A piece of Speedway history passes into memory
I was driving down W. 16th Street in Speedway the other day, and the normal view of Turn 2 at the Brickyard was completely altered from what I was used to. A pair of big ole CATs had turned what was the Brickyard Crossing Inn into a pile of twisted steel and mounds of busted concrete.
Wow, what happened to this rather plain but famous fixture of the Speedway skyline? Opened in 1963 as the Speedway Motel, it was renamed the Brickyard Crossing Inn after the race track became home to NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 race in 1994.
As soon as I got home, I popped onto the Internet and found some articles in the local newspaper that explained what was up or actually “down” on W. 16th Street. Indianapolis Star local columnist Bruce C. Smith reported the following late last week:
After 45 years, the business decision is that the 96-room building has seen much better days and outlived its time so it is coming down to make way for redevelopment.
In a December announcement that the inn was closing and would be demolished, Speedway President and CEO Joie Chitwood said long-term plans could include a new and more modern hotel on the site or nearby.
Um, I guess I missed that one, too.
“To bring the motel up to the standards and quality of what guests expect at the Speedway would require significant capital expenditures. After reviewing the alternatives, we have decided to discontinue its operation,” Chitwood said.
And he added that plans for a new hotel will be evaluated to fit with the Speedway town Redevelopment Commission’s proposals to relocate 16th Street in front of the Motor Speedway.
Thank goodness the Brickyard Crossing Resort’s main building will continue to house a popular restaurant, the Flag Room pub, a conference center and the pro shop of the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course. I just had lunch there a couple weeks ago with the creator of the Ducati Indianapolis Brickyard Special Edition Monster 1100S motorcycle, Greg Beall.
Continuing Bruce Smith’s report:
Speedway historian Donald Davidson said the old motel may have been plain by 1960s design standards but it has seen a lot of racing and celebrity history.
“The motel and the restaurant were places where you could stand any day during May and just see everybody. It would have been an autograph-hunters paradise but I don’t think that word ever really got out,” Davidson said.
“Who wouldn’t want to hear the lunch conversation among former Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight, four-time Indy winner A.J. Foyt and Speedway owner Tony George?, Davidson chuckled. “They were golfing buddies.
“Several scenes from the 1969 Hollywood movie ‘Winning’ were shot at the Speedway Motel,” Davidson said, referring to the 500-Mile Race classic.
“A lot of that film was actually shot in Hollywood. But there was one scene shot at the motel, where Paul Newman runs up a stairway and bursts into a room to find Joanne Woodward in the arms of Robert Wagner,” Davidson said.
Shortly after the motel opened, The Beatles took quiet refuge there one weekend in September 1964 when they were playing two shows at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
To mislead frenzied fans who might rush the motel, Donaldson said The Beatles’ managers wanted to throw out a red herring, so they let out word that (the band) would be staying at the Essex House downtown. Actually, they put the crew traveling with the Beatles at the Essex. The boys doubled up in one room at the Speedway Motel.
Very early the next morning before anyone else was awake, Ringo Starr convinced an Indiana State trooper to give him a ride around the city and breakfast at a local eatery. The trooper got in trouble but Ringo sent a thank-you note for the opportunity to escape the tour for a little while, Davidson said.
Wow, could you image if those walls could talk! What an experience that would be.
I guess I should pay a little more attention to the local news. Who knows what might happen in my ole neighborhood, but you can count on seeing me here next week at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com.
Greg
The ultimate motorcycle accessory experience!
In the
motorcycle industry, this time of the year tends to see a lull in the market as those of us in northern climates are in hibernation mode and many others are still trying to recover from the holiday spending frenzy. Given this typical market cycle, what better time for the city of Indianapolis to play host to an annual motorcycle dealer accessory show of epic proportions – the Dealer News Powersports Expo.
Once again I was afforded the opportunity to attend this powersports dealer-only industry event, which could be a very dangerous place for a gear junkie to be. Thank goodness this is a dealer expo and not a retail venue! It would be Christmas all over again.
Almost a year ago now, I shared with you all my experience at this event where the folks over at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway shared plans for the September 2008 inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP. This year’s exhibit once again featured the 1910 Indian ridden by Nicky Hayden for the first lap of the new road course at the Brickyard last April but also featured a very special treat for show attendees. The new Red Bull Indianapolis GP champion’s trophy, with its first champion’s inscription representing Valentino Rossi’s record-breaking 69th victory, was on display. Visitors to the booth were given the opportunity to get their photo taken with the new trophy that will be posted here at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com later this week although I don’t think Ellie’s and Sean’s photo will be posted there.
