John Bloom Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 I am 56 years old and grew up about 45 miles north of Indianapolis. Few things in my life mark time, and give a sense of tradition like listening to the race on the radio on Sunday morning and afternoon. I have been in person many times, but most years it is a radio event for me. I realize it is televised but I prefer to have every radio in the house/garage/outside....tuned in for the radio broadcast as my day is filled with projects and tinkering with the race always in the background. If it doesn’t appeal to you, I’d encourage you to read into it’s history. Stutz, Marmon, Duesenberg.....the stuff we love has its heritage as a part of the race. If you get a chance to go to the museum on site, do it. So much history that any car lover will appreciate. get it on your radio today if you can and tackle a project on your car with it in the background. “gentlemen, start your engines”.... 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobileparts Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 Wait until you see who is in the pace car .... Not a fan of (hers)... She thinks she is the hottest thing since Farrah Fawcett (NOT...) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle_Buck Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 Fortunate to to attend Indy in the era when the roadsters battled it out with the rear-engined ‘funny cars’ (an AJ Foyt term used back in the 60’s). 🇺🇸 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Kingsley Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 Although NASCAR is my favorite form of motorsports, I won't miss the Indy 500. It's just a special race. This will be the 11th or 12th consecutive one I've seen, and if I didn't sleep through that one it would have been a lot more, but I didn't start watching it until the early 2000s, which I now regret. At least I got to see a lot of older ones when we had ESPN Classic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hook Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 My car was on the track back in 78. Here's a photo taken through my windshield. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bloom Posted May 30, 2021 Author Share Posted May 30, 2021 5 minutes ago, hook said: My car was on the track back in 78. Here's a photo taken through my windshield. Great stuff, thanks for sharing. I’ve never driven on the track, but my wife tricked me several times into doing the half marathon associated with the 500 festival, so I have run on it. Sharp car and great pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hook Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 1 minute ago, John Bloom said: Great stuff, thanks for sharing. I’ve never driven on the track, but my wife tricked me several times into doing the half marathon associated with the 500 festival, so I have run on it. Sharp car and great pics! From what I understand. They don't allow any driving on the track anymore. Of course that was with the last part of the Tony George family ownership. Don't know what the Penske organization ownership will do. The photo I've just included was posted on another part of the forum. It's a parking lot at the 1911 Indy. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hook Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 1 hour ago, John Bloom said: I am 56 years old and grew up about 45 miles north of Indianapolis. Few things in my life mark time, and give a sense of tradition like listening to the race on the radio on Sunday morning and afternoon. I have been in person many times, but most years it is a radio event for me. I realize it is televised but I prefer to have every radio in the house/garage/outside....tuned in for the radio broadcast as my day is filled with projects and tinkering with the race always in the background. If it doesn’t appeal to you, I’d encourage you to read into it’s history. Stutz, Marmon, Duesenberg.....the stuff we love has its heritage as a part of the race. If you get a chance to go to the museum on site, do it. So much history that any car lover will appreciate. get it on your radio today if you can and tackle a project on your car with it in the background. “gentlemen, start your engines”.... Listened to it every year on the radio from 1960 until they started showing it on TV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 I remember my late uncle always listening to the race on the radio regardless of tv coverage. Same for Phillies baseball games. Radio only for him. A good announcer can make you feel you are right there in the grandstand. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wws944 Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 2 hours ago, hook said: From what I understand. They don't allow any driving on the track anymore. Of course that was with the last part of the Tony George family ownership. Don't know what the Penske organization ownership will do. The photo I've just included was posted on another part of the forum. It's a parking lot at the 1911 Indy. The car at the bottom left says "Fisher Auto Co" on it. Wonder if Carl is standing there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 Went a few times as a kid.... 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Luddy Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 It's a real thrill to see it live. First time was 1983. Then several times after. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 Been there and enjoyed every second. My seats were in the 3rd turn up behind the little bunch of flowers on the fence behind the tv camera. Will never forget A.J. going straight into that wall in front of me, careening backwards across the track and watching Lyn St James perform the boldest move ever to miss T-boning him by just inches. When I met her a few years ago we talked about it. AACA president Jim Elliott should be there now. Terry 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Man Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 It has not been interesting to me in a long time, my Dad always watched. Lets make it interesting again, give them 50 gallons of fuel, throw away the rule book, first one to 500 miles wins. OK a simple safety check. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 Wondering if the Car just to the right of the gate was the Stoddard-Dayton that was the Pace car for the event? