Whitley County and the Indy 500

May 19, 2011

Photos courtesy Whitley County Historical Society Bulletin — E. Yost Braddock, a Columbia City native, was the leader of the design team for one of the entries in the 1913 Indianapolis 500 race, the second year of the event. The car, above, only made it to mile 323, Braddock believed due to failure to implement one of his designs. Driving the car is “Prince Billy” Knipper with riding mechanic Frank Jones.

COLUMBIA CITY — The Indianapolis 500 race, to this generation, seems an icon, celebrating its 100th race this month.
The originator of the race was Carl Graham Fisher, an Indiana native. He was called a genius of promotion and loved speed, racing his school chums on ice skates and roller skates as a youngster. He started his own bicycle shop in his home town of Greensburg staging stunts to promote his product such as dropping a bicycle off the top of the tallest building in Indianapolis. And of course, they raced.

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