Posts Tagged ‘Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum’

Is this an automotive first?

Monday, December 10th, 2012

This fall while planning the Lincoln Highway Centennial Event in Indianapolis, I stopped by at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. One of the first cars I noticed was the Premier Special. Suddenly, I noticed that this car featured a single overhead camshaft (SOHC), hemi-head, four-cylinder engine. I wondered if this was an automotive first.

I was aware of some European engines featuring overhead camshaft designs that postdate the Premier Special. Upon further research, I found that the Premier Special possesses the world’s first engine with an overhead camshaft, inclined valves, and magneto ignition.


Carl Fisher with 1904 Premier Comet

Carl Fisher with 1904 Premier Comet
Photo courtesy of FirstSuperSpeedway.com

On October 1, 1904, Hoosier entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher won the five-mile Diamond Cup race in Chicago, Illinois, driving the factory-entered Premier Comet. After his success driving the Comet, Fisher commissioned George Weidely of the Premier Motor Corporation of Indianapolis to build him a car to compete in the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup Race.


1905 Premier Special

1905 Premier Special
Copyright © 2012 Dennis E. Horvath

For the Premier Special, Weidely designed an engine with a 7 inch bore and a 6 inch stroke, displacing 923.4 cu. in. The shaft-and-bevel SOHC operated the rocker arms for the overhead valves having an included angle of 45 degree. Thus, he created a hemispherical cylinder head design some 107 years ago. This predates the successful 1913 Peugeot engine designs. The Special reportedly cost Fisher $15,000.

However, the innovative machine exceeded the Vanderbilt maximum weight limit of 2,200 pounds by 300 pounds. After drilling over 420 holes in the car, it was still 120 pounds overweight, and therefore, ineligible for the race.

Fisher’s Premier Special was untested in competition until he entered it in a five-mile handicap event at the Indiana State Fairgrounds one-mile dirt track on October 21, 1905. He took the lead on the last lap and finished with an average speed of 59.21 miles an hour.

The Special raced no more. George Weidely is overlooked for his automotive first of innovating the single overhead camshaft, hemispherical cylinder head, four-cylinder engine in 1905.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Auto Pioneers, Car Culture | No Comments »

Lincoln Highway Event Rates “Wow”

Monday, September 24th, 2012

I have to say, Wow! What an incredible experience for this weekend’s Indiana Lincoln Highway Association’s Centennial Event. A group of Lincoln Highway enthusiasts from Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois gathered in Indianapolis to celebrate the centennial of the announcement of the nation’s first transcontinental highway at the Athenaeum in Indianapolis.

We kicked-off our celebration at the James A. Allison, Carl G. Fisher, and Frank H. Wheeler’s mansions along millionaire row on the Marian University campus. We got an inside look at these 100 year-old time capsules of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, automotive, and transportation founders. I intend to visit the campus again for further exploration. Thanks to Deborah Lawrence for hosting us.


Allison Mansion

Allison Mansion
Copyright ©2012 Dennis E. Horvath

On Friday afternoon we continued with an Auto Pioneer Burial Site Tour at Crown Hill Cemetery nestled along the Dixie Highway. Auto pioneers Carl G. Fisher and Louis Schwitzer are buried on Strawberry Hill near James Whitcomb Riley, President Benjamin Harrison, and Eli Lilly. Later, we toured the Stutz Motor Car Company complex on Capitol Avenue to view some automobiles built in the building from 1912 -1935. Building proprietor Turner J. Woodard has autos ranging from a Stutz Bearcat to a Stutz Pak-Age-Car. Everyone enjoyed his and Anne Jester’s hospitality.

Our Saturday morning, Auto Pioneers Tour visited some mansions along Meridian Street and Fall Creek Parkway. We then continued along Indianapolis’ Automobile Row on North Capitol and auto manufacturing sites around the belt railroads circling the city. Our morning tour finished, with some shopping along Massachusetts Avenue.

Our luncheon celebrated the centennial of Carl Fisher’s and James Allison’s announcement of the Lincoln Highway at the Athenaeum on September 10, 1912. Everyone enjoyed character speaker Jeff Kuehl who addressed the group as Carl Fisher. We were transported to 1912 as Fisher elaborated on his thoughts about automobiling across the country.


Athenaeum

Athenaeum
Copyright ©2012 Dennis E. Horvath

After lunch, we went to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum to see Fisher’s custom-built 1903 Premier racer designed for the Vanderbilt Cup Race and the Fisher-era Stoddard-Dayton. It seems like every time I visit the museum that there is something new to study. Everyone gathered around one of the racers for a group photo. Who is that mystery driver? Our afternoon finished up by touring by the Prest-O-Lite and Allison Engineering factories on Main Street in Speedway.


