Two Protagonists
The book’s timeline covers the first decade, from 1902 through 1910. The story line focuses on the emerging world of speedway racing.
The Legend of the First Super Speedway book.
Mark Dill, the author, uses two characters in his book, The Legend of the First Super Speedway, to hash out the problems that emerged from developing, promoting, and competing in the cauldron of early twentieth century racing.
Carl G. Fisher 1909. image courtesy Library of Congress
• On the one hand we have Carl G. Fisher, an entrepreneurial genius who began his life coping with astigmatism, an ailment that impaired his eyesight but not his vision for promoting just about anything he worked on or sold. And so Fisher was able to parlay his ability to sell newspapers and candy on train platforms to bicycle sales and repair. Fisher even dabbled in bicycle and car racing, but his eyesight would not allow that, so he turned to promotion.
• The book opens with a mention of Fisher promoting a race in Dayton, but by chapter four Fisher is in the forefront at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, in his element and moving through the crowd, glad-handing and counting how many have come to his race. The year is 1903.
Barney Oldfield circa 1915. image courtesy Hemmings.com
• The other main character is Barney Oldfield, the Babe Ruth of racing, a man who loomed larger than life because he saw himself that way. Oldfield also started from humble circumstance, and he also clawed his way to notoriety through bicycle racing.
• But Barney had talent, nerve, and good eyesight. He saw that his future lay with automobile racing, and so he grabbed hard at the ring as it came around. This had all begun for Oldfield by 1902.
The Action
The book takes the reader through developments in the evolution of early motor racing as seen though the eyes and actions of these two chief characters. The times were rough and rife with sexism, racism, and most any other –ism one could name. Dill does not varnish the truth as he takes us through successive chapters of hard racing, drunken bouts, and what one would generously call boorish behavior. Oldfield, often the center of attention, was all of that. And, he was so much more.
For instance, Oldfield was an accomplished racer and a consummate showman who knew how to work a crowd and gauge what they wanted. And Carl Fisher provided the arena for Oldfield in which to play. Both were very successful at what they did and made a perfect pair whenever their stars aligned. Dill’s narrative fleshes out their stories.
Barney Oldfield in his 1904 Peerless Green Dragon.
Throughout the chapters the reader is treated to a variety of expressions from the two protagonists that newspapers had recorded in their stories. Expressions such as “You know me—I’m Barney Oldfield!” evoke a sense of the times and the energy of the crowds that frequented these arenas, fans who rocked the stands as they shouted their support for Barney.
Colorful descriptions of the events establish authenticity to this fictional account—the reader is drawn in with a feeling of “you are there” participatory history. In this manner Dill is effective in conveying the story of this formative time in speedway racing.
1909 Indianapolis Speedway proposal as seen in a magazine ad. Compare that to modern images of the track in its current configuration. image courtesy AACA library
The Wrap
The story ends before the first Indianapolis 500 race is held, but the reader has been drawn in by this compelling narrative of how the Indy 500 was born. Dill has accomplished what he set out to do: tell a story of how it all began.
The Legend of the First Super Speedway: The Battle for the Soul of American Auto Racing can be purchased online at B&N (Barnes & Noble), Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Blackwell's in England.. Recommended reading.
Mark G. Dill. author image
Mark Dill is an authority on the history of the Indianapolis Speedway and maintains a blog called FirstSuperSpeedway.com, a site that is well worth visiting and reading. Dill is also an authority on early 20th century racing lore; check out his blog and read his book!
=BOOK NEWS=
Regarding my book, Classic Speedsters, this past week the book files were sent to the printer. The next step is for the book to be printed, bound, and shipped back to me. Unlike other book publishers who have sent their materials overseas to be printed, we do not expect a shipping delay or a materials supply shortage; we are not caught up in that boondoggle. What a mess that must be!
We are hoping for the completed book to be returned to us by late November and be ready for sale soon after. The book will be sold from this website, www.ClassicSpeedsters.com. All details about the book and its purchase will be on the sales page, so look for that to appear on our website soon. Will we will keep you posted on the launch date? You betcha!
In the meantime, enjoy this lovely fall weather in your speedster!
R.D. Sieber with 1914 Stutz Bearcat. No, I don’t own the Bearcat; thanks to Trish and Brian White for the use of their Stutz to shoot this photo!