First Auto Races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - August 1909

This folder has numerous articles on the inaugural auto races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. These races occurred only days after the Speedway hosted the Federation of American Motorcycles (FAM) race meet. The auto races were a blend of success and tragedy. Most of the major American drivers entered – Barney Oldfield, Ray Harroun, Bob Burman, Tom Kincaid, Lewis Strang, Louis Chevrolet, Jap Clemens, Charlie Merz, Eddie Hearne, Ralph De Palma and Tobin DeHymel among them. With the exception of a Fiat and a Benz, the entries were American, including: Marmon, Marion, Stearns, National, Jackson, Stoddard-Dayton, Buick and Apperson. Tragedy came in the loss of several lives, including Willfred Bourque, who became the first driver to die in a racing accident at the Speedway.

Oldfield Sets IMS Track Record

This article first appeared in the August 19, 1909 Indianapolis Star and reports on the fourth day of practice and associated preparations for the first automobile races every held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
 
More Speedway Hype

This article is yet another from a special Sunday edition of the Indianapolis Star that touted the excitement of the upcoming first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The date was August 15, 1909.
 
IMS Second Day Schedule & Results

Here you will find two attachments containing Indianapolis Star articles published on subsequent days both reporting on the second day of auto racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Attachment IMSschedule092009 contains an article from August 20, 1909, and previews the second day of the first automobile race meet at the new Speedway.
Trophies & Fan Engagement

The two attachments here contain articles that are more artifacts from a special Sunday edition of the Indianapolis Star that touted the excitement of the upcoming first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The date was August 15, 1909.
 
Overland Advertorial

This article in attachment Overland091509 is yet another from a special Sunday edition of the Indianapolis Star that touted the excitement of the upcoming first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The date was August 15, 1909.
 
Stickney & Oldfield

Attachment Stickney092009 contains two brief Indianapolis Star articles concerning events during the first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The date was August 20, 1909.
 
Aitken Mystery

This article is a complete mystery to me. Published in the August 20, 1909 Indianapolis Star it is purported to cover the drive of National Motor Vehicle Company star driver Johnny Aitken in the second race of the first day of racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
 
Manufacturers Advertise Their Success

This is a collection of ads ran in the Indianapolis Star by manufacturers to tout their success at the first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. All provide summaries of the races which are quite useful to researchers today.
 
1909 Speed Records

This records chart is yet another item from a special Sunday edition of the Indianapolis Star that touted the excitement of the upcoming first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The date was August 15, 1909.
 
August 1909 Event Schedule

This article is yet another from a special Sunday edition of the Indianapolis Star that touted the excitement of the upcoming first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The date was August 15, 1909.