The Indianapolis 500. Memorial Day.....Race Day..... something from my childhood to mark the Calendar each year. If you haven't been, go see it some year. It is modern and technologically advanced, but I still see in it the early years and the history. You can't be a car lover and not appreciate all this race has meant for early automobiles. The Makes, drivers, owners, stories.
Marmon, Delage, Duesenberg, Mercedes, Peugeot, Miller, All crossed the checkered flag before 1930. I had the privilege to see the 1915 pace car owned by Allen Strong at a lecture years ago, and it is just another piece of the story that is the Indianapolis 500.
Hoping all the race fans today can tune in. If you're not a fan, do some reading about the early years. From track founder Carl Fisher leading the start of the first race in a Stoddard Dayton, up till today. I think you'll find it interesting.
https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/history/first-500
That is super cool. I got to see it once in person. Sam Mann had something similar I need to go find the pictures.
Yes, that is Allen and Nancy showing it at PB. It is such a great car with an even greater story. It was Carl Fisher's car, the Indianapolis 500 Founder's personal car.
@JohnBloom Allen has the greatest stuff. Anytime I'm interested in something and it dissappears it usually ends up with Allen.
Ok. Here is Sam Mann's car for sale at 2026 RM Monterey. It is earlier, 1912.
I love that early Packard stuff. It seems lots of it is hidden away and not frequently shown. Allen gave the story of that car and of course it is intertwined with the Motor Speedway and Carl Fisher (who is very interesting as well). The layers of Car stories from the Indianapolis 500 is deep and rich. WARNING: to start to dig into it is a rabbit hole with no bottom.
Harry Stutz at the wheel of the 1921 pace car.