Notebook: Donald Davidson’s Indy 500 History Class - Week 2

Week two of Donald Davidson’s Indy 500 History class was held in the Brickyard Pavilion last Tuesday night. After covering a few topics while waiting for some A/V problems to get sorted out, the class kicked off with some great film footage of the first 500 mile race in 1911. It’s always amazing to compare the state of the facility and the general chaos of that first race with the highly refined, choreographed event we all enjoy today. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to attend an event so unique and so grand by today’s standards.

Some of the topics covered during the evening included:

• The first 500 mile race, the entries, race formation, and first use of a pace car and rolling start.
• First race winner Ray Harroun, and the development of the rear-view mirror.
• Early ownership of the Speedway, exit of Frank Wheeler, Carl Fisher’s involvement with the development of Miami Beach, Eddie Rickenbacker’s period of ownership through 1945, and the purchase of the track in 1946 by Tony Hulman, with operation by Wilbur Shaw through 1954.

Bonus time covered the following:

• History of Indy 500 radio and TV broadcasts, and feature films about the race or filmed at the Speedway.
• The Marchesi brothers, their involvement in USAC, Indy, and promotion of the Milwaukee Mile.
• History of the Infield Care Center and connection with Methodist Hospital.
• Cars that ran or attempted to run with #13, and other racing superstitions such as green cars, peanuts, etc.
• History of “Happy Hour”.

More to come next week!