December 1909 Time Trials

This collection of articles is a good research source for anyone interested in learning more about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's project to pave the track with bricks during the autumn of 1909. This action was triggered by the tragic events of the Speedway's first auto race in August 1909. This collection focuses on the December time trial events that yielded new records and demonstrated the speed and improved safety of the facility. The weather was brutally cold, sinking to as low as 9 degrees. The track was covered in snow earlier in the week and Director of Contests Ernest Moross announced that he would pour gasoline on the bricks and set them afire if necessary to clear the Speedway for the trials. Temperatures were so biting that the drivers created homemade chamois balaclavas to protect their skin.

Ambitious Speedway Plans - Fall 1909

This article from October discusses ambitious plans by Indianapolis Motor Speedway management to stage races in the autumn of 1909. The races never materialized, but the Speedway did stage a time trial event during some unusually frigid weather in December.
The Brickyard's First Speed Test

This article describes the planned events for the December 17, 1909 time trial at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This was published the morning of the event, so the time trials were yet to be run. However, it provides a nice update to the practice that had occurred up to that point.
Records Fall in Bitter Cold

This is a nice collection of articles that summarizes the first day of the December 1909 speed trials at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and sets up the second day. Lewis Strang in his Fiat was the big star, busting Barney Oldfield's mile record set in August. National Motor Vehicle Company driver Johnny Aitken turned in a strong performance for stock cars.
Strang, Christie Battle Cold, Set Records

This is an excellent collection of articles covering the second and final day of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1909 time trials. Lewis Strang set a new five mile mark and Walter Christie blew away the old quarter mile record. Some good images are included - not high quality, but interesting.
Endicott "Dark Faced Minstrel"

This is an image that appeared in the Indianapolis Star on December 18, 1909. It depicts Cole driver Bill Endicott covered in a black felt mask to cover his exposed facial skin from the cold. In a sign of the times, the caption writer reported that Endicott looked like a "dark faced minstrel." Times were different, sometimes in an unpleasant way, but always interesting.