This week also marks another milestone here at www.redbullindianapolis,com. Just about one year ago this week, I wrote my first entry for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP Web site, so this week also represents the one-year anniversary of The Experience. I’m looking forward to another year of sharing many of my experiences as we all count down to the second annual Red Bull Indianapolis GP, Sunday, Aug. 30.
I’ll see you all here next week at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com.
Greg
So, what was Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction?
Well, last week many of us anxiously waited to see if shadows would be cast or not in Punxsutawney, Pa. Many of us expressed a sigh of dismay when Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, while others were delighted with the prospect of six more weeks of winter activities.
You saw some of the photos posted in last week’s edition of “The Experience” taken at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when it was knee-deep in snow. Likewise, it took me two days to dig out my driveway from the near-record snowfall the week prior to Phil’s annual prediction.
The remainder of last week seemed to verify the prediction of six more weeks of winter, with several sub-zero nights, when an unnaturally spring-like warm blast of weather swept across the Midwest. With a mid-50 degree day Saturday followed by sun and low 60s Sunday and Monday, I’ve started to doubt the wisdom of old Punxsutawney Phil. In just a couple days, the mountains of snow that inundated the Midwest have disappeared, erasing all evidence of my two days of work clearing my 200-foot driveway.
This bout of spring-like weather has sure tempted me to bring at least one of my motorcycles out of hibernation, but a quick look at this coming weekend’s weather forecast looks like that six-week prediction may, in fact, be accurate.
Oh
, well, I guess it’s back to some serious bench racing, and I hope my friend Paul in upstate New York gets some good snowfalls so he can enjoy a few more good weeks of skiing.
I’ll see you all here next week at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com, and hey guys, don’t forget about your duties for this coming Saturday, Feb. 14!
Greg
Six more weeks of winter!
Dang, the Super Bowl glow coming from Pittsburgh on Monday morning must have still been shining bright enough for Punxsutawney Phil to see his shadow. I guess we’re in for another six long weeks of winter!
As thousands gathered at Gobbler’s Knob yesterday morning in Punxsutawney, Pa., the world’s most famous groundhog cast his shadow in near-freezing temperatures. An old German tradition holds that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2 (the Christian holiday of Candlemas), winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, the legend predicts spring will come early.
According to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, since 1887, Phil has seen his shadow 98 times, hasn’t seen it 15 times and there are no records for nine years. Unfortunately, they don’t offer many statistics on Phil’s accuracy.
Well, I guess this gives Jarrod plenty of time to get his rides ready for spring and his upcoming “The Man Trip.” All of my toys are tucked away in the family room staying nice and warm. Unfortunately, a foot of snow outside the back door effectively blocks any temptations to take advantage of a near 50-degree day like we had this past Sunday afternoon.
Given Phil’s prediction, I guess the plan is back to six more weeks of bench racing and hanging out at local motorcycle shops on Saturday afternoons. The guys over at Ducati Indianapolis are always waiting with open arms for serious bench racers to stop by for a steaming hot cup of espresso. Travis has lots of catalogs of performance parts for you to peruse through and the 42-inch high-definition TV is usually warmed up and ready to go with lots of racing videos to satisfy your need for speed.
Another great option to wile away your time if you’re stuck in the frigid Midwest is a day trip over to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame museum out on W. 16th Street in Indianapolis. You could easily spend a day exploring the Museum’s collection of historic race cars, motorcycles and vast collection of 100 years of racing memorabilia.
A day trip to the Hall of Fame Museum also would give you a chance to peruse the vast collection of photography that spans the 100-year history of this historic racing landmark. Be sure to give Dave in the photo shop my greetings.
To top off your day, you could pick up all kinds of great racing memorabilia for your own collection at the Hall of Fame Gift Shop. Here’s a link to the IMS Online Store so you can get your shopping list compiled and ready to go. Indianapolis Motor Speedway Online Store
Oh, and while you are there you should go ahead and order your tickets for the 2009 Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Aug. 28-30.
Well, it’s time to get back to my bench racing plans for at least the next six weeks, and I’ll see you all here next week at www.redbullindianapolisgp.com.
Greg