Overland's Big Deal @ Chicago

The attached article originally appeared in the February 10, 1910 Indianapolis Star. The report was generated from the Chicago Auto Show and focused on the success of Indianapolis-based automobile manufacturers most notably the Willys-Overland factory which announced a $4 million deal for 3,500 cars to an "agent" for the company in St. Louis and Dallas.
Critique of Chicago Auto Show 1910

The first attachment below contains an article that originally appeared in the February 7, 1910, Indianapolis Star. The report was generated from the Chicago Auto Show and was written by an outstanding automotive and motorsports journalist of the age Peter Paul "P.P." Willis.
DePalma Versus Robertson

This article was originally published in the February 20, 1910 Indianapolis Star.
Knipper, Lorimer & Jay

Attached are three brief articles that provide verbal "snapshots" on the activities of three noted drivers in 1910. All the articles were published in the Indianapolis Star during the month of January 1910. The first article, in chronological order, concerns Lee Lorimer and was published January 9.
Stoughton Fletcher(s)

The articles in the two attachments below concern the death of Stoughton J. Fletcher. The first was published in the Indianapolis Star on December 26, 1909.
 
Indianapolis Pushes for Glidden Starting Point

These two attachments are Indianapolis Star articles from February 1910 and report on the push by the Indianapolis Automobile Industry to win the opportunity to be the starting point for the upcoming Glidden Tour endurance run. In the end, they would fail as the event started in Cincinnati.
 
Tom Taggart, French Lick & IMS

These two articles in the attachments concern Tom Taggart, a major political figure in early 20th century America. Reminiscent of former U.S. vice-president Dick Cheney, Taggart was injured in a hunting accident that injured one of his eyes.

Called the "Western Vanderbilt" the initial Ira Cobe Trophy Race was run on a 23.27-mile road course completing a circuit between Crown Point and Lowell Indiana on June 19, 1909. It was commissioned by Ira Cobe, who founded the Chicago Automobile Club. Low attendance and the brutal punishment inflicted by the under-developed roadways contributed to the decision to move the contest for this classic trophy to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1910.

States Battle for Cobe Trophy

Attached are two articles concerning the contest among venues to stage the second running of the Cobe Trophy. The first article was published January 16, 1910, in the Indianapolis Star. The owner of the cup was the Chicago Automobile Club or more specifically one of its most prominent leaders, Ira Cobe, who collectively would determine its fate.
 

These epic speed trials occurred on the sands of Ormond and Daytona Beach from 1904 through 1910 and established the Daytona area as a speed center.

Daytona-Ormond Plans - 1910 Update

Attached are four articles concerning planning for the 1910 Daytona-Ormond speed tournament. The first (attachment DaytonaNews122009) appeared shortly before Christmas 1909 in the December 20 Indianapolis News. Here we learn that event promoter, "Senator" W.J. Morgan had announced that the famous beach race would not be held in 1910.

Los Angeles - 1910
The Playa Del Rey board track was the first of the great wood plank automobile speedways. For years bicycle and motorcycle races were conducted on wooden velodromes, but Playa Del Rey brought the concept to events for race cars. This speedway was designed by Jack Prince, the most renowned designer of board track facilities. Board tracks rose in popularity through the 1920’s largely due to their relatively inexpensive start-up costs, but proved excessively expensive to maintain. Blindingly fast, their appeal was self evident. The opening of Playa Del Rey came in the spring of 1910. Caleb Bragg made a big statement in his breakthrough victory over Barney Oldfield and the Lightning Benz in a best of three match race. Ralph De Palma also appeared at the track. This folder contains 10 files on the topic from the Barney Oldfield scrapbook.

De Palma Visits Playa Del Rey

The attached article about racing champion Ralph De Palma visiting the Los Angeles-based Playa Del Rey board track was originally published in the February 13, 1910, Indianapolis Star.