If you’ve watched any form of motorsport, you’ll know that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a Mecca for motorcyclists. Since 1922, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been the home of the Indy 500, one of the world’s most iconic road races. Every May, thousands of dedicated motorcyclists flock to this Midwestern city to take part in a unique form of motorsport – Speedway Motorcycle Racing.
What exactly is Speedway Motorcycle Racing? Essentially, it’s a race held on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that features motorcycles. While IndyCar and its derivatives (such as Formula One) have taken over as the dominant form of motorsport in recent years, traditional forms of motorcycling, such as the outlaw motorcycle gangs that roamed the streets of American cities in the 1950s, still hold a special place in the hearts of motorcyclists across the world. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the best example of this.
To learn more, I spoke to Ryan Walker, the Director of Communications at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Here’s what he had to say:
The Birth of Speedway Motorcycle Racing
Prior to 1922, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was home to baseball’s world champion Black Sox and the automobile manufacturer Henry Ford. Between 1914 and 1921, the track had played host to six different major sports events, including the World War I Memorial Exhibition, the National Football Day Game, and the Indianapolis 500. It was also in 1922 that the track played host to what would become one of the world’s most iconic sporting events: the Indy 500. The inaugural edition of the Indy 500 drew 90,000 spectators, more than double the capacity of the track’s grandstands. Since then, the Indy 500 and the associated INDYCAR Championship have grown in influence and popularity, attracting motorsport fans from all over the world. The popularity of the Indy 500 led to the creation of rival races on other continents. The first of these was held in Los Angeles in 1937, and has since become an annual tradition. Australia also holds an annual motorcycle race – the Down Under Grand Prix – in honor of the Indianapolis 500. The success of the Indy 500 also inspired the creation of other prestigious motorcycle races, including the Isle of Man TT races, the Milano Monza Grand Prix, and the Laguna Seca. These races are still held annually, and have retained their popularity over the years. Even President Jimmy Carter, who was raised in Georgia, was a fan of the Indy 500 and regularly attended the race as a child. It was during his time in the White House that he famously declared motorcycling to be “a form of meditation for me,” and he frequently rode with his family and friends on the roadways near their homes. While Carter’s affinity for motorcycling was undoubtedly due to the influence of his friends in the area, it’s also easy to see the appeal of a sport that allows you to travel the world while staying fit and relaxing.
Why Do They Call It Speedway?
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is named after its founder, William “Bill” Manning. Born in 1874, Bill Manning grew up in Brooklyn, New York. A self-made millionaire, he became interested in motorcars at an early age. At the age of 17, he founded the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and began charging spectators to come and watch the big-name American drivers battle it out on the track. Naturally, the wealthy Bill Manning used his money and influence to fund the creation of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and it was he who laid out the track in its current form. The track’s designer, Arthur Cobb, said of Manning: “Bill was a visionary in every way. He had the courage to accept the challenge of an entirely new form of motor-vehicle competition. He also recognized the need for improved facilities, and it was his idea to build an indoor arena.”
In addition to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Bill Manning Institute for Safety Culture also uses the name “speedway” for its programs that promote safe driving, youth fitness, and the developmentally disabled. The organization was founded in 1934 and is a part of the National Safety Council. It was originally based in Cleveland, but in 1949 it moved to its current home in Indianapolis. The Institute’s slogan is “safety first, speedway second,” and it holds annual safety awards for students, parents, and teachers. In addition to its safety programs, the Institute sponsors the National Motorcycle Safety Program, which funds motorcycle riders’ education, rehabilitation, and counseling services. The goal is to prevent motorcycle accidents and fatalities by encouraging safe riding. Similar safety-oriented organizations have sprung up around the world, with names like “the Nürburgring” in Germany, “La Sarthe” in France, and “Hockenheimring” in Germany, all being referred to as “speedways.” While the Indianapolis Motor Speedway does not actually host any motorcyclist-orientated events, it continues to play an important role in the world of motorcycling. Its close ties with the National Safety Council and other organizations that promote safe driving mean that the track still has a close relationship with law enforcement agencies and the motor vehicle industry, both of which can influence the way people think about and interact with motorcycling. These agencies may sometimes ask the track to be a part of certain investigations, and it has even been the scene of some fatal accidents. This is probably why the organizers of the Indianapolis 500 never refer to it as “the race” but rather as “the Indy 500” or the “Indy Grand Prix.” In any case, this famous sporting event is as relevant today as it was almost a century ago when it was founded, and it still provides a unique perspective on the world of motorcycling.
The Indy 500: Still the World’s Most Important Motorcycle Race
The Indianapolis 500, first held in May 1922, is the spiritual successor to the legendary “Tulsa race,” the first sanctioned motorcycle race held in America. The event was initially intended to be a one-off, a publicity stunt organized by motorcycle manufacturer Indianola Automobile to promote their new vehicles. The race was such a success that Indianola Automobile decided to make it an annual event, using the same format and name. Since then, the Indy 500 and the associated IndyCar Championship have grown in influence and popularity, attracting motorsport fans from all over the world. The race is now an annual feature of the IndyCar season, and it has become the biggest motorsport event of the year, attracting huge crowds and cementing itself as one of the marquee summer sports events. The popularity of the Indy 500 and IndyCar in general led to the creation of rival races on other continents. The first of these was held in Los Angeles in 1937, and has since become an annual tradition. Australia also holds an annual motorbike race – the Down Under Grand Prix – in honor of the Indianapolis 500. The success of the Indy 500 also inspired the creation of other prestigious motorcycle races, including the Milano Monza Grand Prix, the Laguna Seca, and the Isle of Man TT races. These races are still held annually, and have retained their popularity over the years. Even President Jimmy Carter, who was raised in Georgia, was a fan of the Indy 500 and regularly attended the race as a child. It was during his time in the White House that he famously declared motorcycling to be “a form of meditation for me,” and he frequently rode with his family and friends on the roadways near their homes. While Carter’s affinity for motorcycling was undoubtedly due to the influence of his friends in the area, it’s also easy to see the appeal of a sport that allows you to travel the world while staying fit and relaxing.