Indianapolis Cars Tackle Vanderbilt Cup

These attachments contain articles about the 1909 Vanderbilt Cup. A few of the articles from the Indianapolis Star focus on teams of cars from Indianapolis-based manufacturers that competed in the event.
 

Fifteen articles in this collection document significant events in Carl Fisher’s life. His “palimony” suit with Gertrude Hassler is an interesting example. Another important point is the Zanesville, Ohio county fair horse track accident in September 1903 that involved his teammate Earl Kiser and resulted in the death of several spectators. Also, there is Carl’s wonderful first hand account of his balloon ride when he competed in the Speedway’s first competition – the national balloon championships of June 1909.

George Bumbaugh and Count Zeppelin

This is an interesting article about another record attempt by Indianapolis Motor Speedway founder Carl Fisher's ballooning mentor George Bumbaugh. Bumbaugh was out to smash a balloon endurance record established by the renowned Count Ferdinand Zeppelin.

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.

Cobe Trophy to Indianapolis Motor Speedway - 1910

The article in attachment IMSCobe103109 was published in the Indianapolis Star on October 31, 1909. It discussed the likelihood that the Ira Cobe Trophy Race would be conducted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1910. The event, the first major auto race organized in Indiana, originally ran in Crown Point, Indiana in June 1909.

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.

The Brickyard's First Speed Test

This article describes the planned events for the December 17, 1909 time trial at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This was published the morning of the event in the Indianapolis Star, so the time trials were yet to be run. However, it provides a nice update to the practice that had occurred up to that point.
Records Fall in Bitter Cold

This is a nice collection of articles that summarizes the first day of the December 1909 speed trials at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and sets up the second day.
Strang, Christie Battle Cold, Set Records

This is an excellent collection of articles covering the second and final day of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1909 time trials. Lewis Strang set a new five mile mark and J. Walter Christie blew away the old quarter mile record. Some good images are included - not high quality, but interesting.
Endicott "Dark Faced Minstrel"

Contained in this attachment is an image that appeared in the Indianapolis Star on December 18, 1909. It was taken during the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's December 17 & 18 time trials on the new brick running surface.

The first competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a national championship gas filled balloon race organized by Speedway President Carl Fisher. Fisher and his co-founders James Allison, Frank Wheeler and Arthur C. Newby were anxious to recover their investments in the Speedway. Since construction of the track did not begin in earnest until April 1909 it took months to prepare the track for motorized competition. Fisher, fascinated with aviation, sought to host the national championship balloon racing competition - and generate revenue for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Company. He formed the Aero Club of Indiana, became the 21st person to earn a balloon pilot's license in the United States and worked with mentor George Bumbaugh to develop balloon vehicles. Their craft was called the Indiana and together they survived a harrowing ride through turbulent wind currents. Check out a photo gallery of this great event elsewhere on First Super Speedway.

George Bumbaugh Takes Flight at 1909 State Fair

In October 1909 - at the Indiana State Fair - Carl Fisher's ballooning mentor put on an exhibition of one of his giant gas balloons. This brief article with image notes the event.

This collection of articles reviews the July 4 weekend race meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1910. This was the second race meet of the track's season, the first coming over Memorial Day. 1910 was one of the Speedway's busiest years ever, hosting three major auto race meets, an aviation show and another balloon race. The events of this year even rival the hard work the management team at the Speedway currently performs to pull off their mega-events.

Harry Grant Tests ALCO

This article reports on early practice for the July 1910 race meet at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
George Robertson Entered for July Races

Warning...this article is of very poor quality. Nevertheless, it's worth your time if you are researching the career of 1908 Vanderbilt Cup winner George Robertson who is the main subject of the information. Also, there is an image of Louis Chevrolet's Buick after it took a tumble during early practice.