Allison History
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Soon after it was founded in 1915, Jim Allison's Indianapolis Speedway Team Company became recognized for its expertise in building and refining the modern automobile. One observer once heard Allison tell a workman, "Whatever leaves this shop over my name must be the finest work possible." These words endure at Allison to this day. World War I would change things dramatically at the company. The morning after America declared war on Germany, Jim Allison instructed his chief engineer to find out how to get war orders going. In a matter of weeks, the company had thrown itself solidly behind the war effort under a new name - Allison Experimental Company. |
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| [1909] The four founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway pose with their distinguished guest from Detroit. (Left to Right) Henry Ford, Arthur Newby, Frank Wheeler, Carl Fisher and Jim Allison. | [c. 1917] Plant 1 served as the base of operations for Allison Experimental Company beginning in 1917. |
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| [c. 1918] The production workers of Allison Experimental Company routinely logged 60- and 100-hour weeks to meet WWI production requirements. | [c. 1919] Allison Transmission's legacy of technological innovation is rooted in Jim Allison's founding of the Indianapolis Speedway 500-Mile Race. Allison founded the event in 1909 with three partners to test race car components. |
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