Steamrolling IMS

This image shows a 15-ton steamroller compacting the graded earth to complete the creation of one of the four nine-degree turns at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The shot was printed in the Indianapolis Star during May 1909. The men seen in the lower right are track Founder Carl Fisher and Director of Contests Ernie Moross.
 
Moross and Fisher had known each other from their bicycle racing days back in the "gay" 1890's. Moross was a professional promoter influenced by the bold style of Barnum & Bailey. He was extremely successful managing the infamous barnstorming tour troupe of Barney Oldfield.
 

Moross was a natural fit to build the reputation of the Speedway in its formative days. He was hired before the track was constructed but his tenure there was over in little more than a year. The decision to go with a single, annual mega-event changed the track's entertainment proposition in a fundamental way.
 
That fact and Moross' inability to persuade meaningful participation by the European factory teams probably fomented friction between he and Fisher. By September 1910 it was time for Ernie to go.
 
That's Ernie looking over his shoulder at you. It's like he's saying, "Come on into First Super Speedway, I'm alive again! This place is bully-good!!!"
 
But then, it's up to you click thru...thee is a LOT more there than you find in this sample.