The Atlanta Speedway Part 1: The Birth of the Atlanta Speedway

The first of what will be a 6-part series about the Atlanta Speedway is now live. You can find it in the top nav underneath a dedicated heading. Part 1 covers the cultural factors that fed the national appetite for automobile racing, Buddie Candler’s personal stake in the sport, and the business arrangements that funded the track’s creation. I’ve included original track blueprints and some inside info about how Buddie’s father, Coca Cola magnate Asa Candler, Sr., was financially involved in the endeavor. Stay tuned, because the financial arrangements get tricky in the track’s second year.

Scroll to the bottom for lots of photos from the 1909 inaugural races, as well as an article about the track’s inception written by Buddie himself. Coming soon I’ll tell the story of the Pope-Toledo race car known as The Merry Widow. If you can’t wait and you don’t mind rehashing the history lesson, you can find it on my author blog at shbutlerwrites.wordpress.com.

Oh, and if you recognize any of the unidentified racers in the photo set, please let me know by commenting here or using the form on the contact page. I’d love to get these men properly named.