Fisher's First Hand Account of 1909 Balloon Race

This article is nothing short of fantastic. It's not in the best of shape, and there are pieces of it that are impossible to read, but most of it is legible. Written by Indianapolis Motor Speedway founder Carl Fisher, it was a lengthy feature printed in the Indianapolis Star Sunday edition on June 29, 1909. Fisher provides a first hand account of his participation in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's first competition of any kind, the June 5 national balloon competition. His ride with his ballooning mentor, George Bumbaugh, was nothing short of harrowing. Twice they were sucked into swirling vortex of violently unstable air, soaring as much as three miles into frigid currents to dangerously congeal the gas that floated their airship. This is a compelling piece that provides excellent insights.