The Gardner Trophy Air Races, May 1929, Part 1

     First conceived as a promotional event to bolster the enterprises of Parks Air Lines, Inc., the Gardner Trophy Race became one of the major aerial events of 1929. Sanctioned by the National Aeronautic Association, the race had just one restriction; engine sizes were to be held under 800 cubic inches displacement. It was an "all-out" speed dash, with no handicaps. Prize offerings of over $10,000 attracted pilots from across the United States. What resulted was a most unique air race featuring some of the biggest names in the business and a wide variety of airplanes. 
     The Gardner Trophy Air Race consisted of two phases. The first phase was a preliminary qualifying event consisting of five races of approximately 700 miles. The first and second placers in each of these five heats would qualify to compete in the second phase, a final event of 468 miles. The winner of this final was to receive the Gardner Trophy Cup and $5,500 in prize
money.

CONCEPT

     The Gardner Races were created to promote Parks Air College, dubbed the "World’s Largest Flying School," and Parks Aircraft Company, a newly formed aircraft manufacturer in East St. Louis, Ill. With the introduction of a line of four new airplanes for the spring of 1929, Parks Aircraft was looking to stir the interest of the flying public. The Parks people, masters at the game of publicity, felt they could showcase their school and airplane factory by inviting the public to Parks Airfield to see and participate in aviation for
themselves!
     It was decided to hold an air race on a date which coincided with the Memorial Day holiday and with two major aviation events already scheduled for the host city of St. Louis. Memorial Day was to fall on May 30, a Thursday. Many aviation notables would be in town that week for the Annual St. Louis Aviation Exhibition and for the third National Meeting of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. It would be a great opportunity to associate some of the biggest names in aviation with the Parks
event.
     The event was inspired by Oliver L. Parks and by Russell and Fred Gardner. Parks had become well known for creating the college, the airfield, and the aircraft manufacturing plant, all of which were under Parks Air Lines, Inc. The "Gardner Bros.," as they were known, were owners of the
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