Since indoor racing is right around the corner I thought I would share some photos from my collection to help celebrate the history of indoor mania.

I apologize for any spelling errors. Some of the photo captions were extremely difficult to read..

Enjoy


A happy Sam Esenhower holds his trophys presented to him by promoter Lipiley(sp?).
He won both races held at the indoor shows and became the Fort Wayne indoor champ.





Barry Read #16 goes outside to pass USAC 1988 Sprint Car Champ Steve Butler as Russ Gavyster(sp?)
tries to get before.


1/17/88
Steve Lotshaw had fast time








1/23/88 - Hoosier Dome
Nick Fornoro dives under a wide running Sammy Swindell during USA Feature.





Stan Fox won the 50 lap USA Feature and started on the pole for the 100 lapper and
lead a large part of the race, but had mechanical problems and dropped out.

1/23/88 - Hoosier Dome
Billy Vuckovick III inside #6 battles with Jac "Wildchild" Haudenschild during Hoosier Dome races.


Danny Perry on left & John Murphey on right, 2nd & 3rd place finishers share victory circle with the winner Roy Caruther. Left in black is promoter Ted Hollingsworth and on the right in glasses is owner Gene Crucean, John Capels, Roys step father is on Gene's right, Capels is chief mechanic for Alex Morales Indy Car team.


Ken Schrader flew in from practice at Daytona to take a couple of practice laps then go out and win his heat race. Look for kenny to win big in NASCAR this year.


1/23/88
Roy Caruther had a great night. The 1988 CORA Champion won the first Indiana heat race. Finished 3rd in the 50 lap Indiana Feature and went on to win the 100 lap 1988 Hoosier Dome race.


Roy Caruther on his way to his finest night in his racing career winning a heat, finishing 3rd in the Indiana Main, then winning the Hoosier Dome 100. Roy was 1988 CORA Champion.


Esenhower led all 100 laps and held off Barry Reed.

Lets cap this post off with some Speedrome photos...


9/18/87 (Friday) - Indianapolis Speedrome - USAC Regional Series

Mike Fedorcak (97) used the high outside line to pass Floridian Tim Alvis's Cosworth for the lead. Fedorcak went on to twin the 50 lapper, his second of the year, in the final Regional Series event. John Stiles, track owner, had an "Appreciation Night" and charged neither the fans or competitors admission. The seven years of the series are over.


9/19/87 - Indianapolis Speedrome
Mack McLellan, Rich Vogler, Mel Kenyon, Kenny Nichols, Donnie Jones, Ron Glidden, Mike Fedorcak, Ted Hines, and J.R. Armstrong (absent) were the top ten in points for the final season of the Jolly Rancher Candies USAC Regional Midget Series.


9/17/87 (Thursday) - Indianapolis Speedrome - USAC Regional Midgets
Russell Gamster, his brother George and their father Gary were presented the feature trophy by Shannon Waggoner, a member of the track's Knothole Gang.


9/19/87 - Indianapolis Speedrome - Yellow Cab Indy Midget 500
Terry Wente (27) nearly spins after getting hit by Rob parish who drove the latter part of the 500 laps without brakes.

9/19/87 - Indianapolis Speedrome - Yellow Cab Indy Midget 500

Not only are Kevin Olson (11) and Dan Boorse (7) in the top four in USAC Midget points, but Olson won the Badger Midget Racing Association championship with Boorse runner-up.


9/19/87 - Indianapolis Speedrome - Yellow Cab Indy Midget 500

Ronnie Ambrose (35) of Kentucky, Michael Lang (97) of Indianapolis and Mike Gregg (98) of Colorado make it three abreast through the turn.


9/19/87 - Indianapolis Speedrome - Yellow Cab Indy Midget 500

Kevin Olson (11) and Rich Vogler (1) were tied for the National Midget USAC points lead going into the Indy Midget 500. Neither did well as both had mechancial problems and failed to finish.


9/17/87 (Thursday) - Indianapolis Speedrome - USAC Regional Series

Russell Gamester passed leader Nick Fornoro Jr. (74) on the outside and went on to win the 100 lap feature and the $1650 that went with it. It was Gamester's first win at the Speedrome, he won his second two nights later, the 500. The Gamester team had won the first ever USAC Regional feature in May of 1981 with Tommy Thomas driving.


9/19/87 - Indianapolis Speedrome - Yellow Cab Indy Midget 500

Gary Gamester, Dick and Robin Hunt of sponsoring Yellow Cab, Russell Gamester and his brother George. The Gamester team took home $5000 for their effort.

Thanks for the photos, boy have the years flown by.

great stuff! thanks for posting

Great photos!

Back when a guy and his sons could afford to race a midget.
I miss those days.

David.

That's Bill Lipkey longtime owner/promoter of the "Real" Kokomo Speedway and several other Indiana race tracks in the top photo. He should be in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. Besides being the promoter of Kokomo, Baer Field, Ft. Wayne and other tracks. He was a key figure in the formation of the World of Outlaws and bringing USAC Sprints to 1/4 mile race tracks.