Indianapolis Motorcycle Races - 1909

This is a wonderful collection of Indianapolis News, Indianapolis Sun and Indianapolis Star newspaper articles covering the August 14, 1909 Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM) national championship race meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This was the first motorized competition at the Speedway and delivered mixed results at best. The track was simply not ready, its rough macadam and tar surface broke up during the events. Further, the nature of the surface and length of the giant track was such that the riders could attain speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour but the lightweight bikes bounced dangerously over the loose stones. Many observers called a fiasco as numerous planned events were canceled when riders refused to take any more risks. Champion rider Jake DeRosier suffered serious injuries in a spectacular fall in a match race conceived on the fly. Also see my story of this event from the 2008 Moto GP Program.

Note: I will update this section with a synopsis of each article as time permits.

IMS 1909 Motorcycle Races - Preparations

All but two of these articles appeared in the Indianapolis Star and all pertain to the preparations for the first motorized event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - the 1909 Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM) race meet. I have also added two additional - and very brief - items published in the Indianapolis News. One was published on June 26, 1909, the other on July 9, 1909.
 
Police to Race Motorcycles

This brief article was published in the June 27, 1909 Indianapolis Star and was part of the paper's coverage leading up to the first motorcycle race meet at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Speedway was finishing its construction work at the time this article was originally published.
 
First Day: Cleveland-to-Indianapolis

The article in attachment cyclists091109 was published August 11, 1909, in the Indianapolis Star. It reports on the first day of the 388-mile endurance ride from Cleveland-to-Indianapolis that kicked off the big motorcycle events that week in the Hoosier capital.
Finish in Indy From Cleveland

Attachment cyclists091209 contains an article that was originally published in the August 12, 1909, Indianapolis Star.
City Dresses Up for Motorcycles

Attachment FAM090809 contains two articles published in the August 8, 1909, Indianapolis Star just days before the motorcycle race meet that was the first motorized competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
FAM Motorcycle Program Announced

Here you will find two brief but power-packed articles originally published in the July 16, 1909 Indianapolis Star and the July 17, 1909 Indianapolis News. This was about one month before the motorcycle race meet that was the first motorized competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Ed Lingenfelder Speaks

For me, the defining moment of the August 1909 Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM) national championship race meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a hastily organized match race between "The Champion of the West," Ed Lingenfelder of Alh
Riders Arrive

This article was published August 9, 1909 in the Indianapolis Star. This was the day before the 388-mile endurance ride from Cleveland-to-Indianapolis that kicked off the big motorcyle events that week in the Hoosier capital.
Ready for Endurance Run

This article was originally published in the July 18, 1909 Indianapolis Star and describes the arrangements for the 388-mile Cleveland-to-Indianapolis endurance run that was a prelude to the first motorized competition at the Indianapols Motor Speedway on August 14.
Merkel Moto Team to IMS

This article was published in the Indianapolis Star on August 3, 1909 and reports on the entry of the Merkel Light Company factory team of motorcycles in the first motorized competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This was a motorcycle race meet and it was scheduled to start August 13.