"Dare Devil" Derkum

This image of  motorcycle rider Paul "Dave Devil" Derkum was originally published in the July 5, 1909 Indianapolis Star. The photo was part of a series the Star ran featuring riders and their bikes in promotion of the August 1909 motorcycle race meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race meet was the first motorized race competition at the Speedway which had only recently finished construction at the time the photo appeared. The reality is that the track surface proved unworthy of the races and more construction would be required through the autumn months to pave the course with 3.2 million bricks.