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bloom Posted May 30, 2021 Author Share Posted May 30, 2021 47 minutes ago, Terry Bond said: Been there and enjoyed every second. My seats were in the 3rd turn up behind the little bunch of flowers on the fence behind the tv camera. Will never forget A.J. going straight into that wall in front of me, careening backwards across the track and watching Lyn St James perform the boldest move ever to miss T-boning him by just inches. When I met her a few years ago we talked about it. AACA president Jim Elliott should be there now. Terry The speed and violence of a crash is almost unbelievable. I was there when Danny Ongais crashed..... and lived. The flyin Hawaiian. Every car fan should go once. Unconscious, front half of car gone, back half on fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 The velocity of the cars at full speed is impossible to describe. TV just doesn't feel the same as being there. Just got a text from Donna Elliott, she and Jim are there and pretty excited. Let's Race!!! Terry 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 This is a shot of the 38 Studebaker coming up to the yard of bricks. We got to go on the track after a show, went to the show only to get on the track. I was the lone prewar car. Vetts, Porsche's, Mustang's, Ferrari's and other muscle cars and sports cars. I waited to be the last car in line with a lead car and a trail car. First lap at 65 and then 75 then faster. About the 8 lap I was coming up on turn 4 and saw a Porsche going very slow so I moved to the inside to pass him. He stuck his hand out the window waved goodbye and was gone! I almost passed a Porsche. I did get an award - The only car to do 15 laps and never lifted! 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bloom Posted May 30, 2021 Author Share Posted May 30, 2021 5 minutes ago, SC38DLS said: This is a shot of the 38 Studebaker coming up to the yard of bricks. We got to go on the track after a show, went to the show only to get on the track. I was the lone prewar car. Vetts, Porsche's, Mustang's, Ferrari's and other muscle cars and sports cars. I waited to be the last car in line with a lead car and a trail car. First lap at 65 and then 75 then faster. About the 8 lap I was coming up on turn 4 and saw a Porsche going very slow so I moved to the inside to pass him. He stuck his hand out the window waved goodbye and was gone! I almost passed a Porsche. I did get an award - The only car to do 15 laps and never lifted! That is a great story. And good to hear you doing it with your 38 Hoosier Iron!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
46 woodie Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 And Helio Castroneves makes history in becoming only the fourth, four time winner. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J3Studio Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 3 hours ago, John Bloom said: The speed and violence of a crash is almost unbelievable. I was there when Danny Ongais crashed..... and lived. The flyin Hawaiian. Every car fan should go once. Unconscious, front half of car gone, back half on fire. 1981 … I'm still stunned he lived—in fact, he's still with us. The Bedard crash and seemingly endless flip in 1984 was the same but different—I was there, and I remain convinced that everyone at the speedway thought he was dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 I'm all for safety, but the windshields and hallow bar reminded me of "CARS". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 I’ve gone to the time trials but never the race. The trials are a lot of fun if you can get close to or access to the pits. It’s a very intense all out effort for every team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Dobbin Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 I was there in 1984 for the race. 100's of drunks passed out 2 hours before the race started. The cops walked around and poked them, and if the moved they left them alone. If they didn't they they loaded them up and took them to the hospital for de-tox. The race cars went past so fast they were a blur. The only way to know who was winning was the scoring tower and my portable radio. The Museum in the infield was good and driving the track the day before with the end of the Great Americn Race was fun, even at 50 MPH. The fans carried in beer in coolers the size of caskets, but we couldn't buy a beer while there. I guess it was one of those once in a lifetime deals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne sheldon Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 4 hours ago, Paul Dobbin said: I was there in 1984 for the race. 100's of drunks passed out 2 hours before the race started. The cops walked around and poked them, and if the moved they left them alone. If they didn't they they loaded them up and took them to the hospital for de-tox. The race cars went past so fast they were a blur. The only way to know who was winning was the scoring tower and my portable radio. The Museum in the infield was good and driving the track the day before with the end of the Great Americn Race was fun, even at 50 MPH. The fans carried in beer in coolers the size of caskets, but we couldn't buy a beer while there. I guess it was one of those once in a lifetime deals. As I recall, the track was originally opened in 1909. So 1984 would have been its 75th year! It was such a muddy mess its first year that they shut it down for 1910 and rebuilt the track. That was when the brick was laid. And the rest is lots and lots of history! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan G Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 My late father always enjoyed watching the race on TV; I don't know that he ever made it to the race, but on the mantle in his den was a Jim Beam decanter shaped like the state of Indiana. That souvenir, of some vacation he took before I was born, made mention of the race on the back. As a kid I honestly thought (and bragged to my friends) that this was Dad's trophy for winning the Indianapolis 500! I agree with others: I'd much rather listen to the race on the radio than watch it televised. For many years I tuned into the NASCAR races each week simply for the pleasure of hearing the banter and the excitement in their voices when something big happened. