First 500 mile race, May 30, 1911 (Indy 500)

Photography by Harry Humbert Coburn, reproduced and distributed by the Indiana State Library through the generosity of the Lilly Endowment, Inc., 1952. Filmed footage of the first Indianapolis 500 race with commentary titles throughout.

[@sjnix7044]

I just found this film on Super 8 in my mother in law's attic.

[@community1949]

The house I grew up in in Indianapolis Indiana was built in 1912. Looks like 2 drivers per car - is that right?

[@alanstewart3430]

Two per car for all but one: winner Ray Harroun

[@pinedelgado4743]

Yippee for Harroun!!! :) :) ;) ;)

[@DrBIeed]

About the 7:00 minute mark I swear I was hearing thunder. I wonder if when this film was redone in 1952 there was a storm rolling through or if its something else entirely.

[@SamuelCroin]

7:17 yep, it's a thunder

[@TheTotallyRealXiJinping]

Why would there only be thunder though?

[@tubedude54]

Just think that if someone had questioned that 500 miles would take almost 7 hours to complete and they had decided that just 100 laps would be enough... it would be called the Indy 250!

[@EarnestTeaBass]

They knew how long it would take. The reason for choosing 500 miles was that they figured that was the maximum amount of time they could run and still get everyone in & out of the track during daylight hours.

[@RingoYote]

and now the race is finished in under 2 hours.

[@billythekid3234]

@@RingoYote It's more than 3 hours,, all the cautions flags...

[@phillipavennemannjr848]

112 lndy 500 1911- 2023

[@johnnickle4180]

Well fuck me running backwards

[@bigmactv634]

Safety obviously wasn't an issue brave men

[@nimueh4298]

Not brave, they didn't know any better. Sometimes Innovation and progress are the results from failures and mistakes.

[@bigmactv634]

@@nimueh4298 I know but when people where dying on track in crashes the other racers didn't stop racing did they I call that bravery and passion

[@ericstewart1770]

thanks indy. i want to break the age barrier at indy. i lost fifty lbs and press one million lbs with legs in a week and one hundred thousand lbs with upper body. for a 52 year old american trucker. happy thanksgiving indy. hope you bring back motogp week for knievel fans. happy trails to all . all for now. eric stewart monroe city indiana

[@ericstewart1770]

thanks to everyone involved with the indy 500. i want to perform the worlds largest kareoke concert in indy also the travis pastrana triple jump for mr knievel and kids. i am in logging industry. i want to race salem haubstabt indy daytona formula one motogp and horses at evansville and louiville. motorcycles on the indy statefairgrounds mile. i am an american trucker biker kareoke singer swimmer daydreamer. best wishes . happy trails yeeha. eric stewart monroe city indiana