My first Hoosier Hundred was in 1967. I can close my eyes and still hear the music of the DOHC Ford as Bruce Walkup broke the track record.
There used to be two great traditions on the Saturday after Labor Day, the Hoosier Hundred and the Miss America Pageant. Bert Parks, longtime emcee of the pageant died, and the fair board started moving the Hoosier Hundred date
around and both events diminished greatly.
I attended several State Fair Century USAC stock car races at this historic venue as well and the stands were always packed.
I called both Anna Whelchel and the governor’s office and left messages. The governor didn’t seem interested and switched me to Anna Whelchel; but anyway I did my $.02 worth.
I agree with Racefan20 about the political posts. They don’t belong and should be removed. There is enough of that crap on Facebook and we don’t need more of the same on this forum.

I can’t remember what year my Dad took me to the Hoosier 100 but I was thinking AJ won which would have been 1968 or 1969. That would have been when I was 7 or 8 years old. I just remember his car smoked from the start to the finish.. Any of you veterans on here remember that????

Does anyone think the petition which is circulating well from what I’ve read, will have any influence at all?

Re: Usac: Final hoosier hundred at the indy mile to be held
 

There is power in numbers!!!

Re: Usac: Final hoosier hundred at the indy mile to be held
 

Originally Posted by flagboy55:
Does anyone think the petition which is circulating well from what I’ve read, will have any influence at all?

I still did it, but I doubt it. This has probably been in the works for years. I think the greatest thing to do to honor this event is to show up in huge numbers for the last one. I would guess this is a huge project, and I would guess the budget is probably north of $5million. I bet it would take decades for barn rentals to recoup that cost.

Re: Usac: Final hoosier hundred at the indy mile to be held
 

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk:
I still did it, but I doubt it. This has probably been in the works for years. I think the greatest thing to do to honor this event is to show up in huge numbers for the last one. I would guess this is a huge project, and I would guess the budget is probably north of $5million. I bet it would take decades for barn rentals to recoup that cost.

I was wondering how they were going to be able to do this without reaching into the taxpayers pockets. If your number Brent is even close I cant see that they can. I think the horses that are kept there are harness racing horses not thoroughbreds. They raced there twice last year.....

Re: Usac: Final hoosier hundred at the indy mile to be held
 

If they are going to spend a lot of money on what seems to be a new track, then build a 3/4 mile track inside the present track.

Re: Usac: Final hoosier hundred at the indy mile to be held
 

if peta only had a little more political clout they could have horse racing banned.

Re: Usac: Final hoosier hundred at the indy mile to be held
 

Wonder what they would do if everyone on this thread rented a stall & paid for all the services they offer thru the year? That might make a difference...plus $100,000s worth of sponsorships for the auto races (payable to the fair board)...other than that, I'm afraid it is what it is...

Maybe, what happens if they have a midget race on the little track at IMS sometime in May, & call it the same thing??? Ideally the payout could match some of the #s from the 1960s or so too...

Re: Usac: Final hoosier hundred at the indy mile to be held
 

Originally Posted by ISF:
No apology necessary, TOC. I was pretty sure you weren't lumping normal folks in with the urban inbred's.

I sure wish chitcago was part of Indiana instead of Illinois so some of the folks over in Indian who believe it's a good thing for a cesspool like chitcago and metro east St. Louis to dictate to us non-cesspool folks downstate should live and be taxed. They'd maybe have a whole different take on the "one person one vote" representation thing works for them when you have a bunch of clowns that have no idea, and don't really care, about the rest of the state. If chitcago is so great many of us over here wish it was all yours!!

As far as the Belleville link goes, be advised that Belleville, Illinois is basically part of the metro east St. Louis cesspool. I take anything that comes out of that place with a most cynical grain of salt. Now, back to racin'!

Thought you could get the last word, didya?
I'm with BrentTFunk... one man one vote. People in Chi-Town might consider you an "inbred". I don't, we just disagree...lets show some respect?
I was gonna respect this request : " Can we stick with the racing aspect and not ******** please. Pretty sure one of Bill's biggest rules is no ******** on the board"....but couldn't let your comment slide..
NOW back to racing?:deadhorse:

Re: Usac: Final hoosier hundred at the indy mile to be held
 

This is good, from HH: From Racer.com.....





It was the second-richest race on the IndyCar schedule and only the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500 paid more to win. It was sold out every year. It was nationally televised by ABC’s Wide World of Sports. It was celebrated with special sections from the city’s three newspapers — The Indianapolis Times, News and Star.

And it featured all the stars of American open-wheel racing.

For the better part of three decades (1953-75) The Hoosier Hundred was the most prestigious prize in dirt racing and only took a back seat to that other show run in Indianapolis during May.

