Fisher's Balloon Stunt

Perhap's Carl Fisher's most dramatic and brilliant promotional stunt (pulled off with the assistance of his ballooning mentor, George L. Bumbaugh), this article (see attachment FisherStunt103108)  covers his balloon flight over Indianapolis. He replaced the passenger basket with a Stoddard-Dayton automobile from his dealership. The flight occurred October 30, 1908 at about the time Fisher was reviewing tracts of land just West of Indianapolis for the purpose of building the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He also ran the largest - and first - automobile dealership in Indianapolis and this promotional stunt worked to attract more customers to his showroom floor. The stunt was the latest in a series of promotions Fisher had done for the Stoddard-Dayton brand which had included match races where he had pitted one of his cars - with Charlie Merz as driver - against first Haynes and later Pope-Toledo. Both times Fisher walked away $1,000 richer.
 
This article with a poor quality image appeared in the Indianapolis Star on October 31, 1908. Interestingly, Bumbaugh did a test run of a giant balloon the day before, on October 29, 1908. Coincidence? I think not. Check out the top image in attachment FisherStunt103108ii that shows the balloon as it was being inflated. On its side the letters "CAGO" are clearly visibile. These are at the edge of the balloon from the point of view provided. It seems obvious the letters missing consist of the first syllable, "CHI."
 
You can find a jpeg image  of Fisher's balloon mid-flight elsewhere on First Super Speedway.