History 2020 the First Time since WW II without an Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day (Weekend)

This will be the first time in 75 years without an Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day (weekend).The race was run on true Memorial Day until 1970.
I have watched Indy every year since I was a baby my first Indy was 1982 I was five months old!
My Father has listened to his first 500 the radio in 1962 Rodger Ward he has listened or watched every year since.
My mother says she remembers my Grandfather listening on the radio in 1964, the year Dave McDonald and Eddie Sachs were killed.

I seem so strange knowing there will be no playing of Taps, No singing of Back Home Again in Indiana with the Purdue marching band, no Borg-Warner Trophy, No drinking of Milk.

 

and it sucks

 

SO SO SAD!

 

Silver lining is that it will be run this year. I have been watching a lot of YouTube vintage dirt racing from across the country and the world since before NASCAR took a break . More interesting to watch old late models and modified going at it.

 

Ira Vail in the 122 MILLER he sold to H.D. Carpenter of Philadelphia and drove for him in the 1925 INDY 500. I've got the paperwork for running the car that year, the year old car cost $6,100. Bob

 

A big part of New York State history.
The 1951 winner Lee Wallard on May 30, and very badly burned at Reading Fairgrounds a few days later on June 03 1951.

Lee Wallard is almost un-know out side of the most hardcore race fans in this area. Even though it is less then a hour drive to his home town of Altamont.

 

Great pics @tb33anda3rd & @The37Kid

 

OFFY!!!!

 

1st time in my life to not listen or watch.

 

This ain't the end of the world.... geez! They're going to have it later this summer.
When they do run it there will be, no doubt, those on here bitchin that they have no interest in it anymore because the cars are "too hi-tech" or there are too many "foreign" drivers etc. etc. SEESH!

 

Yes, it is this summer but it will be lacking the tradition, and history of being in May.

That is why I start this thread for respect of the tradition, and history, It has nothing to do with complaining about the current state of Indy car racing.

 

This is always a big weekend for me. Local Hot Air balloon races,250-300 car show and pretty good little swap on sat. GET UP SUNDAY wait for INDY, then the coke 600 that night. I get only one of those this year. But it could be worse. I'm am healthy tho..............

 

Been listening , then watching since 1955. Life goes on.

Ben

 

Track Roadster driver turned Indy 500 winner Troy Ruttman

 

I remember that 65 lotus that was a game changer. That style of car is still my favorite. I have a super bee body hanging on my shop cieling

Sent from my SM-A102U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I really liked the look of the Jimmy Clark Lotus Ford, end and beginning of two generations. Bob

 

And I'd like to have the gas powered McCoy Hot Rod that Troy is holding.

Mick

 

I see last year's race will play Sunday. I'll watch, naturally. And the rescheduled one later this year, too. Been a family tradition for me since you could only get it on the radio, no matter where you were. Thanx to all for posting those great pix above.

 

Just think, there are over 97000 that will never see another 500 race. Not sure we have much to complain about and much to be thankful for.

 

Listening to the Indy 500 on my homemade radio was the beginning of my summer since 1963 when I was a kid and had aspirations to become an Indy driver after being engrossed in as many books on Indy that our small library had.

 

A local news story on Lee Wallard-

https://altamontenterprise.com/spec...092013/posters-declare-time-wonderful-wallard