Indy 500 Memories: My Aunt's Prediction By Dick Smith©1996 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc. Exclusive to SpeedCenter The very first time I went to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it was the direct result of my Uncle, after whom I was named, badgering my father into taking me along. I was 5 years old. My Uncle, who then lived in California, had arranged a business trip back to the Midwest in May. I was to find out that he did this every 5 years or so just to get out to the track (Indy) once again. Growing up in Indianapolis seemed to bring to my Uncle a sense of ownership about IMS as it later did to me. Even though he had long since moved to the Left Coast, he avidly soaked up any information that he could get out there in the papers. In addition, he had imparted to my Aunt, a California native, a big interest in the 500. She seems to know more of the drivers and teams than he cared to learn. To the best of my knowledge, they have not missed listening to a radio broadcast of the race, nor later, a TV broadcast in my lifetime. Yet, I don't think that that my Aunt ever attended the race itself, and I am unaware that either of them attended any other automobile race, of any kind, in their life! Today, they are in their 80's. That day back in 1950 I could hear my Uncle working on my Dad. "About time the boy got out to see the track," he was saying. I was well aware of the 500 even at age 5. That's what growing up in Indianapolis will do for you. Fortunately, I got to tag along that day. It was the last weekend of Qualifications, a Saturday. We sat in the Paddock close to the start/finish line about mid way up. Despite all my excitement, what I remember most about the day is the way I would jump every time one of the cars came roaring by at perhaps 130 mph. Five-year-olds just aren't use to such loud noises! Of course, these were full boat Offy's and such, and a muffling turbocharger would not make it's appearance at Indy for another two years. My Dad and Uncle got a kick out of it. I didn't think it was funny. Whatever the effect on me, it started a life-time love affair with the 500. About 17 years later, we drove down from college and I took my wife (then just a date) to the track on the last day of Qualifications in 1967. She jumped every time a car came past just like I had years before. I thought it was funny. She never developed the same love as I did, but we're still married today and she tolerates my behavior each May. Over the years I got to visit the track several times with my Dad and Uncle on his visits. But more often due to the distance, I talk to them by phone and the subject of "The Race" always comes up during the Spring. I know that when I call them this week, my Uncle will ask if I'm going back for the race. My Aunt will go on and say something like "I hope those Andretti's have better luck this year. I feel so sorry for them". Or perhaps "The Unser boys sure do good back there". I'll probably just agree with her. See, I don't want to get into all of that........ |