Indy, the month of May

[Mitch G.]

Back when the Indianapolis 500 meant something, here is Roger Ward in Bob Wilke's wonderful Watson roadster, at Indy in 1962. Beautiful eh?
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=2171

[Jerry Lee]

Love that pic! I've always thought those Roadsters were so much cooler than the rear engine jobs. They always looked kind of like a pregnant Midget to me.

Wasn't A.J. Foyt the last to win at Indy in a Roadster??

When we used to slot car race in the late '80's there was a company that had (for a short time) the little Lexan bodies of those cars but my buddy and me couldn't get anyone else to start up a class of them at our local tracks.

[Mitch G.]

Yep, 1964 Foyt was in the Sheraton-Thompson Spl. a Watson, there were 12 rear engine cars in the field that year including 3 Lotus cars. Strangely the 2nd place car with Rodger Ward driving was a rear engine car.... A.J. Watson built with an four cam ford.

[Mitch G.]

Here's Foyt in the Sheraton-Thompson Spl., 1964 winner of the last real Indy 500.
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=2172

[Thomas E]

Travelon Trailer Special . . .

[will6er]

Thomas E-

Wasn't that the last roadster at Indy?

Will6er

[carc7]

The last front-engined roadster at Indy was Jim Hurtubiuse's "Mallard" turbo Offy sometime in the late 60's or early 1970's. It was fast but didn't have the aerodynamic advantages of the rear-engined jobs of the time. These roadsters were awesome!

[indybigjohn]

Three times a year I miss living in Indianapolis - May, late July/early August, and Labor Day weekend.

[Thomas E]

The last front-engined roadster at Indy was Jim Hurtubiuse's "Mallard" turbo Offy sometime in the late 60's or early 1970's. It was fast but didn't have the aerodynamic advantages of the rear-engined jobs of the time. These roadsters were awesome!

Jim's mallard, 1970 or 1971. There is another photo of a cleaner looking Mallard, but it has a copyright.

[dmckim]

here this is one of many that i have. most are older than this.

[Mitch G.]

The #56 car that Thomas posted, was built by Barney Christiansen, a Watson copy, the first year it was at Indy in 1959, it was green!

[Mitch G.]

Two bigger than life oil rich Texan's, Kenny Rich and Paul Lacey (hence the Ken-Paul Spl,) thought it would be "fun" to win the Indy 500. So in the winter of 1960 they ordered a brand new A.J. Watson Offy powered Indy roadster, and spared no expense, polished wheels, expensive paint, chrome, etc. etc. They hired Chickie Hirashima as crew chief and Jim Rathman as driver. In what was the greatest roadster battle, and maybe best Indy 500 of all time, the party hardy Texan's won the Indy 500 over Rodger Ward in the Wilke roadster, as he faded with a bad tire in the last 3 laps. The party went on for 3 days in Indy.
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=2173

[dmckim]

here's an indy story my grandfather was asked by jack hinkle to drive for him and his AAA champ car team with a chance to race at indy. he told jack that he needed time to make up his mind, he wasn't sure he wanted to be away from his family that much.during this time jack mcgrath offered to drive the car for free and that became a great team with six championships. and for my grandfather he never regreted this at all and went on to drive stock cars and big cars.

[Mitch G.]

Heading down the back chute at Indy in 1961, leaving turn two, Jim Hurtubise in the Epperly built Demler #99, chases Parnelli Jones in the Agajanian #98 Watson, and ahead is Shorty Templeman in Bill Forbes #7 a Meskowski built roadster, all Offenhauser powered.
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=2174

[Mitch G.]

