IMS Garage Area - 1909

This article about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's plans to expand and improve its garage facilities in the wake of their controversial first auto meet August 19-21 1909. This article was originally published in the September 5, 1909 Indianapolis Star. These races were controversial due to the devestating fatal accidents the first and third days of the meet. In all, five men were killed:
 

• William Bourque, driver.
• Harry Holcomb, riding mechanic
• Claude Kellum, riding mechanic
• James West, spectator
• Homer Jolliff, spectator

 
Despite this Speedway management continued on with their plans looking ahead to more auto races in the fall as well as an aviation show with the still-new invention they called the "aeroplane." This attachment contains two articles, one talking about new construction at the track and a very brief item discussing plans for the aviation show planned for October.
 
The new construction primarily concerned new, more spacious garages. The cost of this development is estimated at $150,000. The new garage was planned to be the one that was already in existence. The new, larger garage was planned to house 50 cars in separate, individual garages. It was billed to be 200 feet long and 50 feet wide. Part of the advantage, the article reports, is to let the teams get away from the crowds. Check out this excerpt:
 
"...will be welcomed by the drivers who want a place away from the bustle of the crowds, where they can get at their cars and repair the broken and damaged parts without being subject to foolish inquiries often thrust at them by spectators."
 
The existing garages were judged to be sufficient for smaller teams, especially the ones that only spent time at the track during the event weekend. The larger teams - Buick and National Motor Vehicle Company are specifically named - especially those that intended to house their equipment at the Speedway for longer durations beyond event periods were the prime consideration in building the larger garages. "Independents" such as stars of the sport like Ralph DePalma, Barney Oldfield and J. Walter Christie.
 
A mention is made of a planned autumn auto race meet with a specific comment about the next Remy Grand Brassard race. This was in reference to DePalma's plan to bring his Fiat to the track early for extended preparations.
 
The brief sidebar on the aviation is interesting in that it reports that Speedway officials took into consideration weather data from previous years in picking an October date. U.S. Weather Bureau data from the previous 10 years was reviewed in making decisions. This included precipitation and wind velocity. The result was a plan that called for October 14-16 as the dates for the meet. In the end, though, no events were held until after the track was paved with brick and December time trials were held.