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7/1/20, 9:56 PM   #21
RACrappieman
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackduce View Post
B99 Hulman Classic didn't start until 1971.


Never went to the Hulman Classic.
Returned from Vietnam and found a job building Indy Cars. Working day and night. Indy cars for GB, Mclreath. Mclusky, Rutherford,
Sessions, & Grim. So I missed the starting years of Hulman Classic.
I was 60 miles away.

Lynn

Thank you for your service. I’m glad you made it home.
 
7/1/20, 10:18 PM   #22
mc/rider
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Screaming outta 4,wheels up
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7/2/20, 10:20 PM   #23
ronmil
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackduce View Post
B99 Hulman Classic didn't start until 1971.


Never went to the Hulman Classic.
Returned from Vietnam and found a job building Indy Cars. Working day and night. Indy cars for GB, Mclreath. Mclusky, Rutherford,
Sessions, & Grim. So I missed the starting years of Hulman Classic.
I was 60 miles away.

Lynn
I enjoyed watching all of those gentlemen race. In my mind that was the Golden Era.
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7/2/20, 11:15 PM   #24
Re: Hulman VS National’s
Grocery Guy
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It's been interesting reading stories about these two races. Clearly there are more experts on this topic than myself. What strikes me was how Knoxville took the Nationals and made a huge event out of it. Their track was clearly modernized, a week long list of area events, a yearly downtown parade and a welcome race fans attitude is laid out by the city.

Did Terre Haute ever have any city wide events leading up to the Hulman? I do remember the rumors of the Action Track & fairgrounds almost being sold for development. After attending last night, it looks like very few dollars have been invested in the track in recent years. The PA system was hard to hear, lighting poor and the facility just needs an investment. Sad to see for a track with so much history. Seems like many fairgrounds face these same issues.
 
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7/3/20, 12:07 AM   #25
openwheelfan1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grocery Guy View Post
It's been interesting reading stories about these two races. Clearly there are more experts on this topic than myself. What strikes me was how Knoxville took the Nationals and made a huge event out of it. Their track was clearly modernized, a week long list of area events, a yearly downtown parade and a welcome race fans attitude is laid out by the city.

Did Terre Haute ever have any city wide events leading up to the Hulman? I do remember the rumors of the Action Track & fairgrounds almost being sold for development. After attending last night, it looks like very few dollars have been invested in the track in recent years. The PA system was hard to hear, lighting poor and the facility just needs an investment. Sad to see for a track with so much history. Seems like many fairgrounds face these same issues.
With regard to your question re: Terre Haute Havin city wide events in the days leading up to the Hulman? Yes! They had daily news coverage from the track about the preparations, stores had Hulman Classic sales, etc. Since qualifications were held on Friday to set the 28 car field for the heats on Saturday, they had a banquet downtown on Friday night for the 28 drivers that qualified for the Saturday show. It got so large it was held in the ISU basketball arena.

With the racetrack being located on the Vigo County Fairgrounds, it’s fate and funding are controlled by the fair board. Don Smith, who was president of Terre Haute First National Bank and was a prominent local businessman was also president of the fair board during the late 60’s and 70’s and was VERY racing oriented. Since his retirement and passing, there has not been much of a “pro racing” Fair board in place. Without Bob Sargent and his TEI organization stepping up, it is likely racing at THAT would just be a memory.

I attended my first race in Terre Haute in 1970, attended college in Terre Haute (no, NOT ISU) from 1973 to 1977, and married a girl from Terre Haute. It is kinda my second home.
 
7/3/20, 9:20 AM   #26
Re: Hulman VS National’s
Grocery Guy
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Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Love how the city businesses were one time involved. The banquet sounds like it was a who's who of drivers, trying to make the coveted 28. I knew Don Smith was quite involved and it probably took a prominent city business person to keep the Action Track alive. As you say, fair board members control the fate. We are lucky that Track Enterprises took over.
 
7/3/20, 3:16 PM   #27
Re: Hulman VS National’s
Dick Monahan
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To my friends and me, it was obvious that the Hulman Classic was the most important sprint car race in the country. It was on TV, sharing Wide World of Sports equally with The Kentucky Derby and, most important, Chris Economaki was there.
 
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7/3/20, 5:50 PM   #28
Sprints fan 11
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Highly disappointed. Dont know if you blame USAC or THAT would of figured they would invite past champions. Could you call the Hulman Classic a homecoming of past racers? A great storied race. USAC has the best racing could have more bells and whistles.
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Last edited by Sprints fan 11; 7/3/20 at 6:16 PM.
 
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7/4/20, 11:10 PM   #29
captrat
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A couple of years ago the then President of the Fair Board stopped by the campers and asked for folks' thoughts. Several comments were about updating the facility and the general idea of more aggressive attitude toward racing. At least he asked. What surprised was that he said the property was privately owned by a group of investors. I assumed it was owned by some public entity like the county. Does anyone know if that is correct?
 
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