Thanks to everyone who took the time to contribute, read and share in Part One of this blog.
I still have plenty more stories to tell and memories to share, so lets start with a track from an area of the US that many fans would like to see a return to Portland, Oregon, Christine Miles tells us her memory of the race from 2002, the heat... 96 degrees Fahrenheit all weekend - lobster status! And the fan access, I have never been so close to race car in my life.
I still have plenty more stories to tell and memories to share, so lets start with a track from an area of the US that many fans would like to see a return to Portland, Oregon, Christine Miles tells us her memory of the race from 2002, the heat... 96 degrees Fahrenheit all weekend - lobster status! And the fan access, I have never been so close to race car in my life.
Jo Husband made a long distance trip from England, but travelled east. In October 1999 I had the chance to go out to the Surfers Paradise Indy but, busy with my equestrian work, I decided the timing wasn't quite right. It was a decision I was to bitterly regret as a month later one of my favourite drivers lost his life at Fontana & I'd missed my only chance to have seen him race. I vowed there & then to get to Surfers the next year as a tribute to Greg & in spite of still being on crutches following knee surgery, I did just that.
It was a truly fantastic experience. They literally shut down this normally hectic city for 4 day to hold a massive party with a race on the side! It certainly wasn't called the IndyCarnival for nothing. With sun, sea, sand & even a mariachi band it sure beat a soggy summer's day at Silverstone. The place was manic & buzzing but warm & welcoming too. I even got a thank you hug from Barry Green for flying out there!
I could probably write a book about that weekend but the race itself didn't exactly go to plan. Australia is a heck of a long way to go for 'your' driver to not even complete the first lap, but sure enough the top three on the grid, Montoya, De Ferran & Franchitti tangled at the notorious first chicane. The strange thing is it didn't really matter. Adrian Fernandez went on to win but the result wasn't the most important thing that day. It was all about the atmosphere, the fun & the camaraderie, borne out by post-crash Franchitti & Montoya watching the race together eating ice cream! And for me personally, it was about keeping my promise to Greg Moore.
It was a truly fantastic experience. They literally shut down this normally hectic city for 4 day to hold a massive party with a race on the side! It certainly wasn't called the IndyCarnival for nothing. With sun, sea, sand & even a mariachi band it sure beat a soggy summer's day at Silverstone. The place was manic & buzzing but warm & welcoming too. I even got a thank you hug from Barry Green for flying out there!
I could probably write a book about that weekend but the race itself didn't exactly go to plan. Australia is a heck of a long way to go for 'your' driver to not even complete the first lap, but sure enough the top three on the grid, Montoya, De Ferran & Franchitti tangled at the notorious first chicane. The strange thing is it didn't really matter. Adrian Fernandez went on to win but the result wasn't the most important thing that day. It was all about the atmosphere, the fun & the camaraderie, borne out by post-crash Franchitti & Montoya watching the race together eating ice cream! And for me personally, it was about keeping my promise to Greg Moore.
I Loved Cart on twitter first race was to Detroit in 2012 (the one with the road surface getting loose) I met my racing idol MarioAndretti that day.
Back to Indianapolis and firstly Gary Blinebury's first race in 1981, I watched AJ win his last 500-mile race in a torrential downpour. Few Silver Crown cars in the field too.
Jimmy Gray, we went every year so not sure but I'd guess '76-'77 and my first memory is sleeping in the shade of the car in the infield.
James Alban was in 1990, and saw Arie Luyendyk win his first Indy 500, I sat in turn one...I was just 11 years of age, but the event kept my attention the entire time!
Back to 1962, Mike Silver, the best memory was meeting Louis Meyer after the race. Watching drivers wrestle the steering wheel was exciting.
Andy Baker made his first trip to the speedway in 1988, I was 8. Race was fun & memorable, but bummed AJ didn't win. Same seat every year since.
Jimmy Gray, we went every year so not sure but I'd guess '76-'77 and my first memory is sleeping in the shade of the car in the infield.
James Alban was in 1990, and saw Arie Luyendyk win his first Indy 500, I sat in turn one...I was just 11 years of age, but the event kept my attention the entire time!
Back to 1962, Mike Silver, the best memory was meeting Louis Meyer after the race. Watching drivers wrestle the steering wheel was exciting.
Andy Baker made his first trip to the speedway in 1988, I was 8. Race was fun & memorable, but bummed AJ didn't win. Same seat every year since.
And finally for Part Two, 1978 and the Ontario Speedway in California, Patsy White went, with husband LeRoy, who was the refueller for the 98 Parnelli Car.
Our final look back through people's first Indycar race, Part Three will be posted in the next few days, with stories from Rockingham, Indianapolis and Edmonton, to name but a few. You can also check out Part One of this series and also Sporting Memories Network and the Alzheimer's Society.
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