Here we separate the men from the boys, and put to bed the idea that modern day Indy drivers could run with the drivers of the golden era. Few things bug me more when I read an article about today's Indy car drivers, and most race drivers of today, saying they would be competitive in the old days, no way. Here we have Bill Vukovich Sr. grew up on a farm in Fresno, CA started driving midgets in 1938. In his first Indy 500 in 1952 he nearly won in Frank Kurtis first "Roadster". Then in 1953, record heat and humidity cooks the Indy 500 field, 91 in the shade, 130 at 18 inches above the track surface. All but 5 or 6 of the 33 drivers had to have relief drivers during the 500 miles. Tough as nails hero's like Tony Bettenhausen, Jerry Hoyt, Johnny Thomson, Johnny Parsons Sr., Sam Hanks, Bill Holland and others needed wet blanket and Ice treatments in the infield hospital. Carl Scarborough made 70 laps, pulled in exhausted and dehydrated, doctors tried to revitalize him, but he died of heat prostration later in the day. Vuky wins the "Hottest 500" in 1953, when asked how he was able to take the heat he said "This is nothing, ever drive a tractor in Fresno in the Summer?"(or words to that effect). Can you imagine Danica Patrick racing in those days? Could Vuky drive a modern day Indy car? you bet but he'd probably be bored as easy as the cars are to drive today.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=2175
Vuky in the Kurtis roadster, Offy power, during the 1953 Indy 500.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=2176
Not glamorous like today's wimpy victory lane celebrations, but here's what a hero looks like after winning a real race. Yes, Indy used to mean something special.

[Olen McGuire]

Yeah, you're right Mitch, men and machines have changed together. It's like football, where they have all the padding and hard helmets today, where in the old days they had leather skull caps and no padding. Most of the ones playing football and the racers today wouldn't have a chance in the old days.~Olen

[Thomas E]

Bill Vukovich . . .

When we live in southern California in 49-50, I saw Bill and his brother Eli several times race in Bakersfield and Fresno, in Offy's and Drakes, I think Eli even drove V8-60 Ford once. What a show those two would put on. I saw Bill race at Centennial Horse Track in 51-52, in the AAA Big Car Championship 100 mile races.

I believe that Bill was the then Iron Man. He would have won the the 1952 Indy 500 had he not crashed, then he won it in 53, and then his repeat in 54; had he not crashed fatally in the 55 race, I believe he would have won that one also, and Bill would have been the only four in a row winner, and even maybe a few more 500's after that. Bill was fierce competitor.

I'm not too sure that the crop of Indy drivers they have today could handle the no frills, no fades, no fancy stuff roadsters.

You might find this interesting it the A Report On The Accident That Killed Bill Vukovich (http://www.vukovichaccident.com/). There has been some real effort put into this page.

In the aftermath set of pictures are very difficult to see, especially the one that you see Bill's hand from under the (I think) left side of the over turned number 4 car.

[Thomas E]

Ted Horn

February 27, 1910 - October 10, 1948

Indy 500

1935 - 16
1936 - 2
1937 - 3
1938 - 4
1939 - 4
1940 - 4
1941 - 3
1946 - 3
1947 - 3
1948 - 4
9 straight finishes in the top four.

Horn was rejected for military service in World War II because of his past injuries. Racing resumed on a limited scale in 1945, and Horn was suddenly a winner, placing first in all seven races he entered.

Ted was the AAA National Championship title in 1946, 1947, and 1948, becoming the first three-time winner.

He clinched the 1948 championship with a third-place finish at the DuQuoin, IL, track in September. A month later he was racing at DuQuoin again in a race he did not need to run in. He crashed on the second lap and died in a hospital a short time later.

Ted Horn in a Maserati

[Jerry Lee]

Thanks, you guys! This has really turned out to be a cool thread. All these great pics and stories....my favorite time in Indy racing. I think I only watch the last few laps of the race nowadays, if at all. Back in the '80's, ESPN used to run some great half hour episodes of the history of the 500 with some really cool footage of the 30's, '40's & '50's. I still break out those vids around this time of year.

[Mitch G.]

http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=2177
Top left, the Agajanian #98 (Ol' Calhoun) started life in 1960 with Lloyd Ruby as driver. Parnelli Jones took over in 1961, 62, and here in 1963 they won the Indy 500. This was the first car to cut a 150 mph average lap at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Now it lives in the speedway museum. Don Branson is seated in the Leader Card #4, again in 1963, this was the 13th roadster Watson built, it was new in 1962 started life as the Leader Card #3 Rodger Ward won the 1962 Indy 500 in this car. Branson got 5th in the 1963 Indy 500. Sprint car standout Johnny White is in the Demler #99, originally the Leader Card #41 one of only 2 coil over front suspension cars Watson built, now converted to a standard cross torsion bar car. White is pictured here at Indy in 1964 he finished 4th in the 500 that year.
All A.J. Watson roadsters, Offy powered, and beautiful. Bob Tronolone photos from Joe Scalzo's book, "Indianapolis Roadsters 1952-1964.

