Brickyard Program - May 1910

This article originally appeared in the April 3, 1910 Indianapolis Star. It reported on the program of events for the May 1910 race meet announced by Indianapolis Motor Speedway Contest Director Ernie Moross. Clearly designed to dazzle, the headline shouted out that some "562 Miles of Auto Races" would be conducted over three days: May 27, 28 and 30. In accordance with the social mores of the day no racing was to be presented on the Sabbath. Understand that this is what was announced on this date. As for whether this actually came to fruition some cross-referencing with a summary of the actual results of the May 1910 races.
 
The first day called for nine events with a total distance of 155.25 miles. Another eight events were planned for May 28 totaling 251 miles and the final day of the meet offered a card of 14 contests for a cumulative distance of 156 miles. That last day was the day of the American Automobile Association (AAA) national championship races as reported elsewhere on First Super Speedway.
 
The attached original article provides the specifics to the program and is very legible so I will only touch on some of the highlights here. Overall, the races were for Class D; Class B and Class E race cars. This is a little misleading because Class B had six divisions and various events were staged for them. The divisions were organized by engine capacities ranging from 160 through 750 cubic inches.
 
Ten events were scheduled for May 27. Three, including the first one, were for Class D. The first planned involved time trials for distances of one-quarter mile and one kilometer. At stake were gold and silver medals as well as $50 in cash. Events 7 and 9 were announced as Class D races, the first a free-for-all five-mile handicap open to all race cars on the grounds. Prizes were planned for the first six finishers, including $100 in gold to the winner and $75 in silver for second. The top two finishers were also to receive medals of the same precious metal. Third through sixth place were promised cash prizes. The other Class D event was the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Helmet, a unique trophy in all the annals of auto racing. This not only offered the winner the chance to possess the trophy until defending it, but also a $50 weekly cash award until the Speedway's July race meet. The winner was also presented with a gold medal while second place earned $100 and a silver medal.
 
Events 2 through 6 were for five divisions of Class B, all races of five to 10 miles. Typical awards were gold and silver medals and in most cases either cash awards or the equivalent in precious metal. The feature race of the day was the 100-mile run for the Prest-O-Lite Trophy involving the Division 4 cars. The winner got to bring home the trophy and a gold medal while second place received a silver medal. One other race was planned, a Class E event for amateurs. This five-mile go awarded a $150 trophy to the winner as well as a gold medal. A silver medal was planned for the second place.
 
The biggest race of the three-day affair was held May 28. That was the contest for the Tiffany-designed Wheeler-Schebler Trophy, a 200-mile affair for Class E. It was also the capstone, final race of the day. A second Class E race was staged, this one a 10 miler reserved for amateurs. A trophy was announced as the prize to the winner as well as a gold medal. A silver medal was reportedly reserved for second place.  
 
Class D once again opened the program with time trials, this time for one mile. At stake were not only gold and silver medals for fastest and runner-up as well as $100 in gold and $50 in silver but also the potential to win a gold-plated Overland touring car. The Speedway promised that the driver establishing the fastest mile during a time trial event throughout the entire 1910 season would be awarded the unique machine. 
 
There were also two additional Class D races, the fourth and seventh contests of the day. The fourth event (actually called "Event 14" for the three-days) was another free-for-all, 10-mile handicap. The prizes for first through sixth places were the same as the five-mile handicap the day prior. The seventh event was a Class D free-for-all open race of 10 miles. Gold and silver medals were awarded as well as cash prizes for the first three places.
 
The remaining events of May 28 were scheduled for divisions four, five and six of Class B. The division four race was scheduled for 10 miles, the other two for five. The prizes, as with most of the events were gold, silver as well as medals and cash.
 
The final day of the race meet, May 30, was the day of the AAA "Grand Circuit" or national championship races. There were 14 of these contests, the first nine of which were announced for divisions of Class B, the bread and butter classification of the AAA. Events 10, 11 and 12 were Class D affairs.
 
Based on the article I surmise the final two scheduled events were not part of the AAA national championships. Event 13 was the 50-mile G&J Trophy for Class B, division 3 cars. The last race of the entire race meet - event 14 - was for Class E and the announced prize was the John A. Wilson Trophy. This contest, perhaps the oddest of the entire race meet, is described in the article:
 
"...the John A. Wilson trophy, valued at $150. Donated by John A. Wilson of Franklin, Pa., to be awarded to the stock touring car that first makes a full mile in one minute or less under regular touring conditions and carrying four passengers; the contest to be confined to cars of not more than fifty-hourse power, Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers (A.L.A.M.) rating, regular touring bodies (not baby tonneaus to torpedo bodies), tanks full, top on but may be down; mud guards on and regular supply of tools; passengers to weigh not less than 160 pounds each and to sit upright in the car; to insure there is no down grade the mile to be made both ways of the track; if more than one entry in the contest, then the car making the fastest time to be awarded the cup, provided said fastest time equals a mile a minute."