Sam Pierce offers a story about a fanatic racing fan who is convinced his restored Stanley Steamer can outrun the fastest cars of the Indianapolis 500. He plans a route in California to drive the 500 miles, starting the very same time that the Indianapolis race begins. It is a very entertaining story, with one unbelievable turn after another. Police, not comprehending what he is doing, work quickly to set up roadblocks. His car is so fast, by the time they set them up, he has already driven through that location and is way past it. When the Steamer has a setback of some sort, there is a weather setback in Indianapolis. These coincidences add to the fun and encourage the devoted Steamer owner even more.
John McIntire stars, and real-life wife Jeanette Nolan plays the sympathetic spouse who really can’t believe that his tinkering will amount to anything. Sam Pierce, scripter, and also an actor, appears in the story as a radio announcer… named Sam Pierce.
The program was recorded on Thursday, May 23, 1957. Rehearsals began at 1:00pm and concluded at 5:30pm. Recording began at that time and ended at 6:00pm. Editing was on the same evening, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
The surviving recording is an excellent Armed Forces Radio Service transcription (AFRS#934). The nice sound makes it all the more enjoyable.
The Stanley Steamer did set a land speed record in 1906 in Daytona, Florida at 127.6 mph (miles per hour). In 1907, the same driver tried to break the record and was going 150 miles per hour (some say 197 mile per hour) when the car hit a rut and breaking in two, and seriously injuring him with broken ribs, a lacerated scalp, and an injury to his jaw. He lost an eye, and never raced again. That speed record was not recognized because it ended in a crash. But the driver, Fred Marriott, was the first to drive a car more that three miles per minute, and survive the ride. Sports Illustrated was among many to recognized the fiftieth anniversary of the 1906 record https://vault.si.com/vault/1956/03/26/the-car-that-flew The reason for scheduling this performance at this date was the fiftieth anniversary of the 1907 attempt and the Sunday before the Indianapolis 500. Fred Marriott passed away at age 83 in April, 1956, missing the opportunity to hear this story about a Steamer.
The winner of the 1957 Indianapolis 500, held on Memorial Day, four days after this broadcast, was Sam Hanks. It was his thirteenth try to win the event. His average speed was 135mph. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1957_Indianapolis_500
Another entertaining racing storyline on Suspense was Around the World, broadcast 1953-04-06.
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
mp3
https://archive.org/details/TSP570526
THE CAST
John McIntire (Sam Corder), Jeanette Nolan (“Mom” Corder), Joe de Santis (Elbert / Sergeant Walsh), William Kenneally (Radio newscaster / Police), Henry Blair (Junior), Sam Pierce (“Sam Pierce” the race announcer), Daws Butler (Patrol announcer / Constable Hanson / Small Town Cop), George Walsh (Narrator)
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