[Thomas E]

Bill Vukovich . . . Number 4 Hopkins Special


This photo has been colorized, it was taken between the start of the race and the lap 56 of Bill's fatal crash.

[Thomas E]

With the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" there have the heart of the close winners who finished second, great cars that for the gremlins had other reasons for the car to stop running; then there are the very tragic moments.

When one and some more from the qualifiers for the 500 to the thirty-three who would take the green flag, but not see the checkered flag, but would be come not just an-also-ran that would cause a pawl of almost silence of the pre-race and race day activities, and that name or names would fill the black column of death.

Jim Malloy was a friend of mine and is one such fatal or as a result of crash that I remember. Jim Malloy was from Denver, Colorado, Jim competed in the 500 from 1968 to 1971, a best finish of 4th in 1971; Jim had a bad single car crash during practice/qualifying for the 1972 500, sadly Jim died from the serious injuries he sustained in that single car crash.

When I see this it still shakes me in a way that, well, it was really disheartening and sad.

Jim Malloy's 1972 practice/qualifying crash

[lakeside #29]

Mitch, Thomas E, or any of you Indy historians. Do you have a photo of "the Chenoweth Special" circa 1960 that you would be willing to share on this thread? I saw a picture of it in magazine recently, but it only shows the injected smallblock Chevy engine. The caption states the car failed to qualify for the 1960 500, but went on to be a successful short track car. It also states that the car survived and has since been restored. It appears to be a roadster and is unusual with the Chevy engine.
Thanks

[Thomas E]

Mitch, Thomas E, or any of you Indy historians. Do you have a photo of "the Chenoweth Special" circa 1960 that you would be willing to share on this thread? I saw a picture of it in magazine recently, but it only shows the injected smallblock Chevy engine. The caption states the car failed to qualify for the 1960 500, but went on to be a successful short track car. It also states that the car survived and has since been restored. It appears to be a roadster and is unusual with the Chevy engine.
Thanks

I spent some time searching out the 1960's Chenoweth Special and all I came up with what you saw in the magazine you mentioned. It a really nice red roadster with a fuel injected Chevy.

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z15091/Chenowth-Racing-Special.aspx

I'll see if I can find more.

[Mitch G.]

Here ya' go professor, somewhere I have photo's of the car as it appeared when it ran as a supermod. I'll do some digging and see what I can come up with, this is how it looked when it was first built and showed up at Indy in 1960 thru 1963.
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=2178
Here's how it looks now, fully restored
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=2179
Some more as it looks now.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=2180
I'm a huge A.J. Watson roadster fan, but this is one of the best looking indy roadsters ever built, and the small block chevy looks cool, again even though I'm more of an Offy fan, but variety is the spice of life!!
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=2181
Eddie "Kazoom" Kuzma standing on the left, with Don "Prince of Darkness" Brown building the Chenowith roadster.

[indybigjohn]

Foyt is also the only driver to win in both a front engine and rear engine car. Two each.

[lakeside #29]

Mitch and Thomas E, Thank you for posting these photos of "the Chenowth Special". I don't think I had ever seen a color picture of the car before. I kind of remember seeing magazine photos around the time the car was at the Speedway and forgot about it. In the current issue of "Hot Rod Deluxe" magazine they had a thumbnail shot of the engine and few details in the accompanying caption. Being a smallblock Chevy guy it caught my eye.
With Eddie Kuzma and Don Brown building the car, it stands to reason that the car was as beautiful as it is. I didn't know until you told me, who built the car. As I said it had been years since I saw a picture of it.
Thanks again for sharing these great photos of a trully beautiful machine.

[dmckim]

here's a picture of one of the great drivers. it didn't matter what powers it as long as it has four wheels. AJ FOYT in the Linne vw at the hut hundred in 1975.

[Thomas E]

Indianapolis 1957 . . .

My favorite driver and car

Sam Hanks and the #9 Belond Special, lay down roadster.

At speed and the winner's photo.

[Thomas E]

Indianapolis 1955 . . .

My second favorite driver and car

Bob Sweikert and the #6 John Zink Special, Kurtis Kraft roadster. Some called it the Zinkenhauser.

