Donald Davidson
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Historian Donald Davidson has been the expert on the history of the Racing Capital of the World since he arrived in Central Indiana in the mid-1960s. Now 2010 Auto Racing Hall of Fame inductee Davidson is answering your questions periodically in this blog!
Q: I would like to know what was the official Pace Car for the 1930 Indianapolis 500 – if there was any Pace Car.
—Bernard Boucher
A: Indeed there was a Pace Car in 1930, just as there has been for every “500″ since the inaugural in 1911. In fact, while the concept may have been employed previously at minor motorized events – a holdover from bicycle racing – it is believed that the 1911 “500″ was the first major event anywhere in the world at which a passenger car was used to lead the field around to the flagman for a mass rolling start. The 1930 Pace Car was a beautiful L-29 Cord, driven by Wade Morton, a former driver (he shared Phil Shafer’s third-placed Duesenberg in the 1925 “500″) who had an association with Cord.
Q: What was the last year that Ray Harroun came to the race?
—David J. Blythe
A: We believe the iconic 1911 winner was coming virtually until the end of his life, although his last few visits were mostly without fanfare. Passing away on Jan. 19, 1968, exactly one week after his 89th birthday, he lived his final years in a trailer court on the south side of Anderson, Ind. On the morning of the 1961 race, at the age of 82, he marked the 50th anniversary of his legendary win by driving a ceremonial lap of honor in the very Marmon “Wasp” which had carried him to victory. Typically, his wife would drive him down from Anderson, usually on the first day of qualifications, and they would park in the infield as close to the fence as they could get. He remained an engineer and innovator to the end. We wonder how many of the neighboring revelers realized the identity of the elderly, professor-like gentleman who was sitting in the passenger seat of his car, marveling as Parnelli Jones qualified the turbine.
Click here to ask your questions to Donald about the people and races that have formed a century of rich history at IMS. Include your complete name and city and state/country of residence.
Send us your questions, and keep your eyes on this blog for answers to selected questions from Donald!
Donald, I had the pleasure of working with you in 2008 during the FFA Grounds Tours. I was a backup tour guide and you made a remark that you would like to see me be a full time, part time employee for the Grounds Tours.
I was the one that told you about the old 16th St. Speedway, that was torn down in 1961 to be replaced by the 500 Shopping Center.
I was never invited back to work as a tour guide, nor have I ever been given a reason why I was not brought back.
I realize that there have been massive cutbacks at IMS, but I do believe that I should be told that is the reason for not retaining me as a tour guide or a bus driver.
I live in Indianapolis to be near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I have attended 55 consecutive Indianapolis 500′s dating back to 1956. I attend every day of practice in May and whenever there’s an open test or a tire test you can find me in the South Terrace.
I hope you can help me at least get an answer as to why I couldn’t be seen as an asset to the Greatest Racetrack in the World!
Can you confirm that at one of the Indie 500′s, there was a Chevy pace car that broke down and it’s Chevy tow truck also broke down, and both had to be towed off track by a Ford tow truck.
Any pictures or information on the same would be appreciated.
Is Jim Clark’s 1965 race winning car scheduled to run at any time during the 2011 500 event. Unlike you I missed it in 1965 I do not want to miss it again if it is happening. Of course I will not see Clark win the race but it may be possible for me to see the car run at Indy. Yours Charles in the UK
Hello, Donald! I am curious as to the reasons AAA decided to begin sanctioning automobile races in the early 1900s. Thanks.
Dixon passed Tagliani (pole-sitter) before crossing the start-finish line at the start of the 2011 500 last weekend. Shouldn’t that start have been waved off and redone.
Dixon passsed Tagliani (pole sitter) before crossing the start-finish line at the 2011 500 last weekend. Shouldn’t that start have been waved off and a restar called. I didn’t think the pole-sitter could be passed before the race had begun. Thanks alot
Dear Mr. Davidson,
I remember watching a series of 1/2 hour films in the early sixties about different Indy 500′s. They were very well produced and I enjoyed them greatly. Do you remember them and are they still available somewhere.
Thanks,
Tom