In July 1910, a second three-day program on the Speedway was held. It featured the Cobe Cup, the Remy Brassard Cup and several 10-, 20-, 50- and 100-mile races. Drivers like Bob Burman, Ray Harroun and both Chevrolet brothers participated in these races. Evidently, the Speedway’s popularity was growing.
Text and jpegs by courtesy of hathitrust.org www.hathitrust.org, compiled by motorracinghistory.com
The Motor World, Vol. XXIV, No. 4, July 7, 1910
RECORD-WRECKING ON INDIANAPOLIS TRACK
Another Memorable Three-days‘ Meeting on the Speedway Results in Many New Figures – Feature Events Overshadow Many Minor Races – Burman Loses the Helmet but Wins the Brassard and Dawson Captures the „Big“ Race and the Cobe Trophy.
When the Indianapolis (Ind.) Motor Speedway was constructed a little less than a year ago there were many who gazed upon its huge 2½ miles ellipse and predicted failure for the magnificent course that had cost several hundred thousand dollars to build. If there were any of those same persons present at the Speedway on Friday, Saturday and Monday last, July 1, 2 and 4, doubtless they held a different opinion. There was fine racing and good crowds, and in every other way was it a memorable meeting.
There were sufficient exciting incidents to thrill even lethargic persons, and happily for all concerned there was not a single accident to mar the occasion. It largely was a Buick meeting insofar as cars were concerned, as well as a Michelin tire sweep, the latter make winning 22 of the 26 races; but there were sufficient close races to give the Buick pilots a run for their money and also one sturdy car and driver who „tied the can“ on the Buick crew in the feature race of the meet, viz., the Cobe Trophy race on Monday. The man was Dawson and the car a Marmon.
Last year the Cobe Trophy race was held on the roads in Indiana, over a course known as the Crown Point circuit, and upon that occasion Louis Chevrolet snatched the victory with his Buick car. The Buick stable particularly was anxious to duplicate their performance and with that object had entered Burman. Louis and Arthur Chevrolet. Louis soon was out of the running, but Arthur Chevrolet and Burman both did well until they had trouble with their cars and were unable to stop the fierce onslaught made by Dawson.
Until Burman’s appearance at the Indianapolis meet references to a „bullet-like flight“ had been more or less imaginative. Burman, however, appeared with a specially designed car that had every appearance of a huge projectile and the odd-shaped car caused much comment. It as closely resembles the catalogued Buick as a battleship resembles a rowboat. Burman is an intrepid driver and he made good by winning, besides several minor races, the G & J trophy and Remy Grand Brassard events on Friday and Saturday, although he was forced to relinquish the Speedway helmet to Hearne on the former day. Burman also figured largely in the record-smashing, as did the Chevrolet brothers.
Herne Takes the Helmet from Burman.
With a large crowd in attendance, the opening day’s racing was the most success- fully carried out of any that have predominated at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The entire program of events was replete with exciting incidents and free of accidents. As usually is the cast, the best event was saved until the last, this coming with the running of the 50 miles race for cars in the 231-300 cubic inches category for the G. & J. Trophy, valued at $1,000. In addition to the trophy there were cash prizes of $150, $100 and $50. Eleven cars started but early in the race it was seen that, barring accidents, the outcome would be between Burman and Arthur Chevrolet, both driving Buicks. This especially was true when Harroun’s Marmon drew up to the repair pits after 10 miles of sizzling going and when Dawson, also on a Marmon, hung on for more than half the distance and then was obliged to follow Harroun’s example. Burman and Chevrolet alternated in the lead, and this kept the interest of the spectators above par until Burman scooted over the tape at the end of 50 miles in 40:03.07, breaking the previous record of 42:41.83, made by Harroun at the Indianapolis course last May.
Another interesting event was the 10 miles free-for-all for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway helmet. After one attempt to get the cars away from a flying start the starter gave up the job and sent them away from a standstill. The eight entries were classy and Aitken’s National burned the bricks, but was overhauled and passed by Hearns, in the Benz, who finished in front in 7:13. Burman won the helmet at the May meeting, and under the deed of gift has been drawing cigarette money to the tune of $50 a week ever since. Burman wore the helmet in Friday’s race and seemed greatly disappointed when he had to pass it over to Hearne.
Speedway records were lowered in the 5 miles event for 161-230 cubic inch cars and the 10 miles race for cars in the 231-300 class. Louis Chevrolet won the former in 4:40.08, breaking his own record of 4:41. In the 10 miles race Burman scurried away at the start like a scared rabbit and was‘ never headed, finishing in 8:14.46. Harry Grant, the Vanderbilt cup winner, scored in a 10 miles race with his Alco car and Greiner, on a National, brought home the bacon in the amateur race.
The summaries:
Record trials – Best time made by Louis Chevrolet, Buick Times, one mile, 0:37.95; one kilometre, 0:22.43; one-half mile. 0:17.54; one-quarter mile, Robert Burman, Buick, 0:08.51.
