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About the Research
From the outset of this project, the accuracy of the facts presented in this book remained the highest priority. Accurate records were absent from the early years of auto racing so this was no small feat. Fortunately, the Indianapolis newspapers provided good coverage for the majority of the events held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Nevertheless, hundreds of hours were spent looking through newspapers on microfilm, obtaining magazines from the time period, browsing the internet, and building an extensive library of relevant books. Sometimes details of a particular event varied according to which account was read. In these instances a consensus was obtained from the most reliable sources.A few surprises sprang up along the way. For instance, Bill Endicott's real first name was Willard, not William. Almost everywhere you look you'll find William but his obituary identifies him as Willard. This little known fact was also confirmed by family members to Speedway Historian Donald Davidson. It was also interesting to find that the name "Marmon Wasp" was used by the press in 1910, a full year before Ray Harroun made the "Wasp" famous.
There were also some frustrations along the way. We may never know the full name of N.J. Sutcliffe, who drove a Maytag auto to victory in a 10-mile free-for-all handicap race at the Speedway in July 1910. Nor have I been able to determine the first name of a Mr. Steity who drove a Marion in the August 1909 auto races at the Speedway.
Locating and verifying the accuracy of these details proved to be a meticulous process. However, it was well worth the effort as I believe this book offers the most comprehensive and historically accurate account of the events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during 1909 - 1910 ever published.
Do you have information about 1909 or 1910?
Do you have any information or items relating to the events held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during 1909-1910? If so, I would really appreciate and enjoy hearing from you so that I might be able to enhance and add to the existing information presented in the book. Please contact me by e-mail at info@indianareflections.com. Thank you for your help!
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