Indy-500

[72doug2,2S]

This year marks the 100th running (EDIT) Anniversary of the Indy-500 and the first time I will be attending. Some college buddies from the east coast are trekking out here for a weekend of reliving the golden years and watching the race.

Anyone else going this year? I just got my email confirmation. Section A near turn one. I still need to work out the logistics for the entire weekend there hotel or camp etc.

I've got to get some centennial souvenirs.

[nota]

no not the 100th of the great indy 500
that died years ago killed by TG's greed and ego
now the once great race is a kit car contest
innovation and new ideas are banned
the great indy 500 has died

[teenerted1]

sorry to burst your bubble but its only the 100th aniv. event.
but have fun
i believe it is only the 93rd running of the 500 this year
1916 was only 300 miles scheduled
1917/18 no race due to ww1
1942-45 no race due to ww2
and 7 races didn't go full distance due to rain.

when i was a kid living there in the mid 70's it was the only thing in town in may.
and it was never shown on tv live.
i think the last year we were there 1978, they would show tv coverage locally in the evening long after it was finished.
if you weren't at the track the radio coverage (Paul Page) was the only thing on that day.

time trials meant something back then, and we went to qualifying every year as a family.
dad was the only one that got to go to the race.

[72doug2,2S]

Originally Posted by teenerted1

sorry to burst your bubble but its only the 100th aniv. event.
but have fun
i believe it is only the 93rd running of the 500 this year
1916 was only 300 miles scheduled
1917/18 no race due to ww1
1942-45 no race due to ww2
and 7 races didn't go full distance due to rain.

when i was a kid living there in the mid 70's it was the only thing in town in may.
and it was never shown on tv live.
i think the last year we were there 1978, they would show tv coverage locally in the evening long after it was finished.
if you weren't at the track the radio coverage (Paul Page) was the only thing on that day.

time trials meant something back then, and we went to qualifying every year as a family.
dad was the only one that got to go to the race.

Really? Everything I see says 100th. What is this anniversary?

I see, so 1911 was the first race and some years were rained out etc. that's fine.

[strupgolf]

//The first race was run in 1911.

[gprsh924]

100 year anniversary...not the 100th running...2 different things

[URY914]

This could be the 100th and last unless they get thier act together.

[fred cook]

My Dad took me to see the Indy 500 in 1960. All of the cars were still front engined roadsters, most running the Offy 4 cylinders. If I remember correctly Jim Rathmann in a Watson roadster won the race. Other noteable drivers included Roger Ward, A.J. Foyt, Jim Hurtubiese, Eddie Sachs, etc. After the race was over and most of the crowd gone, we jumped the wall and walked around the track one lap. Hard to believe that was 51 years ago!

[Embraer]

i go every year. my dad used to be a USAC timing and scoring official back in the 80's and early 90's (before the cars lost turboes).

keep in mind, the 500 is not just a weekend...it's a month long event in Indy. people cut out of work for carb day, etc. it's a BIG deal there.

for all of the guys complaining about it, yep, the racing has changed, but the EVENT is still a wonderful, exciting, awesome experience.

Last year i was in turn 4, right in front of Mike Conway's final lap crash. it was crazy to say the least.

take your sunscreen, plenty of water, etc.

even though you have good seats, after the first few laps, you'll want to meander down to the infield and check stuff out. ...then skedaddle back to your seats for the rest of the race.


oh, by the way, the traffic SUCKS. the last few years, i've just ridden my bike to the track and chained it to the fence outside of the gate.

[Embraer]

btw, if you've never been to an indy car race, notice the smell. the ethanol has a very sweet smell (literally) as the cars blow by.

[Embraer]

oh, and another thing....go to the museum on the track. there's an (orginal) mercedes slr, porsche 935, maserati birdcage, and of course tons of indy cars. there are also many neat motorcycles.

[KarlCarrera]

Excellent! I would love to go to the 90th, 93rd, 96th, 99th 100th or 102. Your going to have a great time.

Listen to Mike, Sounds like he may have the inside track.......:>)

Rules, regulations, owners, weather, opinions be damned, I would have a great time. And prolly buy alot of stuff I didn't need, but I do that at all the races...:>)

Have fun, enjoy the race and atmosphere

Karl
88 Targa

[ddbach]

Agree the museum is well worth checking out. We were there with my dad last summer. Here are pics of some of the cars Mike mentioned.





The Harry Miller Club runs old Indy cars at the Milwaukee Mile the weekend after the 4th of July. Two years ago my dad got to sit in a replica of this car, the real one is in the museum at The Speedway.

The guys w/ two seaters would take others out on the track as passengers. It was great fun. ( Harry A. Miller Club. ) Sorry for the tangent thought.

[Embraer]

last may, i took the jag over to the pizza hut at 56th and michigan. i heard a loud rumble coming up behind me....sure enough, it was a guy in a 1930's Indy car....on the road! I waved excitedly and he returned the wave....white scarf blowing in the wind as he went by.

it's something you just have to experience

[Racerbvd]

last may, i took the jag over to the pizza hut at 56th and michigan. i heard a loud rumble coming up behind me....sure enough, it was a guy in a 1930's Indy car....on the road! I waved excitedly and he returned the wave....white scarf blowing in the wind as he went by.

it's something you just have to experience

Was this it??

[kycarguy 935]

I went last year and will be going back this year. I also sit at turn one, but closer to the stretch before turn 2. The outside of turn 1. Saw a few cars hit the wall there too last year...ouch.

[rcm]

I was there in '58 and '59. Back when men were men and so on.