The last of the three 1910 Indianapolis Speedway race events was held begin Spetember 1910. This time around 20 events and now on two days over the weekend, skipping Sunday. Only a week later, the Speedway management made the announcement that from 1911 on, only one event would take place, over a large distance.
Text and jpegs by courtesy of hathitrust.org www.hathitrust.org, compiled by motorracinghistory.com
The Horseless Age, Vol. 26, No. 10, September 7, 1910
Sport and Contests.
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Hearne and Aitken Score Heavily at Hoosier Speedway Wind-Up.
Benz Pilot Captures 50 and 100 Mile Events and Speedway Helmet
National Drivers Win 200 Mile and Remy Contests — Few New Records.
Amid the usual blue smoke and din of exhausts the third and last meet of the season at the Indianapolis Speedway took place Saturday and Monday last, September 3 and 5. The meet gave E. A. Hearne, Ralph De Palma, John Aitken, Howard Wilcox and others an opportunity to gather in more laurels, the former youngster, in his Benz, winning the 100 mile race and Speedway Helmet event of Saturday and the 50 mile race on Labor Day. Aitken, in National cars, kidnapped the longest event, the 200 mile affair, on the latter date, also other events, while Wilcox, in another National, carried off the Remy Brassard and Trophy race. De Palma, a victim of tire trouble, did his best work in the 10 mile free for all, which he won on Monday, his attempts at the mile Speedway records with the 200 horsepower Fiat and the “Cyclone” falling short of the mark.
Summing up the biggest performances, National cars, driven by Aitken, Wilcox and Livingstone, were winners in six events, scoring four second places and five thirds; the Benz, guided by Hearne, was credited with two firsts and one second; the Marmon hornets drew two firsts, three seconds and a third; the Cole, with Endicott up, took a first, second and third; Frayer’s Firestone-Columbus was in for the first money once, and De Palma’s Fiat scored a first and third in the only two competition events he entered.
SATURDAY’S RACING.
An absence of new records marked the first day of the meet. Former records were missed by seconds and fractions of seconds, and only once Saturday did the timers note a new mark. This was when Hearne, in his 120 horsepower Benz, covered 75 miles of the one hundred mile free for all in 59:25.79, lowering the record of 69:34.6 for the distance made by Aitken in a National in the July meet at the same course.
The weather Saturday was threatening, heavy clouds hanging over the course. Early in the afternoon the sun came out for a while, but after the program started, old Sol hid behind clouds again. There was a good sized crowd of spectators, but nothing compared to what there would have been with more ideal weather conditions. The program was completed, however, without rain interfering and the track was in good condition.
For the first time the Speedway grounds had a completed appearance. Since the July meet, great beds of flowers had been provided and the grassy spaces were well kept. Along the concrete wall in front of the main grandstand were beds of flowers. During the races, the band, composed of employees of the Maxwell-Briscoe Motor Company, Newcastle, Ind., gave a concert.
There was a good field of entries in the several events, thirty-five cars participating. These represented about twenty different manufacturers. The McFarlan, made at Connersville, Ind., and the Westcott, made at Richmond, Ind., made their début in the racing game. The Hudson was also seen for the first time on the Indianapolis track, as was the Staver-Chicago.
The principal event Saturday was the 100 mile race for the Remy Brassard and Remy trophy. This was open to stock cars of 600 cubic inches piston displacement and under. The Brassard carries with it a weekly salary of $50 for the driver, with $25 weekly additional if the winning car is equipped with a Remy magneto. The trophy, valued at $2,500, goes to the manufacturer of the winning car. Perpetual ownership of the trophy, however, can be obtained only by the same car winning it three times.
There were eleven starters in the event, which was won by Howard Wilcox, driving a four cylinder National 40, Charles Merz, also driving a National 40, finished second, and Jap Clemens in a Speedwell was third. Ireland, piloting a Midland, was fourth. Those finishing first, second and third drove the entire 100 miles without a stop, a coincidence that has not happened before on the course. The contenders were: National 40, Wilcox; Marmon, Dawson; National 40, Merz; Falcar, Pearce; Mc-Farlan, Barndollar and Frank Clemens; Black Crow, Stinson; Midland, Ireland; Firestone-Columbus, Frayer; Cino, Fritsch, and Speedwell, Jap Clemens.
When the cars came around the first lap Dawson was leading, followed by Pearce, Jap Clemens and Merz, in the order named. Wilcox, who was destined to win the event, was running fifth and Ireland, who finished fourth, was sixth. At the conclusion of the second lap Jap Clemens had taken the lead, Dawson was second, Wilcox had jumped to third and Merz was fourth. The order was the same at the end of the third lap.
