Who been to Indy 20 years plus "UNDER 60"

HEADCHOPPER · 08-09-2011, 01:52 AM

1982 was my first Indy trip and ive been every year since. 48yrs old.

cicero819 · 08-09-2011, 08:39 AM

My first Indy was 1968, my brother was just back from his first Tour in Vietnam as a Helicopter pilot and thought he would bring his little brother to Indy and experience racing first hand. I've loved it ever since, didn't miss many but I sure remember the Camping grounds and even remember the onsite jail for the more inebriated or enlighted souls of the 70's. My favorite story(which I've shared in a past post) was Don Prud'homme stopping with his truck,funny car and station wagon to help my brother and I get back on the road after our on tow vehicle was broken on the side of the road. Incredible, would that happen now... I still love Indy but only stay from Wed to Saturday, can't stand the Clown and Circus show the pro's have become(but understand that they have bills to pay and gives us a place to watch some great sportsmans racing). I'm bring my youngest (22yrs old for her first trip before she starts on her Military career). We can now bring our kids, which is not what was possible in the past.lol Claude

BlueOval Ralph · 08-09-2011, 08:44 AM

My first Indy was Detroit 1959, my dad took us out there at 7:00 am came back and picked us up at around 8:00 pm all three day Sat Sun Mon have not missed one (US Nationals) since 1959 been at least 1 day since. Not this year just isn't the same, all the crying and bit chin. I guess it's lost that loving feeling.

Nitro Joe Jackson · 08-09-2011, 09:07 AM

been there since 1964

Travis Miller · 08-09-2011, 09:15 AM

I'm a little past the under 60 limit (63 to be exact). My first year as a spectator was 1966. My first year working Indy was 1973. I hope I got a few years left working there in my future.

Travis

(Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by me on this forum are exactly that, my opinions.)

thomas sheehan · 08-09-2011, 09:29 AM

First Indy was 1968. Stayed at the "Indianapolis Motor Speedway hotel"! (just a 11 year old hanging with my father).
Well...43 years later... still hanging with my father! We've only missed a handful or less in those 43 years.
If you haven't been there, you won't understand what you're missing! Sure it's not the same now.... but... It's still INDY!

ps.... 52 years old

mwall787 · 08-09-2011, 09:48 AM

Just a spectator and fan of Stock and Superstock (you don't see me leave the stands once the pro's run)

I'm 29 years old, and this will be my 23rd consecutive trip to the Big Go. Its a yearly father/son trip.

Jim Blankenship · 08-09-2011, 08:42 PM

been there a few times.
only time i went with dad was the year buster jumped on hood of grumpys car as it was raining hard at 1000' sunshine on line think it was 1972 or 3
this comes to mind as this is dad's birthday 97 if he was still here jim

MFR440 · 08-09-2011, 11:50 PM

I have been to the Nats as a spectator 20+ times since 1985. It helps that I grew up in Indy - now I stay at my brother's house 15 minutes from the track.

My top highlights are seeing Big Daddy win in Swamp Rat XXX in '86, wrenching on Darrell Marvel's Hemi Cuda the last few years, and watching my cousin win 3 rounds in Super Gas at his first Nationals in 2003.

I typically go only on Thursday and Friday, I am just not into the Pro's any more. I don't plan on missing any for a long time. By the time I am 60 I will have been to the Nats about 40 times!

I've raced at IRP many times, but never the Nationals.

Jim Wahl · 08-09-2011, 10:18 PM

Well I'm 60 now (June) but I've only been to Indy twice. '89 & '90. Class winner both years and top 5 qualifier both years (#1 for 3 days!). Did the Bowling Green thing then Indy both years. Got to know Travis very well one of those years, can't remember which year. Must have been '89 'cause we had a "party" at a couple of events that year. "I was younger then, I'm older than that now". Jim

08-09-2011, 08:39 AM	#2
cicero819 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Aylmer Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,086 Likes: 31 Liked 69 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Who been to Indy 20 years plus "UNDER 60" My first Indy was 1968, my brother was just back from his first Tour in Vietnam as a Helicopter pilot and thought he would bring his little brother to Indy and experience racing first hand. I've loved it ever since, didn't miss many but I sure remember the Camping grounds and even remember the onsite jail for the more inebriated or enlighted souls of the 70's. My favorite story(which I've shared in a past post) was Don Prud'homme stopping with his truck,funny car and station wagon to help my brother and I get back on the road after our on tow vehicle was broken on the side of the road. Incredible, would that happen now... I still love Indy but only stay from Wed to Saturday, can't stand the Clown and Circus show the pro's have become(but understand that they have bills to pay and gives us a place to watch some great sportsmans racing). I'm bring my youngest (22yrs old for her first trip before she starts on her Military career). We can now bring our kids, which is not what was possible in the past.lol Claude

