Prep for National Good Roads Convention

Anticipating the National Good Roads and Legislative Convention the Indianapolis Star published an article discussing the state of roads in the United States and the various stakeholders
Oiling IMS and Surrounding Roads

This article, published in the Indianapolis Star on April 18, 1909 offers some interesting details about the construction of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway not commonly known or frequently discussed.
Tom Taggart - the French Lick Connection

Among the most influential people in Indiana during the era of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's construction was Thomas Taggart, a former mayor of Indianapolis and chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Vanderbilt Parisian Home

This article, published in the March 7, 1909 Indianapolis Star reports on how William K. Vanderbilt was supporting a team of architects seeking the approval of the Building Commission of the Municipal Council of Paris to make exceptions to their building codes in order to allow an American-style structure to be erected.

The first competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a national championship gas filled balloon race organized by Speedway President Carl Fisher. Fisher and his co-founders James Allison, Frank Wheeler and Arthur C. Newby were anxious to recover their investments in the Speedway. Since construction of the track did not begin in earnest until April 1909 it took months to prepare the track for motorized competition. Fisher, fascinated with aviation, sought to host the national championship balloon racing competition - and generate revenue for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Company. He formed the Aero Club of Indiana, became the 21st person to earn a balloon pilot's license in the United States and worked with mentor George Bumbaugh to develop balloon vehicles. Their craft was called the Indiana and together they survived a harrowing ride through turbulent wind currents. Check out a photo gallery of this great event elsewhere on First Super Speedway.

First IMS Balloon Ascension

This attachment contains images of the first gas balloon ascension from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. One is the frist aerial view of the Speedway, the other a pretty hard landing.
 
Bumbaugh Leads Balloon Practice

Recognized in Indianapolis as the "go to guy" for balloon pilot training Captain George Bumbaugh was working with aspiring entrants to the June 5, 1909 national balloon championship at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Several of the men wanting to compete had not yet obtained their pilot's license.
Balloon Pilots Arrive

The "aeronauts," as they were called in the day, began arriving in Indianapolis in anticipation of the June 5, 1909 national balloon race championship at the end of May. One of the first of the balloon pilots to show up was Chicago's Charles A. Coey a prominent race car driver and balloon pilot.
The Hoosier's Maiden Voyage

George Bumbaugh had recently completed constructing the "Hoosier," an Indiana Aero Club balloon set for competition in June 5, 1909 national balloon race.
More on Forbes

The Indianapolis Star published the attached article on June 3, 1909 as the intensity of preparations for the June 5, 1909 balloon championship heated up. I especially like this article because it focuses on A. Holland Forbes of the wealthy publishing family. Forbes' passion for aviation must have been exceptional as he survived some incredible close calls.
The Governor & Balloonists

The June 4, 1909 Indianapolis Star article in attachment BalloonGovernor060409 announced the intentions of Indiana Governor Thomas Marshall (who would later serve as vice president of the United States under Woodrow Wilson) to perform the ceremonial duties of seeing off the competitors in the June 5, 1909 national balloon championship as they were launched fro