The Indy 500

Have you been to the Indy 500 Race? My first race was 1959. A church group went every year and I was asked to go. I was in freshman in high school.

In order to get a place along the fence, we left for the race at 5:00 am. We paid $2.00 to enter the infield. If you look up pictures from this era, you will see that fans were allowed to build towers from just about any thing. The higher the tower, the more people it would hold and the view was better. In later years, after several collapses and other incidents, the towers were banned. Of course we had no tower.

The cars were so much slower, more dangerous and maybe more fun.

Standing at the fence on turn one, I could see only a flash of a car. The race was longer in time and after the race, it took hours to clear the infield.

I am going to the race Sunday for the lost count time. Since 1964 when on the opening lap a horrific accident occur ed, I dread the start. At that time the cars used gasoline. They planned on no pit stops. The cars had 500 miles of gasoline in them. The opening lap crash is still in my mind. It was amazing that I ever went back to the race.

Every year the officials learn more safety issues and correct them. Cars going much faster are much safer.

So tell me your 500 experiences.

Happy Memorial Day!