In the fourth lap Wilcox went to first, leading Dawson by a small margin, with Jap Clemens third, and Wilcox kept the lead to the thirteenth lap. Frayer in the Firestone-Columbus dropped out of the race after finishing his fourth lap. Pearce in the Falcar went to the pits in the fifth lap because of tire trouble, and by the time he got started again had lost several laps.
Dawson took the lead in the thirteenth round, relinquishing it in the eighteenth to Wilcox, who retained the lead during the remainder of the race. Dawson had a good lead for second place until the twenty-fifth lap, when he was put out on the backstretch by motor trouble. Merz then jumped to second position, Jap Clemens to third, and Ireland to fourth, not changing their positions during the remainder of the event. The times during the race were as follows: To miles, Wilcox, 8:30.4; 20 miles, Wilcox, 16:49; 30 miles, Wilcox, 25:27.3; 40 miles, Dawson, 33:30.6; 50 miles, Wilcox, 41 :28.15; 60 miles, Wilcox, 49:31,6; 70 miles, Wilcox, 58:05.14; 80 miles, Wilcox, 66:42; 90 miles, Wilcox, 74:53.31; too miles, Wilcox, 83:03.
The second event of importance was the one hundred mile free for all, which Hearne in his Benz won in 79:58.9, falling short of the record of 70:33 made by Harroun in a Marmon 60 at the July meet on the course. Harry Knight, driving a Westcott, finished second; Al Livingston, in a National, was third and Harroun in a Marmon was fourth.
A feature of the race was the consistent driving of Knight, a twenty-year-old Indianapolis boy, who drove his first long race. He drove the entire 100 miles without a stop and finished three minutes behind Hearne and his 120 horsepower Benz.
Hearne stopped once in the second lap for oil.
Hearne took a safe lead in the first lap, and never relinquished it. Livingston held second place until the twelfth lap, when tire trouble caused him to fall behind when Harroun jumped to second. Livingston took second place again after a while, holding it until the seventieth mile, when Harroun again went to second. At the ninetieth mile Knight was in second place, with Livingston third and Harroun fourth, the order in which they finished.
Entries in the race were: Benz, 120 horsepower, Hearne; National 6, Aitken; National, Livingston; Marmon, Dawson; Marmon, Harroun; American, Jenkins; Westcott, Knight; Matheson, Basle; Falcar, Gelnaw; Falcar, Pearce, and Firestone-Columbus, Frayer. While all of the cars were running at the end of the race only the first four finished. Hearne’s lapsed time was as follows: 10 miles, 7:56.23; 20 miles, 15:47,27; 30 miles, 23:49.75; 40 miles, 32:00.08; 50 miles. 39:35,65; 60 miles, 47: 15.70; 70 miles, 63:21.03; 7.5 miles, 59:25.70; 80 miles, 63:21.8; 90 miles, 71:48.7; 100 miles, 79:58.9.
Hearne also successfully defended the Speedway Helmet, which he won at the July meet. This was a to mile free for all race, Livingston in a National finishing second; De Palma in a 90 horse power Fiat, third, and Aitken in a National 6, fourth. Hearne’s time was 7:03.21. The only other starter was Matheson, Basle. De Palma killed his engine at the start, and lost a mile in getting away. The mile trials were disappointing, the brick course being wavy and uneven in spots. De Palma in his two Fiat cars of go and 200 horsepower respectively was the only entrant. In the former he covered a mile in 40.21, and in the latter a mile in 38:64.
Three Herreshoff cars, driven by Emmons, McCormick and Smith, were the only entrants in the 5 mile race for stock cars of 160 cubic inches piston displacement and under. Emmons won, his time being 6:20.47.
Event No. 3 was a 5 mile race for stock cars of the 161-230 class, and brought out Edmunds in a Cole, Keifer in a Staver-Chicago, Endicott in a Cole, Frayer in a Firestone-Columbus, and Olin in a Hudson. Edmunds won, his time being 5:05.5. Keifer was second and Endicott third.
Next was a 5 mile event for stock cars of the 231-300 class, with entries as follows: Cino, Fritsche; Falcar, Pearce; Falcar, Gelnaw; Marmon, Dawson; McFarlan, Barndollar; McFarlan, F. Clemens; Marmon, Harroun, and Great Western, H. Endicott. Harroun won by a narrow lead over Pearce, while Gelnaw was third. Harroun’s time was 4:35.6.
In event No. 5, for stock cars of the 301-450 class, Aitken in a National 40 won; Dawson in a Marmon was second, and Freiner in a National was third, Merz in a National finishing fourth. Atiken’s time was 4:05.97. Other entries were Speedwell, Jap. Clemens; Falcar, Pearce; Falcar, Gelnaw; Midland, Ireland, and Firestone-Columbus, Frayer.
