My first, and due to a late decision to attend, we were lucky to pick up tickets for three seats on the backstretch :eek:. Yep, he said "backstretch". When you check the competitors below you will understand why, even with temporary grandstands (about 8 rows deep) all down the backstretch, this 12th annual race was a tough late ticket to grab. Originally scheduled for 9/19/64, we sat through a rain delay, after which they let anyone with a pit pass bring their wheels out of the parking lot to help iron in the muddy, rutted track. After some hot laps a driver vote was taken and we heard later that only Foyt and Marshman opted to run. It was rumored that the others were labeled "wimps and wussies" by some young wannabe promoter( :wink ). Anyway, it was postponed for a week. And here were the results:

LINEUP-----------------------FINISH - 1 Hour, 7 Min, 22 Sec. (89.06 mph)
-1 A.J. Foyt........................................1 - FQ at 34.99
17 Bobby Marshman.............................16
98 Parnelli Jones..................................17
-2 Rodger Ward....................................2
-5 Don Branson....................................3
-7 Mario Andretti..................................7
10 Johnny Rutherford............................18
-3 Ronnie Duman...................................6
51 Norm Hall........................................11
92 Bob Harkey.....................................13
18 Lloyd Ruby.......................................9
-8 Bobby Unser....................................15 - Relieved by Rutherford
97 Jud Larson.......................................4
27 Len Sutton......................................10 - Relieved by Marshman
19 Gordon Johncock..............................14
14 Joe Leonard.....................................12
16 Arnie Knepper....................................8
15 Bud Tinglestad...................................5

Also time trialing but missing the Show (only started 18):
35 Jim McElreath, 74 Dee Jones, and 95 Hal Rettberg

A couple of other notes:

+ We heard that after everyone had left on the rainout Saturday, someone got on the track in their street car and proceeded to kill himself hot lapping. Not being from Indy, and since this was before Al Gore invented the internet, I don't know if this was true.
+Full page ad in the program urging a vote for "continued prosperity" to elect Hartke (Senate), Branigin (Governor) and LBJ (President). Ad apparently worked. Bontrager, Ristine and Goldwater, also with a full page ad, were the GOP candidates.
+Indy area Ford dealers had an ad hawking the '64 Mustand for "Under $2,500".
+Hoosier 100 was broadcast live on 1430 WIRE-Radio.
+Ad for the New "Racing Pictorial" (best of it's kind ever IMO. A Mahoney and Crucean publication as I recall.
+Much more info on this race and other 1960's Championship Trail events in Dick Wallen's Roar from the 60's book which, as with all Wallen offerings, I highly recommend. That being the case, I don't know why I expended the effort and cyber space to dig out my program and make this post. Oh well, too late now. :doh:

One more note, on another thread there was mention of USAC Midget events at Cincinnati Gardens. I have recorded three such races should anyone here have interest. I have no life in the winter, so will post if you would like. :checkered:

Hey Marv,
Glad you posted this, as Uncle Sam had me busy doing other things in France for a bit longer when this event occurred. I was soon to shed my Air Force blue and resume being a dirt track fan in the good ol' USA after having spent 2 seasons attending only sporty car events, always on paved venues, of course.

That is totally cool... I love seeing that stuff
I'm still trying to find a way to get the champ car races on dvd or even tape, that were shown on ABC and NBC back in the late 70s and early 80s

Please keep them coming!!!! Great stuff Marv!

1 A.J. Foyt........................................
17 Bobby Marshman.............................
98 Parnelli Jones..................................
-2 Rodger Ward...................................
-5 Don Branson....................................
-7 Mario Andretti..................................
10 Johnny Rutherford............................
-3 Ronnie Duman...................................
51 Norm Hall........................................
92 Bob Harkey.....................................
18 Lloyd Ruby.......................................
-8 Bobby Unser....................................
97 Jud Larson.......................................
27 Len Sutton......................................
19 Gordon Johncock..............................
14 Joe Leonard.....................................
16 Arnie Knepper....................................
15 Bud Tinglestad...................................

When I see these names I am often left thinking? Which of the current group of drivers will achieve legend status? If any?

I went to the Hoosier Hundred in early 70's and AJ was still racing it. We went into the infield (cheap ticket) I remember standing right behind a chain link fence from AJs pit. Can't remember who else was racing. I may google and try find out more. It was awesome first mile track I had ever been too.

I'm not as old as Marv,but to me the Hoosier Hundred is the big race for me. I worked on everything from quarter midgets to Indy cars from the 70's to present day. But putting DUKE COOK,(yes that DUKE COOK) in his first Hoosier Hundred is still my big moment in racing. It was also my first one. It will always be the biggest show there is to me. With the names you posted you can see why I feel that way.History,History,History.

I went to every Hoosier 100 from 1960-1979. Those last few years we would go up to indy for the 100 and then head down to Lawrenceburg for the Fall Classic that night. Great time!

There are three names on that roster that only made very rare appearances on dirt after 1964, Gordie, Lloyd and Joe Leonard. They all ran some dirt after that but, not very often. I know Lloyd ran two dirt shows (Syracuse and Hoosier 100) in 1968 in the Gene White rear-engined Mongoose. At Syracuse, it had a turbo-offy in it. They made the show and was running 4th when something went wrong. Can't remember exactly what happened. At the Hoosier100 they had a DOHC Ford in it and just missed the show. I don't "think" Lloyd ever ran dirt after that. I could be wrong but I don't remember it if he did.