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Frontys, Fists and Frank Brisko

Toward the end of the 1928 Milwaukee racing season, tensions were high
due to stiff competition between local drivers Frank Brisko and the
two Marchese brothers, Carl and Tudy. All the local newspapers and
race fans were focused on the Marchese brothers and their rival Frank
Brisko, however an unknown from California would surprise all, his
name was Ernie Triplett.

    Ernie Triplett #1 on the pole with Carl Marchese #5 alongside at Milwaukee, 1928. [Courtesy of the Al Krause Collection]


Frank Brisko had come on the racing scene late in the 1923 season
coming in second in a 100-mile race at Janesville on September 14th.
Frank would go on to win many races in the next four years in places
like Jefferson, Sun Prairie, Fond du Lac, Cedarburg and many at
Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway. Frank was competitive by
constantly upgrading his racing machines trying to out think his
competition. Frank started with rocker arm conversions for the stock
block Model T using Fronty and Rajo equipment and even a Roof 16-valve
Dodge motor. The 1926 season Frank was driving the #6 Burbach
Special powered by a powerful Frontenac Indy engine and owned by
Grover Horn, however some 1927 newspaper accounts have Frank driving a
Clemons car. Late in the 1927 season Brisko has a Miller 8 cylinder
that far out classes the competition, except for his nemesis Carl
Marchese who also has a new Miller 8 car to keep pace with Brisko. By
mid Summer 1928 Milwaukee newspapers announce that “the Italian
supporters of Carl Marchese have raised a substantial sum to which
they have posted that Carl will beat Frank Brisko in both the ten-mile
and forty-mile Badger auto derby meet” to be held at Wisconsin State
Fair Park. Carl loses in the July 4th race, nevertheless, the next
race on July 22nd, Frank wins again with Tudy in the old Carl Marchese
Gallivan is second in the Class A race. Californian Ernie Triplett is
first in the class B race driving Stag Nowicki’s Rajo.

Ernie is in the Milwaukee area participating in races while his
racecar is being repaired at the shop of another famous Wisconsin
driver/race car builder Joe Jagersberger of Racine. Ernie and his
mechanic traveled to the Midwest towing a racecar to compete for the
lucrative prize money offered here after being invited by Milwaukee
driver Johnny Sawyer who befriended Triplett in California the year
before. Their car has a Gallivan double overhead cam setup on a Model
T block that most feel is not competitive against the big straight 8
Millers of Carl Marchese and Frank Brisko. To make things worse for
Ernie, Jagersberger cannot find a matched set of tubular rods for the
car. It is decided that they will go with two of the original tubular
racing rods and replace the other two damaged rods with the only two
rods they can find in the area for the Ford four cylinder block. The
engine work is finished in time for the September 1st race at
Wisconsin State Fair Park.

During the rebuild of the engine Ernie gets a ride in the Miller owned
by George Young for the August 28th, 1928 race at State Fair Park.
All news accounts are focused on the Marchese-Brisko Miller 8 dual.
The first race of the day is wrapped in controversy with starter Mike
Popp attempting to disqualify Carl after he beats Frank Brisko.
Brisko accepts second place and persuades Popp not to disqualify Carl.
Brisko and Carl dual again in the third race with Frank winning while
Carl finishes a close second and Tudy in Carl’s old Gallivan based T
ends up fourth. Triplett retired his car early due to a burned
connecting rod. The fourth race of the day started with fisticuffs
between Mike Popp and Tom Marchese Sr. who was upset over the
treatment of his son when Mike Popp black-flagged Carl again. Frank
Brisko went on to win the event. The incident between Carl Sr. and
Mike Popp resulted in one of the greatest sports headlines in
Milwaukee’s history, ” ‘Pops’ pops Popp.” The stage was set for
another bitter dual on September 1st at Wisconsin State Fair Park.

Ernie Triplett brings his fresh Gallivan-Rajo to the track to compete
with the big Miller 8 of Brisko, the Marchese clan were absent for
this race. It appeared that Frank had little competition until
Triplett set fastest time trial around the oval at: 45:78, Brisko was
second with: 45:85. Ernie didn’t do any hot laps, he was saving his
car for the races as he was concerned with the condition of his engine
and tires. He was out of money and had to win the race to win enough
money to get back to California. Frank’s day didn’t improve when he
lost to Triplett three straight races. Brisko only won the
consolation race when Triplett threw a rod on the second lap while
leading. Triplett’s winnings for the day were $850.00, more than
enough to make it back home in sunny California.

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