Five miles, 160 cubic inches – Won by Roberts, Herreshoff; second, Meddock, Empire; third, McCormick, Herreshoff. Time, 5:30.61.
Five miles, 161-230 cubic inches – Won by L. Chevrolet, Buick; second, Burman, Buick; third, Miller, Warren-Detroit. Time, 4:40.80. Ten miles, 231-300 cubic inches-Won by Burman, Marquette-Buick; second, Dawson, Marmon; third, Harroun, Marmon. Time, 8:14.46.
Fifteen miles, 301-450 cubic inches – Won by Burman, Buick; second, Aitken, National; third, A. Chevrolet, Buick. Time, 11:46.42.
Ten miles, 451-600 cubic inches – Won by Grant, Alco; second, Wilcox, National; third, Greiner, National. Time, 8:03.09.
Ten miles handicap, free-for-all – Won by Sutcliffe, Maytag (3:50); second, Davis, Great Western (3:00); third, Miller, Warren-Detroit (2:51). Time, 10:01.78.
Five miles amateur – Won by Greiner, National; second, Tousey, National. Time, 4:14.95.
Ten miles free-for-all, for Speedway Helmet – Won by Hearne, Benz; second, Har- roun, Marmon; third, Zengle, Chadwick. Time, 7:13.
Fifty miles, 231-300 cubic inches, for G & J Trophy – Won by Burman, Buick; second, A. Chevrolet, Buick; third, Pearce, Fal Car. Time, 40:03.7.
How Burman Won the Remy Brassard.
As dust before a hurricane, so were records blown from the books on Saturday, the second day of the meet. The wholesale slaughter began when Roberts created a record for 10 miles in the 160 cubic inches class, and finished after sunset when Burman whirled to the finish in the 100 miles race of the 301-450 cubic inches class for the Remy Grand Brassard.
The Remy Brassard grind was the feature race of the day, and it came after several sharp skirmishes had been fought in the short distance events. The great field of starters began to knock the records galley west at the 20th mile, when Kincaid delivered a Reno knockout to Harroun’s Marmon-Atlanta mark by reeling 20 miles in 15:48.83. At 30 miles Kincaid was still hammering Father Time to a pulp, covering the distance in 31:47.8, but tire trouble a few minutes later allowed Burman to sweep past with a triumphant roar. Burman remained in front from then until the finish and set up new records for 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 miles, respectively, in 31:47.86, 39:47.86, 48:15.2, 56:05.65, 1:04, 1:12:27.8 and 1:20:35.6. Earlier in the afternoon Chevrolet broke the 10 miles mark in the same class by covering the distance in 7:54.8, which broke Burman’s record made the day before. In a 10 miles race for 161-230 cars Chevrolet slashed another record by finishing in 8:55.4.
Curly-haired, smiling George Robertson had reason to smile even more broadly in the 10 miles free-for-all when he drove his fast Simplex four times around the 2½ miles course in the phenomenal time of 6:53.38 – an average of 87.08 miles per hour. The former record was made by Bragg at the Indianapolis May meeting. With this introduction the crowd looked for Robertson to repeat in the five miles free-for-all, but a surprise and thrill was in store for them. Robertson went out in front and for a lap – 2½ miles – his Simplex responded masterly. Then Aitken swooped down upon him like a hungry hawk, and after a neck and neck battle that brought forth mighty huzzas the National cannonaded over the line a close winner. This really was the prettiest race of the meeting and Aitken was the hero of the minute.
The summaries:
One mile record trials – Won by Burman. Buick. Time, 0:38.36. Ten miles, 160 cubic inches-Won by Roberts, Herreshoff; second, Merz, Empire; third, Herreshoff, Herreshoff. Time, 10:36.30.
Ten miles, 161-230 cubic inches – Won by L., Chevrolet, Buick; second, Burman, Buick; third, H. Endicott, E-M-F. Time, 8:55.40.
Five miles, 231-300 cubic inches – Won by L. Chevrolet, Buick; second, Burman, Buick; third, Dawson, Marmon. Time, 4:08.03.
Ten miles, 301-450 cubic inches – Won by L. Chevrolet, Buick; second, Aitken, National; third, Dawson, Marmon. Time, 7:54.86.
Twenty miles, 451-600 cubic inches – Won by Grant, Alco; second, Greiner, National; third, Wilcox, National. Time, 16:27.13.
Ten miles handicap, free-for-all – Won by Robertson, Simplex; second, Smith, National; third, Ireland, Midland. Time, 6:53.48.
Ten miles amateur, free-for-all – Won by Greiner, National; second, Tousey, National; third, Wishart, Mercedes. Time, 8:16.56.
Five miles free-for-all – Won by Aitken, National; second, Robertson, Simplex; third, Hearne, Benz. Time, 3:39.7.
