California Road Racing in Los Angeles

Mines Field, known today as Los Angeles International Airport, circa 1930. Courtesy of the Title Insurance and Trust / C.C. Pierce Photography Collection, USC Libraries.





Courtesy of the Title Insurance and Trust / C.C. Pierce Photography Collection, USC Libraries.

Areal view of Mines Field












Racing at Mines Field in the mid '30s Areal Map of Mines Field showing Century Boulevard behind the main grandstands. Westwood Village Ford Racer at Mines Field





Mines Field was dedicated and opened as the official airport of Los Angeles in 1930, and just two years later the 1.9-mile dirt road racing track was built next to the main runway. Racing lasted at Mines Field until 1936, a year later the Airport would be purchased by the city of Los Angeles and the complex would be expanded to become LAX.