Three Nationals, driven by Wilcox, Merz and Greiner, and a Matheson driven by Basle, started in Event No. 6, 5 miles, for cars of the 451-600 class, Wilcox won, his time being 4:06.7, Merz finishing second, and Basle third.
The remaining event of Saturday was the 5 mile handicap, open to all cars entered at the meet, Entries were National, Merz, and National, Greiner, starting from scratch; Matheson, Basle, and Westcott, Knight, twenty seconds; Falcars, Pearce and Gelnaw, and Great Western, H. Endicott, forty seconds; Parry, Hughes; Black Crow, Stinson; Midland, Ireland and Cino, Fritsch, fifty seconds; Firestone-Columbus, Frayer, fifty-eight seconds; Cole, Edmunds; Mc-Farlans, Barndollar and F. Clemens, and Cole, Endicott, sixty-eight seconds; Herreshoffs, Emmons, McCormick and Smith, and Hudson, Olin, eighty-four seconds. Edmunds won, his actual running time being 5:01.5, and his handicap time, 3:37.5. Basle finished second, Clemens third, and Knight fourth.
The Nordyke & Marmon Company had expected to enter a new car in several events, but during the morning practice it ran out of oil and burned out the bearings. This is the car that has been built for the Vanderbilt race, and has a piston displacement of 410 cubic inches.
Summary of Saturday’s events.
Record Trials for Mile American Speedway Record – De Palma, 90 horsepower Fiat, 40:21; De Palma, 200 horsepower Fiat, 38:64.
Stock Chassis, Class B, Division 1 (160 cu. in. piston displacement and under; minimum weight, 1,100 pounds; 5 miles) – Won by Emmons, Herreshoff; McCormick, Herreshoff, second; Smith, Herreshoff, third, Time, 6:20:47.
Stock Chassis, Class B, Division 2 (161 to 230 cu. in. piston displacement; minimum weight, 1,400 pounds; 5 miles) – Won by Edmunds, Cole; Keifer, Staver-Chicago, second; Endicott, Cole, third. Time, 5:05.5.
Stock Chassis, Class B, Division 3 (231 to 3oo cu. in. piston displacement; minimum weight, 1,700 pounds; 5 miles) – Won by Harroun, Marmon; Pearce, Falcar, second; Gelnaw, Falcar, third. Time, 4:35.6.
Stock Chassis, Class B, Division 4 (301 to 450 cu. in, piston displacement; minimum weight, 2,000 pounds: 5 miles) – Won by Aitken, National „40“; Dawson, Marmon, second; Greiner, National, third. Time, 4:05:97.
Stock Chassis, Class B, Division 5 (451 to 600 cu. in piston displacement; minimum weight, 2,300 pounds; 5 miles) – Won by Wilcox, National; Merz, National, second; Basle, Matheson, third. Time, 4:06.7.
Class D, Free for All Open Race (10 miles; for Indianapolis Motor Speedway Helmet) – Won by Hearne, 120 horsepower Benz; Livingston, National, second; De Palma, go horsepower Fiat, third. Time, 7:03:21.
Class D, Free for All Open Race (open to all cars entered at this meet; too miles) – Won by Hearne, 120 horsepower Benz; Knight, Westcott, second; Livingston, National, third; Harroun, Marmon, fourth, Time, 79:58.9.
Class D, Free for All Handicap (open to all cars entered at this meet; cars handicapped in accordance with their performance at this meet by the board of official handicappers; 5 miles) – Won by Edmunds, Cole, handicap 68 seconds; Basle, Matheson, handicap 20 seconds, second; F. Clemens, McFarlan, handicap 68 seconds, third; Knight, Westcott, handicap 20 seconds, fourth. Running time, 5:01.5, Handicap time, 3:37.5.
Remy Grand Brassard (stock chassis of 600 cu. in. piston displacement and under; too miles) – Won by Wilcox, National; Merz, National, second; Tap Clemens, Speedwell, third; Ireland, Midland, fourth. Time, 83:03.
MONDAY’S RACING.
