Remember when we had to leave the pits ?

TOM KASCH · 10-23-2009, 07:04 AM

Just found this picture of us working on our ss/ha 69 Camaro in the hotel parking lot. I remembered going to all the motels in INDY in the 60's & early 70's to watch who was working on their cars.
This must be about the last year we had to leave the pits, don't remember for sure.

thomas sheehan · 10-23-2009, 07:14 AM

great post Tom.

I have several hotel shots that I'll have to dig up.....

I brought this same topic up several times this year at the races.

I vividly remember visiting the hotels to see all the cars (at night after the races).... what I don't remember is .... DID WE LINE UP EARLY "EVERY DAY" TO GET A PRIME PARKING SPOT?... that part I can't recall doing. I am assuming that rigs were so small that we all got good spots no matter hwat time we got there (just guessing).

TOM KASCH · 10-23-2009, 07:17 AM

I remember geting up at 5:00am just to try and get in the pit for a good spot.
& when we got to the gate we were 80th in line, some guys slept out side the gate......

super stock · 10-23-2009, 03:05 PM

In the late seventies we would leave motel in Indy(Nationals) @ 4 A.M. to get one of the 1st. ten free shots in SS. We never were the 1st ones.

sammy christian · 10-23-2009, 03:09 PM

indy '86 saw dick sherman and crew doing major engine work in motel lot. coolest thing i had seen up to that time as a 17 year old .

Bob Mulry · 10-23-2009, 06:56 PM

Hi,

I remember back in the 70's at the WinterNationals that no matter how early in the morning we got into the lanes to get our FREE hit (not a charged qualifying run, but to test the clocks operation) we never and I repeat NEVER got there before Cal & Mary Ann Method.

This happened so many times that we actually tried to beat them into the lanes, but we never did.

I also remember many a fun night working on the race car in parking lot of the Pomona Motor Lodge and fighting off the pimps & hookers.

That was when the NHRA liked the racers, not like now

Bob

james schaechter · 10-23-2009, 07:45 PM

I remember in the early 80's doing this. I was helping Bob Gipson with his SSEA 69 Camaro. We would string all the extension cords we had out to the parking lot to work on the car after dark. I remember also going to Indy one year and a local muffler and brake shop let us pull in and work in their shop too.

We bent some valves on a run at Thunder Valley in Marion. Gail Trent from American Speed took new valves out to the airport and flew them out to us. We worked on it in the parking lot and then drove out to the airport to pick up the valves.I think Sioux city. We were able to put it together and it ran pretty well.

Pretty cool stuff for a kid going to the races. I guess it rubbed off. We are always working on something.

Duane Eiskant · 10-23-2009, 09:00 PM

In the late 70's or early 80's at Indy. The car half on the trailer with the trans out and we in the motel room(bath tub) overhauling the 4 speed in Gary Burrs 68 Z-28 stocker.

Always loved leaving Indy for the motel and the drunks wanting you to unload the car and do burnouts in the street!!

Same drunks in the morning were lying in the ditch, passed out from the fun the night before!! Duane

james schaechter · 10-25-2009, 04:26 PM

At Indy we always stayed at the "Capri" Motel on route 40. It was (is?) an old Bates motel type place. They didn't care if you worked on your stuff or set up a grill in the parking lot. The lady at the desk's name was Grace. She was about 118 years old. If you said you were there for a race, you paid the same price as you would at the Waterfront! If you said you were just in town visiting friends it was about 30 bucks! LOL.

Rusty Gillis · 10-25-2009, 06:10 PM

I remember being at Indy around 1970 and someone was trying to push start a Top Fueler in the parking lot. It wouldn't start so they went out on the highway and brought it back running. Those were great times

10-23-2009, 07:04 AM	#1
TOM KASCH VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: TOLEDO,OHIO Posts: 1,735 Likes: 0 Liked 241 Times in 100 Posts	Remember when we had to leave the pits ? Just found this picture of us working on our ss/ha 69 Camaro in the hotel parking lot. I remembered going to all the motels in INDY in the 60's & early 70's to watch who was working on their cars. This must be about the last year we had to leave the pits, don't remember for sure. Attached Thumbnails

