The first plans of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, dating January 1909. Construction planning was mid January staking-out track etc; mid February begin construction work, mid May completion of the track. The many curves on the inside track, later proved not to be realisable within the total gound outlines; these were fixed.
Text and jpegs by courtesy of hathitrust.org www.hathitrust.org, compiled by motorracinghistory.com
Motor Age, Volume XV, No. 3, January 21, 1909.
Details of the New Motor Speedway Planned by the Hoosiers
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., Jan. 19 — Detailed plans for the motor speedway which is to be built near Indianapolis were announced today. The speedway has a 2-mile circular outside track 50 feet wide, with 60 feet on the curves, banked suitably for a speed of 100 miles per hour. Also there is a 3-mile inside road-racing course in connection with the outside track, which can be used when wanted for this combination style of road and track racing. The inside road course is 25 feet wide in the straights and 35 feet wide on the turns, well banked, and the turns will stand an average speed of 60 to 65 miles per hour. The complete outside and inner track measures 5 miles 3 feet from the pole line. The entire plat of ground is 1½ miles long and ½ mile wide, and contains 320 acres of ground.
The object of the motor speedway company is to furnish suitable track and road facilities for the driving and testing of American cars for long-distance or high- speed contests, and to have a suitable track and road course where these tests and trials can be made at any time of the year such trials are necessary; also to furnish suitable grounds and quarters for outdoor shows and meetings of motor car engineers, manufacturers or dealers. The grounds are conveniently located on a flat plateau 3½ miles northwest of the center of Indianapolis, and is connected by 1 mile of improved road with the elaborate boulevard system of the city. The New York Central railroad passes the southwest corner of the ground, and will have a 2,000-foot switch on the ground with an unloading platform and railroad station.
There will be three main grand stands with seating capacity of 35,000, and twenty individual grand stands placed at convenient locations about the track, each of these grand stands raised 10 feet from the ground and having accommodations for fifty persons, making it convenient for clubs to attend in a body and have their grand stand for their own members, and raised high enough so that they can all command a view of the entire track. This is entirely level. There will be no fences or buildings closer than 50 feet to either the outer track or inside roadway. The track will be so constructed that it will graduate off to the level ground, except where the turns are banked, and these will be so graduated back to the level as to insure every possible precaution for the safety of drivers and spectators. The parking spaces and grand stands will be subdivided from the main grounds by 8 feet wire fences, making ‚it impossible for spectators to get onto the track.
One clubhouse on the grounds will be headquarters of the Indianapolis Motor Car Club. Another clubhouse will be devoted for the uses of officers and contestants. An eating-house and cafe will be installed suitable to take care of all requirements. The 2-mile course will be provided with lighting facilities of 420 independent electric arc lights, provided with reflectors.
A great deal of preliminary work, had been done, and at this writing a force of engineers are staking out the track and buildings and active work by a large force of men will commence not later than February 15. The track and entire grounds are under contract to be completed by May 15, and it is the expectation of the management to hold the first public event early in June. An immediate effort will be made to secure the national stock chassis race of 1909, and the motor speed- way company will immediately take steps to affiliate with the American Automobile Association and see if this important event cannot be the opening at the Indianapolis speedway. A bid will also be made to have one international contest for the benefit of the west each year, and with this end in view, the Wheeler & Schebler cup has been subscribed. This cup will be made by Tiffany, of New York, and the actual coin value of this cup will exceed $5,000. Another valuable trophy has been given by the Prest-O-Lite Co. for contests of light ear class.
Photo: Plan of Motor Speedway to Be Constructed by Indianapolis Tradesmen
