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.

Gladiators & Adoring Boys

This article was published in the Indianapolis Star on July 25, 1909, and discusses a charming time now lost forever. It is decidedly light on news but is a wonderful example of how the newspaper supported the city's new Indianapolis Motor Speedway as it approached its initial automobile competition events in August.
 
Early Entries for First IMS Races

This article was published in the July 28, 1909 Indianapolis Star and reports that entries for the upcoming first auto race meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway were being filed at a rapid pace. At this point there were 29 cars entered from seven different manufacturers with Stoddard-Dayton of Dayton, Ohio, leading the way.
European Marques Enter @ IMS

This article was published in the Indianapolis Star on August 4, 1909 and reports that Benz and Fiat would be represented at the upcoming first automobile races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway later that month.
IMS vs. Brooklands

This article was originally published in the August 8, 1909 Indianapolis Star. It is significant in that it is further evidence of how competitive Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Carl Fisher and the other founders of the track were with the Brooklands racing facility in England.
 
Buick With 15 @ IMS

This article was first published on August 11, 1909 in the Indianapolis Star. It reports the surprising news that Buick team manager William Pickens had filed an astounding 15 entries in the upcoming first auto races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway just eight days away.
Chicago Caravan to the Speedway

This article was published in the August 8, 1909 Indianapolis Star and centers on the excitement of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association about the first automobile races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway coming up 11 days hence.
 
Lozier to IMS

Published in the July 16, 1909 Indianapolis Star, this article reports that Lozier had entered cars for the upcoming first automobile race meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway the next month.
Lytle Enters IMS Opening Race Meet

This article was published July 14, 1909 in the Indianapolis Star and concerns developments for first automobile races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway coming up in August.  It heralds the entry of the well known veteran racer Herb Lytle in the Apperson "
Protesting IMS "Saloon"

The articles in the attachments below discuss a debate about including a saloon on the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The article in attachment IMSNews080609i was originally published in the August 6, 1909, Indianapolis News, and the other (IMSbar080809) appeared in the August 8, 1909, Indianapolis Star.
 

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.

Merkel Moto Team to IMS

This article was published in the Indianapolis Star on August 3, 1909 and reports on the entry of the Merkel Light Company factory team of motorcycles in the first motorized competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This was a motorcycle race meet and it was scheduled to start August 13.