I call it the "Pink Bath Tub" - Looks like '55 Ford pink, and off white; the white used on Ford trucks.

I bought a 18th scale die cast of the 1955 Bob Sweikert KK Roadster.

At speed and the winner.

[Thomas E]

The front line for the 1911 Indy 500.

This is an old photo from my scrap book, the brown effect instead of black/white is different. (re-sized)

[Thomas E]

The year was 1953.

Johnny Tolan is the driver of the car number 85 Blakely Oil Special.

Johnny was an alternate starter at 34th position. (From Thomas E photo collection)

[Thomas E]

The year was 1958

Jerry Unser
McKay Special number 92
November 15, 1932 - May 17, 1959.

:checker:


Jerry was the first of the Unser family to compete at Indianapolis. Jerry started 24th in the (his only start) in the 1958 '500', he was caught up in a first lap 13-car pileup on the first lap and flew over the turn three wall, miraculously emerging unhurt. Jerry was awarded 31 position. Jerry died in a practice crash before the 1959 Indy '500'. Jerry's brothers are Al and Bobby Unser.

Jerry Unser was the 1957 USAC Stock Car champion, driving a 1957 Ford, #92, Hot Rod Magazine Special.



(From the Thomas E photo collection)

[Thomas E]

It's almost here . . .

"The Greatest Spectacle in Racing"


My Friday through Monday Memorial Day wallpaper PC monitor calendar.

[Mitch G.]

1962, when it truly was the "Greatest Spectacle in Auto Racing". Parnelli Jones in the Agajanian #98 leads them into one, eventual winner, Rodger Ward, follows, and A.J. Foyt, the previous years winner is in the "Bowes Seal Fast" #1. Check out the gaggle of cars in the back, is that two rows of 4 abreast?? Awesome.
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=292&pictureid=2257

[Thomas E]

What a photo . . . Look at all those roadsters! :first:

:checker:

[Thomas E]

Last year . . .

The 93rd Indianapolis 500, Sunday May 24, 2009, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Hélio Castroneves of Brazil won the race from the pole position, becoming the first driver born outside the USA to win the race more than twice.

Past winners of the Indianapolis 500 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indianapolis_500_winners)



Hélio Castroneves

[Thomas E]

Today is the 94th running of the

:green: Indianapolis 500 :checker:
May 30th, 1010

33 race prepared and race ready drivers
in their brightly polished and shinny race car's
will take the green flag for the
94th running of the annual Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

200 hundred laps later, by days end
the winner will be declared
by crossing the start/finish line
under the unfurled and waving checkered flag.

We salute these ladies and gentlemen
who have come seeking the victory,
that with it comes with the drink of milk, the laurel wreath
and the Borg-Warner trophy.

May these drivers by a steady hand
guide their race cars
with a true heart of sportsmanship
and know that they are a part of . . .

"The Greatest Spectacle In Racing"

:first:

[Thomas E]

Today is the 94th running of the

:green: Indianapolis 500 :checker:
May 30th, 1010
The winner is
Dario Franchitti
of
"The Greatest Spectacle In Racing"

:checker: :first: :checker:


A closing thought from the late
Sid Collins - "The Voice of the 500"
on the Indianapolis 500 radio network
1952-1976

"To some, this has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Others will come back. But in every case, it is always difficult to release each one's grasp on the pulsating emotion that is the 500. But another icy Indiana winter will come and go and before we know it, springtime returns and it will be May and the roar of engines will once again breathe life into the lazy Hoosier sky and bring us back together. And God willing, I'll be here to greet you to this annual reunion. So until next May, this is Sid Collins, the voice of the 500, wishing you good morning, good afternoon and a good evening, depending on where in the world you are right now. We are here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, at the crossroads of America. Goodbye."

~ Sid Collins - 1976 ~


:checker:

[Indybail]

Heading down the back chute at Indy in 1961, leaving turn two, Jim Hurtubise in the Epperly built Demler #99, chases Parnelli Jones in the Agajanian #98 Watson, and ahead is Shorty Templeman in Bill Forbes #7 a Meskowski built roadster, all Offenhauser powered.
http://www.autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=36&pictureid=2174

An outstanding picture at Indianapolis. It's fascinating to look at how the suspensions are working through the corner. I've never seen a picture like it. Thanks for posting it.