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.  Fastest of the First:  A Complete History of the Inaugural 1911 Indianapolis 500 Including the Driving of the Fastest Laps by Fred W. Belcher 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 anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 occurred in 2011, 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.

Meticulously researched by Belcher Foundation from primary historical sources, countless hours were spent in the research and development of this book, which was first published in 2008 as the first book-length history ever published about the first Indianapolis 500.

This third edition of Fastest of the First is 294 total pages and 8 x 10.5 inches in size.  Available in both hardcover and softcover (see below).  Third edition published 2011 by Belcher Foundation, P.O. Box 10, Belcher, Kentucky 41513 (USA).

Included in this book are the following topics:

• Complete history of the first Indianapolis 500 held in 1911
• Biographical information on all 40 drivers in the race
• Descriptions and specifications of all 40 cars in the race
• Account of activities and preparations leading up to the race
• Biography of Fred W. Belcher and his driving of the fastest laps
• Statistics on the first Indy 500 and Fred Belcher's racing career
• Information on other races of the time period including the 1910 Vanderbilt Cup
• Over 200 photographs and images including cars and drivers

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, 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:  1909-1911 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); 1909-1910 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).

SOFTCOVER THIRD EDITION:  $19.95 per book plus shipping/handling (see below).

HARDCOVER THIRD EDITION:  $29.95 per book plus shipping/handling (see below).

NOW INCLUDED WITH EACH ORDER FROM THIS WEBSITE OF THE BOOK FASTEST OF THE FIRST IS ONE (1) FREE COMMEMORATIVE PRINT (see description below).

To order Fastest of the First, from the drop-down menu below please select the option for the appropriate shipping method and either softcover or hardcover, and then click the "Buy Now" button.  The price is $19.95 per book for the softcover version, or $29.95 per book for the hardcover version.  Added to this is $4.00 shipping/handling per book for orders within the United States, or $25.00 shipping/handling per book for orders outside of the United States.  All payments must be in U.S. funds.  All items are subject to availability.  Shipping is by United States Postal Service (USPS).  Six percent sales tax will be added for Kentucky residents.  Vendor discounts will be considered for orders of five or more copies; to inquire about vendor discounts, please contact us at mail@fastestofthefirst.com.  This book also may be available through our online eBay store or on Amazon.com.  Orders also are accepted by check or money order payable to Belcher Foundation and mailed to Belcher Foundation, P.O. Box 10, Belcher, KY 41513 (Kentucky residents add $1.44 per softcover book and $2.04 per hardcover book for sales tax).

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 and Fred W. Belcher's driving of the fastest laps at that historic race, Belcher Foundation now has available an 8" x 10" commemorative print of Fred W. Belcher seated behind the wheel of the No. 15 Knox race car.  Printed on heavy weight card stock with a beautiful matte finish, this 8" x 10" print is ready for framing (frame not included).  On the back of the print is a brief biography of Fred W. Belcher.  Now available for free with the purchase of the book Fastest of the First from this website (see above), or separately for the price of $5.00 per print.  Added to this is $5.00 shipping/handling per print for orders within the United States, or $15.00 shipping/handling per print for orders outside the United States.  All payments must be in U.S. funds.  All items are subject to availability.  Shipping is by United States Postal Service (USPS).  Six percent sales tax will be added for Kentucky residents.   Orders also are accepted by check or money order payable to Belcher Foundation and mailed to Belcher Foundation, P.O. Box 10, Belcher, KY 41513 (Kentucky residents add $0.60 per print for sales tax).