Indianapolis 500

[kidrock]

hey youngster that was the 60s and just stating the facts how many of the drivers of today would strap in one those beast

Listen old man the car was from the 50's or at least that's what the guy said in the video

[old fan]

late 50s early 60s there was also cars on the track from the 30s

[kidrock]

late 50s early 60s there was also cars on the track from the 30s

Well I can't wait to watch these not so real race cars this year at Indy lol

[old fan]

http://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/2...rs-in-history/ these roadsters are not store bought like most of the race cars of today

[kidrock]

http://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/2...rs-in-history/ these roadsters are not store bought like most of the race cars of today

Quit living in the past. Things change with time don't let it pass you up if you can lol

[CIRF]

Those old Indy roadsters were some of the most beautiful racecars ever built. They are almost universally loved by most everyone connected with racing. On Saturday morning of Memorial Day Weekend they have a get-together of some of the vintage racecars that graced the bricks of Indianapolis Motor Speedway in days-gone-by.

We try to attend that vintage show every year. A couple years ago they had Old Calhoun, the number 98 Frank Kurtis built Indy roadster that Rufus Parnell "Parnelli" Jones drove to victory for owner J.C. Agajanian in the 1963 Indy 500. At the tender age of 80 Parnelli put Old Calhoun through it's paces. Also, one of Smokey Yunick's gold and black Kurtis roadsters was on hand, as well. The Smokey roadster was the one driven by Paul Goldsmith back in 1958.

It was a sad phenomenon when the European style Cooper rear engine cars were taking over American Championship racing. I'm way too young to remember the roadsters heyday but I've done a fair amount of research on them and besides being literal works of art they were some of the most durable and dependable racecars ever built. That's not to say they were the safest cars but the Offy engines and the drivetrain's of that era were pretty much bullet-proof.

If any of you true race fans ever get the opportunity to see them run in a vintage racecar gathering such as the one on the Saturday prior to the 500 at Indy, or look one over in a museum setting I would strongly urge you to do so. They are a precious piece of pure Americana, to be sure.

[kidrock]

Those old Indy roadsters were some of the most beautiful racecars ever built. They are almost universally loved by most everyone connected with racing. On Saturday morning of Memorial Day Weekend they have a get-together of some of the vintage racecars that graced the bricks of Indianapolis Motor Speedway in days-gone-by.

We try to attend that vintage show every year. A couple years ago they had Old Calhoun, the number 98 Frank Kurtis built Indy roadster that Rufus Parnell "Parnelli" Jones drove to victory for owner J.C. Agajanian in the 1963 Indy 500. At the tender age of 80 Parnelli put Old Calhoun through it's paces. Also, one of Smokey Yunick's gold and black Kurtis roadsters was on hand, as well. The Smokey roadster was the one driven by Paul Goldsmith back in 1958.

It was a sad phenomenon when the European style Cooper rear engine cars were taking over American Championship racing. I'm way too young to remember the roadsters heyday but I've done a fair amount of research on them and besides being literal works of art they were some of the most durable and dependable racecars ever built. That's not to say they were the safest cars but the Offy engines and the drivetrain's of that era were pretty much bullet-proof.

If any of you true race fans ever get the opportunity to see them run in a vintage racecar gathering such as the one on the Saturday prior to the 500 at Indy, or look one over in a museum setting I would strongly urge you to do so. They are a precious piece of pure Americana, to be sure.

I have been to the museum and it's a thing of beauty. A must see

[old fan]

Quit living the past lol

[CIRF]

Well I can't wait to watch these not so real race cars this year at Indy lol

You and me both, Kid. This will be my 32nd consecutive Indy 500. Even though my first and most intense and enduring love is dirt track racing we dearly look forward to The 500 year after year.

The first 4 or 5 Indy 500's we attended are just a bit fuzzy. Despite sometimes going for 30 hours or so without sleep and the after-effects lingering for days, we wouldn't trade a million bucks for the experience. We were even lucky enough to have witnessed the original Snake Pit in turn one in it's last days prior to it's demise by The Speedway installing grandstands in the area where all the debauchery once took place. Glad I got to see that whole phenomenon at least once!! LOL!

http://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/2...rs-in-history/ these roadsters are not store bought like most of the race cars of today

The uniqueness, pride and love in which the roadsters were built by men like Frank Kurtis, A.J. Watson, Eddie Kuzma and George Salih were what makes them special. Salih was the father of the lay-down Indy roadster and in my opinion the lay-down's were the most beautiful of all the roadsters.

The mass produced identical cars of the past 40 years are no match for the passionate innovation of the hand built beauties of the roadster era.

Quit living in the past. Things change with time don't let it pass you up if you can lol

While we marvel at the safety and technological wonders that are Indy Cars of today the roadsters are an artifact of a time in American racing that should be revered and preserved. If that makes us nostalgic romantics who are living in the past, I'll happily plead guilty as charged! LOL!

[Raceready]

You and me both, Kid. This will be my 32nd consecutive Indy 500. Even though my first and most intense and enduring love is dirt track racing we dearly look forward to The 500 year after year. The first 4 or 5 Indy 500's we attended are just a bit fuzzy. Despite sometimes going for 30 hours or so without sleep and the after-effects lingering for days, we wouldn't trade a million bucks for the experience. We were even lucky enough to have witnessed the original Snake Pit in turn one in it's last days prior to it's demise by The Speedway installing grandstands in the area where all the debauchery once took place. Glad I got to see that whole phenomenon at least once!! LOL! The uniqueness, pride and love in which the roadsters were built by men like Frank Kurtis, A.J. Watson, Eddie Kuzma and George Salih were what makes them special. Salih was the father of the lay-down Indy roadster and in my opinion the lay-down's were the most beautiful of all the roadsters. The mass produced identical cars of the past 40 years are no match for the passionate innovation of the hand built beauties of the roadster era. While we marvel at the safety and technological wonders that are Indy Cars of today the roadsters are an artifact of a time in American racing that should be revered and preserved. If that makes us nostalgic romantics who are living in the past, I'll happily plead guilty as charged! LOL!

Oh how the machines of Smokey Yunick were so beautiful ! Such a mechanical talent. Of course even though he should have been in the NASCAR Hall of Fame , the chances are that he never will be because he stated that "Bill France Jr. wouldn't be smart enough to pour piss out of a cowboy boot even if it had instructions on the heel" ! ! ! ! LoL !!!

[CIRF]

Yep, Smokey didn't have much use for Big Bill or Billy Jr. either one. Smokey said in his autobiography something to the effect that Billy Jr. acted as if he played with himself too much as a child. LOL!

I met Smokey Yunick in the garage area of Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Pole qualifying day of 1998. He graciously signed my garage pass that day and that signed garage pass is one of my most prized pieces of racing memorabilia. By the way, '98 was also the year that Jack Hewitt qualified 22nd and finished 12th in his only Indy 500 start. Those two things make the 1998 Indy 500 a very special memory for myself and my family.

[old fan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDKmG_FHX5k

[Raceready]

Wow ! That is great. It only proves how much more exciting and honest that the form of motorsports is .

[Clayton_Wetter]

Quit living the past lol

When are you going to ever live in the present? hahahhahahaa

[old fan]

living right now but where is my present lol