INDY 500 Blog: For the Fans

Community Day at IMS (May 26)

May 27, 2010

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For the Fans

It took forever to get into the Speedway on Wednesday morning. Community Day at IMS brings with it the opportunity for any fan to drive their personal vehicle once around the 2.5 mile track surface at speeds not to exceed 30 miles per hour. From the time I arrived at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, until the trusty old Dodge hit the backstretch, over an hour had elapsed. It is quite humorous that out of the 4 vehicles in my personal stable, only the plain, utility 4-door Dodge Stratus sedan has seen action around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Meanwhile, the sports cars are all sitting safely in their stalls back home in Texas, none of them ever having seen a track surface.

During the parade lap, I snapped nearly 100 photographs in order to chronicle as much of the unique ordeal as possible. The Dodge actually belongs to my wife, Jennifer, so I wanted to make sure she had a proper recording of the event since she could not be here for the undertaking. It is very generous of the Speedway to allow the public to take their personal vehicles around the track. That is something I've always wanted to do and every moment of the ride was cherished, Dodge or not.

For once, the yellow shirts did not make everyone park in the turn 3 pasture. Anyone could park on the infield lot that normally requires a specific parking pass for entry on any other day of the May schedule. It made the walk to the transporter much easier in the increasing heat of the day. Summer seems to have pounced upon Indianapolis rather suddenly. When I first hit town, the temperatures were hovering in the 40s and 50s. Now the temperature approaches 90 on a daily basis and it's been a swift 2-week warm-up. It would not be so bad if I didn't have to spend so much time out in the hot sun. Sunscreen has become a daily ointment necessary to protect the milky white flesh I'd been damned with at birth.

Out on pit road sat a collection of antique race cars. Roadsters, Novis, Offys, Lolas, and Marches. They were all gorgeous and represented years ranging from the glory of the 1930s to the decadence of the 1980s. I took the opportunity while I was out there to telephone my father back in Texas and wish him a happy birthday. The old man turned a stunning 87 on Wednesday and sadly no longer holds the capability to understand exactly what his son is doing at the Speedway this month. I've explained it with specifics several times but his mind has decayed enough that the sunrise usually erases the most recent etchings. It's too bad. He would enjoy hearing all about this adventure. Especially since he joined me for the 500 in 2003.

I walked up and down the line of old roadsters and slant-winged sleds from the 70s, each with their own unique design enhancements and abilities. Whether people realize it or not, old race cars become works of automotive art. The older they get, the more magical they seem. When new, they are termed radical and outrageous. But only when ripened through age can their real beauty be truly appreciated. They age like fine wine if treated with proper care. I love looking at the old race cars that make up the history of this place. They serve as a constant reminder of how old this facility actually is. Most of the races here happened before I was born. If there is anything mankind needs in this day and age, it is a constant reminder of all that proceeded them. Accordingly, the ten years I've spent coming to IMS are but a drop in the bucket of the overall IMS annals. Through careful study of those ancient chariots, a youngster like me can touch the past of this historic facility and soak in her heritage.

While out wandering around the Pagoda plaza, I ran into my current roommate, Chad, and some of his friends. They were out enjoying the warm and muggy day at IMS. Imagine my surprise when I also happened upon the four founding fathers of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Those founding fathers were Carl G. Fisher, James A. Allison, Frank H. Wheeler, and Arthur Newby. Having run into them unexpectedly, I asked them to pose for a picture in front of the Pagoda and they were more than happy to oblige the request. All four men stated that they were certainly pleased with how the track has evolved over its 101-year history. If you see these gentlemen walking around, make sure you get their picture and thank them for envisioning such an iconic facility and making it a reality. You might also compliment them on their good looks. Not a single one of them looked to be a day over 137.

Running into Superfan and Chuck Lyn has now become a regular occurrence, as has dodging golf carts piloted by the likes of Rick Mears and Danica Patrick. It's taken two weeks, but I'm used to it. However, I met someone new today by the name of Angel Lange. Every year, Angel makes a couple of handmade wooden IndyCars and totes them around the Speedway on a special cart to get drivers to autograph them for his vast collection. He claimed to have done it for myriad years and keeps them all under strict lock and key. He said it is his way of preserving the history of the Indianapolis 500. I'm not sure how the subject came up, but he also claimed that George Washington was actually the 15th President of the United States. I chose not to chase that rabbit down. Some things you just have to let go.

If you've not yet meandered back behind the Pagoda Plaza in the last few days, the DeltaWing people have set out their concept car for viewing by the general public. In all fairness, it would be proper for me to declare my utter distaste in the thing. I think it looks like the Batmobile crossed with a Schick razor. I asked one of the DeltaWing guys to take a picture of me with the blasted contraption. I told him what I was doing and he spiraled into a discussion that left me feeling like he was trying to sell me a vacuum cleaner. I'll leave the pun alone for now but you know what I'm thinking. Reflecting on it now, I should have sent Angel Lange over to talk with them.

The last thing I did was hang out in the Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka garage. Ed Carpenter was hanging out back there and signing the occasional autograph. It is a wonder to watch Ed work. It is evident that he actually cares for the fans. For two weeks I've been observing nearly every driver in the IndyCar paddock and I can say without an ounce of shame that Ed is the nicest, most personal, and most approachable one of them all. I've seen a driver be less than polite with kids asking for an autograph. Today, I saw Ed pick up a little boy and hold him in his arms while his daddy took a picture of them. That's the hero, right there. I also saw John Barnes, the owner of Panther Racing, walking through the garage area with his family in tow. The scene was touching. Community Day is all about families and that goes for drivers and team owners alike. I thank God above that He placed me with the Vision and Panther folks. They truly and honestly care about the community in measurements leaps and bounds above any other sister organization. They have been a beautiful thing to behold.

Community Day is a day for the kids, families, and the overall public of Indianapolis. Most of the day was dedicated to autograph sessions and open access for the general public. Having had my fill of the day, I headed out for the short walk to the car. On the way, I ran across an interesting weathered van painted yellow, poorly and years ago. On one side, it said "If it ain't Motorhead, IT SUCKS." A hand painted advertisement for Schlitz dominated the other side. This was clearly someone's "race van" (meaning that it's only used to go to the track) and one more testament to the many reasons I love Indianapolis. The Speedway does not just come with fans, but an entire culture. That culture is what the month of May is all about.

Thursday will come early. That calls for getting to bed early to facilitate being back at IMS for the beginning of the festivities tomorrow. I never thought I'd feel this way, but I am tiring. This has been already a long hard road. Had this culture not been such a shock to my system from the get-go, I'd be alright, but it would seem that fear is setting in that this wonderful thing is not going to last forever. Community Day was my 13th day at the Speedway so far this month. This is by far the longest I have ever spent around a racetrack at any one time. It has been two weeks and I am just ready for the 500 to arrive and begin. And this is with the shortened schedule! Imagine if this was actually day 26!! Only the dominoes of the Indy lights schedule tomorrow and the mayhem of Carb Day stand in the way of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. It will be here before I know it and once more, it is hard to believe that this wonderful ride is coming to a conclusion in only a matter of days. It has been the joy of my life.

--CW

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