Plugging along in gruelling fashion throughout the entire distance, Aitken, in the National, proved the victor in the 200 mile race for the 600 cubic inch class, the wind-up of the meet, winning, also, the $1,000 cash prize. He covered the ground in 2:47:54, which was slightly slower than the record. Part of the record breaking of the day came in this event, when Harroun, in the Marmon, finished his 75th mile in I:03:31.9, lowering Aitken’s world’s mark, made at the same course, of 1:09:34.6. Twelve contestants filled the event and got off in warm manner, these being Clemens, Speedwell; Livingstone, National; Dawson, Marmon; Gelnaw, Falcar; Barndollar and Clemens in McFarlan; Stinson, Black Crow; Ireland, Midland; Harroun, Marmon; Aitken and Greiner, in Nationals, and Basle, in a Matheson, Livingstone got away in the lead, but at the finish of the second lap on the 2% mile course Aitken passed him and held the lead for 20 miles. Harroun, pushing the Wasp harder, rode him down and retained the first position for 10 miles, when Aitken again plunged to the fore, only to lose it shortly after to the Marmonite.
Fighting off Aitken for some miles more, Harroun set the pace that scored him the 75 mile record, shortly after which he pulled up at the pits for a tire change. This, of course, gave Aitken the lead again, which he held until he passed the 100 mile mark. Harroun caught him again a couple of times, but was unable to stay at the head of the procession, and when a coupling broke in the 170th mile Harroun was obliged to withdraw the Wasp. Livingstone, in his National, who had been plugging away throughout the contest, rode into second place, which he retained until the checker-board flag waved. Barndollar, in the Mc-Farlan, was third, and Greiner, in the other National, fourth.
E. A. Hearne, driving the 120 horsepower Benz, won the other big race of the afternoon, the 50 mile free for all. He led home in a field of eight by more than a mile, 38:02.85, Harroun taking second honors. The starters were: Livingstone and Aitken, in Nationals; Knight, in a Wescott; Basle, Matheson; Frayer, Firestone-Columbus; Harroun, Marmon; Hearne, Benz, and De Palma, in the 200 horsepower Fiat. The latter encountered tire trouble in the eleventh lap, losing considerable time while changing a rear tire; this car having a type of rim upon which tires cannot be changed quickly, Harroun, also, was compelled to stop again in the eleventh lap for tire replacement, Hearne in the meanwhile setting the pace. Again in the sixteenth lap the Fiat pilot was forced to make another tire change, and in spite of the car’s power, had no chance of heading the Benz youngster. At the 30 mile point Hearne established a new speedway mark for the distance, 22:47.4. Harroun, who was in hot pursuit again, failed to cut down the long gap between himself and the leader, and ran in second, nearly half the lap astern, Livingstone scored third place, and De Palma, in a burst of speed, fourth.
De Palma, however, showed class in the 10 mile free for all, in which he had no tire blowouts and gave the rest of the field a merry fight — the fastest of the day — negotiating the distance in 6:48 3-5 with the big Fiat. Hearne was beaten out for first place by a few feet, with Harroun behind him in third position.
Four 5 mile events were also run off, the respective winners being Frayer, in the Firestone-Columbus; Harroun, in the Marmon; Aitken, in the National, and Wilcox, in a National.
The summary:
Five miles (handicap) – Won by McFarlan, Barndollar; second, Firestone-Columbus, Frayer; third, McFarlan, Clemens, Time, 5:08 3-5.
Five miles, cars of 231 to 300 cubic inches – Won by McFarlan, Barndollar; second, Falcar, Gelnaw Time, 4:03.8-26.
Fifty miles, free for all – Won by Benz, Hearne; second, Marmon, Harroun; third, National, Livingston. Time, 38:03.
Ten miles, free for all – Won by Fiat, De Palma; second, Benz, Hearne; third, Marmon, Harroun. Time, 6:48 3-5.
Five miles – Won by Firestone-Columbus, Frayer; second, Cole, Endicott; third, Staver, Greiner. Time, 4:47.
Five miles – Won by Marmon, Harroun; second, Falcar, Pearce; third, McFarlan, Clemens. Time, 4:38,
Five miles – Won by National, Aitken; second, Marmon, Dawson; third, National, Greiner. Time, 4:10 2-5.
Five miles-Won by National, Wilcox; second, Greiner; third, McFarlan, Barndollar. Time, 4:09.
Two hundred miles, cars of 600 cubic inches and under – Won by National, Aitken; second, National, Greiner; third, McFarlan, Barndollar. Time., 2:47-54.
Photo captions.
Page 340 – 343.
Aitken, Who Piloted the National to Victory IN THE 200 MILE Event, Labor Day.
LINED Up for the Start of the 100 MILE FREE for All, SATURDAY.
KNIGHT (Westcott), WHO WON SECOND PLACE IN 100 MILE RACE, SATURDAY.
HEARNE, IN BENZ, WINNER of 100 MILE FREE FOR ALL.
ARTHUR W. GREINER, WHO SCORED SEVERAL THIRD PLACES.
Michelin Tire Camp at the Speedway.
