124^th Field Artillery Armory  (since 1970, known as the General Jones Armory)

Years of operation:       1934 – 1940

Location:  5200 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago, Ill.

Notes:  U.S. military facility was the scene of the country’s first indoor midget auto race on 11/18/34.  15-lap main event won by Harold Shaw, followed by Jimmy Snyder, Cy Drew and Ralph McDaniel…winter indoor races held through 1940 when the building became unavailable as the United States readied itself for entry into World War II…area indoor racing then shifted to the International Amphitheatre…in 1938 the Armory was to be the site of the first ever indoor midget racing program on a wooden board track.  A one sixth mile, high-banked, wooden surface track was constructed at the cost of some $25,000.  On November 13, a packed house saw Paul Russo defeat Tony Willman, Snyder, Duke Nalon and Harry McQuinn in the 25-lap feature race.  Unfortunately, this inaugural event would be the first and only board track race held inside the Armory as proposed Sunday night events had to be canceled due to the time it took to set up the track after the Armory’s Saturday night polo games.  A rumor circulated that the 636-section tack had warped after being taken down and stored outside after the first race program…The building is still standing and a working facility to this day.