“It meant everything if you were a young driver trying to make a name in USAC and it paid damn good too,” said A.J. Foyt, the all-time winner (six) of what became a fall classic in Indianapolis. “I loved that race and it’s a damn shame to hear it’s going away.”

Foyt’s comments came on the heels of the announcement that this May 23rd will be the final time USAC’s dirt cars will perform at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The historical mile oval is being converted from dirt to an all-weather surface of crushed limestone to be utilized year-round for harness training and parking for the Indiana State Fair.
The news was not a surprise because the horse contingent has been trying to get rid of auto racing at the Fairgrounds for years. And, to be honest, despite the efforts of promoter Bob Sargent, the annual dirt race on East 38th Street is a shadow of those glory days when 25,000 people packed the place.

From its early beginnings with Triple A, the Hoosier Hundred had no equal in stature and purses. Foyt, Al Unser (four wins), Jimmy Bryan (three), Rodger Ward (two), Mario Andretti (two), Bob Sweikert and Parnelli Jones grew their reputation and bank accounts.

“It was the biggest purse next to Indianapolis,” said Super Tex, who collected $18,268 for his victory in 1965 — equaling what Mickey Rupp made that year for finishing sixth at the Indy 500. “It paid $100 to lead a lap and I led 97 laps in 1966 and made $17,000 even though my brake pedal broke and I finished second.” A.J. Foyt, Bobby Marshman, Parnelli Jones, Rodger Ward and Don Branson at the Hoosier Hundred drivers meeting in 1963. Image by John Mahoney.

The Hoosier Hundred was a big deal at the box office and the pay window because if you were an Indy driver then you also had to be adept on the dirt. DuQuoin, Springfield, Sacramento and the Fairgrounds were part of USAC’s Championship Trail and those places played to full grandstands because A.J., Ward, Mario, Rutherford, Ruby, Rufus, Hurtubise, Sachs, Marshman, Larson, McCluskey and the Unsers were always there.

But then USAC made the first of several fatal mistakes. In 1971, it removed the dirt races from the national championship and created a separate Silver Crown series. That didn’t have an immediate affect on attendance as Foyt, Andretti and Big Al still ran dirt races for a few more years but it gradually took its toll. Without Indy’s big names competing, the crowds began falling and national television no longer had any interest.

More importantly to USAC’s faithful, it cut the artery to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the future generations of midget and sprint car drivers because the versatility of running dirt and pavement was no longer required in IndyCar.

“They never should have taken the dirt cars out of the championship,” continued Foyt, who promoted the Hoosier Hundred from 1997-2001 and also tried a spring race called the Hulman Hundred. “That was a big mistake because car owners needed guys who could run dirt, road courses, short ovals and Indianapolis but that all changed. And not for the better.”

For now, Sargent will be trying to give the 64th and final Hoosier Hundred a memorable sendoff as Silver Crown boss Kody Swanson goes for a record fifth win a row (Al Unser scored four straight from 1970-73).

“The thing that’s really sad is that we were going in a positive direction and had a good crowd last year,” said Sargent, whose passion has kept places like Terre Haute up and running. “We may have a couple of options for 2020 but it’s too early to say what they are, so we’ll just concentrate on trying to fill the place next month.”

A.J. reckons he’ll try to talk Parnelli into one last trip to the Fairgrounds.

“The Hoosier Hundred was a big part of my career and the history of Indy cars,” said IndyCar’s all-time winner. “I’m just glad I was around for those days.”

Re: Usac: Final hoosier hundred at the indy mile to be held
 

I didn't know this part, explains a lot: "But then USAC made the first of several fatal mistakes. In 1971, it removed the dirt races from the national championship and created a separate Silver Crown series. That didn’t have an immediate affect on attendance as Foyt, Andretti and Big Al still ran dirt races for a few more years but it gradually took its toll. Without Indy’s big names competing, the crowds began falling and national television no longer had any interest.More importantly to USAC’s faithful, it cut the artery to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the future generations of midget and sprint car drivers because the versatility of running dirt and pavement was no longer required in IndyCar. ..." :7:

Re: Usac: Final hoosier hundred at the indy mile to be held
 

Might be a big mistake investing all that money in horse facilities. If they are successful in eliminating farting cows, can farting horses be far behind?

Re: Usac: Final hoosier hundred at the indy mile to be held
 

Originally Posted by bullring:
Might be a big mistake investing all that money in horse facilities. If they are successful in eliminating farting cows, can farting horses be far behind?

Beans make me astute

Encourage your friends and family to get tickets for Springfield and Duquoin before they are also gone!