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

4/2/19 9:56 AM FINAL HOOSIER HUNDRED AT THE INDY MILE TO BE HELD MAY 23

http://usacracing.com/news/silver-cr...be-held-may-23

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FINAL HOOSIER HUNDRED AT THE INDY MILE TO BE HELD MAY 23

Indianapolis, Indiana (April 2, 2019)………The Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center has announced that the Indiana State Fairgrounds one-mile dirt track will be converted from a dirt surface to an all-weather track made of crushed limestone to be utilized for year-round harness training and parking for the Indiana State Fair.

The ultimate impact is that the conversion of the surface means that auto racing events will no longer be held on the famed one-mile track following the 2019 Hoosier Hundred.* The 64th running of the 100-mile, 100-lap race, scheduled for Thursday, May 23, will be the last running of this grand racing event at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

“USAC, Track Enterprises, Bob Sargent and I have been in meetings with the Fairgrounds staff and in discussion for the last two years about any way to keep auto racing at the historic one-mile oval,” USAC Series Coordinator Levi Jones explained.* “To no avail, the economics of the horse industry and their desire to use the one-mile track year-round instead of the half-mile currently in the infield won out in the end.”

USAC and Track Enterprises are currently exploring possible venues that could host the Hoosier Hundred for the 2020 season and beyond.

The history of the Track of Champions dates back well over a century.* On June 20, 1903, Barney Oldfield drove a Henry Ford-designed "999" to the first sub-one-minute lap ever on a one-mile racetrack at 59.6 seconds.* In 1917, Oldfield, the 1905 AAA National Champion, prevailed in a match race versus 1915 Indianapolis 500 winner Ralph DePalma.

In 1946, under the AAA National Championship banner, the one and only “Indianapolis 100” was held, with Rex Mays taking the victory.* Seven years later, in 1953, a new, long-lasting tradition began with the inaugural running of the “Hoosier Hundred” won by Bob Sweikert.

The Hoosier Hundred has been held annually since 1953, with only a handful of interruptions due to inclement weather.* Today, it remains one of the oldest, most tradition-rich racing events on the planet.* Many of its winners have gone to achieve legendary status in auto racing with a list that includes A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti who are among the seven drivers to have won both the Hoosier Hundred and the Indianapolis 500 in their careers along with Bob Sweikert, Jimmy Bryan, Rodger Ward, Parnelli Jones and Al Unser.

This year, Kingsburg, California’s Kody Swanson has an opportunity to make even more history as he aims for an unprecedented fifth-straight “Hoosier Hundred” victory.* The four-time USAC Silver Crown titlist has won the previous four events to tie Unser’s streak of four-straight “Hoosier Hundred” wins between 1970-73.

Over the years, the Indy Mile has been home to a myriad of USAC racing events, including Sprint Car, Midget and Stock Car races.* In the early-1980s, the “Hulman Hundred” for Silver Crown cars was created, which was added to the schedule as a second annual race for the series at the track each year from 1981-1995.

The “Hulman Hundred” was annually held in May while the Hoosier Hundred was scheduled for September in that era, until 1996 when the Hulman Hundred was discontinued.* The Hoosier Hundred then moved to May where it remains today, except for a couple rainouts in the early 2000s that were rescheduled for later that same year.

On Thursday, May 23, be a part of history and witness this great race.* “Hoosier Hundred” pit gates will open at noon Eastern, with the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand opening at 3pm and practice at 5.* Racing begins for the Modifieds at 6 with Silver Crown Qualifying races to follow and the “Hoosier 100” scheduled for an 8 o’clock green flag.

Reserved seating is available for the Hoosier Hundred by calling the Track Enterprises office at (217) 764-3200, the Indiana State Fairgrounds Box Office, or through Ticketmaster.* Reserved seats for adults are being sold for $25 presale or $30 at the gate.* Infield tickets will be available for $15 for adults and $5 for kids 11 and under.

*

This hurts real bad... so pissed off!!! 🤬

Flood the Governors office with calls.
317 232-4567

Also the Governors liaison with the State Fair is Anna Whelchel flood that office with calls too! Make your voice heard especially if you are a resident of Indiana.

