40 replies to this topic

[fbarrett]

Friends:

Another piece of racing history is about to be lost. Here's a press release from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

For Immediate Release

BRICKYARD CROSSING INN CLOSES IMMEDIATELY; NEW HOTEL POSSIBLE IN FUTURE

Restaurant, pub, conference space, Golf Shop to remain open

INDIANAPOLIS, Monday, Dec. 15, 2008 – Brickyard Crossing Inn will close immediately and be razed in a few months, said Joie Chitwood, president and chief operating officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation. The motel was built in 1963 on the eastern edge of the IMS grounds. It has 96 rooms.

“To bring the motel up to the standards and quality of what guests expect at the Speedway would require significant capital expenditures,” Chitwood said. “After reviewing the alternatives, we have decided to discontinue its operation.”

Plans are being made for the demolition of the motel buildings. Use of the space after the removal of the motel has not been determined, Chitwood said.

“IMS has been looking at alternatives to the future of the motel property for several years, including constructing a new hotel,” Chitwood said. “We continue to evaluate how a new hotel operation on Speedway property might fit in with the planned redevelopment of the Town of Speedway.

“To date, we have reviewed proposals from several groups and have met with some of these firms. We’re farther along than we’ve ever been in the process to build a new hotel at IMS.”

The closure of the motel will not affect the main building of Brickyard Crossing, which is home to a public restaurant, the Flag Room pub, conference space and the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course Golf Shop. All will continue operation. Closure of the motel involves the termination of 15 permanent employees.

The opening of the motel 45 years ago filled a void in lodging on the near-west side of Indianapolis and before the growth associated with Interstate 465. Like the Speedway, the Brickyard Crossing Inn has famous history. Besides being the home for several Indianapolis 500 drivers and owners during the month of May, scenes from Paul Newman’s movie “Winning” were filmed in rooms of the motel. And NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon celebrated his victory in the inaugural Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in 1994 by eating a pizza in his room at the motel.

…IMSC2008-029…

Media Contacts: Ron Green, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, (317) 492-6780, rgreen@brickyard.com
Paul Kelly, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, (315) 673-0184, pkelly@brickyard.com
World Wide Web: http://www.indianapo...torspeedway.com


Whenever I stayed there, I wondered who had spent time in my room. The feeling was almost eerie, and the place reeked of history. There must be plenty of stories that could never appear in a press release!

Frank

[HistoricMustang]

Henry

[eurocardoc]

story was that you needed for someone to die before a room would open up during the month of May. Reservations were kept in the family much as the race tickets were/are.

of course that was back in the glory days of the 500.

[Henri Greuter]

I wonder how many people really care about having top facilities etc.
I would be most happy to stay for a night (or more as it is)
Only because of what it is.....



Henri

[Terry Walker]

The motel courtesy Street View.

[Flat Black]

Bloody hell. I was hoping to get an opportunity to stay in that motel someday.

Oh well, we can't stand in the way of "progress" now, can we?

[stevewf1]

I think the Beatles stayed there in the 60s (?)

[McGuire]

Originally posted by Flat Black
Bloody hell. I was hoping to get an opportunity to stay in that motel someday.

Oh well, we can't stand in the way of "progress" now, can we?

The motel was just a motel, and not a very good one by contemporary standards. Spotless, but think Holiday Inn circa 1963: Concrete block walls and thin carpeting, and once in your room you could be anywhere, to be honest. The place to go when you are in Indy is the Brickyard Crossing Inn, the adjacent restaurant that is still in operation.

Most every day of the year you will find Speedway personalities there at breakfast time, and in the off-seaon they usually have time to talk. If you are lucky you may even see AJ tucking into his morning meal, which is a memorable sight in itself. There is usually a car from the Hall of Fame museum parked in the lobby... the black and white Packard Cable FWD Miller was there for a few years.

