Planning 1910 Air Shows @ IMS

This article in attachment IMSaero122009 originally appeared in the December 17, 1909, Indianapolis Star and concerns Indianapolis Motor Speedway plans to stage aviation and gas balloon competition in 1910. The article also touches on plans for auto races.
 
The article reports that Speedway President Carl Fisher had drawn up plans for four "big" aviation meets and was dispatching Director of Speedway Contests Ernie Moross to Europe to attract the international balloon and aviation meets to the track as their primary venue. The assertion was made that the Speedway had the only aerial grounds in America where gate admission could be charged.
 
According to the report, a $15,000 project was ready to launch to condition the grounds to make it "perfectly level" for take-off and landing of airplanes. Moross was to stop first in New York to secure Aero Club of America sanction for the events. The most coveted date was the July 4 weekend and the hope was to combine an air show with a big auto race. The auto race meet would happen, but no air show on July 4 for the Speedway. Moross also planned to call on the American Automobile Association (AAA) while in New York. He sought the sanction of no less than five automobile race meets in 1910. The Speedway would get three: May, July, and September, all around the major summer holidays.
 
While many in racing circles felt this was an excessive request Fisher's position was that the Speedway had led the "race track movement" in America and up to that point no one had come close to their accomplishments. Largely true, but the Atlanta Speedway management could rightfully take exception.
 
Moross' travel plans called for him to set sail for Europe just after the New Year's Holiday.
 
On February 1, 1910, the Indianapolis News published the article in attachment FisherAeroNews020110. This reports that a cooperative agreement had been struck between the aero clubs of Indianapolis, Dayton, and St. Louis to form a kind of troupe or league of balloon owners to travel together and produce passenger balloon race competitions. The plan also called for the same arrangement with airplane owners, but the balloon community was more immediately responsive.
 
Expectations of international and national aero "meets" for both balloons and planes kindled this collaboration. The balloonist committed from the three cities listed in the previous paragraph were expected to be joined by owners from Kansas City, New York, Boston, and other cities. The Indiana Aero Club had committed five balloons, while the organizations from Dayton and St. Louis promised three and two respectively.
 
The article segues to news about Carl Fisher's plan to purchase a plane from the Wright Brothers.  Ernie Moross planned to head to the Ohio city to close the deal the following week. Fisher had been considering Bleriot airplane but cooled on the idea because French law required customers to go to France to be trained by the factory.