WHITE FRONT, 3535 W. 16TH STREET
Here is where racing people of yore hunkered down after a day at the track and hoisted a beer or six. Bill Vukovich, A.J. Watson, Bobby Unser and on-and-on.
Here A,J, Foyt, who is a four-time Indy 500 champion, but was not good at drinking, once was tricked into downing too many screwdrivers and ended up tossing his cookies (though possibly not until he got back to his motel room).
The place is no longer the White Front. It is now Club Venus, a gentleman's club. It is windowless and dark. From the outside, the old building is practically unchanged, but the only trace of the interior of the venerable watering hole is in the men's room, where the old ceramic-style cinderblock walls are still out in the open and look just like they did when the great Foyt either hurled there or didn't.
Not Me. --Cooter
Showing posts with label Bill Vukovich. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bill Vukovich. Show all posts
Monday, June 6, 2016
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Seven Secret Indy 500 Remnants-- Part 3: Vuky's Son and Grandson Also Raced at Indy
Bill Vuckovich's body was taken directly to the nearby Conkle Funeral Home. The funeral home was, and still is, located just a few yards from the back door of the Thompson home.
That night the house was the scene of a star-studded wake, with Vukovich's fellow competitors and their mechanics paying their respects to his widow.
Vukovich's son, 11-year-old Bill II, was back home in Fresno, California. He had learned of his father's death while listening to the race on the radio. Both he and his son, Bill Vukovich III, became race car drivers, and both raced at Indianapolis. Bill III was killed in a sprint car race in Bakersfield, Cal., in 1990.
--DaCoot
That night the house was the scene of a star-studded wake, with Vukovich's fellow competitors and their mechanics paying their respects to his widow.
Vukovich's son, 11-year-old Bill II, was back home in Fresno, California. He had learned of his father's death while listening to the race on the radio. Both he and his son, Bill Vukovich III, became race car drivers, and both raced at Indianapolis. Bill III was killed in a sprint car race in Bakersfield, Cal., in 1990.
--DaCoot
Seven Secret Indy 500 Remnants-- Part 2: Vuky's Death in 39th Indy 500
In May 1955, Bill Vukovich, Esther and his brother Mike were staying at the at the Thompson Speedway house while Vukovich pursued his favorite hobby. Vuky qualified third fastest for the 39th 500. He had won the two previous 500s and was the favorite to win his third in a row.
He was leading the race on lap 57 when an accident in front of him caused him to lose control of his car which vaulted over a wall on the south end of the back stretch, flipped end over end, and burst into flames, killing Vukovich.
Esther, sitting with Mrs. Thompson on the main straightaway, did not see the crash. But she had a bad feeling when her husband's car failed to appear as the field circled the oval and returned to the main straightaway.
"It's him. Something's happened," Esther told Mrs. Thompson.
--Cooter
He was leading the race on lap 57 when an accident in front of him caused him to lose control of his car which vaulted over a wall on the south end of the back stretch, flipped end over end, and burst into flames, killing Vukovich.
Esther, sitting with Mrs. Thompson on the main straightaway, did not see the crash. But she had a bad feeling when her husband's car failed to appear as the field circled the oval and returned to the main straightaway.
"It's him. Something's happened," Esther told Mrs. Thompson.
--Cooter
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Seven Secret Indy 500 Remnants-- Part 1: Bill Vuckovich
From the May 27, 2016, Indianapolis Star "Check out 7 secret Indy 500 Remnants" by Will Higgins.
"Not all Indianapolis 500 history happened at the track. Lots happened off the grounds all over the city-- funny stuff and awful stuff, fancy stuff and working class stuff, touching stuff. here are seven Indy 500 remnants that still exist, at least physically."
VUKY'S HOME AWAY FROM HOME, 4946 W. 15TH ST., SPEEDWAY.
In the early and mid-1950s, Bill Vuckovich, the greatest Indy driver of his time, rented a room in this house during the month of May. The house was an eighth of a mile from the track's front gate and he could walk to work. He also got to know the house's owners, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Thompson quite well. Vuky's wife, Esther, would sit with Mrs. Lawrence on race day.
The room was inexpensive (racers didn't make much money in those days). Even superstars like Vuky, also known as the "Mad Russian" or the "Silent Serb" were blue collar people. Vuckovich considered racing as a hobby and made his real money at a gas station in Fresno, California, where he lived in a five-room bungalow with Esther and their three children.
--DaCoot
"Not all Indianapolis 500 history happened at the track. Lots happened off the grounds all over the city-- funny stuff and awful stuff, fancy stuff and working class stuff, touching stuff. here are seven Indy 500 remnants that still exist, at least physically."
VUKY'S HOME AWAY FROM HOME, 4946 W. 15TH ST., SPEEDWAY.
In the early and mid-1950s, Bill Vuckovich, the greatest Indy driver of his time, rented a room in this house during the month of May. The house was an eighth of a mile from the track's front gate and he could walk to work. He also got to know the house's owners, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Thompson quite well. Vuky's wife, Esther, would sit with Mrs. Lawrence on race day.
The room was inexpensive (racers didn't make much money in those days). Even superstars like Vuky, also known as the "Mad Russian" or the "Silent Serb" were blue collar people. Vuckovich considered racing as a hobby and made his real money at a gas station in Fresno, California, where he lived in a five-room bungalow with Esther and their three children.
--DaCoot
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