1926 issue of Popular
Mechanics featured an article on race car builder Harry Miller. Reading this
piece brought back memories of my grandfather telling stories of how drivers
and their crews would stay with families in Speedway so that they would be
close to the track. Simpler times, now there isn’t a driver or owner who isn’t
a millionaire several times over.
I found the picture of cars lining up for the
start of the race interesting. My grandfather lived about five blocks from
where this photo was taken and for a while my aunt lived about a block away
from the start line. The line of trees and buildings behind the grandstand
marks Georgetown Road, the long-time scene of pre-race debauchery and source of
lurid pubescent fantasies. The field beyond is the Coca-Cola field where fans
camp, grill, and generally make a mess of things before the gates open on race
day. The structure in the infield is the Pagoda, which used to house the
flagmen and time-keepers.
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