March 1910 Indianapolis Auto Show

This little known automobile show was staged in Indianapolis and involved the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in March 1910. The Speedway founders were very in tune with the automobile industry and especially the many companies (Marmon, Marion, Premier, etc.) based in Indianapolis. The environment in Indianapolis at this time was electric and not unlike Silicon Valley in its formative years. An extensive network of excited, energetic entrepreneurs full of optimism were constantly interacting with one another exploring opportunities to advance their businesses and make barrels full of money. This auto show was another great promotion these bright, visionary men believed would advance their cause.

Howard Marmon Opines

This is a great article because it is written by Howard Marmon, chief engineer of Nordyke & Marmon, the company that produced the Marmon Wasp, the winning car of the first Indianapolis 500. Marmon was a leading automotive engineer and widely respected throughout the industry. In this article he discusses scientific tests for wind resistance as well as rules for racing.
Business Brisk on Automobile Row

This is a neat article talking about the business impact of the March 1910 Indianapolis automobile show for the showrooms of "automobile row." Automobile Row was an area in downtown Indianapolis that was initiated by Speedway founder Carl Fisher in the early 1900's when he established one of the first automobile dealerships in the United States. Others followed his example and soon a cluster of automobile show rooms and accessory companies sprouted up. Enjoy a snapshot of the state of the automobile business in the spring of 1910.
Floral Parade Image

This clipping from the Indianapolis News for March 31, 1910 provides a mediocre quality image that is broken into three pages. Worth a look to get a feel for the custom of draping the cars in flowers, but little else.

Rules for the Automobile Show

This collection of articles has only a tangential connection to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or auto racing. The meat of the package is an article on the rules for the automobile show. Two other articles include a schedule for the National Aero Club's championship balloon races across the country as well as an item on the development of motorcycle engines.
Marmon "Yellow Jacket"

This collection of articles reviews the state of the automobile industry with a focus on the Mid-West and especially Indianapolis. One article discusses the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's encouragement of amateurs to enter speed trials held on the track during the auto show. Finally, there is an item on Marmon's "Yellow Jacket," the name the firm used for its high speed racers prior to embracing the moniker, "Wasp."
Auto Show Ad, Webb Jay Resurfaces

This is a really neat advertisement for the March 27 - April 2, 1910 Indianapolis auto show. The ad includes the logos of dozens of car manufacturers and accessory parts companies. Great stuff. Also, on the second page there is a nice article that provides an update on Webb Jay, the great driver of the White Sewing Machine Company's steam car, "Whistling Billy."
Opening Day Auto Show Coverage

This article summarizes the first day of the March 1910 Indianapolis auto show.
Floral Auto Parade Plus Speedway Plans

This is a nice collection of articles on the floral parade for the automobile show, plus an article discussing the plans for the Speedway's associated time trials.
 
 
The Speedway's "Teeter Test"

This is a peculiar collection of articles. On the mundane side, we have images of judges of the floral parade of photos. Also, there are images of winners, such as Packard's "gun boat" float. It's reminiscent of the Tournament of Roses. Finally, the oddest piece is a story about the "teeter test" conducted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This test placed cars on a giant teeter-totter to for the manufacturers to demonstrate the machine's stability.
Auto Show Banquet

These articles summarize the banquet held to cap off the great Indianapolis auto show of March 27 through April 2 1910.