This folder has three articles focusing on the fortunes of Indianapolis automobile companies in the summer of 1910. One article talks about Marmon as well as Moon Motor Company plans to enter the Elgin, Illinois road race. Another article reports on Marmon’s racing plans for the coming season in 1911. A third article focus on the Premier Automobile Company.

Premier Cars DQ'd from Glidden Tour

Premier, one of Indianapolis' top car manufacturers in the first decade of the 20th Century, got into a tussle with the AAA over their compliance to rules for Glidden Trophy reliability run in 1910. The Glidden reliability runs were conducted from 1905 through 1913 and were not auto races. The forerunner to road rallies, drivers were rewarded for staying on a schedule. Success meant the machine could arrive on time and in working order despite what were some pretty dreadful driving conditions.

It's true, Carl Fisher got all the attention when it came to the four founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But there's a good chance he couldn't have pulled it off without a great supporting cast. That's where James Allison, Arthur C. Newby and Frank Wheeler come in. Each made significant contributions to launching the great Speedway. I have obituaries for each of these men and plan to add more articles focusing on them over time.

Jim Allison's Obituary

Indianapolis Motor Speedway founder Jim Allison's death was front page news in the August 4, 1928 edition of the Indianapolis News. It was also somewhat controversial. Allison had recently divorced his wife of over 20 years to marry his secretary.
Frank Wheeler's Obituary

Frank Wheeler was the first of the four founders to leave the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and, four years later, was the first to pass away. Suffering from diabetes for years, his health deterriorated rapidly in the last few months of his life. A wound to his foot stubbornly refused to heal, and he increasingly became despondent over his perdicament. A proud man, he elected to take his life using his favorite shotgun.
Another Jim Allison Obituary

This is a second obituary for James Allison, which appeared in the Indianapolis Times. Another nice summary of not just the circumstances of his death, but his biography as well. A sidebar focuses on reactions from Miami, where Allison, teaming with his old friend Fisher, had numerous business investments. He also lived in Miami much of the year in the 1920's. You can read the other obit elsewhere on First Super Speedway.
Arthur C. Newby's Obituaries

Arthur C. Newby's obituary in the Indianapolis News is chock-full of information about the man. His nickname, "the quiet philanthropist" was well earned. Note his $100,000 gift to Riley Children's Hospital and how he stepped in to save Turkey Run State Park from encroaching development.
Community Salutes Newby in Death

J. W. Atherton, secretary of finance at Butler University said this of Arthur C. "Art" Newby at the time of his passing, "Modesty and sincerety were among his chief charms. Indianapolis and community and many friends have sustained a severe loss in his passing."
 
Brief Obit for Art Newby

Printed September 12, 1933 in the Indianapolis Times, this was the briefest obituary for Arthur C. "Art" Newby of the three major dailies serving the city.

This is a large collection of articles concerning the 1911 Indianapolis 500. This content covers practice and preparation for the event, many featuring the star drivers such as eventual winner Ray Harroun, Ralph Mulford, Bob Burman and Ralph DePlama. Barney Oldfield, who was banned by the AAA during this period and missed the first Indianapolis 500, wrote a racing column and several of his contributions are contained in this folder. Complete race day coverage is yet to be added, but will be included them in the future.

Prep for the First Indianapolis 500

This is a nice package of four brief articles about preparations leading up to the first Indianapolis 500 during May 1911. The articles were published in the Indianapolis News on May 23, 1911.
"Wild" Bob and "Lord" Hughie

This clipping contains a brief article announcing that all entries for the first Indianapolis 500 had arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by May 23, 1911. The latest arrival was the much anticipated "Speed King" Wild Bob Burman.
Burman's Run to Benefit Hospitals

This collection of articles from the Indianapolis News for May 25, 1911 provides some interesting sidelights to activities at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway leading up to the first Indianapolis 500. Indianapolis Mayor Samuel Lewis Shank called for the opening of a municipal building to be used as sleep quarters for out-of-town guests as hotel capacity had maxed-out prior to race day.