Beginning in 1910, the Elgin road races brought many leading drivers and mechanics to an 8-1/2 mile course of oil-soaked dirt and gravel roads, where grueling tests of speed and endurance contributed to the development of the modern automobile. Manufacturers were drawn to the course because it had no cross roads, steep hills, railroad tracks, or population centers to reduce speed, and its success was strengthened by proximity to Chicago and the cooperation of area farmers. From this point, the course extended east onto Larkin Avenue, north on McLean Boulevard, west on Highland Avenue, south on Coombs Road, and then east again on Galena Road, now route 20. The first entries were factory stock models with the fenders and windshields removed, and beginning in 1911, race cars designed for the Indianapolis 500 were also allowed to compete. Thousands of spectators attended each year as racing continued from 1911 through 1915. After suspension during World War I, the contests resumed in 1919 and 1920, when cars had taken on a more streamlined appearance. The races later lost favor as motorists and farmers objected to road closures, and for safety reasons, open road courses were replaced by closed track racing. Following a revival in 1933 to coincide with the Chicago World’s Fair, the Elgin road races passed into automotive history.