Dirt Track Disaster ! George Herzog Dies on the Ho-Ho-Kus New Jersey Racetrack 1934

Two morbid crayon drawings pay a gruesome tribute to early race driver George Herzog in 1934. The Ho-Ho-Kus NJ half-mile dirt track was created for horses, not humans. Calls for the track to be closed were dismissed in 1932. Better to satisfy the daredevil culture of the young artist here. “George Herzog, 23 years old, of Matawan, N.J., one of ten finalists in the feature event of the automobile races here today, was fatally injured when his machine overturned three times. His neck was broken and he received other injuries, dying in an ambulance on the way to the Paterson General Hospital.” NYT May 30, 1934. The year before this tragic event, Mr. Herzog had been granted a patent for a new “crank shaft grinder” so he was an early gear head. The lurid, sorrowful event depicted by a pair of particularly vibrant crayon works. Kudos for the artist for seemingly inventing the phrase “Deadhead” decades before the Grateful Dead! Thanks to Natalie Curley Antiques! Anonymous crayon drawings, 1934 by Anonymous Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog #automobile. #racing #ho-ho-kus. #death. #racetrack #selftaughtartist