IMS Hazard Race - May 1910

One of the brainstorms of Ernie Moross, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's director of contests (1909-1910), was an obstacle course sponsored by the Overland Auto Company for the May 1910 race meet at the track. Overland's unconventional course included portions of the Speedway, the infield and specially constructed wood plank ramps (pictured here). Included in the layout was the creek that ran on the inside of the track at the Southwest turn.  Amazingly, the drivers (known as "motor cowboys" and "rough riders") drove through the ditch and then scaled its banks. Imagine the wet, muddy tracks they made on the brick running surface when they returned to the oval. The creek was covered in 2007 as part of the development work to create the new MotoGP road course.