The Glory Days of Indy

John Denman · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:17 pm Post subject: The Glory Days of Indy

An old friend of mine sent me a short story that had about a dozen photos attached from the 1968 Indy 500. Having been there from 64-73 some really marvelous memories resurfaced. Most of the pics were from inside the Gasoline Alley garages with various details of different cars.

This was the second year of the Granatelli's turbines this time teamed with Chapman's Lotuses.

The field had a mix of 2WD and 4WD cars.

There were Ford V8's, Offenhausers, Stock Blocks, and the P&W St6 Turbines.

At least a dozen different chassis.

There were drivers who only raced at Indy.

Those were indeed the Glory Days of Indy. I miss them, is anyone else old as dirt miss them too?
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bo rougeou · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 443

forward it.

Greg Wright · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:23 am Post subject:

Yep!!
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Jim Derrig · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:34 am Post subject:

Regarding variety in the field, wasn't 1968 the last year that a front-engined roadster made the field? There was some die-hard front engine guy (Jim Hurtibris or something like that) who squeaked into the back row.

Scott Heavin · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:41 am Post subject:

Just got my 2010 Indy tickets in the mail this morning.

Coolest thing? The photo of Helio with the milk bottle (since I engrave the milk bottle!).

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Greg Wright · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:44 am Post subject:

Tim Doll · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:37 am Post subject:

I think the 1968 Lotus Turbine was one of the most beautiful Indy cars of all time - that wedge shape just seemed to be perfect.

I have a plastic model of one sitting on my mantle at home. The body can be removed and you can look at the wonderfully simple layout of the hardware.

Tim
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joseph hollinger · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 11:38 am Post subject:

I know it's expensive, but you fans of the glory years should really check out this book:

http://www.bullpublishing.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=90
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Brian Mead · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 12:09 pm Post subject:

I have somewhere a b/w polaroid snapshot of the 68 Lotus turbine sitting in the garage at the old gasoline alley. I think it's the one Mike Spence was killed in. We hit the traffice jam for the first day of qualifying on the southeast side of Indy coming down off of I-69. Kids would walk between the cars hawking papers. Four hours to get into the infield. For qualifying.
Of course, it rained. Absolute madness, the things you do when your young.

Chad Stapleton · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 4403

By curtsey of : http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/2036/Lotus-56.html

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Mike Burris · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 7:53 pm Post subject:

Here's a link to Parnelli Jones' personal race car collection that he has at his "office" in Torrance, CA. He and his family are old family friends of the Burris' and every year around the 4th of July he has a barbrque at the office and invites his and Page's and PJ's racing friends to come hang out. It's quite a collection and Parnelli has told me on several occasions that he has had offers from the Indy museaum for manyof his cars. Hope you enjoy!
Mike

http://picasaweb.google.com/burrisracing/ParnelliS?authkey=Gv1sRgCLaSmoK77f3G4wE

Dan Schlosser · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:59 pm Post subject:

Thanks Mike - very cool!

Love the Joe Leonard Samsonite car - always was one of my favorites. Amazing what one or two spots at Indy would have done for Leonard's legacy - he'd be mentioned with Unser, Mears, Johncock, Rutherford, et al.

Any chance you knew Charlie Leffler from hanging around the shop back in the eighties I'd guess? He and my Dad were best friends long before he settled in California and the family got in to racing.

Mike Burris · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 9:44 am Post subject:

Dan I don't recall a Charlie Leffler. Jason Leffler (any relation?) of USAC and NASCAR fame worked for Parnelli when he was a teen and grew up in that area but that is about it for the Lefflers that I know of.

My favorite era was the 60's with all the innovation in engines and chassis. Cars like the ones that Mickey Thompson and Smokey Yunik fielded, the turbines, super charged and turbos and a bunch of others. The stuff they have to day has no personality and for the most part neither do the drivers! Very Happy

Bob Baldwin jr · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 3579

Mike B : Fantistic pictures THANKS for sharing. Brings back lots of memories Smile

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Bob Ogden · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 11:18 am Post subject: