Auto Racing History

Welcome to the First Super Speedway Website!

First Super Speedway is the world's largest on-line archive of primary research about pre-1920 auto racing history in the world. It is ideal for history researchers, authors, motor sports journalists, educators and auto racing history aficionados. This site is chock full of volumes of material about the earliest oval horse track races, the seminal races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and road racing content as well, such as original articles about the brutally hot first French Grand Prix in 1906.

"I love what you have done with First Super Speedway! I especially appreciate the early articles about racing. It provides access to much material that is currently only available at archives. This is a boon to those of us who write about auto racing. As a scholar, I always check what I see in any book, as some people are somewhat careless in regard to sticking to the facts, so having access to the newspaper articles is really a must. Keep up the good work, and it is good work!" - Dr. Elsa A. Nystrom, Professor of History, Kennesaw State University.

Update on "500" Movie

08Mar
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Centennial
- 03/08/2010
Mark Dill

Motor sports journalist Gordon Kirby published the second half of his Delta Wing analysis and while it gets to the concept of open source technology by using the Linux analogy I suggested, it still comes off as vague. Too much of the article is spent reinforcing the message that Indiana suppliers would be employed and the machine could be built in Indiana.

07Mar
Indianapolis 500
- 03/07/2010
Mark Dill

Auto racing afficionado Tom Madine recently flagged Popular Science's 137 year archive. Naturally, the first search must for "Indianapolis 500." Good content here - check it out. I recommend searches for Barney Oldfield, Duesenberg, Offenhauser, Vanderbilt Cup - you get the idea. You will harvest some great stuff.

28Feb
Bob Burman
- 02/28/2010
Mark Dill

Burman headstone
Check out this nice remembrance of Bob Burman from the Clio Messenger (Michigan) with a quote from his great-granddaughter Laura. It's great to see other people today remembering these wonderful characters of the past. I also give the photog high marks for creativity.