LONG POND, Pa. (March 7, 2016) – For the third consecutive year, the Vintage INDYCAR Celebration is returning to Pocono Raceway, Chief Operating Officer Nick Igdalsky announced today.
Pocono Raceway will host the ABC Supply 500 on August 21 and Vintage Indy Cars will be included in some of the weekend’s festivities, amechanics insurance company will be giving advice to those involved in the mechanic world as well.
“We continue to try and find ways to add experiences for our fans and this is another opportunity,” said Igdalsky. “Our fans will have the chance to see some incredible cars on the track and see some of the tremendous history INDYCAR. With this being the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, it will be great to revisit some of those great cars from Ford dealerships.”
Gary Mondschein, editor of The Classic Racing Times, is helping to promote the events. Vintage Indy Cars will load in Friday, August 19 with track exhibitions sets for Saturday and Sunday. Following Saturday’s last session, the group’s annual Awards Dinner will be held.
Vintage Indy Cars will also be part of a planned car show that includes race cars, street rods and classic cars serviced by vinyl car wrap hamilton.
“Our first two events had a great showing and we expect even better this year,” said Mondschein. “The early response has been positive and our objective continues to be providing the best possible experience on one of the greatest racetracks in the world.”
Dick Simon, who started the Indianapolis 500 on 17 occasions, will serve as Grand Marshal of the Vintage INDYCAR Celebration and be available for autographs.
“I am so honored to represent the Vintage Indy Cars at Pocono Raceway and be part of such a great event,” said Simon. “I ran the first Pocono 500 back in ’71. I’ve got some great memories of Pocono Raceway and always enjoyed my time in the mountains of Pennsylvania. I am anxious to get back.”
For more information about the Vintage INDYCAR Celebration, please contact Mondschein at 570-656-5962 or via email at gary@dimensiondesignllc.com.
Pocono Raceway will host seven national motorsports events during the 2016 racing season, including a NASCAR XFINITY Series race for the inaugural time on June 4. The Axalta “We Paint Winners” 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race is set for June 5, the Pennsylvania 400 NSCS race on July 31 and the ABC Supply 500 Verizon IndyCar Series race on August 21. The Pocono Mountains 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck race is scheduled for July 30 and two ARCA Series Presented by Menards races with General Tire #AnywhereIsPossible 200 on June 3 and the ModSpace 150 on July 29 offered as well.
Tickets for all races are now on sale at poconoraceway.com or by calling 1-800-RACEWAY.
Jim Schanz |
” A Pass From The Past ”
By Jim and Ari Schanz
The checkered flag has been waved over the third annual Vintage
Indycar celebration presented by the Classic Racing Times. Each of us
were left with our personal reflections of this marvelous occasion.
Being of no exceptions, my sixteen year-old son, Ari and I rendered
our own humble contributions as it was our pleasure to do.
To behold, hear and even smell these beautiful cars as they paraded
before the crowded grandstands was best described as unparalleled.
Through their mutual love for racing, these proud owners and their
families lavished countless hours and resources to prepare these most
wonderful cars to present them for our viewing and listening pleasure.
Personally, I regard this as the greatest single racing experience of
my adult life!
The honored guests who traveled great distances to join us at Pocono
gladly availed themselves all weekend long to the many enthusiasts of
all ages who attended this event to meet them. For some, it was for
the first and perhaps the only time. For others, this was truly a
joyous reunion for both driver and longtime fan with each of them
being equally overcome with emotion.
Between Dick Simon, Denny Zimmerman and Duane “Pancho” Carter, they
collectively account for some impressive statistics that represent the
second half of the twentieth century of racing Americana. Their many
achievements account for 36 Indianapolis 500 starts, two Rookie Of
The Year awards, one Pole position and the 1981 Michigan 500 victory
between them.
For their varied ages, the car’s overall performances varied but were
mostly mechanically reliable. The speed restrictions on the straights
rendered it unrealistic to expect the newer aged rear engined cars to
approach the speeds of their prime. For some of the older “Big Cars”,
they were able to exceed the average speeds well beyond those that
they attained during their days due to the long straightaways. These
mixed automotive derivation pedigrees interacted well together as they
generated a sweet cacophony of revving notes that filled the heavy
late summer Pennsylvania skies.
During the Saturday evening banquet, many old friendships reconnected
while others met for the first time. This allowed these diverse racing
generations to embrace and exchange while enjoying a pleasant evening
of conviviality. As these varied ages reminisced, several deserved
awards were presented to those distinguished attendees who’s labor of
love and sacrifice make events like this possible.
As these cars took to the track for their final session on Sunday, the
darkening clouds and lowering temperature mercifully lent the engines
comfortable conditions and the tires optimal performance. After two
days, the drivers were coming to grips with the tricky triangle as
they got braver and eventually found the proper “racing” groove! What
a pity it had to end. As they rolled onto pit road, everyone beheld
them for the last time with a touch of the melancholy coupled with a
compelling anticipation toward next year. As this now established
Pocono tradition continues to grow, so too the youthful new comers
will join the seasoned enthusiasts as they are drawn together by the
lure of this annual reuniting of the ages of speed known as, “A Pass
From The Past!”