Get Revved Up: August is National Motorsports Month

August 25, 2025

It’s so easy in Indiana, and specifically in Indianapolis, to focus on the Indy 500 or other events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when seeking out materials illustrating National Motorsports Month. However, except for the lovely illustration of that race shown above, I managed to track down a variety of other motorsports and events to highlight instead.

Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis: Gold & Glory Race Officials, Drivers, and Mechanics, 1936; Gold & Glory racing in action, ca. 1926; Aerial view of the dirt track at the Fairgrounds, 1953. Top and bottom left: Indianapolis Recorder Collection, IHS. Bass Photo Co. Collection, IHS (cropped)

Gold & Glory was a sweepstakes series created and run by The Colored Speedway Association starting in the 1920s. While the race in Indianapolis was usually held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on the dirt track, there were occasions when it was held elsewhere. The race was held for a few years on July 4th, but also saw race dates in August and September throughout its history.

Speedboat races on White River, Indianapolis, September 1954. IHS, SC3453.

Speedboat races on the White River were common enough that in September 1954 the National Outboard Association held their championships on that body of water in Indianapolis. According to newspaper reports, only one Hoosier, Todd Wolfrom of Rome City, received top honors in their category. Other winners distributed across the seven races hailed from Texas (3), Florida (2), and Missouri (1).

Indianapolis Raceway Park, now known as Lucas Oil Raceway, hosted drag racing events for the National Hot Rod Association. Shown here is a car at the April 1975 event, a car at the September 1981 races, and one at the September 1984 event. Top left: IHS, P0793 (cropped); top right: William Palmer/Indianapolis News, IHS; bottom two: Indianapolis Recorder, IHS (cropped).

The Indianapolis Raceway Park, technically located in the Clermont/Brownsburg area, opened in 1960. It has held many events related to the National Hot Rod Association. These drag race events hosted different types of cars fitting into various categories. I can’t help but enjoy the Funny Car category as evidenced by the car in the above images’ bottom right. This particular Camaro was driven by Phil Smith in that division in 1984.

Motorcycle racing on the dirt track at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Indiana State Fair motorcycle race, September 1952. American Motorcycle Association Grand National Series race, August 1976.

Motorcycle racing has seen a variety of venues in Indiana. The above races were both held in Indianapolis at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. One race, shown at the top, was part of the Indiana State Fair’s activities in 1952. The other, shown at the bottom, was an American Motorcycle Association Grand National series race in 1976. Show riding the number 25 motorcycle is Jay Springsteen who won the overall series in 1976, 1977, and 1978 after being awarded the Rookie of the Year by the AMA in 1975.

While I am unable to show all the different types of motorsports racing that has taken place in Indiana over the years, I hope this group of examples helps you to have a little more motorsport pride for the Hoosier state.

Keep an eye on the IHS blogsite for more great content from the collections.

Amy Vedra is the director of reference services. As an avid reader, she reads as many books as possible annually (all books count: audio, e, and print)!

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