100 Years Ago: When the Brickyard Was Young

One hundred years ago today, December 18, 1909, saw the Indianapolis Motor Speedway stage its second day of official time trials - ever - on the newly paved track. As the press and public witnessed the massive construction project involving 3.2 million bricks the nickname "Brickyard" was quickly promulgated throughout the city and across the country.
 
Despite the frigid Indiana climate, Speedway Presdient Carl Fisher pushed for a race meet on December 17 and 18. Eager to recoup expenses of roughly $700,000  on the paving project, he wanted to demonstrate how fast the new track was to stir interest in a big calendar of events announced for 1910 on December 8.
 

Harry Stillman in a Marmon and Newell Motsinger in an Empire – a car company founded earlier that year by Fisher and Speedway partners Arthur Newby and James Allison - practiced on the track December 14, but melting snow prevented them from taking turns at speed.  Determined to stage the race meet, Ernie Moross, the director of Speedway contests, announced they would burn gasoline on the turns to dry them if needed.
 

Fortunately, such drastic action was not necessary when on December 17 the race meet was staged. Fisher arranged for Governor Thomas Marshall to apply the finishing touch. With camera shutters clicking in nine degree weather, Governor Marshall placed the “gold” brick into position and pronounced the track the “the world’s greatest speedway.”  The cold dimmed interest, with only 500 people attending.
 

Seven time trials were conducted that day, six for autos and one for motorcycles. Only eleven drivers and three riders were on hand. The drivers were Johnny Aitken and Tommy Kincaid (National), Stillman and Howard Marmon (Marmon), Motsinger (Empire), Harry Endicott (Cole), Walter Donnelly (Packard), Lewis Strang (Fiat) and Walter Christie in his unique front-wheel drive creation.
 

The three riders were Fred Huyck (Indian), John Merz and John Sink, both on Thors. All competitors ran through time traps at quarter mile, half, kilometer and mile distances. Motorcycle times were disappointing, and Huyck even reported that his oil started to freeze.
 

Strang broke Barney Oldfield’s track record for the mile by three seconds, lowering it to 40.61. The big speed trial of the day ran seven cars in a staggered start over 20 miles. Johnny Aitken set a new American record for 20 miles at 16:18.41.  Both Aitken and Kincaid set several records between one quarter mile and 20 miles for 450-600 cubic inch displacement cars.
 

The drivers and officials spent the day warding off cold made worse by biting winds. Officials huddled around a wood burning stove, while drivers improvised homemade balaclavas made of chamois-skin held in place by rubber bands.  Officials considered canceling the second day’s activities, but Strang and Christie both wanted to pursue records.
 

In order to fend off the effects of the cold on their machines, the teams stored their fuel and oil in heated rooms until just before their record attempts on Saturday, December 18.  Both drivers were clocked at over 100 MPH for the quarter mile, with Strang recording an impressive 111.86 MPH. He also set a new American five-mile record with two laps around the track at 91.813 MPH.
 

By force of will, Carl Fisher and the founders had overcome critics and even Mother Nature to provide America’s first great speedway. In addition to the brick paving, they built nine-inch thick, 33-inch tall concrete retaining walls around the perimeter of the turns.  Most importantly, the founders established a legacy of undying commitment to safety that became part of the fabric of what is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.