Connecting Dots

Let's connect some dots.

In 1909 Barney Oldfield bought in big time to the promise of Arthur C. Newby's National Motor Vehicle Company by purchasing a National "Six" stock car modified for racing. He made it his own by painting the cowling with the stars and stripes of the American flag and dubbing it, "Old Glory."

Keep in mind the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where Newby was one of four founders, was under construction at the same time. It's first public event was the June 5, 1909 National Championship Balloon Races.

Because of his affiliation with National, where Oldfield, despite campaigning Old Glory as a private entry, kept his racer at the Indianapolis factory. The details of the support relationship are unclear, but our guess is the services of National were part of the handshake with Oldfield.

As a result Oldfield was spending a ton of time in the Hoosier capital and probably had a downtown apartment. Consider the fact that Charles Coey, one of the balloonists competing in the balloon, "Chicago," was also a race driver. He and Oldfield had competed against each other but apparently were on good terms.

We just like connecting the dots to give you the fuller picture of this era. A fuller picture than you can find anywhere else. Anywhere. Period.

We have three pictures here are proof. The first shows Oldfield with the Coey team the morning of the absolutely glorious and astonishing balloon championship contest. Next up see Oldfield in Old Glory. Finally, have a gander at Coey in his racecar just prior to an Indiana State Fairgrounds race meet in 1906.

This is to the point we make about First Super Speedway. It's a world, a social circle of interconnected people and events. All you have to do is click thru to immerse yourself in the wonders of a legitimate time machine.

See ya there.