Lyne Faints at IMS

This image is of the scene when riding mechanic Herbert Lyne fainted in the pits beside the disabled car of National Motor Vehicle Company driver Johnny Aitken and his riding mechanic Claude Kellum. The image first appeared in the August 22, 1909 Indianapolis Star. It was part of the coverage of the tragic first auto racing event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
 
These races were controversial due to the devestating fatal accidents on the first and third days of the meet. In all, five men were killed:
 

 
For Herbert Lyne the fainting spell was a huge stroke of good fortune. He had started the fateful final race of the entire meet - the Wheeler-Schebler Trophy - as driver Charlie Merz' riding mechanic. During the race their National failed on the backstretch, apparently in need of a battery. Lyne ran the distance across the track in the hot sun and apparently was not conditioned for such exertion as he nearly collapsed. Eager to return to the fray Kellum jumped at the chance to sprint back to Merz with a replacement battery or whatever was required. It was a fateful move.
 
After his narrow escape Lyne, whose nickname was "Red," retired from the role of riding mechanic. He continued with the National company and popped up again on loan as a consultant (check out the eighth paragraph of the content rendered by previous link) to Jules Goux's winning Peugeot team in the 1913 Indianapolis 500.

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