Atlanta v. Indianapolis - 1910

In 1910 the first purpose-built auto racing speedways were emerging. The technology underpinning them was sorting itself out as well. The 2.5-mile squared-off oval just outside Indianapolis had been paved with rugged, durable brick. Down south near Atlanta a two mile speedway of red clay had sprouted up the previous year. Out on the West Coast outside Los Angeles America's first wood plank speedway was completed and launched into action. The high-banked board track was blazingly fast.
 
Speed was what it was all about for the owners and managers of these facilities. Everyone wanted bragging rights and the most spectacular way to achieve that was to set "track records." In this day a "track record" wasn't simply the quickest time ever achieved on a specific speedway but also the fastest speed attained on any track in the country - or even the world.
 
In 1909 Atlanta and Indianapolis became rivals for the claim of America's fastest speedway. Atlanta seemed to gain an upper hand after the two track's first races that year. Originally paved with tar and crushed stone the running surface at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) - rushed into service prematurely to recover costs - was not sufficiently cured and not up to the task. The result was massive deterioration and horrible accidents that took the lives of three competitors and two spectators.
 
When Atlanta came on line records fell and the races were conducted in relative safety. IMS responded with speed trials conducted in December just after completion of the brick paving job. New speed marks were set and Atlanta cried foul, disbelieving the speeds attained and mistrusting the shadowy reputation of the IMS contest director Ernie Moross. They pointed fingers at Moross, known for his over-the-top claims in promoting barnstorming events at county fairgrounds tracks across the country.
 
Owned by Coca-Cola magnate Asa Candler the tune playing out of Atlanta speedway changed sometime after the very successful Playa Del Ray debut in the spring of 1910. Add to that the miserable gate of an estimated 6,000 ticket purchasers at Atlanta speedway's April meet and track owners and managers new they had to do something.
 
Impressed with Indianapolis and seeing that facility as more analogous to there own - as opposed to one built of boards far, far away - one of their top managers decided to attend the IMS Memorial Day weekend race meet at the newly christened Brickyard.
 
The previously criticized Moross must have delighted in the new-found appreciation for the Brickyard - and the way they went about business. Regardless, that Atlanta speedway soon faded away, as did the boards out near LA. The Brickyard has endured but the challenges of motorsport as a business remain very real.
 
Click thru to learn so much more about the old Atlanta speedway - Hartsfield-Jackson Airport now uses the real estate - as well as their relationship with IMS and, of course the colorful Mr. Moross.
It's all available to you for free - at First Super Speedway.