Chester S. Ricker

CHESTER S. RICKER was an avid follower of automobile races on Eastern tracks prior to the first Indianapolis 500 race in 1911. He started his illustrious career as a nationally known timer and scorer in 1909 with the factory teams of Chalmers, Stoddard-Dayton, Isotta-Fraschini, Alco, and Apperson. Ricker’s records were instrumental in certifying Harry Grant as winner of the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup race when official data were inconclusive. A.R. Pardington, referee of that race, then served in a similar capacity for the first six Indianapolis 500 races with Ricker as a prominent member of his official staff. In 1916, Ricker was chairman of the technical committee as well as director of timing and scoring, a position he retained for 35 years. He created and perfected the basic scoring system at Indianapolis and also timed many of the nation’s premier speed contests on water and in the air.