The "Real" Indianapolis 500

[Mitch G.]

Being a grouchy anti-technology old guy, I don't consider the current event held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Memorial Day weekend, a real race, much less the Indy 500. Here are a couple examples of real race car drivers, in real race cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=377&pictureid=3976
Rodger Ward in Bob Wilkes beautiful A.J. Watson built Offenhauser powered Indy Roadster, 1959. Ward would win the race that year.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=377&pictureid=3978
Jim Rathman at the speedway in 1960, aboard the Ken-Paul Spl, another Watson that would win the race that year.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=377&pictureid=3977
Chuck Stevenson driving for Bob Wilke in 1960 "Leader Card Racers" team mate to Rodger Ward, would finish 15th that year.
Beautiful race cars.

[indybigjohn]

Mitch, I've also been accused of being "a grouchy anti-technology old guy," but I don't let it worry me.

Every time a site I frequent has a poll on what they should do to improve Indy Car racing, I do a write-in ballot, suggesting that they start with putting the engines back in front.

[Jerry Lee]

Hmmmm...well I'm not grouchy or old yet (:chuckle:), but I do agree with you guys on these old Roadsters. Every Memorial Day weekend I break out the old VHS tapes of the historic Indy documentaries that used to show on ESPN in the '80's and watch them instead of the "new" 500. I might catch the last couple laps to see who won, then get ready for the Coca-Cola 600.

Thanks for the pics of these big ol' "hot dogs" on wheels Mitch.

[Mitch G.]

Indy Big John, what was it like to actually see the roadsters at the speedway?
I'd give anything to witness that. Jerry Lee, I actually don't mind the rear engine cars all that much (early Lotus 38, Gurney's Eagle,etc.), it's wings and aerodynamics that have ruined it. The last couple of years there has only been one groove if the cars stray one inch off that groove they spin out, it's boring (at least the last few laps I've watched the last 20 years or so). I'm with Big John, put the engines back in front.

[indybigjohn]

All I can tell you is that it was something very different from today. Actually watching the driver work in the cockpit. Much deeper sound, and that punctuated now and then by the unbelieveable roar of the Novi.

And like Mitch noted, there seems to be one groove now. In those days they went outside, made it stick and went on.

They started in three rows of eleven, and were nearly dead even when they hit the start-finish line.

Damn, I really feel old now.

[Thomas E]

All I can tell you is that it was something very different from today. Actually watching the driver work in the cockpit. Much deeper sound, and that punctuated now and then by the unbelieveable roar of the Novi.

And like Mitch noted, there seems to be one groove now. In those days they went outside, made it stick and went on.

They started in three rows of eleven, and were nearly dead even when they hit the start-finish line.

Damn, I really feel old now.

And that's the truth.

[Thomas E]

Being a grouchy anti-technology old guy, I don't consider the current event held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Memorial Day weekend, a real race, much less the Indy 500.

Well, grouch number two here...

"Real" Indianapolis 500 race cars are like the cars above photo, the engine is in the front and there are no wings, you know the "Roadsters" and the "Big Cars" and and they had no rear engine pancake with wheels look to them. You've got it, I do not like rear engine race cars of any kind.

How well could the current group of drivers handle one of the old dinosaurs, no rack and pinion or power steering, or power brakes, pit boards and no head phones, just drive ans pay attention.

Yes, I do feel better.

[indybigjohn]

Watching "Bump Day" also reminded me of those days. Back in the Offy days, if you got bumped you took it back to the garage, upped the percentage of nitro, and put it back in line - hoping that the engine would last four laps.

[black vette 59]

Indy came to the UK this weekend......40 Indy cars came over to celibrate its 100th .....Gasoline Alley and original bricks from the Brickyard came to visit.......

[carc7]

Gawd, look at that black #4 Miller - what a superb piece of craftsmanship!

:bow:

[Thomas E]

How about that #35 Miller Ford? Great!