By Davy Crockett
Johnny Salo, of Passaic, New Jersey, was the greatest American ultrarunner of the first half of the 1900s. This is part two of the story of his amazing life and the story of the 1929 "Bunion Derby." If you haven’t already, go read Part One, Johnny Salo - 1928 Bunion Derby which highlights Salo’s rise to running fame when he placed second in the 1928 race across America in the “Bunion Derby.” In this concluding article, Salo’s fame grows even more when he ran in the 1929 Bunion Derby with perhaps one of the most exciting finishes in ultrarunning history.
But sadly, his amazing running career soon was cut short by tragedy. You may want to find a tissue for the end of this story. This article attempts to celebrate the amazing accomplishments and impactful life of Johnny Salo. Once a huge hero, he has now been forgotten, even by his hometown of Passaic, New Jersey, and needs to be remembered again.
Plans for 1929 Bunion Derby
By Feb 1929, Charles C. Pyle (1882 – 1939), known as “Cash and Carry Pyle” was at it again, promoting an upcoming 1929 “International Continental footrace” (Bunion Derby) that this time would go from New York to Los Angeles with a more southern route. He traveled in his huge bus around to cities to get contract agreements signed for stopping points.
In March, Salo announced locally his intention to get unpaid leave from the Passaic, New Jersey police force to run in the 1929 Bunion Derby. An editorial in his hometown newspaper thought the idea was terrible. “For a long time after his return he was not altogether a well man Salo shouldn’t think of going into another such nerve-wrecking, body-breaking test of endurance. For his own sake and his family’s, he should be dissuaded from making this next race. His sturdy physique, weakened by the last effort could be shattered in the next.”
Andy Payne
By late March, 81 runners from 14 countries had gathered at Pyle’s training camp on Long Island preparing for race day. They all sought to win the $25,000 first place prize or at least finish in the top fifteen to get a piece of the total $60,000 pot. About 30 of the 1928 Bunion Derby runners returned to run again.
The 1928 winner, Andy Payne wouldn’t try to defend his title. “The Oklahoma farm boy, now quite wealthy through the purchase of coal and oil land, will go along as a helper.” He would be Pyle’s, public figure head, be a featured attraction at Pyle’s nightly side-show, and would also act as the “chief patrolman” during the daily runs, aiding runners and crews.
The Start
Crowds at the start at Columbus Circle
Start area jammed
The 1929 Bunion Derby began on March 31, 1929. An estimated 50,000 people jammed Columbus Circle in New York City for the send-off. Steve O’Neill, football star of the New York Giants pulled the trigger of the starting gun. The runners first ran 2.5 miles to board an electric ferry on 23rd street (Pier 63) to cross the Hudson River.
Running to the ferry
About 500,000 people lined the route to Elizabeth, New Jersey, the first stopping point. Police in Elizabeth enforced its Sunday “blue laws” and refused to let Pyle put up his evening side show.
The start from the ferry in New Jersey
Salo unfortunately became ill early because of the heat, so he took it easy on that first day. But all along the way, he was the center of attention among the fans. Many would ask, “where is Salo?” He ran along in his same usual stride. A Passaic motorcycle cop, Michael Palko (1897-1975), opened up a running lane ahead as they entered Elizabeth, New Jersey where Salo finished in 10th place for the first day.
Salo (107) running on the first day
William “Bill” Wiklund (1907-1980), his trainer, and Salo's wife Amelia, who was also part of his crew driving along, helped him the best they could to overcome his stomach trouble. Wiklund, also Finnish-American, had been the captain of the champion Passaic High cross country track team in...