08-09-2011, 08:44 AM	#3
BlueOval Ralph Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 852 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Who been to Indy 20 years plus "UNDER 60" My first Indy was Detroit 1959, my dad took us out there at 7:00 am came back and picked us up at around 8:00 pm all three day Sat Sun Mon have not missed one (US Nationals) since 1959 been at least 1 day since. Not this year just isn't the same, all the crying and bit chin. I guess it's lost that loving feeling. Last edited by BlueOval Ralph; 08-11-2011 at 10:33 AM.

08-09-2011, 09:07 AM	#4
Nitro Joe Jackson VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Loudonville, Ohio or where ever the Nitro Lounge is parked Posts: 2,293 Likes: 58 Liked 67 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Who been to Indy 20 years plus "UNDER 60" been there since 1964 __________________ Nitro Joe Jackson STK 3431 nitrojoe@neo.rr.com

08-09-2011, 09:15 AM	#5
Travis Miller Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 478 Likes: 1 Liked 276 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Who been to Indy 20 years plus "UNDER 60" I'm a little past the under 60 limit (63 to be exact). My first year as a spectator was 1966. My first year working Indy was 1973. I hope I got a few years left working there in my future. Travis (Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by me on this forum are exactly that, my opinions.)

08-09-2011, 09:29 AM	#6
thomas sheehan Photographer Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,717 Likes: 24 Liked 75 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Who been to Indy 20 years plus "UNDER 60" First Indy was 1968. Stayed at the "Indianapolis Motor Speedway hotel"! (just a 11 year old hanging with my father). Well...43 years later... still hanging with my father! We've only missed a handful or less in those 43 years. If you haven't been there, you won't understand what you're missing! Sure it's not the same now.... but... It's still INDY! ps.... 52 years old __________________ Tom Sheehan SS GT/NA 1046

08-09-2011, 01:52 AM	#1
HEADCHOPPER Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 69 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Who been to Indy 20 years plus "UNDER 60" 1982 was my first Indy trip and ive been every year since. 48yrs old.

08-09-2011, 09:48 AM	#7
mwall787 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Who been to Indy 20 years plus "UNDER 60" Just a spectator and fan of Stock and Superstock (you don't see me leave the stands once the pro's run) I'm 29 years old, and this will be my 23rd consecutive trip to the Big Go. Its a yearly father/son trip.

08-09-2011, 08:42 PM	#8
Jim Blankenship Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: nashville tn Posts: 149 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Who been to Indy 20 years plus "UNDER 60" been there a few times. only time i went with dad was the year buster jumped on hood of grumpys car as it was raining hard at 1000' sunshine on line think it was 1972 or 3 this comes to mind as this is dad's birthday 97 if he was still here jim __________________ Jim Blankenship 3086 STK

08-09-2011, 11:50 PM	#9
MFR440 Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 112 Likes: 6 Liked 13 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Who been to Indy 20 years plus "UNDER 60" I have been to the Nats as a spectator 20+ times since 1985. It helps that I grew up in Indy - now I stay at my brother's house 15 minutes from the track. My top highlights are seeing Big Daddy win in Swamp Rat XXX in '86, wrenching on Darrell Marvel's Hemi Cuda the last few years, and watching my cousin win 3 rounds in Super Gas at his first Nationals in 2003. I typically go only on Thursday and Friday, I am just not into the Pro's any more. I don't plan on missing any for a long time. By the time I am 60 I will have been to the Nats about 40 times! I've raced at IRP many times, but never the Nationals. __________________ Meyer Family Racing (re-tired) 1965 Dodge Coronet - Steet car and Part-time N/SS 1962 Plymouth Fury S/ST #3384 - Race in Peace, Craig Meyer

08-09-2011, 10:18 PM	#10
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,844 Likes: 667 Liked 683 Times in 129 Posts	Re: Who been to Indy 20 years plus "UNDER 60" Well I'm 60 now (June) but I've only been to Indy twice. '89 & '90. Class winner both years and top 5 qualifier both years (#1 for 3 days!). Did the Bowling Green thing then Indy both years. Got to know Travis very well one of those years, can't remember which year. Must have been '89 'cause we had a "party" at a couple of events that year. "I was younger then, I'm older than that now". Jim __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 NHRA D2 National Open Stock Champion 1982 NHRA D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association.