Late to the thread as yardwork controlled the activity yesterday. I am very lucky to have been raised just a few blocks from IMS. My immediate next door neighbor promoted races at IRP. So my first experience was at IRP in the Spring of 1967 and I have no idea who won.

My parents were not fans of racing. One concession is my Dad took me to IMS one time each year. My first trip there (which really wasn't a trip as it was only blocks away) was 1966. Been a Jim Clark fan ever since and was devastated when he was killed. I understood the cruelty of the sport early. I am very glad I got to see some roadsters and one of my fondest memories was watching Gary Bettenhausen pound around in what I thought was a sprint car when he took his rookie test in Joe Hunts Champ Dirt car. I actually saw that. My brother is nine years older and sold papers at the track. His boss on the paper deal was Mike Mates, a friend of my parents and owner of "Mates Tavern" on 16th Street. I have many, many memories early of Champ Car drivers as several lived around me. (Johnny White, Grant King, Larry Rice) to name a few.

I would also like to say RIP to Gene and Emma Smith. They were race fans and their son and I were buddy's. They took me to several races as if I were their own son. The 5/8 Oval series at IRP on Fridays was a high light of the week.