One hundred miles, 301-450 cubic inches, for Remy Grand Brassard – Won by Burman, Buick; second, Dawson, Marmon; third, Harroun, Marmon; fourth, A. Chevrolet, Buick. Time, 1:20:35:6.
Dawson’s Triumph in the Cobe Cup Race.
Although there were other events on Monday’s card, the transplanted 200-miles Cobe Trophy event easily held the attention of the holiday crowd to the exclusion of the other races. Not only was it one of the most exciting long-distance grinds ever held in this country, but it placed a new star in the automobile racing firmament, Joe Dawson by name. Dawson is a beardless Indianapolis youth, but his nerve and the speed of his Marmon car were sufficient to wrest victory from Burman and his Buick car in a spectacular battle that caused 20,000 persons to shout for joy when the home product emerged from the battle victorious.
Glory always means a deal of personal satisfaction, but Dawson derived more than that. Not only did he receive the back-claps and handshakes of his employers and Indianapolis friends, but his pocket was filled with the always useful coin of the realm. Besides winning the $3,000 silver trophy, Dawson personally received $500 from the Speedway management, $300 because his car was fitted with a Bosch magneto and an additional $400 for using Michelin tires, altogether a tidy sum for less than three hours‘ work.
The Cobe Trophy race, which was for cars between 451 and 600 cubic inches, attracted a field of 14 speed eaters. Burman rolled to the front at the 14th lap, and after 32½ miles he relinquished the lead to Arthur Chevrolet, but regained it later. Burman and Chevrolet then alternated in the lead for a long time. Grant, in the Alco car. was a prominent contender at the beginning of the race, but tire trouble destroyed his chance. After 115 miles had been covered Dawson was bothered by tire trouble for the first and only time during the struggle. When he resumed the flight he was still third, in the rear of Burman and Chevrolet. Then Grant threw another tire directly in front of the grandstand and A. Chevrolet was compelled to stop with engine trouble and a leaky radiator, and Burman also lost a few minutes. Not until the 175th mile, however, did Burman lose his lead to Dawson, who there- after was never headed. When the grimy-faced boy hurled his car across the tape in what was perhaps the most spectacular automobile race ever seen in the West he was almost mobbed. As he was borne aloft on the shoulders of his friends and hero worshippers the stands rang with applause.
The race produced a grist of new records. A. Chevrolet covered the first 20 miles in 14:10.07, more than a minute better than Robertson’s previous best, and Burman established a new record for 60 miles, when he was clocked in 50:16.00. A. Chevrolet made new marks for 70, 80, 90, 100 and 110 miles, respectively in 58:13.21, 1:06:14.06, 1:14:14.4, 1:22:10.09 and 1:30:00. Burman got the record for 120 miles in 1:37:54.1, as well as the 130 miles, in 1:45:50.3; the 140 miles, in 1:53:53.3; the 150 miles, in 2:01:54.2; the 160 miles, in 2:09:53.5; the 170 miles, in 2:19:07.8, and the 180 miles, in 2:26:51.6. Dawson established a record for 190 miles, in 2:35:17.9, and the 200 miles mark was reached in 2:43:20.13, lowering the record of 2:53:48.51, made by Disbrow at Atlanta.
One other record was broken on Monday, when Hearne won the 20 miles free- for-all in 14:08.22; the former record of 15:31.80 was made by Robertson at Atlanta. Wishart won the amateur race, and L. Chevrolet, Roberts and Heineman also scored first in the events which were eclipsed by the Cobe Trophy race.
The summaries:
Ten miles, 161-230 cubic inches-Won by L. Chevrolet, Buick; second, Burman, Buick; third, Endicott, E-M-F. Time, 8:12.2.
Five miles, 160 cubic inches-Won by Roberts, Herreshoff; second, Herreshoff, Herreshoff; third, McCormick, Herreshoff. Time, 5:22.8.
Five miles, 231-300 cubic inches-Won by Heineman, Falcar; second, Pearce, Falcar; third, Stinson, Black Crow. Time, 4:44.3.
Two hundred miles, 451-600 cubic inches, for Cobe Trophy – Won by Dawson, Marmon; second, Burman, Buick; third, Harroun, Marmon; fourth, A. Chevrolet, Buick. Time, 2:43:20.1.
Five miles free-for-all, amateur – Won by Wishart, Mercedes; second, Greiner, National; third, Tousey, National. Time, 4:21.34.
Twenty miles free-for-all – Won by Hearne, Benz; second, Aitken, National; third, Burman, Buick. Time, 14:08.72.
Photo captions.
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BURMAN IN THE BUICK THAT BEARS NO FAMILY RESEMBLANCE
„ACTION“ IN THE MICHELIN TIRE CAMP AT INDIANAPOLIS
THE START OF A BIG FIELD-21 CARS