[Henri Greuter]

Originally posted by McGuire


The motel was just a motel, and not a very good one by contemporary standards. Spotless, but think Holiday Inn circa 1963: Concrete block walls and thin carpeting, and once in your room you could be anywhere, to be honest. The place to go when you are in Indy is the Brickyard Crossing Inn, the adjacent restaurant that is still in operation.

Most every day of the year you will find Speedway personalities there at breakfast time, and in the off-seaon they usually have time to talk. If you are lucky you may even see AJ tucking into his morning meal, which is a memorable sight in itself. There is usually a car from the Hall of Fame museum parked in the lobby... the black and white Packard Cable FWD Miller was there for a few years.

Aboput the car on esxpsition in the hall, I remember I was knocked out of my shoes twice because of the car on display.

The first time when the Hurtubise Novi was there to see (at last I got to see that one), second time when the 1964 Eddie Sachs car was on display. And since I've understood that this car contains a lot of the real parts on that car....."

But them, woho were the oned killed in the noc-out hose clamp spcl..... (1941 winner proudly displayed....)

Henri

[fines]

Walt Brown.

[HDonaldCapps]

"Posh" is not among the words that immediately spring to mind when considering the motel. To paraphrase Bill, it was 1963 in amber, only it was 2008. The restaurant is something of a different story, mostly for the reasons that Bill mentions, those who drop by to see and be seen. The food can also be pretty good, but visits over the years have shown that it does tend to rise and fall with who is in the kitchen.

[Bob Riebe]

Originally posted by Flat Black
Bloody hell. I was hoping to get an opportunity to stay in that motel someday.

Oh well, we can't stand in the way of "progress" now, can we?

Hmmm, progress, hmmm.

In my home town, EVERY significant building (4 of them), i.e. large building of rock or brick block construction, is now a parking lot.

Progress is overated, PERIOD, on its BEST day.

I had wanted to stay there also; at least I got to stay at the old Motel 6 that once was across the street from the Speedway years ago.

[Bob Riebe]

Originally posted by Henri Greuter
I wonder how many people really care about having top facilities etc.
I would be most happy to stay for a night (or more as it is)
Only because of what it is.....
Henri

BRAVO-BRAVO, I agree with you completely.

When I travel, history or not, I search out the lowest price motel I can find. (I have NEVER staryed in an el-cheapo motel that was not clean. All I do is sleep there,so to pay big bucks for a bed is asinine.)

IF it has a HISTORY, that just makes it BETTER yet.
Bob

[fbarrett]

Friends:

Granted, the Speedway Motel was no Taj Mahal. If you want luxury in Indianapolis, go to the Canterbury Inn downtown. I was lucky enough to stay there (on someone else's dollar) during the first Indy GP and spotted Bernie and Flavio having breakfast in the restaurant. Later, Ross Brawn and Jackie Stewart were seen in the lobby. The Speedway was a lot more down to earth, but somehow it had a much more appropriate atmosphere.

Frank

[HistoricMustang]

This topic has always facinated me so perhaps it can be expanded by re-visiting this thread. Having stayed at a lot of these types of venues from Sebring to Watkins Glen, while "Historic" racing, I just simply love to hear these stories of old gathering places.

Henry

http://forums.autosp...ce headquarters

[Lotus23]

Posts #9 and 10: '41 winner, Noc-Out Hose Clamp Special.

Walt Brown: Wasn't that at Williams Grove on Black Sunday?

(I'm away from my references, but think that's correct.)

[fines]

Yep, that is corretto...




The car earlier that day...

[McGuire]

It appears the Speedway Corp/Hulman Co. is waiting for plans for area redevelopment to firm up before finalizing their plans for the new hotel. I don't know exactly why the old motel could not remain in operation until then. Perhaps a new roof or other major repair was required that could not be justified when they know the building is coming down soon. It was only 96 rooms so its loss does not present a particular hardship for race teams, while the rest of the year it was barely occupied -- possibly because civilian lodgers would find it so dated.

