1937, the last year of the “junk formula” and riding mechanic at Indy. Yeaaa! It all started in 1930 with the best intentions. Millers and Dusies were dominating and Rick felt a need to ‘do something.’ This from WIKI: “Speedway president Eddie Rickenbacker had decided to make the changes in order to lure back the passenger car manufacturers, and make the cars on the track more resemble those sold to the motoring public. Rickenbacker's desire was to move away from the supercharged, specialized racing machines that had taken over the Speedway through the 1920s. It was his vision at the time to bring the Speedway back to its origins and roots as a "proving ground" for the passenger car industry. Upon announcing the rule changes, he was quoted as saying, "Even a Model T can win." The rule changes were in fact being laid out as early as 1928, and were approved by the AAA Contest Board in early January 1929.”
I have a copy of the top image over my desk, and offer a toast to those fellows on occasion with a raised glass of Guinness. My keen sense of deduction tells me Chickie had not washed his pants for at least a month, and he and his mates were just fine with that. I can only imagine what he would have said to some PR sponsor snitch who might have told him the dirty pants did not reflect an image the sponsor would like. On second thought, I don’t believe I can even imagine that. RIP guys.
1937, the last year of the “junk formula” and riding mechanic at Indy. Yeaaa! It all started in 1930 with the best intentions. Millers and Dusies were dominating and Rick felt a need to ‘do something.’ This from WIKI: “Speedway president Eddie Rickenbacker had decided to make the changes in order to lure back the passenger car manufacturers, and make the cars on the track more resemble those sold to the motoring public. Rickenbacker's desire was to move away from the supercharged, specialized racing machines that had taken over the Speedway through the 1920s. It was his vision at the time to bring the Speedway back to its origins and roots as a "proving ground" for the passenger car industry. Upon announcing the rule changes, he was quoted as saying, "Even a Model T can win." The rule changes were in fact being laid out as early as 1928, and were approved by the AAA Contest Board in early January 1929.”
ReplyDeleteI have a copy of the top image over my desk, and offer a toast to those fellows on occasion with a raised glass of Guinness. My keen sense of deduction tells me Chickie had not washed his pants for at least a month, and he and his mates were just fine with that. I can only imagine what he would have said to some PR sponsor snitch who might have told him the dirty pants did not reflect an image the sponsor would like. On second thought, I don’t believe I can even imagine that. RIP guys.