62 replies to this topic

[lanciaman]

Really enjoying your great photos Ron, thanks.

This is the July 24, 1966 race in which it is actually Lloyd Ruby on pole with Mario starting second. It was the first time in the 1966 IndyCar season that Mario wasn't on pole. Gordon Johncock is in the fourth starting position. Mario was the winner, Ruby spun off on lap 43 of 80, Johncock would finish fifth. According to Wallen's book, Mario spun off on the first lap, went to the pits and went down nearly two laps before making a charge to the front. That must have been a heck of a drive to see.

I have trouble making sense of this photo. The road in the background indicates we are looking west (it is the only road running next to IRP with a view of the circuit). That means the turn is part of the westmost leg of T10 through 12, the buttonhook. That means the cars are running the track in the early counterclockwise fashion. Which would put Mario on the pole, as T1-T2 is a fast sweeping right hander.

Unless the camera lens has so foreshortened the composition that you cannot see the racetrack running beneath the police car in the background, which would make the invisible track the approach to T12 and the cars are actually seen in T15, making everything correct....

Edited by lanciaman, 02 August 2011 - 11:20.

[B Squared]

I have trouble making sense of this photo. The road in the background indicates we are looking west (it is the only road running next to IRP with a view of the circuit). That means the turn is part of the westmost leg of T10 through 12, the buttonhook. That means the cars are running the track in the early counterclockwise fashion. Which would put Mario on the pole, as T1-T2 is a fast sweeping right hander.

Unless the camera lens has so foreshortened the composition that you cannot see the racetrack running beneath the police car in the background, which would make the invisible track the approach to T12 and the cars are actually seen in T15, making everything correct....

I've been to the track, but don't know it well enough to help you with your question. I looked at two different sources before posting and they both have Ruby on pole, Mario second, Jim McElreath third and Johncock fourth. I see no other race at IRP in which the three drivers in this photo are in these starting positions with these car numbers. Of course, I've been wrong before.

Sources: Roar From the Sixties American Championship Racing by Dick Wallen text on page 355 & race statistics page 568
PPG Indy Car World Series Series Update and Information Kit - 1980* by Jan Shaffer, John Glenn Printz and Ken McMaken page 107

* to my knowledge, this was the first CART media guide. I grew up across the street from Jan's grandmother. In fact, he was the person that helped me get my start with CART as an official. Mr. Printz is a highly respected historian and a frequent contributor to this forum.

[Jerry Entin]

The Fall edition of Racing Pictorial magazine confirms that Ruby sat on pole at IRP, driving an All American Racers Lotus/Ford. It was his first time back in a race car after being injured in a plane crash.

all research : Willem Oosthoek

[lanciaman]

The Fall edition of Racing Pictorial magazine confirms that Ruby sat on pole at IRP, driving an All American Racers Lotus/Ford. It was his first time back in a race car after being injured in a plane crash.

all research : Willem Oosthoek

That being the case, this is indeed the approach to turn 15 (the trailer in the background replaced by the DA Tower in 1967 or 1968), left, then onto the very long straight into T1, a flatout right hander. In the photo the racetrack (approach to T12) is barely discernible in the background under the police car. Mario's car is one of my favorites as a painting subject.

Thank you for your input.

[grandprix61]

That being the case, this is indeed the approach to turn 15 (the trailer in the background replaced by the DA Tower in 1967 or 1968), left, then onto the very long straight into T1, a flatout right hander. In the photo the racetrack (approach to T12) is barely discernible in the background under the police car. Mario's car is one of my favorites as a painting subject.

Thank you for your input.

I shot the start at the corner coming on to the main straight. I think that is the south end of the straight. The track is behind the Police cars in the background or possibly in front of the cars parked in the background. You could get up on a tower there and shoot them as they came around a sweeping corner on to the main straight. There must be a drawing of the track layout around somewhere. Anyone that has it kindly post if possible. Here is another shot of Hansgen and Penske coming around to the straight. I have just put all of my photographs from IRP on my web page www.classicvintagemotorsports.com take a look when you have a minute. Thanks for jogging my memory of the track. Ron N.


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[B Squared]

There must be a drawing of the track layout around somewhere. Anyone that has it kindly post if possible.

Edited by B Squared, 03 August 2011 - 04:44.

[raceannouncer2003]

I have just put all of my photographs from IRP on my web page www.classicvintagemotorsports.com take a look when you have a minute.

Great photos. Nice shot of Billy Foster.

http://www.classicvi...-1025-full.html

Vince H. (Victoria, BC, Canada)

[lanciaman]

I shot the start at the corner coming on to the main straight. I think that is the south end of the straight. The track is behind the Police cars in the background or possibly in front of the cars parked in the background. You could get up on a tower there and shoot them as they came around a sweeping corner on to the main straight. There must be a drawing of the track layout around somewhere. Anyone that has it kindly post if possible. Here is another shot of Hansgen and Penske coming around to the straight. I have just put all of my photographs from IRP on my web page www.classicvintagemotorsports.com take a look when you have a minute. Thanks for jogging my memory of the track. Ron N.