It's actually a pretty good location for non-race lodgers, halfway between the airport and downtown. I've always found it convenient, but then maybe I just like driving past those big silver grandstands. It never fails to give me a thrill no matter what time of year.

I seem to recall there was a plan going around a few years ago for a new hotel across 16th street with an overhead enclosed glass walkway to the track. That would be nice I think, and also allow a much larger facility with more rooms.

[lotuspoweredbyford]

I always wanted to stay there, and finally did in 2003, just to say I did.

Now I live like 2 miles from there !!!

[Bob Riebe]

Originally posted by McGuire
It was only 96 rooms so its loss does not present a particular hardship for race teams, while the rest of the year it was barely occupied -- possibly because civilian lodgers would find it so dated.

Dated Schmated, you sleep in it and feel the what hundreds who make Indy great would have experienced.

I miss the motels with the vibrating beds, and built-in non-el-cheapo radio systems.

[jonnyspa27]

Yes I was a little sad to read that today. I've stayed there a few times and had the same feelings you had. Especially since I did the Discovery Channel 'Race 2 Replace' in '06. Had a small thrill of racing on the Speedway, thought a bit about drivers who may have stayed in my room in the past. Even thought of Frank Capua! This year my g/f and I stayed there for Bubble Day, gorgeous sunny morning, bit of a breeze outside... We ate breakfast in the hotel restaurant, low and behold at the other side of the room was AJ having breakfast with some of his team! That will probably the biggest memory from my stays there.

[lanciaman]

The Flag Room lounge is the jewel of the whole facility. It is the smallish bar/grill featured at the end of "Winning," though it has been rejiggered since the movie. Good food reasonably priced and you never know who will walk in.

AND it is only about 300 yards from the 2nd turn stands. You can take a break from sitting in the sun during the race and retire to the Flag Room (and watch the race on the IMS closed circuit network), enjoy cold suds and return to your seat if so moved. For various reasons my wife and I opted to be in the Flag Room for the start of the USGP a few years ago; the large windows were open, the TV was on, and as it became apparent the USGP was going to be a non-starter (Michelin having forgot to bring tires suitable to the Speedway surface) one could clearly hear a roar of rage rising from the stands. I thought "riot!"

To be on the safe side, the manager of the Brickyard, a long-time, dedicated and professional IMS employee, took himself to the front doors with key, in case he needed to block troublemakers. The Flag Room quickly filled with angry fans seeking alcohol, collectively muttering "Eff Bernie and the effen F1 bunch."

I'm sorry to see the motel go. I've stayed in it. As did everyone else connected with the 500. And if the walls could talk. But it was too small and too old to be profitable, perpetually booked though it might be in May. (I remember one day in April long ago seeing an unaccompanied race car on a modest trailer parked outside the motel; it was a Lola T70 in Penske livery with either Unser's name or Roger McCluskey's painted on it-- can't remember; I thought it the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.)

A lot of late night activities began and ended at the Flag Room. The White Front was just down the street. Not too far for reverse gear racing....

[Bob Riebe]

Slightly OT; there was a small motel that I drove by dozens of times a year on a hill outside of a small town (few hundred people).
The Motel ALWAYS had customer cars parked in front of it.
It was sold, torn down, and and now for the past half-dozen years or so it is an empty spot on top of a hill, that is used for nothing.
That motel was probably as old as I am.
This kind of crap which is getting more and more common in Minnesota, which is know for destroying rather than restoring.
Sad.
Bob

[Buford]

In Las Vegas - it is done on a larger scale and higher level. Both the Stardust and Frontier Casinos torn down a year or so ago to make way for bigger better fancier resorts for the high rollers. They were both making money. Making millions a month for their owners. But they wanted more - that was chump change for the value of the location. They were dated and a little worn - in Las Vegas 20 years old is dated and 30 years is worn out. Nobody wants to be a middle income resort anymore.