317 927-7545

Bob

Who could imagine that horses would displace a car race?

Convert the infield 1/2 mile to dirt!
Much more universal and could be utilized for many more events throughout a season.

We watched last year from over by the horse barns and one of the owners said that this would be the case, so it’s been in the works for some time. Sad nonetheless

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

What a Tuesday morning gut punch, even to those of us over here in "The Land O' Lincoln and crooked politicians"! :19:

This development makes Illinois' last two remaining 1 mile dirt tracks that host auto racing even more precious. :27:

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

What do you know, you pointed out to me finally something good about The Peoples Republic of Illinois!:D:3:

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

Might as well get rid of IMS while they're at it. I mean, what's history? And how did INDY get the name Circle City? It sure as heck wasn't Horses.

Monument Circle downtown, which was originally going to be Governor’s Circle with the governor’s mansion.

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

Oh no, maybe it’s part of the green new deal. This is how they start. :7::20::26:

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

On the other side, WoO and USAC sprints no longer run the mile, Even the AMA took off a year or two. So one or two events per year sans weather is iffy for motorsports.

Wasn't the Hoosier Hundred formerly in Sept. I remember drivers flying in after completing the HH to Burg for the Hoosier Fall Classic.

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

They can run a lot more horse races than people wana race cars on miles...it sucks (for lack of a better word), but hopefully everyone that can, supports all the other Silver Crown races, that they reasonably can. Maybe some date could be picked up at some interesting place someday?...time will tell...Silver Crown style racing has survived about EVERYTHING thrown at it, so I'm hopeful this will ends up not being that big of a deal...I know I will try getting to Madison, WI & Springfield again this year (they the closest too me....)

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

Electric cars might do just that in another generation or so. The long term outlook isn't good for any type of traditional auto racing. Even mighty NASCAR is slipping.

The day that Springfield comes to an end is the day that I never attend another auto race. This is sickening. F-U Indiana State Fair board.

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

Where is Tony George in all this?

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

That was the Hulman Hundred I think. Back then they had 2 races there. For several years it was in the afternoon and the Speedrome ran their 500 lap midget race that night. Saw Vogler complete every lap in both races one year.

It mentions this in the press release...

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

Very sad, but Stevie Wonder could have seen this coming. I went in the restroom in the infield last year, and it was embarrassing the condition of the building. Investment on the front stretch has been nothing for decades, yet along the backstretch there have been new tunnels, and many other improvements. Had to be millions of dollars. Speaking of millions of dollars, this is not going to be cheap, and if you pay taxes in Indiana, I am sure you will pay the bill. Sad thing is very few people will benefit from this. The horse races at the fair don't draw very many people. I bet the grandstand will come down next. This is all about providing a cheap training facility at taxpayer's expense.

Don’t think it has any thing to do with any kind of deal; the horse people simply had the clout to get what they want.

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

It's not even a horse racing facility. it's a training center funded by taxpayers.

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

To the best of my knowledge, they barely run races there as is.

Being down here near Churchill Downs, I've gotten into the horse racing scene pretty deep and I RARELY see any races being run there. I don't know how many more races they would schedule there but I don't see it being many as Hoosier Park in Anderson runs pretty much non-stop March through October and there's also an Indiana circuit that runs at various county fairgrounds. Also, I've never heard of horses running on limestone...

That said, apparently the fair board thinks it's still worth more than one race car race a year on the mile. Cant say I don't agree but yes, it sucks that its at the expense of one of the most legendary champ car races.

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

My wife and I made our first trip to Indiana in 2000 for Sprint Week. Since then we have been back many, many times. We've attended fairs (including the Indiana State Fair), festivals, tractor shows, visited museums and shopping malls, eaten lots of meals and stayed at many motels. Every trip however centered on auto racing. Every dollar we've spent in Indiana, and I can't even begin to guess how much, is because of auto racing.
Fact is the powers that be don't care. Our small and aging group just isn't considered relevant anymore.

