History
The Beverly Hills Speedway Association built the board oval on farmland bought in 1919, with a layout by engineer Art Pillsbury that used a railroad-style spiral easement curve to carry cars into its steeply banked turns. It opened on February 28, 1920, when Jimmy Murphy won the 250-mile feature.
The track drew huge crowds and was among the fastest in the country, but it was deadly: Gaston Chevrolet and Eddie O'Donnell died in a 1920 Thanksgiving crash. Its last race, in February 1924, was won by Harlan Fengler at a record 116.6 mph.
As Beverly Hills grew, the land became worth far more than the speedway, and the association sold it and moved racing to Culver City. The Beverly Wilshire Hotel was built on part of the old track site.
Why it matters: One of the premier board tracks of the 1920s, it shows how quickly Southern California real estate overtook early motor racing.
Timeline
- February 28, 1920Opening race[1]
Jimmy Murphy won the 250-mile opener at about 103 mph before some 50,000 fans.
- November 1920Fatal Thanksgiving crash[1]
Gaston Chevrolet and Eddie O'Donnell were killed in a collision; riding mechanic Lyall Jolls died the next day.
- April 24, 1921Spring race[2]
Speed Sport describes a crowd of about 50,000 at the April 1921 board-track race.
- February 24, 1924Final race[1]
Harlan Fengler won at 116.6 mph, a world record for 250 miles.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[1] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Commercial and hotel development; the Beverly Wilshire Hotel occupies part of the former site.[1] |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Venue facts
| Location | Tract bounded by Wilshire Boulevard, South Beverly Drive, Olympic Boulevard and Lasky Drive, Beverly Hills, California[1] |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Motorsports |
| Level | AAA Championship |
| Opened | February 28, 1920[1] |
| Last used for sports | February 24, 1924[1] |
| Demolished | c. 1924[1] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Final capacity | 70,000[1] |
| Capacity notes | Wikipedia describes a 70,000-seat stadium; the final race drew a reported 85,000. |
| Architect | Art Pillsbury (layout); Jack Prince (builder)[1] |
| Surface | Wood boards |
| Owner / operator | Beverly Hills Speedway Association |
| Closure | The property was sold as land values rose; racing moved to a new board track in Culver City. |
Documented details
Sources
- Beverly Hills Speedway, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, architect, capacity, closed, coordinates, current land use, demolished, events, opened
- Board Tracks: Thrills & Funerals, Speed Sport. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: events
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (1)
- Speed Sport gives the track length as 1.125 miles; Wikipedia says 1.25 miles.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.