So they blew them up with grandiose plans for 7 billion dollar palaces in their places. One was actually underway and the original construction skeletons are in place... an eyesore that will sit for years instead of the Stardust that was there and functioning... before the crash. Now those properties are sitting idle. Instead of a few measly million a month profit, and open going concerns employing hundreds of people, they are empty parking lots and abandoned construction. They could still be putting money in people's pockets at this very moment. They were paid for. But they were old and icky. So like the Speedway Motel - had to be sacrificed to hope for the future. But seriously with management by Tony George is there any actual hope for the future? Then again how smart were the new owners of the Stardust and the Frontier?

[Pils1989]

There is always the alternative of staying at Seneca Lodge and the food is delicious. Just avoid the cabins.

[HDonaldCapps]

We have stayed at the Speedway motel on a number of occasions during our visits to the area to see relatives. We were always surprised how low the occupancy rate seemed to be during the rest of the year. As I wrote earlier, it was not posh, but certainly quite adequate -- a very good 1963 motel, clean, basic -- and the restaurant tended to be good to very good. Our son loved the idea of thinking about who might have stayed in our room. That alone made it worth doing.

Originally posted by Pils1989
There is always the alternative of staying at Seneca Lodge and the food is delicious. Just avoid the cabins.

Another alternative is to stay at a B&B -- we usually stay at the Echoes of the Glen right there on Franklin and within walking distance of the IMRRC -- and eat at the Seneca Lodge. Ditto with the Glen Motor Inn Motel. I usually try to get at least one meal at each place if I am there for any length of time -- both restaurants are very good, especially when dining with friends, the view of Seneca Lake from the Glen motel being great. But, you really need to have stayed at least once at either -- if not both -- places. But, heed the advice to avoid the cabins at the Lodge. Once is usually adventure enough.

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by Pils1989
There is always the alternative of staying at Seneca Lodge and the food is delicious. Just avoid the cabins.

Hi Antoine!

Did you "duck" at the incoming arrows?

Henry

[Pils1989]

Hello Henri and Don,

I haven't had the opportunity to try the other motels or B&Bs in Watkins-Glen but, somehow, I feel a bit like at home at the Lodge (Having the bar tender and the ladies at the desk remembering me, the cooking, etc.) I've already been there three times and never got an arrow shot at me, yet:) Also there is a subtile and discreet motor sport theme which isn't over the top as in other places.
You have also the trailers with racing cars on them, arriving late in the night to find a room.

I guess it's normal to see the one in Indy closing knowing how some contemporary sport people wants something more... err shiny and modern.

Apparently the Pit hotel (?) at Zolder is also old school like Seneca Lodge.

[Barry Boor]

Pardon the ignorance of this Limey but is this the building that features regularly in the Paul Newman film, 'Winning'? It looks like it in Terry's ground level view.

If so, it will live on forever.

[Henri Greuter]

In 1989 I had the following experience at the Motel.

I was still working on gathering data for the Novi books and there was something I had to verify with Mario Andretti if I ever had the chance to talk with him.

Wednesday before the race, my partner George Peters and I walked on the Motel area and we spotten Mario standing on the balcony in front of a room.
We made contact with him and asked if he had a bit of time for us. Very reluctantly he invited us to come upstairs. When we got there he had a pen in his hand for the autograph....
We explained that we came for something else and had a few questions.

