This folder contains three excellent articles on the early days of the French Grand Prix. The race was initiated in 1906 but canceled from 1909 through 1911 as the French absorbed disappointing losses in 1907 and 1908. The race returned in 1912 only to be interrupted after 1914 by World War I.

No French GP - 1910

This brief article first appeared in the December 5, 1909 Indianapolis Star. It concerns the on-again, off-again status of the French Grand Prix. Established in 1906 the race was a response to the limitations of cars originating from any one country in its predecessor race, the James Gordon Bennett Cup. France was the dominant car producing nation in the world and expected to walk over all other countries in their own race.
Indianapolis' Automobile Row

This article in attachment AutoRow110709 appeared in the Indianapolis Star on November 7, 1909.
 
Indianapolis Auto Industry - 1909

This article was originally published in the Indianapolis Star on Decemer 5, 1909 as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway looked forward to its first time trial event after paving the track with bricks.
 
Boxing Legends & Speedway Dreams

I'm no boxing aficionado but it seems to me that there is a strong argument for the case that the Jack Johnson - Jim Jeffries bout in 1910 was the fight of the 20th Century. Not because the fighters were evenly matched - they weren't. Not because the fight was particularly good - it wasn't. The reasons are all about civil rights and the role of the black race in America.
National Ad - Atlanta 1909

This ad for the National Motor Vehicle Company "40" model is a lift from the November 17, 1909 Indianapolis Star. The ad focuses on the performance of that model - although the company's "60" model is also mentioned - in the recent inaugural race meeting at the new Atlanta Speedway.
Harroun Wins in New Orleans - 1909

The article in attachment Oldfield112209 first appeared in the Indianapolis Star on November 22, 1909. This article reports on the events of a race meet held at the fairgrounds track in New Orleans. The big news was future Indianapolis 500 winner Ray Harroun's victory in the 100-mile feature and Barney Oldfield's establishment of a new track record.

From LA to Phoenix - 1914
Twenty-two files document the Los Angeles to Phoenix off-road race of 1914. The winner was Barney Oldfield in the Stutz racer he also drove to fifth place in the 1914 Indianapolis 500. Other top drivers in the race included Louis Chevrolet, Cliff Durant, Louis Nikrent.

LA to Phoenix - 1909

The article in attachment LA-Phoenix110809 originally appeared in the November 8, 1909 Indianapolis Star. The dateline was Ahrenburg, Arizona. This is a misspelling, it is actually Ehrenburg.
 

This collection of articles is a good research source for anyone interested in learning more about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's project to pave the track with bricks during the autumn of 1909. This action was triggered by the tragic events of the Speedway's first auto race in August 1909. This collection focuses on the December time trial events that yielded new records and demonstrated the speed and improved safety of the facility. The weather was brutally cold, sinking to as low as 9 degrees. The track was covered in snow earlier in the week and Director of Contests Ernest Moross announced that he would pour gasoline on the bricks and set them afire if necessary to clear the Speedway for the trials. Temperatures were so biting that the drivers created homemade chamois balaclavas to protect their skin.

Moross & Time Trials

The article in attachment Moross111909 was originally published in the Indianapolis Star on November 19, 1909.

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

The article in attachment Ormond111209 was originally published in the November 28, 1909 Indianapolis Star. It discusses planned entries for the 1910 edition of the Ormond - Daytona Beach speed tournament. This would be the last running of this annual speed festival although land speed record runs would continue through 1935.
 

Occasionally I run across obscure American road races that occurred before WW-I. This category is designed to capture and preserve such races.

Road Race Analysis - 1909

The article in attachment RoadRaces121209 was published in the December 12, 1909 Indianapolis Star. This article is a re-print from the trade journal, Motor Age, and provides an analysis of the performance of cars and drivers of the 1909 auto racing seaon in road races. This is an important point as the data does not reflect accomplishments in oval track or beach races.