From an earlier publication, the staking-out of track and buildings would have started second half of January 1909. Work on the track, curves, banking and more should have begun around mid February. According to this writing. mid March would have been thze beginning of that work. The even now well-known creek is mentioned, as well as the challenge it poses.
Text and jpegs by courtesy of hathitrust.org www.hathitrust.org, compiled by motorracinghistory.com
Motor Age, Volume XV, No. 14, April 8, 1909.
Working on the Indianapolis Speedway
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., April 5 — Actual work on the motor speedway has been going on for 3 weeks. From a level tract of prairie land of 2 weeks ago there has sprung up a long stretch of straightaway, a gradually inclined approach and a well-banked curve. An idea of the rapidity with which the dirt is gathered may be had when one learns that the two road machines now in use are capable of gathering and dumping about 1,500 loads per day. Each wagonload contains 1¼ yards of dirt.
Another complete outfit was installed this week in order that the grading might be sure of completion on scheduled time. The grounds of the speedway are a mecca for motorists of Indianapolis and nearby towns and the efforts of over a hundred men — teamsters, enginemen, foremen, engineers, struggling mules, puffing engines and dump-wagons — never cease to interest them.
Nearly 4 miles of fence which it will take to enclose the grounds, an office building, a clubhouse, a two-story restaurant and other structures are also nearing completion.
An interesting feature in the work of grading the course is the changing of the bed of a small creek which runs through the tract. The racing track will cross the creek twice on wide cement bridges, and to have the course cross the creek squarely instead of at an angle the engineers found it necessary to change the creek at one point near the grand stand.
A small army of workmen was put to work with road scrapers and a new channel for the creek was constructed. It is anticipated that the new course will be ready for the opening early in June.
Photo: WORKING ON THE INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDWAY STRAIGHTAWAY AND APPROACH TO SOUTHWEST CURVE OF INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDWAY
