Cobe Trophy to IMS - 1910

The articles in the two attachments below were originally published in the May 1, 1910 and May 18, 1910 Indianapolis Star newspapers respectively.
 
Both articles report on a much-awaited decision by the Chicago Motor Club to stage the Cobe Trophy race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the track's July race meet. The race, immediately called the "Western Vanderbilt" with reference to the Long Island, New York-based Vanderbilt Cup, had been conducted the year prior in and around Crown Point, Indiana. It proved to be a financial failure. It was also the first major road race - some might argue the first major auto race, period - staged in the Hoosier state. In addition to financial disappointments the public roads over which it was conducted proved unworthy of the task. 
 
Although Crown Point was an Indiana city its proximity to Chicago made it seem more reasonable to the proud Chicagoans. Reading between the lines, they collectively held their noses and finally caved in to staging their marquee racing event in Indianapolis.
 
Their choices proved stark. They had and retained ambitions of constructing a purpose-built speedway not unlike the Brickyard but the typical challenges of mustering the funding and leadership to pull it off were overwhelming. At the same time the article reports they did not want the race for their cup to go on hiatus.
 
The public roads race at Elgin, Illinois was a consideration and it is unclear from this report why that same-state option did not prevail. The odds are the Speedway's compelling promise of financial benefits probably tipped the scale. According to the first article (attachment IMSCobe050110) the Chicago club was promised a nice percentage of the gate receipts for the day their event was to be conducted - at that time planned for July 2. The race was to be part of the IMS July 4th three-day holiday race meet.
 
Regardless, the Speedway was a worthy facility for any motor competition as it was state-of-the-art in the day and America's premier venue at the time. Speedway management could now boast of several prestigious trophies. In addition to the Cobe Trophy, they had three homegrown classics: the Wheeler-Schebler Trophy; the Prest-O-Lite Trophy and the G&J.
 
Speedway Contest Director Ernie Moross, who had been working on attracting the Chicago prize to the Speedway for some time, was the driving force behind persuading Chicago Motor Club president and cup donor Ira Cobe to head south with his presigious award. Moross armed Cobe with a presentation to his board of directors that won the day. Details had not been finalized but the preliminary discussions had been about a 200-mile stock car race. Note that all this was happening while Moross was hustling to put the finishing touches on the May 1910 race meet - the first of the "national circuit or national championship" races.
 
The second article, published a week after the first, is in attachment IMSCobe051810. The headline and the lead immediately convey a slight change of plan: the race date would be July 4 not July 2. As for the cars the call was for stock chassis machines of 600 cubic inches or less with minimum weight of 2,300 pounds. Note that in addition to Ira Cobe negotiations included "Chairman Genther" the the Chicago Club's contest board. 
 
The article reports that the sterling silver Cobe Trophy was worth $5,000 and would be soon placed on public display with the other trophies mentioned above but no location is mentioned. It is incredible to think that those same trophies (with the exception of G&J) can be seen today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.