description Auto polo Overview
Auto polo was a short-lived American motorsport in which teams used automobiles instead of horses to play polo, with a mallet-wielding passenger striking a ball toward goals while a driver maneuvered a stripped-down car. It was promoted from 1911 by Ralph Hankinson, a Ford dealer in Wichita, Kansas, and drew large exhibition crowds into the 1920s. Collisions and rollovers were frequent and often injured players, and the sport had largely died out by the late 1920s.
help Auto polo FAQ
What was auto polo?
Auto polo was a short-lived American sport in which teams played polo using automobiles instead of horses. A driver steered the car while a passenger used a mallet to hit the ball.
Who promoted auto polo?
Ford dealer Ralph Hankinson promoted the sport from 1911. Early demonstrations helped auto polo attract attention at fairs and sporting events.
How was an auto polo team organized?
A typical car carried a driver and a mallet-wielding passenger. The driver maneuvered toward the goal while the passenger tried to strike the ball.
Why did auto polo disappear?
The sport was dangerous because cars could collide, overturn, or lose parts during play. The high risk of injury and vehicle damage helped prevent it from becoming a lasting mainstream sport.
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