Are you feeling cabin fever now that winter has put an end to your car show activities?
Well, I’ve got an event that will get you back in the car show mood.
Visit the Hoosier Literature & Small Collectible Exchange at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Motel, January 17 & 18, 2009. In my quest for Indiana automotive literature, I never cease to be amazed at the items I find there.
The first time I went a number of years ago, I found a stock offering brochure for the Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Corporation of Indianapolis. It describes the features of Duesenberg’s innovative early 1920’s auto. Another item was a 1963 Studebaker Avanti advertising brochure. It is a great example of 1960’s era automotive marketing materials. I especially liked some of the claims for performance items.
A few years ago one particular vendor yielded two great finds. One was a letter from the Fisher Automobile Company of Indianapolis, dated June 18, 1909, signed by Carl G. Fisher. This letter predates the inaugural events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which Fisher and the other three founders hosted. The other item was a 1916 Hoosier State Automobile Association Official Tour Book. This book has enabled us to retrace the original tour routes like the Lincoln Highway and the Dixie Highway with turn-by-turn directions. A bonus: advertisements for early auto establishments are amusing.
Another item I found at the exchange was a biography of Louis Chevrolet published by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I was not aware that Chevrolet was the first race car builder to win two consecutive Indianapolis 500 mile races in 1920 and 1921. Chevrolet went on to develop overhead-valve cylinder heads for the 4-cylinder Model T engine. The Chevrolet Brothers went on to build over 10,000 conversions for the Model T engine and become early innovators in the performance industry.
Literature is only one of the things you’ll find at the exchange. The small collectible part of the show’s name covers many areas of interest. A large selection of Indianapolis 500 memorabilia is available, like; programs, movies, photographs, clothing, pit badges, and more. There is a large selection of vintage and contemporary automotive books. I have seen limited edition books not found in bookstores. If you’re looking for old model car kits or die casts, they’re also on hand. A vendor from Kokomo offers a large selection of radiator badges. You can also spend time bench racing with most of the people at the show.
So, get off the couch and head to Indianapolis for the Hoosier Literature & Small Collectible Exchange. Maybe I’ll see you there browsing for that next big find.
