- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Armbands -

1909-1947

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*Please note: In order to preserve the picture clarity of these credentials, this page may take a while to load. Please be patient.

The known armbands from 1909-1947 are made of either felt or a silk/satin type material. Because these two materials were used they tend to suffer damage, mainly from moths with felt armbands and general frailty with silk/satin armbands. The only *known IMS armband after World War II is the 1947 Safety Patrol. All *other IMS armbands are medical after WWII.

We have no pictures of IMS armbands for the following years: 1910-1914,19-21,23,29,31,46,48 up. We could also use more pictures of other armbands from those years already depicted here. If you have any, please email us (ni500cc@ni500cc.com or dar500@indy.rr.com) a color scan so it can be posted here on the site.

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Although it is not indicated as being from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the armband below is believed to be from the balloon race of June 5th, 1909.

1915

1916
A "Timer" silk armband from the Sept. 9th, 1916 Harvest Clasic Auto Races. It is so fragile that any further handling will only damage it further so it will forever be kept protected in an acid free plastic holder.

1922

1924

1925

1926

1927

1929

1928

1930

1931

1932


Note the two Judge armbands above which are of different colors. It not known why this was done.

1933

1934


Note the Time Trial armband above and those from 1935, 1936 and 1937. They are made from an oil cloth type material and use strings to secure to ones arm.

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

1941

1947

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Because of the fragile nature of felt and silk/satin armbands, many did not survive making most of them very rare, very tough to find and very desirable. Those from the mid-late 30's do become easier to find, but are by no means easy to find.

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* This information is to the best of our knowledge. If anyone has more information, please contact: NI500CC@NI500CC.COM or dar500@indy.rr.com

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IMS Medical - 1909-1980's


AAA - 1909-1955


USAC - 1956-1972


Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Winning Car Photographer 1981-1994