That place was a quazi time machine. On race mornings there was no better place to be. That is where all of the best sight seeing was.

Driver past and present. Celebrities from the past. (Jim Nabors and James Gardner) The stories like the car into the pool or Evel Knievel doing wheelies in the parking lot.

The Beatles and Doors stayed there. The pool with the mosaic tile inlay of the wheels and wings logo.

One of my best times there was during the year that Weldon won and watching the race on closed caption w/the radio play by play over the top with the door open listening to the crowd react to the race. It had been years since the crowd had both been that big and that into the race and there was an electricity in the air on race morning that hadn't been there in years bcause of Danica.(I am not endorsing her, but it is true that the crowd was especially up that day because of her)

One of my favorite things that I saw was the last year Robbie Gordon did the double, he got together a group of friends and fans to do both races as well. They left California in the early morning and was basically going to do it all in 24 hours.

The friends and fans arrived on a tour bus a little before the race and as the fans got off the bus, many of them noticied Parnelli as he was standing outside his room when they got off. The stepped of the bus and started wanting autographs and pictures. Then one said he had to find a restroom and Parnelli offered his. Pretty soon the whole bus was just walking into his room(s) (adjoining) and using the rest room like it was theirs. He didn't mind and was laughing about it. I would say that in this day of guilded celebrity, that would not have happened anywhere else. The opportunity would never had even existed.

I still notice the old "Speedway Motel" sign missing everyday when I pass there. To me there was absolutely nothing cooler than seeing the "Congratulations" to the winner that they placed on there after each years race. It would go up immediately after the checkered flag and was on there as the people passed on their way home.

Unfortunately that place was in great disrepair and had been on life line for many years, but for a few days in May every year, she could still shine with any high rise anywhere.