Charles Stutz Quits

This image of race driver Charles Stutz was originally published in the Sunday, March 20, 1910 Indianapolis Star. It was part of  a special supplemental section about the upcoming March 28 Indianapolis Automobile Show presented by the Indianapolis Automobile Trade Association (IATA). Key features of the event were the Floral Parade, contests at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and concluding banquet at the Denison Hotel.
 
Stutz was a reasonably well known driver at the time and hometown favorite as he lived in Indianapolis. He was the cousin to Harry Stutz who was chief engineer at Marion but would soon establish the Indianapolis car manufaturer that was his namesake - Stutz. The "IMS" letter sweater he is pictured in was presented to him by the Speedway presented  to commemorate his participation in its opening auto races before it became "the Brickyard."
 
During this time period much was made of the dangers of motor racing. It was part of the appeal but it also garnered outrage. This was especially true in Indianapolis in the wake of the tragic first races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Stutz must have weighed these concerns and came to the conclusion that he should retire from driving race cars.
 
The copy associated with the picture read as follows: "(There he lies!) is an expression Charles Stutz, driver of Marion race cars, declares persons can not have a chance to say about him. He has quit the motor car racing game because of its risks. Mr. Stutz lives in this city and last year competed in several speed contests, but has never has a serious accident."