'SURPRIZE'...SURPRIZE...SURPRIZE...

[RayThom]

Speaking of Jim Nabors, he didn't get the honors to sing "Back Home Again in Indiana" at the 2016 Indy 500 this year. It went to some TV vocal contest winner I never saw before.

Oh, well, maybe Nabors will be back next year.

[Gob]

Wut?

[Joe Guy]

Y'all never hearda Gomer Pyle over yonder?

[Gob]

Nope.

[Joe Guy]

He was a character on The Andy Griffith Show and then went on to have his own show.

He talked like a hillbilly (in character) but he had a singing voice that didn't seem right coming out of his mouth...

But it's one-a them American thangs. I reckon y'all wouldn't git it....

Edited to add....

[Gob]

But it's one-a them American thangs. I reckon y'all wouldn't git it....

Agreed.

[datsunaholic]

Nabors didn't perform it last year either. He stated that 2014 was his last year. His choice, not something IMS did.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Wut?

I thought he was asking about the 2016 Indy 500. Does anyone care about that anymore?

[MGMcAnick]

Does anyone care about that anymore?

I dunno. It was a sell out crowd for the 100th running. It first time the stands have been FULL in several years. Millions more around the world watched on TV. One guy I know was offered $1000 for his ticket, and it wasn't even a good seat. Both guys are about 700 miles from Indy. Now THOSE are fans. I'd like to go, at least once, but not for a $1000 ticket. TV will do.

I took the tour, including one lap in a bus, 38 years ago. I was flying back home from Ohio, and thought it would be interesting. MANY winning cars are on display.

A good friend of mine was the great nephew of Wilbur Shaw, three time Indy winner, and president of the race track after Eddie Rickenbacker sold it in 1945. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilbur_Shaw My friend Mike Shaw took the track tour about 25 years ago. He mentioned his relationship to Wilbur Shaw, and got DELUXE treatment. They even let him sit in Uncle Wilbur's 1939 and 1940 winning car. He said Uncle Wilbur, who died about the time Mike was born, must not have been a very big guy. Mike was not small. Probably 6' and 250 lbs. Once in the car, he had to have help getting out. We lost Mike to a widow maker heart attack a few years ago.

A 24 year old rookie (first time Indy driver) from California won it yesterday, in part due to perfect (lucky?) fuel management. He ran out of fuel after the race, and had to be towed to the winner's circle. The cars do not have fuel gauges.

2016 Indianapolis 500 - IZOD IndyCar Series
May 29 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway - 200 laps - 500 miles

1st United States of America Alexander Rossi #98 166.634 MPH

2nd Colombia Carlos Munoz #26

3rd United States of America Josef Newgarden #21

4th Brazil/Lebanon Tony Kanaan #10

5th United States of America Charlie Kimball #42


From 2014, Jim Nabors announced his "retirement": http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mo ... 0/9568787/

[MajGenl.Meade]

If Donald Trump is elected, those second and fourth entrants will be ruled ineligible. USA 1, 2, 3! Yuuuuuge!

[MGMcAnick]

If Donald Trump is elected, those second and fourth entrants will be ruled ineligible. USA 1, 2, 3! Yuuuuuge!

I think he'll also seek to deport his first (anchor babies notwithstanding) and current wives. He'll divorce her if he's elected.

Hey, it makes as much sense as a lot of the other stuff he's done.

[Burning Petard]

Racing Improves the Breed. I have long been entertained by the story that the rear view mirror for cars was invented for the Indy 500. In the pre-race publicity this years, more of the details about this came out.

"Back in the Day" the cars raced with a two-man crew, driver and mechanic. Among mechanic things, the non-driver kept a look out to the rear and informed the driver what was going on behind him. [that task now is done by observers above the track talking to the driver with a radio.] Somebody came to the Indy with a car designed to race without the ministrations of a ride-along mechanic. That permitted a much narrower and more efficient design. Other competitors protested it would be unsafe for that driver to be without the information about what was going on behind him. The safety issue was answered by installing a mirror in front of the driver. In the pictures I saw, the mirror looked to be about 8x10 and mounted on the cowl in front to the driver. The driver and the car were dominant in the race.

But years latter , the driver said it was useless; the mirror vibrated so much he could see nothing with it.

snailgate

[Bicycle Bill]

I took the tour, including one lap in a bus, 38 years ago. I was flying back home from Ohio, and thought it would be interesting. MANY winning cars are on display.

I'll see your one lap in a bus on the tour, and raise you three laps on my bicycle.

-"BB"-

[oldr_n_wsr]

I went to the indy 500 back in 75 (I think it was 1975). Sat on the inside on turn one.
I preffered going to pocono as from the grandstand you can see the whole track as turn two is elevated a bit.
Spent a few summer vacations at watkins glen too.
My friends father was a big race car fan. He liked everything but nascar and drag racing. Indy, formula 1 down to ford, imsa, even the super bee races.

[Jarlaxle]

I took the tour, including one lap in a bus, 38 years ago. I was flying back home from Ohio, and thought it would be interesting. MANY winning cars are on display.

I'll see your one lap in a bus on the tour, and raise you three laps on my bicycle.

-"BB"-

I was able tlo drive a lap on the Brickyard a while back...one of the perks of being a Power Tour long hauler. Cool.

[MGMcAnick]

Here is a good representation of Ray Harroun's mirror on a diecast model.
http://www.diecast.org/data/sac_cars/ca431_2.jpg

Harroun was the first Indy rookie to win the race. (Think about it.)

[TPFKA@W]

Jim is not a young man now and his health will not allow the long haul from Hawaii to sing any more. He and his rendition are much loved here. Too bad he had to get old.