The Checkered Flag (1926)

Jack Reese, a mechanic at Corbin Motors, falls in love with Rita Corbin, the daughter of the company's president. Ray Barton, the managing director of Corbin Motors, is also in love with Rita; and aggravated by Jack's affection for her, Barton has him fired. Working with his friend Marcel, Jack perfects a design for a new carburetor, which is then stolen from them by some of Barton's henchmen. Jack and Marcel get it back and enter their car in the big race. On the day of the race, Jack and Marcel are forcibly detained by Barton's men, and Rita takes Jack's place, driving his car to victory. As the result of the carburetor's success, Jack gets his job back and wins her father's approval to marry Rita.