Now that was in 1989, the race before Indy had been Long Beach where Al Jr. had won after knocking Mario off the track and almost all the time when people interviewd Mario, that incident came up. You could see he was bored with it.
But then we started to tell that we were dealing with the Novi and had heard some rumors in which he was involved. We talked about it and got what we wanted to know. Then he asked where I came from because of my accent. I told him I was from the Netherlands and had seen him race at Zandvoort and in F1 and how I was impressed when he won the pole at Monza 1982 in a car he hardly knew.
By then it began to rain and the wind blew the rain onto us.
But Mario began to talk about that Monza experience. I pushed my luck and (given my interest for F1) also asked him about his experiences with the 4WD Lotus F1 cars compared with the Indy Lotus he drove in 1969.
mario kept on talking and talking. The lone thing he didn't do was invite us within the room to stay dry.
But it was easy to see that he enjoyed talking about experiences long gone by, almost forgotten, but interesting times and nothing to do with Al Jr and Long Beach.
Some 15 minutes later, having talked with mario for almost half an hour, when we left we were soaked, so was Mario but not s single moment he gave the impression that it annoyed him to get wet because of having such a good time to talk about the happy past.
I forgot to ask for an autograph on whatever piece of paper I had with me!
But instead of that I had a priceless experience: Seeing Mario get soaked and enjoy himself....

And that happened at the balcony of the IMS Motel....


Henri

[Flat Black]

Originally posted by Buford
In Las Vegas - it is done on a larger scale and higher level. Both the Stardust and Frontier Casinos torn down a year or so ago to make way for bigger better fancier resorts for the high rollers. They were both making money. Making millions a month for their owners. But they wanted more - that was chump change for the value of the location. They were dated and a little worn - in Las Vegas 20 years old is dated and 30 years is worn out. Nobody wants to be a middle income resort anymore.

So they blew them up with grandiose plans for 7 billion dollar palaces in their places. One was actually underway and the original construction skeletons are in place... an eyesore that will sit for years instead of the Stardust that was there and functioning... before the crash. Now those properties are sitting idle. Instead of a few measly million a month profit, and open going concerns employing hundreds of people, they are empty parking lots and abandoned construction. They could still be putting money in people's pockets at this very moment. They were paid for. But they were old and icky. So like the Speedway Motel - had to be sacrificed to hope for the future. But seriously with management by Tony George is there any actual hope for the future? Then again how smart were the new owners of the Stardust and the Frontier?

The loss of what's known as "googie" architecture in classical old Las Vegas is one of the great tragedies in America's architectural history. The Stardust, the Frontier, Dunes, and the list goes on and on. Those were matchless examples of mid-century architecture and now they're gone, never to be replaced. Very sad.

Now I don't know if the Speedway Motel had any architectural value or not, but it was consigned to the scrapheap by the same phenomenon which is obliterating old Las Vegas.

I'm a capitalist, but it does have its downsides.

[Lotus23]

Buford, I agree with you.

But I suppose to someone "it seemed like a good idea at the time".

I just think it's too bad that so many folks have their focus on the Almighty Dollar to the detriment of all else.

[Russ Snyder]

Originally posted by stevewf1
I think the Beatles stayed there in the 60s (?)

Steve - I believe so. This would have been around September 1964.

Rumors had it that they were given a first hand tour of the speedway (cadillac round the course?). They played at the Indiana Fairgrounds and A good quality record bootleg I have of them recorded off the soundboard exists....as well as video shot by a local newsmedia. You can see them on YOUTUBE... Gems like "If I fell" live were almost impossible to do with 17,000 screaming kids, but they pulled it off....somehow.

Henri - nice Mario story. I lived in Bethlehem PA years ago and I got too meet him and Michael at an opening of an Andretti/Hanna carwash on Route 191 in their hometown of Nazareth Pa. They were both very down to earth and nice to fans if memory serves correct.

[fbarrett]

Friends:

Does anyone know if the hotel under the grandstands at Hockenheim (opposite the pits) is still open? I stayed there once, in about 1986.

Frank

[Phil Rainford]

In this month's Motor Sport (March issue) Nigel Roebuck reminisces about the Motel. He including stories on Lotus, the filming of “Winning “and an in depth piece on the Beatles Concert and their overnight stay.

Kind regards

Phil

[stevewf1]

Originally posted by Russ Snyder
Steve - I believe so. This would have been around September 1964.