LH Centennial Event

Lincoln Highway Centennial Event
Copyright ©2012 Dennis E. Horvath

It is interesting how this part of Indianapolis’ business and social heritage started about 120 years ago when Carl G. Fisher, James A. Allison, and Arthur C. Newby met while being members of the Zig-Zag Cycling Club during the 1890’s bicycle craze. Their friendships went on to form the genesis for ventures like the Fisher Automobile Company, Prest-O-Lite Company, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Lincoln Highway, the Dixie Highway, the development of Miami Beach, Allison Engineering Company, Allison Transmission, Indianapolis Stamping Company (the predecessor of today’s Diamond Chain Company), and National Automobile Company. These men and their ideas have brought employment and enjoyment to tens of thousand’s of individuals through the years.

Much new information and camaraderie was shared by all tour participants. It will take many days for the special feeling of this event to wear off. I can’t wait until the next Indiana Lincoln Highway Association event to discover some more new experiences.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Car Culture | 1 Comment »

Centennial Events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Sunday, April 3rd, 2011

A couple of weeks ago I talked about the Ultimate Winning Car exhibit at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, which is one of the Centennial Events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This week I would like to share information on some other events of interest to auto enthusiasts.

The premier event for collectible car lovers is the 100th Anniversary Indy 500 Celebration of Automobiles on Saturday, May 14th. Race fans can view all of the cars on display as part of their gate admission.

Approximately 250 participants have been invited to display their vehicles in two divisions of automobiles manufactured between 1911-1961, the first 50 years of the Indianapolis 500. A good representation of automobiles representing the manufacturers that competed in the race during that time span is expected. This should be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see many unique cars such as the Mormon Meteor Duesenberg. Of course, I’ll be there documenting Indiana-built autos.

Saturday, May 28th, at the Speedway is chock-full of activities for the Indy 500 aficionados. The “World’s Largest Autograph Session” is comprised of two groups. The first is from 9-10 a.m. for all 33 drivers in the starting field of the Indianapolis 500 plus most of the 27 living winners of the “500”, and the other group from noon-4 p.m. for veteran drivers of the race. If the lines at the autograph session on March 20th are any indication, it is advisable to get in line early for your favorite driver’s autograph.

My friend Charles Leerhsen will be signing his latest book: Blood and Smoke: A True Tale of Mystery, Mayhem and the Birth of the Indy 500 (http://www.charlesleerhsen.com/index.htm) along with other authors of new books about the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and its history. Other events include a racing memorabilia show, a display of vintage sprint and midget race cars. Plus, the Ultimate Winning Car exhibit continues at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.

So, If you are obsessed with the Indy 500, I invite you to join me at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Centennial Events on May 14th and 28th. These activities should provide memories for a lifetime. Tell us your experiences.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Car Culture | No Comments »

Ultimate Indianapolis 500 Winning Car Collection

Sunday, March 20th, 2011

If you’re going to be in Indianapolis between now and the end of May 2011, you have to visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Mall of Fame Museum to see the Ultimate Indianapolis 500 Winning Car Collection. This salute to the 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 is a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of 67 vehicles representing 71 victories.

IMS Entrance atrium with Borg-Warner Trophy and the 1960 Jim Rathman Ken-Paul Special
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Hall of Fame Museum
Entrance atrium with Borg-Warner Trophy
and the 1960 Jim Rathman Ken-Paul Special
Copyright © 2011 Dennis E. Horvath


The exhibit includes 31 winning cars owned by the IMS Hall of Fame Museum and 36 privately owned cars that have been loaned for this unique exhibit. Cars included in the exhibit range from the 1911 Marmon Wasp driven by Ray Harroun to the 2010 Dallara/Honda driven by Dario Franchitti.

The pre World War II era is represented by 10 cars. Every winning car from the 1950s, 1960s, 1980s, and 1990s is here. This group includes each car driven by the three four-time winners of the Indianapolis 500, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears.

Indianapolis-built cars are represented by the 1911 Marmon Wasp, the 1912 National driven by Joe Dawson, and the 1922 Duesenberg/Miller driven by Jimmy Murphy. The 1922 Duesenberg was the same car that Murphy drove to win the 1921 French Grand Prix (an American first) with while powered by a straight-eight Duesenberg engine. The car as presented by IMS is the number 12 French GP livery of red wheels, white body with American flag on the tail, and dark blue frame.

I spent a lot of my time at the exhibit reminiscing about my first Indianapolis 500 in 1963. Parnelli Jones drove his J.C. Agajanian’s Willard Battery Special roadster and bested Jimmy Clark in a rear-engine Lotus/Ford at the dawn of the rear engine revolution. Exhibit cars are arranged in chronological order so you get an idea of the design progression from year to year. It seems that the cars didn’t take on their commercial billboard flair until the 1980s.

If you want to get an idea of Indianapolis 500 cars across the past century, this is a must see exhibit. The museum was packed during our visit with a 500 Winners autographing event. I am sure this will be a popular exhibit during its run thru the end of May.

So, stop in and reminisce about your Indianapolis 500 memories. We’d also like to know so share them here.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Car Culture | 1 Comment »