A Mile A Minute At Bad Axe Race Track

“Watching an Auto Making a Mile a Minute on Bad Axe Race Track” – Early 1900s Crowds gather at the Bad Axe race track to witness a car reach the remarkable speed of 60 miles per hour—“a mile a minute.” This rare image, part of the David V. Tinder Collection of Michigan Photography, captures the excitement surrounding early auto racing in rural Michigan.

Early Auto Racing Thrills in Bad Axe

This photo, titled “Watching an Auto Making a Mile a Minute on Bad Axe Race Track”, captures a dramatic moment in early Michigan motorsport history. Likely taken in the 1910s, the phrase “mile a minute” referred to a vehicle reaching 60 miles per hour—a headline-worthy feat in the early days of automobiles. The event likely took place at the Bad Axe Fairgrounds, a multi-use venue that hosted horse races, auto exhibitions, and community gatherings.

A large crowd lines the track, their attention fixed on the blur of a speeding car. Wooden fences, grandstands, and period dress set the scene in an era when cars were still a novelty. The photograph is part of the David V. Tinder Collection of Michigan Photography, housed at the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan. It documents not just an auto race, but a cultural moment—when the machine age met small-town curiosity and thrill-seeking. This image offers a snapshot of Michigan’s shift from horsepower to horse-power.