Then and Now: Enjoy This Picture

[KnockOff]

Goodwood Festival of Speed, Tony George at the wheel of the Indy winner.

[NoviVespa]

I like the touch of the red bandana. ala A.J.

[Dick Ralstin]

Hey Knockoff,

Thanks for showing the beautiful photo. It has been so long since I have actually seen the driver sitting in the car, and with his hands really holding the steering wheel, I had almost forgotten there was a real, live man pushing the buttons and guiding the damn thing.

The open face helmet, the goggles, the red bandana really turned the clock back ---- but just for a few minutes damnit.

[tnindyman]

Thanks for the great photo. What memories.... 1961, my first year to visit IMS. A friend from church asked if I would like to attend time trials with him. I had listened to INDY on the radio, but had NEVER seen the cars in person. After that first visit, I never missed a pole day until moving to TN in 1979. Like the comments above, it was awesome watching those guys muscling the cars around. AND, to top it all off, we got to see the SAME guys in sprint cars at Eldora every year.

INDY is still my favorite place, but those years will be special.

Tom Eidemiller

[mnkywrch]

IIRC, that's the car that AJ took out for some 120mph+ laps a few years ago.

On vintage tires, that is.

[tnindyman]

Originally posted by mnkywrch
IIRC, that's the car that AJ took out for some 120mph+ laps a few years ago.

On vintage tires, that is.

Wrench, if I remember correctly, 'ol AJ didn't quite fit into the seat either. He towered out of the roadster like a giant.

Tom Eidemiller

[ecat]

Thanks KnockOff...very, very cool!!!

[MichaelP]

Originally posted by mnkywrch
IIRC, that's the car that AJ took out for some 120mph+ laps a few years ago.

On vintage tires, that is.

... and that was the average speed. I'd say he was pushing 160-170 down the front straight! My eye's nearly popped out of my head watching that!

[Railbird]

Beautiful car, a Trevis copy of the Watson that Dick Rathmann put on the pole at Indy in '58.

[3-wide]

A. J. also took his old Champ Dirt car out on the track at Louden a number of years ago and came down the front straight at a MUCH higher speed than I'm sure anyone expected. (With people standing out on the track too!) They (we) quickly climbed back over the pit lane wall.)

Once a racer always a racer.