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

You're confusing chitcago, all points north of Interstate 80 and metro east St. Louis with the rest of the state where we live and where the 2 dirt mile's are located. chitcago and metro east St. Louis elects the governor, a ruling majority of the legislature, the 2 U.S. Senator's and most all of the state wide political positions, both elected and appointed.

Those of us in God's Country south of I-80 are held hostage by the People's Republic of chitcago & metro east St. Louis. They make the rules and those of us who, for career reason's, can not move are forced to live by them.

There are 102 counties in "The Land O' Lincoln & crooked politicians" and it requires less than 5 of those 102 counties to override the will of the rest of the 97 or 98 in statewide elections. We desperately need a county by county electoral college ******** system.

I fully realize and understand what you're saying but please don't lump all of us in with the urban inbred's of chitcago and metro east St. Louis, thank you.

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

Doesn't democracy mean majority rules? I don't feel my voice should count more than anyone else. That is what has created this problem. The state of Indiana using a state facility to subsidize a very wealthy gambling industry. Money once again rules, and the majority of people pay for the wealthy few. Illinois miles should be fine for the time being,because they run in conjunction with the fair.

1970 Hoosier 100 part 1
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OsNfxjbPud0

https://www.change.org/p/eric-holcom...te-fairgrounds

This is a petition to keep racing on the mile.

Run it at IMS. Front engine cars back at the Brickyard in May. Sounds Nice.

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

Well, Syracuse, now the Indy Mile, I'm getting tired of funerals. The horse people use taxpayers money, it's time for the taxpayer to speak up. Remember your vote on ******** day.

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

Just being sarcastic Ron. Was a play on the April fools post about Peris speedway. :D

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

Good points. If anything, proly lots of room & board made off the horses that are there tho? Hate to say it, but don't imagine too many Silver Crown teams rent stalls there...

And there lies the problem. I mean, I don’t like it but even that moron Reno Fontana would agree that it’s better business.

The only thing I could see saving the track would be if the track hosted more events. Multiple champ car races, big blocks, ARCA, etc. I feel as if that would calm the fair board down.

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

That is the same way here in Indiana. Of all the counties, Cass gets the most back.

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

You make a very good point and I apologize for lumping all you normal people in with the libtards.

You also made an excellent argument defending the existence of the Electoral College I might add!:)

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

Very sad indeed. My 1st Hoosier Hundred was 1974 when it ran in September. Over the years they would run usac sprints twin 50's on pole weekend. One year it was midgets and sprints. For years the Hoosier was in the fall. Then they had a couple of sc shows a year when they started the champ cars on 500 weekend. Now for me, it has become a tradition to start the 500 weekend with the champ cars on the mile. What a beautiful site to be at the fairgrounds for the hundred miler to start the weekend. I hope this May the fairgrounds is packed with people for this final show.

So sad,such awesome memories of dirt champ cars there,my greatest racing heroes battled on that mile. Used to love going there on Saturday for silver crown race then Terre Haute on Sunday for Hut 100,now both will be past memories.

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

Can we stick with the racing aspect and not ******** please. Pretty sure one of Bill's biggest rules is no ******** on the board.

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

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'!

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

[QUOTE=admin;511088]4/2/19 9:56 AM FINAL HOOSIER HUNDRED AT THE INDY MILE TO BE HELD MAY 23
I attended the 1953 race. First I sold tickets and when we stopped sales went to the grandstand to watch the remainder of the race. The grandstands were packed, sat in an aisle and watched 4 cars finish in a blanket with Sweikert winning. I have attend many of the races since then. For years the grandstands were sold out. But over time the paying public has decreased with maybe half of grand stand sold. Ask Bob Sargant? who has been promoting the races recently about the race,costs,profit, fair board relationship.
This race is a one day a year event. It may be that the horse people offer more money to the State than the auto racing people.
I will certainly miss this event but it has had ,to me, a long successful history and I will always remember the thrills and chills of the racers and races.]

Since this will be the final Hoosier 100,let's pack the fairgrounds and send it out with a huge crowd and show everyone the greatest fans in the world standing together enjoying the sport that we love. Although we sometimes have our differences, we are a huge racing family and all love this sport. Ill be there and enjoy one more great memory then might drop a tear when the checkered flag drops.