Motorcycle King at IMS?

This article provides an August 3, 1909, update to developments concerning the anticipated August 13-14 motorcycle race meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It first appeared in that day's Indianapolis News. It mentions the associated Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM) convention taking place the same week, August 10 through 14.
 
The report suggests that the event had the potential to attract the largest gathering of motorcyclists up to that time. Note that G.W. Stephens, chairman of the press committee of the Indiana Motorcycle Club, released word that five California riders were headed to Indianapolis. These men were: Charles Balke, F. Hoag, Ray Seymour, Paul Derkum and Ed Lingenfelder.
 
The article also reports that a "large delegation" from the Cincinnati Motorcycle Club was expected in Indianapolis. Also, the Merkel Light Company or Pottstown, Pennsylvania, planned to enter their team of Flying Merkels in all the events for which they were eligible. The star rider of the team was Stanley T. Kellogg. The Merkels were reported to have "double cylinder" engines. The machine was credited with lowering the previous 25-mile record by a full nine minutes at the Point Breeze track.
 
The bike also ran at the national hill climb in New York where Kellogg was reportedly injured. The Merkel company also promised a large number of entries in the national endurance run from Cleveland. One team of seven was promised from Erie, Pennsylvania.
 
Finally, the article reports that two riders, L.J. Miller and P.B. Whitney, both on their personal Indian motorcycles, made a test run over the FAM-charted course between Indianapolis and Cleveland. The riders adhered to the FAM rulebook for the ride and provided a kind of scouting report on the roads. The distance between the towns of Coshocton to Columbus was judged a particularly severe test.