I posted this short story on S2kCA as they are organizing an S2000 event at Indy. Although their event is the GP, I thought they might enjoy a history lesson from an old fart from back in the day when Qualifying at Indy was truly, truly something special.

Breaking 200 mph at Indy.

45 seconds flat. It was a lap time that, in the late 1960s, seemed impossible. That

 

I saw Mauricio Gugelman (Big Mo) pop a 242+ in practice and Gil de Ferran (the Professor) pop a 241+ in qualifying, the fastest timed closed course lap in world history, at California Speedway -- @ 2.0 miles, a shorter course than Indy. It was like your eyes were assaulting your brain with information it was struggling to process.

 

Hi George

 

Dave,

I always enjoy reading your post as you are a true "Motorhead" that is so well versed in the history of the sport as well.

If I may, for others that may have NO CONCEPT of just how fast that really is. May I add the average numbers around the Monster Mile at Dover, DE. I have not yet done this. But I find it interesting that the average lap time around the Monster Mile for people that take the challenge is a bit over sixty miles per hour average. My Sister-in-Law's Neice's husband that is a motor head ran it with 88 MPH avergage lap times. Granted this is a one mile track but to put it in perspective the pros run almost 120 MPH laps around it.

 

Nice write, dlq04!

 

What a great reminder of the history and tradition of the Indy 500.
I'm going to my first this year.
Taking the son, brother and father as a treat for all the times Dad took me to movie theatre's that used to broadcast the 500 live.
Nothing like listening to Chris Econamackey (sp).

 

Thanks Matt. It seems like it has always been in my blood. Several years before I was old enough for a driver's permit I would hitch-hike some 10 miles or more out of town every Saturday night to watch quarter mile racing on dirt. From those early days I then took the quantum leap to watching racing at LeMans.

 

Dave - A little more racing trivia
As you probably know Carl Fisher built the Indianapolis Speedway in 1909.
In 1925 he was developing Miami Beach and envisioned the area to become the winter racing capital of the world. He built a 1-1/4 mile board track with 50 degree banking in the turns. It required a speed of atleast 110 mph just to keep from sliding off. In 1926 the first and only race was held and Ralph Hepburn won the pole with a speed of 141.90 driving a Miller straight 8. Later that year a hurricane hit and destroyed the track. Actually Miami Beach never recovered its growth again until after WW2. If you have seen Daytona which is 32 degee banking it is hard to imagine 50 degree banking.

 

Jim, 50 degrees is like motorcycles in a barrel! Monster motors on skinny tires - wild and crazy. I've walked up Daytona (back in the day when they raced sportscars there) and it is something to behold; you can never fully appreciate it from TV.

 

Cool story Dave.

The Indy 500 and the Monaco GP are the only races I remember watching as a kid on ABC. The 70's were a cool time for open wheel cars with the development of ground effects.

I have hardly watched a 500 after the IRL took over.