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#301 Sigur

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Posted 08 April 2015 - 14:20

[quote name="Russ Snyder" post="3397631" timestamp

here is a blurb about the speedway "With the original surface of crushed rock and tar proving to be disastrous at the opening motorcycle and automobile racing events in August 1909"....it broke up horribly in the summer heat during an August race that killed a driver/mechanic and spectators. Carl Fischer then decided to lay the 3.2 million bricks, and the rest is history.[/quote]

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#302 Sigur

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Posted 08 April 2015 - 14:31

The first weekend of auto racing was terribly bloody. On the first day, there were multiple crashes and if memory serves me correctly, a fatality. The AAA Contest Board threatened to shut the p,ace down if repairs weren't made. Overnight, the track was repaired and boards were laid over the ditches which ran by the outside of the track. Second day of racing went well and the track held up. The third day of racing wasn't so fortunate. The breaking up of the macadam track once again resulted mayhem, death and injuries. the AAA Contest Board stopped the racing and indicated the track wouldn't have any more races.

Faced with that reality, Fisher, Allison et al decided to pave it. They ran tests on both concrete and brick and the brick held up better. They also thought paving with brick would result in faster speeds. The driver doing the tests was Johnny Aitken in a National. They laid some bricks for a test strip and secured the race car with some posts and let the tires spin away.

#303 B Squared

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Posted 17 April 2015 - 12:24

I know this isn't the greatest of photos, but it sure put me back into the grandstands during the 1968 Indy 500 as I witnessed it as a 10 year old. The shot is taken from a quite similar location to where my parents, brother and I were sitting and it brought back some great memories. I'll never forget the sight of the fabulous Lotus 56 whoosing by; I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. I thought it may provoke the same response from others who may have been there too. Al Unser is in the second car; with the crewman on the track, it is as they rolled off to begin the parade/pace laps.

 

Joe%20Leonard%20Lotus%2056%20in%201968%2



#304 DogEarred

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Posted 17 April 2015 - 13:03

Seeing the turbine F1 version race on European road tracks was highly interesting, although it proved to be less than totally competitive.

 

But to see it at full stretch at Indy would definitely have been a great experience!

 

Did it race at other events in the U.S? - I don't remember.



#305 B Squared

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Posted 17 April 2015 - 14:12

Did it race at other events in the U.S? - I don't remember.

Actually it ran quite a few others. The full results can be found at the following site in which it shows the Lotus 56 at Milwaukee, Continental Divide, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Trenton, Hanford, Phoenix and Riverside. They had varying results with a best of 4th at Hanford. They were usually quick, but had various issues keeping them from victory lane.

 

http://www.champcars...m/year/1968.htm



#306 DogEarred

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Posted 20 April 2015 - 06:40

Thanks Brian.

 

Simply judging by the results, it seems there may not have been a serious development or race program after Indy. It would have taken some commitment to do that though. Probably no mileage in that for Lotus.



#307 RA Historian

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Posted 20 April 2015 - 12:23

Also, as I recall after Indianapolis the Lotus 56 outings were not a Team Lotus entry, but rather from the emerging Parnelli Jones team. Do I recall correctly, Brian?



#308 B Squared

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Posted 20 April 2015 - 13:18



Also, as I recall after Indianapolis the Lotus 56 outings were not a Team Lotus entry, but rather from the emerging Parnelli Jones team. Do I recall correctly, Brian?

HI Tom - From what I remember, that is correct. Not a very good photo, but you can see the  Parnelli Jones name in front of the rear wheel in the photo below. I'm unsure of the exact transfer off the top of my head.

 

Joe%20Leonard%20Lotus%2056%20on%20road%2



#309 Jim Thurman

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Posted 20 April 2015 - 16:02

HI Tom - From what I remember, that is correct. Not a very good photo, but you can see the  Parnelli Jones name in front of the rear wheel in the photo below. I'm unsure of the exact transfer off the top of my head.

 

Not trying to muddy the waters here, but could that name have been as much, if not more, for Parnelli Jones' Tire Stores as a sponsor than an entrant name?



#310 B Squared

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Posted 20 April 2015 - 16:41

Not trying to muddy the waters here, but could that name have been as much, if not more, for Parnelli Jones' Tire Stores as a sponsor than an entrant name?

No problem Jim, I appreciate you weighing in, because I sure don't have all of the correct answers. I'm fairly certain that Parnelli and Andy negotiated the sale of at least one of the Lotus 56 chassis' after Indianapolis. He kept it in his collection for many years before the sale of the same collection to the Speedway a few years back.

 

The following thread is almost 5-1/2 years old - if you go to my post #59 on page 2, you will see a two part scan of a May 31, 1969 Competition Press & Autoweek. In the second scanned part of the article, below the boldened letters saying Many Cars, there is a note in talking about Parnelli's shop, in that it states "In one corner (of Parnelli's shop - B² note) is the remains of the number 60 Lotus-Turbine that has never been repaired after its disastrous crash at Riverside last December."

