After Prest-O-Lite’s second explosion, Indianapolis officials reluctantly agreed it could continue operations at the recently built South Street facility as the construction of the new River Road facility continued. As part of the agreement, Prest-O-Lite agreed not to have a large number of calcium carbonate tanks near the filling area. ...
You Ruined My Sauerkraut! Part II
April 29, 2024 by uvsw14Leave a comment
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You Ruined My Sauerkraut!
April 22, 2024 by uvsw14Leave a comment
While Jim Allison and Carl Fisher were both successful businessmen, their lives were changed when Percy “Fred” Avery walked into Fisher’s automobile dealership in 1904 and showed him the contraption that would become the first reliable source of power for automobile headlights. They formed the Concentrated Acetylene Company to produce ...
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Book Review: The British At Indianapolis by Ian Wagstaff
April 16, 2024 by uvsw14Leave a comment
Book Review: The British At Indianapolis by Ian Wagstaff
When you think of the British at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, what or who comes to mind? Perhaps Dan Wheldon, Jim Clark, or Graham Hill? Or the British invasion of racing cars including Lola, Lotus, McLaren or Penske? What about engine ...
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A Controversial Finish to the 1981 Indianapolis 500
April 9, 2024 by uvsw14Leave a comment
Roger Penske commissioned Geoff Ferris to create a new car for the 1981 season, the Penske 9-B. It was a modification of the Penske PC-9 racer which effectively utilized ground effects. Ground effects increase the downforce on the car which helps to hold the car to the track.
All race ...
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Twin Cities Motor Speedway
April 1, 2024 by uvsw14Leave a comment
The success of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway had many other groups wanting to build a speedway. Carl Fisher headed a group to convert the old Sheepshead Bay horse racing facility in Brooklyn, New York. Others were building speedways in Chicago, Detroit and Cincinnati.
Two groups wanted to build a racetrack ...
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