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.

Stickney & Oldfield

Attachment Stickney092009 contains two brief Indianapolis Star articles concerning events during the first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The date was August 20, 1909.
 
Aitken Mystery

This article is a complete mystery to me. Published in the August 20, 1909 Indianapolis Star it is purported to cover the drive of National Motor Vehicle Company star driver Johnny Aitken in the second race of the first day of racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
 
Manufacturers Advertise Their Success

This is a collection of ads ran in the Indianapolis Star by manufacturers to tout their success at the first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. All provide summaries of the races which are quite useful to researchers today.
 
1909 Speed Records

This records chart is yet another item from a special Sunday edition of the Indianapolis Star that touted the excitement of the upcoming first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The date was August 15, 1909.
 
August 1909 Event Schedule

This article is yet another from a special Sunday edition of the Indianapolis Star that touted the excitement of the upcoming first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The date was August 15, 1909.
 
Pilots Confront Death

This article is yet another item from a special Sunday edition of the Indianapolis Star that touted the excitement of the upcoming first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The date was August 15, 1909.
 
Final Day Schedule

This article appeared in the August 21, 1909 Indianapolis Star and provided an overview of the planned schedule of events for the final day of the first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
 
George Robertson's Temperament

Attached is an interesting (and very brief) piece on George Robertson best known for winning the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup and acting as team manager for Duesenberg for Jimmy Murphy's historic victory in the

Indiana Auto Manufacturers - 1909

This list of Indiana-based auto manufacturers is yet another item from a special Sunday edition of the Indianapolis Star that touted the excitement of the upcoming first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The date was August 15, 1909.
 

Information about the operations of the AAA as the primary sanctioning body of auto racing in the United States, especially in the earliest days of the sport.

Racing Rules & Public Policy

This article is yet another item from a special Sunday edition of the Indianapolis Star that touted the excitement of the upcoming first automobile races at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The date was August 15, 1909.