A Day Thirty-Eight Years in the Making

On a May day in 1973 a five-year-old boy from a small Indiana town witnessed an event and place that would spark in him a life-long passion. As he watched the Indianapolis 500, he saw color, tradition, speed, bravery, triumph and tragedy. By the time Gordon Johncock was declared the winner of the rain shortened event, a mark had been left on his spirit that would never go away.
Over the next several years, his love of the “500″ and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway grew. He shared the event and the place with his father even during periods of his life when the Race was the only thing they had in common. Even when he and his father drifted apart through life, the Speedway would always bring them together again as if they shared a piece of DNA with it as well as each other.

Jackson with Johncock's '73 Winner

Thirty-eight years later, another five-year-old boy from a small Indiana town will witness his first “500.” He will enter the hallowed grounds of the Speedway with his own father and hear stories of heroes through the years. He will hear stories of Bump Days and new track records. He will hear stories of the triumphs and tragedies that the Speedway has to offer. But most of all, he will hear stories of how his father and grandfather walked through the same gates, sat in the same stands, heard the same songs, and shared the same love of an event and place that they can always share together.

2 Comments to "A Day Thirty-Eight Years in the Making"

  1. Sandy Mannn's Gravatar Sandy Mannn
    May 24, 2011 - 8:01 AM | Permalink

    I think what your doing with Jackson is wonderful, your carrying on a tradition. Your dad would be so proud. I’m so glad Jackson and Alex has such a loving and caring dad. I don’t care what they say I think your a good man LOL Love you Jim…

  2. Jim's Gravatar Jim
    May 24, 2011 - 11:37 AM | Permalink

    Thanks so much! That means a lot to me.

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