Comments on: IndyCar History – Does It Still Matter?

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:03:04 +0000

Just wondering, what have you got on VHS? Have been collecting for a couple of years, have quite a lot from 1911 up until now.

By: James O.

James O. — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 01:03:47 +0000

I would buy those DVDs in a heartbeat. I grew up in the 70s, and at the time I found Jackie Stewart’s high voice and accent annoying. Now I’m older and smart enough to appreciate who he was and what he brought to the booth; I’d love to have a chance to see them again.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:46:40 +0000

I would like to see IMS/ABC release DVDs of the complete race for every year dating back to when TV coverage of the race began. Some of my most prized possesion are my old VHS tapes of the TV broadcast dating back to the early 80′s. You might catch an old race on ESPN Classic but they are never very old (maybe late 80s) and are always edited for time.

If I could buy DVDs of the TV coverage of the full race from the 1960s, 1970s, etc I would spend the money in a heartbeat.

By: James O.

James O. — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:47:01 +0000

I think it matters. I’m mildly irritated whenever I hear the tv announcers (or a reporter) talk about something being the most, best, whatever, in Indycar History, dating WAAAaaaayyyyy back to 1994 or so. Of if you really want to dust off the record books, include CART and the creeky years of 1979. Eddie Sachs may as well have been driving a chariot in Ben Hur.

But I think there’s a nugget of value when people want to forget the ancient past. They rarely play old races, and even the “old” Indy 500s are almost always from the CART/IRL era. It *is* difficult to get excited over people you never got to see compete, just as it’s easy for us to appreciate Brett Favre and forget Johnny Unitus. Just the way the older generations were able to forget the heroes of their grandfathers.

By: Evan

Evan — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:41:55 +0000

I would hope so and I would count myself as one of those people who do care. While my main interest lies during the CART era of Indy car racing into the split and reunification, I have a tremendous amount of respect for those who came before. That story about not knowing Al Unser makes me shake my head as well as the laughing at Jim Nabors singing “Back Home Again in Indiana”. I’m pretty fortunate about being an Indy car fan through the ups and downs (right now would be a bit of a “down”). I still get amazed that I became a fan considering my background but I am not complaining.

By: stand b

stand b — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:02:32 +0000

my first race was when i was 12 and i havent missed one since. i just turned 40. prior to that i was stuck at home with a babysitter listening to it on the radio.

rick mears is still my favorite driver, and im an aj fan etc., and i like donald davidson and the history but the problem is too many people use the history as a club to pound on the current state of affairs. too many are like, “man it was great yadda yadda — it really sucks now”. i always wonder, than why are you here?

so whenever i start hearing about the history, i cringe. waiting for the usual bitching and gripeing. other wise i love the history. gomer rocks. florence is always good for comic relief.

By: KenK

KenK — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:14:57 +0000

I think this is a non-issue. There have always been people who are not
interested in history and there always will be. Some people just go through
life as if nothing existed before themselves, while others seem to live in the
past.

By: TJ Halsema

TJ Halsema — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:00:33 +0000

My first race was in 92 at the age of 5. I have missed 3 500′s since then. I plan on moving up to Indianapolis when I get old, I live in Georgia currently, and working at the speedway museum. Maybe I will be able to drive the bus, or work in the photo room. A couple of years ago during a trivia challenge on carb day, I was asked to stop answering questions. Not all of the questions were current, though most of them were geared toward 1996 forward. I still remember having the questions changed on me twice mid-question because I blurted out the correct answer by just knowing the year. The MC would say, “In 1996..” I would blast Buddy Lazier, before he could finish, so he would change who were the top 5 cars. (Lazier, Jones, Hearn, Zampedri, and Guerrero). Also he asked in who was the first to run at over 150, and when did the first rear engine car run at Indy, which I believe was in 1941.

I live on this history. I talk to the ghosts which I have noticed there isn’t a boring driver among them. All of the drivers had great personalities and were shepherds of fan friendly behavior.

Finally if anybody who goes to the Indy 500, they need to know who Wilbur Shaw was and why he is important. Without his persistence the Indy 500 would not exist today.

By: HooverOnTheWeb

HooverOnTheWeb — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:17:49 +0000

Regardeding the online pole; I felt there should be a respose in between “enjoying it more the older I get” and “every chance I get”. I do listen to every episode of “The Talk of Gasoline Alley” via podcast (so can enjoy it when I have time, laundry, stuck in line at BMV, etc.). That being said, I do agree that humans seem to relate more to things that happened durring thier existance. For example: I am interested in finding out more about interesting topics like the the first balloon race (amazing), first motorcycle races. But seem to relate more to the race that was so cold Roberto Guraro spun out and crashed on the pace lap. I was at that race, but we were late getting to the track (most allways were back then) and missed that. Or races my Dad attended, Bill Vocavich, etc.
I do not blame the younger generation for thier shortend life cycle of relavent information, nor the older view that the past must be studied for it’s historical/educational value. They are two sides of my favorite lucky coin.
By the way…I love this blog. I came accross it when someone pointed me to Indycarbuzz.com. Good work! -HB

By: H. B. Donnelly

H. B. Donnelly — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:26:59 +0000

George, I’m 22 and I’m trying to keep your dream alive. I got a love of cars — especially old ones — from my father and our continuous watching of auto racing led me to love the ’500′. If I have to pick three favorite cars out of Indianapolis history, I have to go with: “Calhoun” (#98 Agajanian/Parnelli Jones…love the blue and pearl with red accents), the Rislone Eagle (Bobby Unser…last of the wingless cars, and late-sixties Eagles are a great design), and the “Yellow Submarine” (Chaparral ground effects car…low-slung, clean lines, and deathly fast). If I had the money, I’d go out to the Monterey Historics every year — I had always wanted to hear a DFV at song, and I got my chance when Mario Andretti did demo laps in the Lotus 79, and I never got to see a REAL trans-am race (Camaros, Mustangs, AMCs, etc) until I went and it was brilliant.

I might be an anomaly amongst my generation, but I don’t care. I love racing, I love the history of racing, and I’ll keep listening to Donald Davidson and reading his books and watching IMS’ historic films for as long as I can.