Rumors had it that they were given a first hand tour of the speedway (cadillac round the course?). They played at the Indiana Fairgrounds and A good quality record bootleg I have of them recorded off the soundboard exists....as well as video shot by a local newsmedia. You can see them on YOUTUBE... Gems like "If I fell" live were almost impossible to do with 17,000 screaming kids, but they pulled it off....somehow.

I was 14 (and living a mile east of IMS) when the Beatles hit the scene here in the USA. Boy, did that change everything in terms of the pop music culture here... I never made it to one of their concerts but I sure bought all of their records back then.

[Russ Snyder]

Originally posted by stevewf1


I was 14 (and living a mile east of IMS) when the Beatles hit the scene here in the USA. Boy, did that change everything in terms of the pop music culture here... I never made it to one of their concerts but I sure bought all of their records back then.

I looked into one of my Beatles books (Beatles Live! from 1986 by Mark Lewisohn for anyone whom is interested) and the date given was September 3rd 1964 @ Indy State Fairgrounds. I do not know if the alleged ride round Indy started George Harrision with his love of motor racing, but by the 1970's, he was immersed in GP racing and went to most events. Twas friends with Jackie Stewart, whom appeared in his 1979 Video for the song "Faster", which was dedicated to GP racers and racing at the time.

[fbarrett]

Friends:

The latest AutoWeek (now bi-weakly) just arrived with a note about the Speedway Motel closing with a photo of a glum-looking Roger Penske captioned, "Where am I going to stay now?"

Frank

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by Russ Snyder
I do not know if the alleged ride round Indy started George Harrision with his love of motor racing, but by the 1970's, he was immersed in GP racing and went to most events. Twas friends with Jackie Stewart, whom appeared in his 1979 Video for the song "Faster", which was dedicated to GP racers and racing at the time.

Uh no...

George was a big motor racing fan years earlier. He attended every major race at nearby Aintree, riding the train to the circuit. There was a great article someone linked, IIRC, in a thread here at TNF where George talked about his interest and it's beginnings. He originally was going to motorcycle races, but discovered the British Grand Prix was going to be at Aintree, so he went to it as well and from then on was a regular.

Sorry I couldn't find the link, it is well worth searching for.

[PCC]

George Harrison, from I, Me, Mine:

"I remember the early days of the BRM - a patriotic thing, and it won a lot of races. As a kid, I used to write away and get photographs of all of them. I got the BRM with the sixteen cylinder engine in front, and the Connaught, Vanwall, Ferrari, and Maserati; this was before they had rear engine cars. Then I lost touch with that for a while because I got into guitars, yet during the sixties, all the way through, I was aware of who the world champion was, and most particularly when Jackie Stewart was on his way to being champion at the end of the sixties, because it was interesting to see who in sport grew long hair."

[Russ Snyder]

Originally posted by PCC
George Harrison, from I, Me, Mine:

"I remember the early days of the BRM - a patriotic thing, and it won a lot of races. As a kid, I used to write away and get photographs of all of them. I got the BRM with the sixteen cylinder engine in front, and the Connaught, Vanwall, Ferrari, and Maserati; this was before they had rear engine cars. Then I lost touch with that for a while because I got into guitars, yet during the sixties, all the way through, I was aware of who the world champion was, and most particularly when Jackie Stewart was on his way to being champion at the end of the sixties, because it was interesting to see who in sport grew long hair."

Thanks PCC.

Thats 1 book I never got, released in early 1980. John Lennon was not fond of it, mentioning in one of his last interviews: "in it, George talks about every 2 bit sax player he ever played with, but no mention of me"....

so, if the alleged trip around the speedway did happen in early Sept 64, one wonders if George took the wheel? Its one of those Beatles stories that I would like to see come to light, unlike the Paul Mccartney almost arrested story in Minneapolis August 1965 for having a 13 year old in his room! Mccartney said she looked 18, and who could blame him! Oh those Beatles were not so innocent as compared to those Rolling Stones as the press would lead us to believe in those days!