Interesting Vintage Photos of Motor Racing From the 1920s and 1930s

By the time racing resumed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after World War I, the Indianapolis 500 was already a renowned sporting event, attracting an international entry of drivers and cars and a crowd of more than 100,000.

Carl Fisher's dream of building a proving ground that would put machine and man to the ultimate test had become a reality. And even in those early days of the Speedway, the men in charge struggled to rein in the burgeoning technology of the rapidly advancing automotive industry - and the speed and danger that resulted from it.

Overland car jumping a fallen bridge in a promotional stunt, 1920 - 1929

Dave Carrigan at wheel of a Willys Knight car, 1926

Don Harkness at wheel in RAC hill climb, Royal National Park, 1926

Large group of men at meeting, 1920 - 1929

The 100,000th Willys-Overland exported car, outside Overland Sydney Ltd office, 1920 - 1929

Horse and cart on wharf with crate containing the 100,000th Willys-Overland exported car, 1920 - 1929

Dave Carrigan at wheel of a Willys Knight car, 1926

Overland car jumping a fallen bridge in a promotional stunt, 1920 - 1929

Group on occasion of the testing of the Genairco, the first all-Australian built plane, 1930

Overland car being driven down steps of Sydney Town Hall, 1920 - 1929

Cars at the end of 1,000 mile rally organised by the Overland company, 1927

Launch of car F.H. Stewart Enterprise, 1926 - 1936

13 Sir Malcolm Campbell at the wheel of the Bluebird, with crowd, 1926 - 1936

Anzac car [with Harkness & Hillier staff at Five Dock], 1928 - 1929

Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey at 10 Mile Championships, 1920 - 1929

Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey at race meeting, 1920 - 1929

Don Harkness archive re motor racing and aeronautics

Hydroglider outside the Harkness & Hillier factory, 1928

Timber straddler outside the Harkness & Hillier factory

Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey, 1920 - 1929

D.J. Harkness at the wheel of an Overland Sports car, 1920 - 1929

Men inspecting the frame of the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise, 1926 - 1936

Don Harkness and unidentifed man with hydroglider engine, 1923 - 1933

Avro Avian two-seater light aeroplane, 1924 - 1934

Norman Wizard Smith and Don Harkness and two other men (on steps of Sydney Town Hall], 1926 - 1936

Group portrait on board S.S. Maunganui, 1926 - 1936

Norman Wizard Smith and Don Harkness on board S.S. Maunganui, 1926 - 1936

Men inspecting the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise, 1926 - 1936

Men on beach with Anzac car

Group inspecting the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise

Don Harkness and unidentifed man with hydroglider engine

Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey

Don Harkness at the wheel of modified Overland car at race meeting

Man seated in a modified Overland racing car surrounded by crowd

Don Harkness at the wheel of his Overland Sports car Whitey at race meeting

Don Harkness at wheel of Overland 6 after setting Australasian 24 hour record

Group and a cat inspecting the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise

Anzac car [with Harkness & Hillier staff at Five Dock]

Group inspecting the car F.H. Stewart Enterprise

(Photos via Powerhouse Museum Collection)