 

http://forums.autosp...56#entry5903676

 

I'm prepared to be proven wrong, but I think Parnelli bought at least one Lotus 56 during the 1968 season. Possibly Michael Oliver can weigh in with the correct answer. Thanks, Brian



#311 lotuspoweredbyford

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Posted 20 April 2015 - 23:20

No problem Jim, I appreciate you weighing in, because I sure don't have all of the correct answers. I'm fairly certain that Parnelli and Andy negotiated the sale of at least one of the Lotus 56 chassis' after Indianapolis. He kept it in his collection for many years before the sale of the same collection to the Speedway a few years back.

 

The following thread is almost 5-1/2 years old - if you go to my post #59 on page 2, you will see a two part scan of a May 31, 1969 Competition Press & Autoweek. In the second scanned part of the article, below the boldened letters saying Many Cars, there is a note in talking about Parnelli's shop, in that it states "In one corner (of Parnelli's shop - B² note) is the remains of the number 60 Lotus-Turbine that has never been repaired after its disastrous crash at Riverside last December."

 

http://forums.autosp...56#entry5903676

 

I'm prepared to be proven wrong, but I think Parnelli bought at least one Lotus 56 during the 1968 season. Possibly Michael Oliver can weigh in with the correct answer. Thanks, Brian

 

Hello again Brian

 

The chassis 56/1, which is the car #60 pictured in your photo WAS sold to Parnelli and entered by Parnelli during the 1968 season. 

 

Cheers,

 

Mike



#312 B Squared

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Posted 21 April 2015 - 09:42

Thanks for your confirmation Mike. I hope all is well. :up:


Edited by B Squared, 21 April 2015 - 09:43.


#313 Jim Thurman

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Posted 21 April 2015 - 15:31

No problem Jim, I appreciate you weighing in, because I sure don't have all of the correct answers. I'm fairly certain that Parnelli and Andy negotiated the sale of at least one of the Lotus 56 chassis' after Indianapolis. He kept it in his collection for many years before the sale of the same collection to the Speedway a few years back.

 

The following thread is almost 5-1/2 years old - if you go to my post #59 on page 2, you will see a two part scan of a May 31, 1969 Competition Press & Autoweek. In the second scanned part of the article, below the boldened letters saying Many Cars, there is a note in talking about Parnelli's shop, in that it states "In one corner (of Parnelli's shop - B² note) is the remains of the number 60 Lotus-Turbine that has never been repaired after its disastrous crash at Riverside last December."

 

http://forums.autosp...56#entry5903676

 

I'm prepared to be proven wrong, but I think Parnelli bought at least one Lotus 56 during the 1968 season. Possibly Michael Oliver can weigh in with the correct answer. Thanks, Brian

 

Before things spiral further into misunderstanding. I wasn't questioning or disputing the fact that Parnelli did in fact purchase or own the car. I was simply musing out loud (well, in print) that perhaps just going by the Parnelli Jones name being on the car might not be the best way of determining exactly when the sale took place and was perhaps sponsor rather than owner related. Then again, in hindsight, why would his name have appeared under those conditions. I didn't think it all the way through. As you were :D



#314 B Squared

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Posted 21 April 2015 - 16:12

I was simply musing out loud (well, in print) that perhaps just going by the Parnelli Jones name being on the car might not be the best way of determining exactly when the sale took place and was perhaps sponsor rather than owner related.

I understand, and if I wasn't alive and paying attention to things going on within the sport at the time I wouldn't have forwarded the assertion based on a name being painted on the side of a car. I know I was only 10 at the time, but between my family's subscription to the Indianapolis Star and Competition Press & Autoweek, I tended to pay attention to the sport in a very thorough manner. Again, I'm not always right in my remembrances, so thanks for the test.



#315 B Squared

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Posted 23 April 2015 - 12:48

Indianapolis 1965

 

Main Gate at 16th St. and Georgetown on the morning of the opening day of qualifications

Indy%20500%20time%20trials%20main%20gate

 

In the team parking lot to the south of Gasoline Alley; turn one grandstands in the background

Cobra%20in%20team%20parking%20area%20Ind

 

Clark with Chapman testing the Goodyear Blue Streak tires

Clark%20testing%20Goodyear%20Blue%20Stre

 



#316 B Squared

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Posted 10 November 2018 - 14:27

I thought there was a IMS Museum thread, but had no luck in the search - anyway, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway lays out its future plans in the Indianapolis Business Journal:

https://www.ibj.com/...E#disqus_thread

#317 Ray Bell

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Posted 10 November 2018 - 21:26

Sounds like a massive project, Brian...

But to know that only a quarter of what they have is on display is really a surprise. There is so much to see there!

#318 jj2728

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Posted 22 April 2019 - 01:43

Bill Holland's BLUE CROWN SPECIAL. Indy 1948 from my father's archives and the first race he attended as a spectator. Copyright JAG.

 

Bill%20Holland%201948%20pits_zpsnwdi6ica