Thread by @jakequery

Nestled in section 36 of Crown Hill Cemetery lies the inconspicuous marker of John D. Aitken. While every marker of Crown Hill carries with it a story, Aitken’s is rooted as a pioneer in one of the most iconic venues in the city- and the world. It’s relevant today. Thread👇

“Johnny Aitken” was born in Indianapolis in 1886, and, while little is known of his upbringing, by young adulthood he became a key figure in the fledgling automobile industry- notably auto racing. Like many who became racers of that era, Aitken’s primary job was as an employee

(presumably tester/engineer) for the National Motor Vehicle Company, which was founded by Arthur Newby, an original partner of @IMS. In that capacity, Aitken as well became a trusted confidant of IMS founder Carl Fisher.
In 1909, Fisher, along w/ Newby and James Allison & Frank

Wheeler began their project of building what would become the largest,most iconic racing facility in the world. Originally designed as a tar and cinder track, Fisher explored the idea of making the track a brick surface. In doing so, he needed a “test” driver to determine if 3.2

million bricks could be a suitable racing surface. Enter Johnny Aitken. Aitken did multiple tests on the track, everything from straight line high speed/short distance runs, to multiple lap runs, to standing still “burnouts” in testing the surface. Ultimately, bricks were chosen

as the track surface in September of 1909. In 1909 and 1910, racing exhibitions were held with as many as 42 races in a day. Among the drivers was a versatile employee of National- Johnny Aitken. He did not drive in all races, but from 1909-1911, Aitken won a dozen events at IMS.

Quickly, the abundance of races created an increased public apathy, and Fisher decided to turn the sport and venue into a once per year “extravaganza”, a 500 Mile “International Sweepstakes” (despite all entires being domestic.) On May 30, 1911, the first of said events was held.

40 cars were entered, with the cars and manufacturers- not the drivers- taking the headlines. Cars were started in order of their entry. Aitken, driving for his National company, started 4th. Yet, on lap 1 he overtook Lewis Strang, Ralph DePalma & Henry Endicott. Over 230 drivers

have led a lap in the 104 runnings of the Indianapolis 500. A guy from Indianapolis- Johnny Aitken- was the 1st to do so. Aitken led the 1st 4 laps, then again on laps 76-78, before breaking a rod on lap 125. He finished 27th, with Ray Harroun of Marmon winning the race. In 1912,

Newby decided that he did not want married men racing his cars, presumably in fear it would create a less daring mindset. Aitken, who was married, thus stepped out of his role as a driver, his 12 wins at IMS- a record that stands today. In the 2nd running of the race, on May 30,

1912 the 2nd “500” was held. Marmon, basking in its year long accolade of its 1911 win, declined to run. Aitken was appointed by Newby to manage the 3 car team of National, and he was race strategist for another Indy resident- Joe Dawson. Dawson led only 2 laps of the race, but

they were the final 2, after Ralph DePalma- who had led 196 laps, saw his Mercedes break a piston on lap 198. Johnny Aitken was now a winning team manager of the Indy 500. His story does not end there. Like Marmon, National decided to leave the event a winner, and declined to run

in 1913. When Marmon had declined, Fisher saw a potential pattern and began recruiting European teams by 1912. In 1913, French Peugot joined the fray, using 2 engineers with Grand Prix driving experience, to drive their cars. Peugot wanted to hire a coach to teach Jules Goux and

Paolo Zuccarelli how to handle an oval. They recruited Johnny Aitken, who left the National company to manage Peugot. Aitken, who presumably spoke some French, conveyed to Goux the importance of tire preservation. When Goux came for his 1st pit stop, an insistent Aitken begged of

him to keep his speed around 75 MPH to save tires. Goux, overcome by the heat, struck a deal. He would do so as long as Aitken provided him chilled champagne to rinse his mouth during tire change stops. Aitken agreed. Goux swished a total of 7 pints over 6 hours and 35 minutes,

and won the race by 13 minutes and 8 seconds- still a record. His average speed was 75.933 MPH, and Aitken was again a winning manager.
Freed from the driving restrictions of Newby, Aitken returned to the cockpit for the 1915 race- which was now, truly, an “International

Sweepstakes.” He drove relief laps for both Gil Anderson and Earl Cooper of Stutz, who finished 3rd and 4th respectively. In 1916, Aitken entered the “500” in the first year that qualifying runs were used to determine the starting order. He was the 1st driver to win Pole Position

He finished 15th in a Peugot. Aitken’s winning days were not done, however. In 1916, Fisher decided to add a 3 race exhibition day, on September 9th. The “Harvest Auto Racing Classic” was created, to offset the financial hit of losing the anticipated 1917 race due to World War I

The 3 races- 20 mile, 50 mile, and 100 mile events were swept by the same driver. Johnny Aitken- an Indianapolis man who led the 1st lap in 500 history, won the 1st pole, and managed 2 victorious teams- upped his career IMS wins total to 15 races. It’s a number still unmatched.

As racing took a hiatus during the War, Aitken joined the board of the Indianapolis Speedway team company before becoming a VP of the Allison Engineering Company. His time away from racing was short lived- he died in the influenza outbreak of 1918 on October 15 of that year.

Next weekend, IMS will host a double header: the “Harvest GP.” It’s a new event, so we’ll see who leads lap one. Whoever it is, they should be proud to have their name in the record books alongside Johnny Aitken- an Indianapolis legend who now rests inconspicuously at Crown Hill.

On a side note, this is the LONGEST thread I’ve ever done, so if you made it this far, thanks- and reply to let me know. And thanks to IMS treasure Donald Davidson for so much information.