Bibendum Twins Get Bragging Rights

This attachment contains an article which orginally appeared in the May 29, 1910 Indianapolis Star. The article reports on of the Michelin Tire Company during the first two days of the May 1910 race meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. These races were part of the May 1910 weekend that included "national championships," a newly-announced distinction by the American Automobile Association (AAA) for select race meets. Car manufacturers were keen to make a great showing. Check out other articles that provide additional summaries on the results of the races staged May 27 and May 28 elsewhere on First Super Speedway.
 
 
Also, check out these other relevant articles:

• C.E. Shuart's report focusing on the Wheeler-Schebler Trophy.
• H.G. Deupree's report on record-breaking speed.
• May 28 Weather Report.
• Event card for May 28.

 
The attached article is another one of those wonderful, concise gems that adds so much to our understanding of the texture of early auto racing history, especially events taking place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While it appears at an article I have to wonder if Michelin paid the Star for publishing it as it almost reads as an advertorial. The information, though, is priceless.
 
The early dominance of Michelin in auto racing is simple fact. If you did not know, the Marmon racing team used Michelins on Ray Harroun's Marmon Wasp for the Wheeler-Schebler Trophy, the longest contest of the weekend at 200 miles. The company stresses that Harroun won the race without a tire change. While this fact is fair game for the company to promote, it was in no small measure attributable to Harroun and his team adopting a race strategy predicated on tire management. Other drivers chose to run with abandon while Harroun determined that if he maintained a brisk but slightly reserved pace of no more than 75 MPH he would not suffer blowouts or costly pit stops for fresh rubber. Harroun was a heady driver who knew how to manage his equipment and let the race come to him.
 
Up to this point in the meet all but one race at the meet - the article asserts - had been won by cars fitted with Michelins. The product's demountable rim is cited as particularly convenient to service. The company's U.S.-based factory was in Milltown, New Jersey and Frank Wyman Libby is referred to as their sales manager. Libby announced, essentially, that Harroun's tires looked as good as new after his winning drive.
 
Another interesting point is that Michelin reportedly staged a promotional display at the Buick Motor Company's Indianapolis sales showroom during the week of the race. This involved two people in "Michelin Man" costumes doing "stunts." They were called the "Bibendum Twins." Bibendum was a term used by the company to promote their products. It was a derivative of the Latin word, "bibendo," meaning to drink and eat. This was an oblique reference to the tire's superior handling characteristics on wet roads as well as its ability to absorb nails and glass shards without failure. Note that there is a restaurant today in London called Bibendum that uses the Michelin Man in its signage.