Marmon, National, Jackson Automobile Advertising
This folder contains several newspaper ads appearing in the Indianapolis Star during the summer of 1909. Many of these ads trumpet the records set by automobile manufacturers such as Marmon, National and Jackson during the August 1909 race meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Some of these ads provide quick references for the race results. The Jackson ad is particularly interesting in that it promotes its victory in the first race for the Wheeler-Schebler Trophy, the seven-foot sterling silver cup designed by Tiffany’s. This race was controversial because it was called short due to accidents and the Speedway did not award the trophy at first because no car had completed the originally scheduled distance. The folder also contains a mix of miscellaneous ads for clothing, tobacco and other goods as historical context.

Apperson & Willis-Holcomb Co.

This ad was placed in the Sunday, August 15, 1909 Indianapolis Star by the Willis-Holcomb Company, an Indianapolis automobile dealership. It featured the Apperson four cylinder, five passenger touring car they sold with a call out for another of the marques they featured - Packard. Note that Frank Willis was the president.
 
Auto Industry & Language

This article was published in the August 15, 1909 Indianapolis Star. It is a brief and even odd item that discusses the impact of the burgeoning auto industry on the English language. Almost scholarly it suggests that the English language evolves through the everyday activities and culture of working class people. It posits the elite or more educated become more stilted with education or worldly affairs and it is the common populations that look for shortcuts to communicate.

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.

FAM Convention Debate

This article first appeared in the August 14, 1909 Indianapolis Star. The occasion was coverage of the first motorcycle race meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but this specifically focused on the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM) convention that was running concurrently during the week of the race.

This folder has numerous articles on the inaugural auto races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. These races occurred only days after the Speedway hosted the Federation of American Motorcycles (FAM) race meet. The auto races were a blend of success and tragedy. Most of the major American drivers entered – Barney Oldfield, Ray Harroun, Bob Burman, Tom Kincaid, Lewis Strang, Louis Chevrolet, Jap Clemens, Charlie Merz, Eddie Hearne, Ralph De Palma and Tobin DeHymel among them. With the exception of a Fiat and a Benz, the entries were American, including: Marmon, Marion, Stearns, National, Jackson, Stoddard-Dayton, Buick and Apperson. Tragedy came in the loss of several lives, including Willfred Bourque, who became the first driver to die in a racing accident at the Speedway.

Stoddard-Dayton Banquet for Clemens

After all the events ended for the first day of auto racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway the executive team at Stoddard-Dayton staged a banquet honoring their star driver Jap Clemens.
Driver Compensation

This article commenting on the salaries of drivers of the era appeared in the August 15, 1909 Indianapolis Star in association with the first automobile races held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
 
IMS Schedule, August 19-21 1909

This schedule for the upcoming first automobile races held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway races appeared in the August 15, 1909 Indianapolis Star.
 
Entries & Officials IMS 1909

This article comments on new entries and slate of officials for the first automobile races held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway appeared in the August 15, 1909, Indianapolis Star.
 
Chalmers, IMS Facilities, Road Race Costs

This attachment to this entry contains articles concerning the upcoming first automobile races held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway races. It originally appeared in the August 15, 1909 Indianapolis Star.
 
Danger Draws Crowds to IMS

This article, published in the August 21, 1909 Indianapolis Star, comments on the role the danger played in drawing sizable crowds to the first automobile races held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Directions to IMS - 1909

The attachments to this entry contain one article each that provide driving instructions to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for fans want to attend the upcoming first automobile races held at  the new track.