10-23-2009, 07:14 AM	#2
thomas sheehan Photographer Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,717 Likes: 24 Liked 77 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Remember when we had to leave the pits ? great post Tom. I have several hotel shots that I'll have to dig up..... I brought this same topic up several times this year at the races. I vividly remember visiting the hotels to see all the cars (at night after the races).... what I don't remember is .... DID WE LINE UP EARLY "EVERY DAY" TO GET A PRIME PARKING SPOT?... that part I can't recall doing. I am assuming that rigs were so small that we all got good spots no matter hwat time we got there (just guessing). __________________ Tom Sheehan SS GT/NA 1046

10-23-2009, 07:17 AM	#3
TOM KASCH VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: TOLEDO,OHIO Posts: 1,735 Likes: 0 Liked 241 Times in 100 Posts	Re: Remember when we had to leave the pits ? I remember geting up at 5:00am just to try and get in the pit for a good spot. & when we got to the gate we were 80th in line, some guys slept out side the gate......

10-23-2009, 03:05 PM	#4
super stock Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Remember when we had to leave the pits ? In the late seventies we would leave motel in Indy(Nationals) @ 4 A.M. to get one of the 1st. ten free shots in SS. We never were the 1st ones.

10-23-2009, 03:09 PM	#5
sammy christian Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: buffalo,ny Posts: 35 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Remember when we had to leave the pits ? indy '86 saw dick sherman and crew doing major engine work in motel lot. coolest thing i had seen up to that time as a 17 year old .

10-23-2009, 06:56 PM	#6
Bob Mulry VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Coarsegold, CA Posts: 1,017 Likes: 57 Liked 321 Times in 101 Posts	Re: Remember when we had to leave the pits ? Hi, I remember back in the 70's at the WinterNationals that no matter how early in the morning we got into the lanes to get our FREE hit (not a charged qualifying run, but to test the clocks operation) we never and I repeat NEVER got there before Cal & Mary Ann Method. This happened so many times that we actually tried to beat them into the lanes, but we never did. I also remember many a fun night working on the race car in parking lot of the Pomona Motor Lodge and fighting off the pimps & hookers. That was when the NHRA liked the racers, not like now Bob __________________ Bob Mulry 7516 STK A & M Motorsports

10-23-2009, 07:45 PM	#7
james schaechter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 1,931 Likes: 1,090 Liked 1,225 Times in 250 Posts	Re: Remember when we had to leave the pits ? I remember in the early 80's doing this. I was helping Bob Gipson with his SSEA 69 Camaro. We would string all the extension cords we had out to the parking lot to work on the car after dark. I remember also going to Indy one year and a local muffler and brake shop let us pull in and work in their shop too. We bent some valves on a run at Thunder Valley in Marion. Gail Trent from American Speed took new valves out to the airport and flew them out to us. We worked on it in the parking lot and then drove out to the airport to pick up the valves.I think Sioux city. We were able to put it together and it ran pretty well. Pretty cool stuff for a kid going to the races. I guess it rubbed off. We are always working on something. __________________ James Schaechter 3163 STK

10-23-2009, 09:00 PM	#8
Duane Eiskant Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 22 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Remember when we had to leave the pits ? In the late 70's or early 80's at Indy. The car half on the trailer with the trans out and we in the motel room(bath tub) overhauling the 4 speed in Gary Burrs 68 Z-28 stocker. Always loved leaving Indy for the motel and the drunks wanting you to unload the car and do burnouts in the street!! Same drunks in the morning were lying in the ditch, passed out from the fun the night before!! Duane

10-25-2009, 04:26 PM	#9
james schaechter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 1,931 Likes: 1,090 Liked 1,225 Times in 250 Posts	Re: Remember when we had to leave the pits ? At Indy we always stayed at the "Capri" Motel on route 40. It was (is?) an old Bates motel type place. They didn't care if you worked on your stuff or set up a grill in the parking lot. The lady at the desk's name was Grace. She was about 118 years old. If you said you were there for a race, you paid the same price as you would at the Waterfront! If you said you were just in town visiting friends it was about 30 bucks! LOL. __________________ James Schaechter 3163 STK

10-25-2009, 06:10 PM	#10
Rusty Gillis Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 260 Likes: 21 Liked 87 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Remember when we had to leave the pits ? I remember being at Indy around 1970 and someone was trying to push start a Top Fueler in the parking lot. It wouldn't start so they went out on the highway and brought it back running. Those were great times __________________ Rusty Gillis Former NHRA SS/FA and SS/GA record holder