of each ride cycle. When the driver depressed the single foot-pedal, the center arm would move back and the actuating arm would pivot, which activated the throttle on the carburetor. Behind that linkage, a transverse bar bolted to the center connected to outward rear springs that simultaneously released the brakes.
In addition to the still-in-use Kennywood cars, several Speed King Auto Racers are known to survive, though likely there are more. The older Kennywood cars, however were recently rebodied.

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