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You shot the cars from the DA Tower on the outside of T15 (used as the control tower for drag racing). What can't be seen because it is below grade is the T11-T12 stretch. The cars are actually parked outside the track on Raceway Road, that runs N-S adjacent to the track on the west perimeter.

I really enjoyed racing at IRP and did so a number of times, as well as having the pleasure of working there and thus getting to know the circuit pretty well. Its major shortcoming was the absence of grassy elevations for spectators, and easy access for them to other parts of the track. IRP is a dual purpose facility: dragstrip, road course, 5/8 oval. The road course never paid its own way. The dragstrip is still the site of the NHRA's season ender, the US Nationals. The oval has been improved with suites and is a well-used stock car and open wheel venue. The road course has become nearly unusable as it is in very poor repair. The T15 where you shot the great photos has become virtually enclosed by concrete walls.
The last road racing events of much spectator note occurred in the early 2000s when the VSCDA ran several vintage events. They were a financial and spectator bust.

[RA Historian]

Its major shortcoming was the absence of grassy elevations for spectators, and easy access for them to other parts of the track. IRP is a dual purpose facility: dragstrip, road course, 5/8 oval. The road course never paid its own way. The dragstrip is still the site of the NHRA's season ender, the US Nationals. The oval has been improved with suites and is a well-used stock car and open wheel venue. The road course has become nearly unusable as it is in very poor repair. The T15 where you shot the great photos has become virtually enclosed by concrete walls.
The last road racing events of much spectator note occurred in the early 2000s when the VSCDA ran several vintage events. They were a financial and spectator bust.

As I recall, the south end of the circuit actually ran through what normally was a parking lot. I have been told that it was a dangerous area, and the layout was a factor in the fatal crashes of Jim Brouk and Doug Vermeer. True or not, I cannot say.

The SCCA removed its approval of the track a few years ago; probably related to what you say about the poor state of the road course.
Tom

[RA Historian]

Its major shortcoming was the absence of grassy elevations for spectators, and easy access for them to other parts of the track. IRP is a dual purpose facility: dragstrip, road course, 5/8 oval. The road course never paid its own way. The dragstrip is still the site of the NHRA's season ender, the US Nationals. The oval has been improved with suites and is a well-used stock car and open wheel venue. The road course has become nearly unusable as it is in very poor repair. The T15 where you shot the great photos has become virtually enclosed by concrete walls.
The last road racing events of much spectator note occurred in the early 2000s when the VSCDA ran several vintage events. They were a financial and spectator bust.

As I recall, the south end of the circuit actually ran through what normally was a parking lot. I have been told that it was a dangerous area, and the layout was a factor in the fatal crashes of Jim Brouk and Doug Vermeer. True or not, I cannot say.

The SCCA removed its approval of the track a few years ago; probably related to what you say about the poor state of the road course.
Tom

[lanciaman]

As I recall, the south end of the circuit actually ran through what normally was a parking lot. I have been told that it was a dangerous area, and the layout was a factor in the fatal crashes of Jim Brouk and Doug Vermeer. True or not, I cannot say.

The SCCA removed its approval of the track a few years ago; probably related to what you say about the poor state of the road course.
Tom

Tom, yes, the south end, T6/T8--was dangerous, a wide open undefined area that was the staging area for the drag racers, sometimes hundreds of them. I was stooging around toward the end of an SCCA national-- 1973 IIRC-- with a broken front shock on my MGA when the two leaders of a C Sedan race came in my mirrors. I waved them to the left and began turning in to the right and was dealt a series of mighty whallops on the right by Bruce Nesbitt in his Mini, the underside of which momentarily visited me in the cockpit. I felt it was my fault and apologized to Nesbitt. My car was kaput. We were racing through a vast parking lot without a defined line and things happened. But the drag racing contingent had priority at IRP. The track was bought a couple decades ago by NHRA-- my how time flies-- and in 1999 just for grins I asked one of their people how much I could buy it for with proper backing, and was told $40 million. I note this without comment.

The late great Tom Binford, CEO of DA Lubricants and great chief steward of the Indy 500, was one of the founders of IRP.

[grandprix61]

Brian comes thru again. I did most of the shooting around #15. Good spot to get up on that tower. thanks. To bad the road course went away. Ron

[grandprix61]

Great photos. Nice shot of Billy Foster.

http://www.classicvi...-1025-full.html

Vince H. (Victoria, BC, Canada)

Thanks Vince. I wondered who that driver was. Ron