By the time racing resumed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after World War I, the Indianapolis 500 was already a renowned sporting event, attracting an international entry of drivers and cars and a crowd of more than 100,000.
Carl Fisher's dream of building a proving ground that would put machine and man to the ultimate test had become a reality. And even in those early days of the Speedway, the men in charge struggled to rein in the burgeoning technology of the rapidly advancing automotive industry - and the speed and danger that resulted from it.
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Overland car jumping a fallen bridge in a promotional stunt, 1920 - 1929 |
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Dave Carrigan at wheel of a Willys Knight car, 1926 |
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Don Harkness at wheel in RAC hill climb, Royal National Park, 1926 |
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Large group of men at meeting, 1920 - 1929 |
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The 100,000th Willys-Overland exported car, outside Overland Sydney Ltd office, 1920 - 1929 |
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Horse and cart on wharf with crate containing the 100,000th Willys-Overland exported car, 1920 - 1929 |
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Dave Carrigan at wheel of a Willys Knight car, 1926 |
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Overland car jumping a fallen bridge in a promotional stunt, 1920 - 1929 |
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Group on occasion of the testing of the Genairco, the first all-Australian built plane, 1930 |
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Overland car being driven down steps of Sydney Town Hall, 1920 - 1929 |
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Cars at the end of 1,000 mile rally organised by the Overland company, 1927 |
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Launch of car F.H. Stewart Enterprise, 1926 - 1936 |
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13 Sir Malcolm Campbell at the wheel of the Bluebird, with crowd, 1926 - 1936 |
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Anzac car [with Harkness & Hillier staff at Five Dock], 1928 - 1929 |
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Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey at 10 Mile Championships, 1920 - 1929 |
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Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey at race meeting, 1920 - 1929 |
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Don Harkness archive re motor racing and aeronautics |
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Hydroglider outside the Harkness & Hillier factory, 1928 |
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Timber straddler outside the Harkness & Hillier factory |
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Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey, 1920 - 1929 |
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D.J. Harkness at the wheel of an Overland Sports car, 1920 - 1929 |
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Men inspecting the frame of the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise, 1926 - 1936 |
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Don Harkness and unidentifed man with hydroglider engine, 1923 - 1933 |
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Avro Avian two-seater light aeroplane, 1924 - 1934 |
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Norman Wizard Smith and Don Harkness and two other men (on steps of Sydney Town Hall], 1926 - 1936 |
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Group portrait on board S.S. Maunganui, 1926 - 1936 |
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Norman Wizard Smith and Don Harkness on board S.S. Maunganui, 1926 - 1936 |
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Men inspecting the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise, 1926 - 1936 |
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Men on beach with Anzac car |
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Group inspecting the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise |
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Don Harkness and unidentifed man with hydroglider engine |
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Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey |
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Don Harkness at the wheel of modified Overland car at race meeting |
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Man seated in a modified Overland racing car surrounded by crowd |
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Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey at race meeting |
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Don Harkness at wheel of Overland 6 after setting Australasian 24 hour record |
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Group and a cat inspecting the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise |
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Anzac car [with Harkness & Hillier staff at Five Dock] |
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Group inspecting the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise |
(Photos via Powerhouse Museum Collection)