Advanced historians of American motorsport and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway know that the first motorized competition at the famous track was a motorcycle race. Did you know that the date of the track action was August 14, 1909, and was only one day of a week-long celebration of the two-wheel machines?

Okay, so who was the only driver to compete in both the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 and also the first Vanderbilt Cup in 1904? Stumped?
 
His name was Herb Lytle.
 

Check out this presentation profiling Loni Unser, the latest generation of America's most famous auto racing family, and her efforts to carry that famous name forward to new achievements! Loni is the daughter of five-time Indianapolis 500 veteran Johnny. Her uncle Al Jr. won the Indianapolis 500 twice and her other Indianapolis 500 veteran uncle, Robby, won Pikes Peak nine times and most recently scored a victory in the SVRA's Brickyard Invitational Indy Legends Charity Pro-Am!

"Barnstorming," in general, is about theatrical performers or daredevils of one sort or the other traveling to rural areas to stage entertainment, many times with the purpose to thrill. In the early days of the racing cars, a tour of drivers presenting high-speed contests to people, many of whom had never seen an automobile before, was a natural fit.

Many of the barnstormers labeled their rural audiences as "weedbenders," in reference to their farming profession. They probably were a naive lot as they witnessed auto races for the first time.