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 On 5/30/2021 at 4:45 PM, 1937hd45 said: I'm all for safety, but the windshields and hallow bar reminded me of "CARS". Bob, while the new windshields may not please some of us or the drivers the race yesterday proved how valuable they are. The tire that flew into Conor Daly could have killed him. That design was based upon previous accidents and the need to protect the drivers head and neck even more. I still remember as a kid listening to the accident where Eddie Sachs was killed. Not something I want to hear any more. Heck, I remember how much I disliked it when they went away from the roadsters. Racing is an evolution. I am starring at the Belanger Special from 1955 in our lobby and I cannot believe how unsafe those cars were compared to today. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39BuickEight Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 (edited) I’ve been to a few Indy speedway races, though not the Indy 500. Fun events l, that I prefer to NASCAR because you can actually carry on a conversation with those around you. They are relatively much quieter and, fewer in number. That said, as far as in-person motorsports, nothing beats NHRA Top Fuel. The feeling is indescribable, and the events are very spectator friendly. A ticket gets you basically anywhere you want to go. Edited May 31, 2021 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 1 hour ago, 39BuickEight said: I’ve been to a few Indy speedway races, though not the Indy 500. Fun events l, that I prefer to NASCAR because you can actually carry on a conversation with those around you. They are relatively much quieter and, fewer in number. That said, as far as in-person motorsports, nothing beats NHRA Top Fuel. The feeling is indescribable, and the events are very spectator friendly. A ticket gets you basically anywhere you want to go. I too grew up with drag racing. Living in South-Central Michigan was perfect. Several major drag strips were within an easy drive. I had neighbors, friends and family involved in drag racing in the mid to late 60s and it was a perfect time to smell burring rubber and meet a few of racing's legends in the pit areas. You are right-the throb of those Top Fuel cars is something I'll never forget. Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFranklin Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 (edited) You reminded me of when I worked at the San Fernando drag strip in California, my first real job in high school. I like the Indy 500 but have never been there. Edited May 31, 2021 by JFranklin grammer (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 My brother went to the Indy 500 once and has also been to some Nascar events. I have been to Nascar events but never Indy. His comment was that the fans at Indy are there for a social event and Nascar fans are there to see the race. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Luddy Posted June 1, 2021 Share Posted June 1, 2021 On 5/30/2021 at 4:31 PM, J3Studio said: 1981 … I'm still stunned he lived—in fact, he's still with us. The Bedard crash and seemingly endless flip in 1984 was the same but different—I was there, and I remain convinced that everyone at the speedway thought he was dead. I was walking to my seat when Patrick Bedard was flipping thru the air. The crowd was screaming, then holding the collective breath. It was a sight I'll never forget. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hook Posted June 1, 2021 Share Posted June 1, 2021 (edited) Yes, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr., Rick Mears and Helio Edited June 1, 2021 by hook (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bloom Posted May 29, 2022 Author Share Posted May 29, 2022 And another year has passed, good riddance.... let’s have some racing in the morning! I save 3 or 4 old style boom boxs’ just for this day each year. Garage, back patio, front yard/drive. love the race on the radio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Fan Posted May 29, 2022 Share Posted May 29, 2022 Glad we aren't neighbors!! 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted May 29, 2022 Share Posted May 29, 2022 2 hours ago, Ford Fan said: Glad we aren't neighbors!! Makes two of us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted May 29, 2022 Share Posted May 29, 2022 7 hours ago, John348 said: Makes two of us Party poopers! Ben 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NailheadBob Posted May 29, 2022 Share Posted May 29, 2022 I love all the posts about the Indy 500, BUT I have never seen the race in person AND I have been at Indy for several Nascar races, one that sticks out to me was watching as Juan Pablo Montoya was leading the race and I had a Fan Vision scanner and he was driving with left hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on one of the roll bars. I did take my daughter (16 at that time) to the Indy car series race at Long Beach CA they raced on the streets, from about 9 a.m. till 11 p.m. each day you could here cars racing the streets, The hotel we stayed in was also used by drivers and teams, going to our hotel one night we used the elevator with all of Gary Bettenhausens race team (pretty cool) strange thing was each member of the team got off on different floors, I asked one why, he replied we all don't want to eat the same food and if a fire breaks out we all wont burn or die. When the race was over we were able to go into the paddock area, with in 5 minutes after the race the engines were already removed from the cars, and we almost got run over by Paul Newman and Michael Andretti while they were driving there scooters to leave the area. GENTLEMAN START YOUR ENGINES!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted May 29, 2022 Share Posted May 29, 2022 It'll be an exciting day with a near full house there. Just got a msg from friends in turn 1, watching the event as it begins. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted May 29, 2022 Share Posted May 29, 2022 GREAT RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now TWO Swedes have wone it! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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