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.

Pilots Confront Death

This article 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.
 
Final Day Schedule

This article appeared in the August 21, 1909 Indianapolis Star and provided an overview of the planned schedule of events for the final day of the first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
 
Romance & Racing

This article from the Indianapolis Star reports on the races of the first automobile race meet at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The publication date was August 21, 1909 and the events were conducted the previous day. The story was written by the legendary Peter Paul "P.P" Willis.
 
Auto Section Cover - August 1909

This is a PDF artifact of the front page 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.
 
Necks, Records Broken

The article in attachment IMSthrong082209 is about the final day of racing during the first auto meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was originally published in the August 22, 1909 Indianapolis Star. These races were conducted on Saturday, August 21, 1909. Attachment IMSsummary082209 is a sidebar chart published the same day that simply lists the results of the events of the third day.
Three Lives Pay the Price

This article about the final day of racing during the first auto meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was originally published in the August 22, 1909 Indianapolis Star. These races were conducted on Saturday, August 21, 1909.
 
Death & Confusion at IMS

This article is about confusion over the identification of a victim of the fatal accident of the final day of racing during the first auto meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was originally published in the August 22, 1909 Indianapolis Star. These races were conducted on Saturday, August 21, 1909.
 
Lured to Death

This article is about Homer Jolliff, one of the two spectators killed in the fatal accident of the final day of racing during the first auto meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was originally published in the August 22, 1909 Indianapolis Star. These races were conducted on Saturday, August 21, 1909.
Speed Lust & Disaster

This article describes the mood and attitude of spectators in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway grandstands following the fatal accident of the final day of racing during the historic first auto meet at the track. It was originally published in the August 22, 1909 Indianapolis Star. These races were conducted on Saturday, August 21, 1909.
 
Henry Tapking, Injured Fan

This article is about Henry Tapking one of the spectators injured in the fatal accident of the final day of racing during the first auto meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was originally published in the August 22, 1909 Indianapolis Star. These races were conducted on Saturday, August 21, 1909.