The summer of 2011 was action packed this year. Lots of stuff going on. It started early and kept going right into the fall. As many of you know I have a soft spot for the Indy 500. 2011 was the 100th anniversary of the race. The speedway held a festival on the opening week of the track at the beginning of the month of May. There was a special car show that included 100 hand picked restored cars. This was a very special show as there was some cars there that i never had even seen before as well as some VERY rare pieces like a tucker and a 37 lincoln with a lincoln v-12 flathead. The race cars is what stole the show. Again hand picked from each "era" of Indy. 1911-1941, 1946-1963, 1964-1986. The cars where then led out to the track in the afternoon. The cars ran on the speedway with the pace car. They didn't run at race speed but many of the cars ran at right around 100. Many of these cars will not even run much slower than that. My dad and i where there as guest of an oral surgeon my dad became aqainted with recently. He has Emerson Fittipaldi's 86 March. His car was part of the guest list. When we walked out onto pit road, i can't even describe to you what that was like. My Dad and I where on the racer side of the fence at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Although the track has changed somewhat in it's 110 year existence it still has a mystic that i don't think can compare to much else. There is NOTHING like hearing a race engine run down the front straight at Indy. Check out the pictures. Many of these cars are the real thing and are not modernized. One of my favorites was the #48 Novi Grooved Piston Special. This car killed or crippled every driver that got in it and started what is refered to as the "Novi Curse" although Novi's held speed records and many poles at indy from the 40's -70's they never won a 500 and almost never finished the race. We spent a great day and has become one my favorite things i've got to do in a long time. More of the best of 2011 next week.
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