Fastest of the First: A Complete History of the Inaugural 1911 Indianapolis 500 Including the Driving of the Fastest Laps by Fred W. Belcher

FASTEST OF THE FIRST:

A Complete History of the Inaugural 1911 Indianapolis 500

Including the Driving of the Fastest Laps by Fred W. Belcher

The only book-length history ever written about the first Indy 500!

On May 30, 1911 at Indianapolis, Indiana, the Indianapolis 500, the greatest automobile race in the world and the event that would set the mark for all future auto racing, had its first running. This is the story of that historic first Indianapolis 500-mile race and of the dashing young driver who drove the fastest laps in the race — Fred W. Belcher of Springfield, Massachusetts.

As the 100th anniversaries of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the 1911 Indianapolis 500 approach in 2009 and 2011, respectively, now is the time to purchase your copy of Fastest of the First and learn all about the very first running of the Indy 500 and the men and machines who made that event a reality and who helped establish the foundations upon which the series of annual Indy 500 races continue to be run to this day.

Included in this book are the following topics: (1) complete history of the first Indianapolis 500 held in 1911; (2) biographical information on all 40 drivers in the race; (3) descriptions and specifications of all 40 cars in the race; (4) account of activities and preparations leading up to the race; (4) detailed account and analysis of the actual running of the race; (5) biography of Fred W. Belcher and his driving of the fastest laps; (6) statistics on the first Indy 500 and Fred Belcher’s racing career; (6) information on other races of the time period including the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup; and (7) over 190 photographs and images including cars and drivers. Meticulously researched from primary historical sources, countless hours were spent in the preparation of this work, which is the first and only book-length history ever written about the first Indianapolis 500.

Fastest of the First is 263 total pages, hardcover, and 8 x 10 inches in size. Published 2008 by Belcher Foundation, P.O. Box 10, Belcher, Kentucky 41513 (USA).

Front Cover

Sample Page 1

Sample Page 2

Fastest of the First Flyer

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United States Orders: Price $49.95, plus $8.00 shipping and handling per book ($57.95 total per book)

International Orders: Price $49.95, plus $25.00 international shipping and handling per book ($74.95 total per book)

Race car drivers featured in Fastest of the First include: Bert Adams, Johnny Aitken, Gil Anderson, Charles Basle, Ralph Beardsley, Fred Belcher, Charles Bigelow, Caleb Bragg, David Bruce-Brown, Bob Burman, Arthur Chevrolet, Fred Clemens, Harry Cobe, Joe Dawson, Ernest Delaney, Ralph DePalma, Louis Disbrow, Fred Ellis, Bill Endicott, Harry Endicott, Frank Fox, Lee Frayer, J. Franklin Gelnaw, Arthur Gibbons, Harry Grant, Arthur Greiner, Howard Hall, Ray Harroun, Eddie Hearne, Hughie Hughes, Joe Jagersberger, Johnny Jenkins, Will Jones, Harry Knight, Billy Knipper, Herbert Lytle, Charles Merz, Ralph Mulford, Billy Pearce, Eddie Rickenbacker, Lewis Strang, Teddy Tetzlaff, Jack Tower, William H. Turner, Harold Van Gorder, Howdy Wilcox, and Spencer Wishart.

Race cars featured in Fastest of the First include the following makes: Alco, Amplex, Apperson, Benz (including the famous Blitzen Benz), Buick, Case, Cole, Cutting, Fal, Fiat, Firestone-Columbus, Inter-State, Jackson, Knox, Lozier, Marmon (including the Marmon Wasp), McFarlan, Mercedes, Mercer, National, Pope-Hartford, Simplex, Stutz, Velie, and Westcott.

Other automobile races of the time period featured in Fastest of the First include: 1909, 1910 & 1911 Shingle Hill Climb (West Haven, Connecticut); 1909 Porter Hill Climb (Cleveland, Ohio); 1909 Galveston Cotton Carnival races (Galveston, Texas); 1909 Lowell Automobile Carnival (Lowell, Massachusetts); 1910 & 1911 Giants' Despair Hill Climb (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania); 1910 & 1911 Port Jefferson Hill Climb (Port Jefferson, New York); 1910 Vanderbilt Cup race (Long Island, New York); 1911 Thurlow Hill Climb (Poland Springs, Maine); 1911 Dead Horse Hill Climb (Worcester, Massachusetts); and 1911 New York State Fair auto races (Syracuse, New York).

For more information on other publications of the Belcher Foundation, please visit www.belcherfoundation.org