El Sereno in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Ascot History
Legion Ascot Speedway
— 1927 - 1936 —
Photographed By Craig Baker, July 12, 2023
1. Ascot History Marker
The speedway originally opened in 1924 and was taken over by the American Legion Post 127 of Glendale in 1927. Legion Ascot was the most famous of several Ascot speedways. The first Ascot was named after England's Ascot horse track. In its 13 years of operation it laid claim to 24 fatalities making it infamous as "the killer track".
In 1932 Wilbur Shaw designed the first ever racing helmet, wearing it at Legion Ascot speedway to initial objections and dislikings from the crowd. Their annoyance soon faded when his helmet was put to a test and saved his life.
Movie stars such as Bing Crosby, Andy Devine, Loretta Young, Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Clara Bow and Carole Lombard were known to have attended as well as adding to the speedway's attraction and excitement.
Legion Ascot Speedway ended its run in 1936 when it burned down — Torched by a former employee claiming he did not want to see any more of his friends die.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.
Location. 34° 4.283′ N, 118° 11.326′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in El Sereno. Marker can be reached
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. El Sereno (here, next to this marker); Ascot Reservoir: 1910 - present (here, next to this marker); Soto Street Bridge Removal (approx. half a mile away); Soto Street Tunnel (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Farmdale School (approx. 0.8 miles away); The 1968 Chicano Student Walkouts (approx. 0.8 miles away); Emiliano Zapata (approx. 1.1 miles away); Rancho Rosa Castilla (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.
Regarding Ascot History. Legion Ascot was the second of four Ascot sites in Los Angeles.
The original one-mile oval in South Central Los Angeles was open between 1907 and 1919.
Legion Ascot operated from 1924 - 1936.
A third site, Southern Ascot near South Gate, opened in June 1936 and held races on a half-mile dirt oval until 1942.
The fourth track in the series was Ascot Park in Gardena, which operated from 1957 through 1990.
Photographed By Craig Baker, July 12, 2023
2. Ascot History Marker
Photographed By Craig Baker, July 12, 2023
3. Ascot History Marker
Other interpretive signs describe the history of the reservoir, the park, and the community, in English and Spanish.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 19, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 158 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 19, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
