THE ORIGINAL CANNONBALL

The first race to be held at the then brand-new Indianapolis Motor Speedway was run on 14 August, 1909. Held over a distance of only 10 miles (16km), in a time when riders were used to racing on timber board tracks, the combination of broken limestone and asphalted oil interspersed with sharp stone residue to improve traction left the 30 entrants less than impressed. This was reduced to downright disappointment when 26 of them suffered flat tyres before seeing the chequered flag.

But what the race lacked in numbers, the last four riders made up for in determination and a battle ensued.

It was a battle that ended 11m31.2s after the starter’s gun and it was won by a 27-year-old factory-backed Indian rider named Erwin George Baker, who was signed by the Springfield team a few months earlier after riding his private Indian into the record books.

A ROUND TRIP OF 22,500KM

Although the factory insisted Baker competed in more motorcycle races, Baker’s love was racing passenger trains between