Billy Knipper @ Atlanta - 1909

This photo was originally published in the November 14, 1909 Indianapolis Star. The image is of Billy Knipper and his unnamed riding mechanic in his Chalmers-Detroit racer. The photo supported an article about the  first race meet at the Atlanta Speedway, a crushed gravel two-mile oval. Knipper's week in Atlanta was distinguished by a big win in the 100-mile feature event of the second day of the meet. He also won a match 10-mile match race with his teammate Joe Matson on the final day of the meet. 
 
Atlanta Speedway was seen at the time to be a strong rival to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway which was undergoing a transformation from crushed stone and "taroid" to a brick paved surface. Many new  demolished had been established at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's first automobile race meet in August. Neither Atlanta nor Indianapolis were as fast as Brooklands, the high-banked concrete course in England.