By Jim Watkins | For The Democrat
May is a month that rates high in our remembrances of times past. Mother’s Day family gatherings, school proms, graduations are always among them of course. And if you grew up in Indianapolis, as many Brown Countians did, there probably would be some reminiscences of the Indianapolis 500.
Such was the case for me recently when I had the opportunity to visit the Cummins Headquarters in Columbus. Strolling among the various exhibits of Cummins’ technological achievements I came upon one I was quite acquainted with, the 1952 Cummins Diesel Special, the race car that sat on the Pole for the 1952 Memorial Day Race.
This particular car brought back memories of a special day with my dad. It was the day he took me to my first visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
It was the Saturday of the second week of qualifications. Only seven cars had qualified the previous weekend, which had been shortened by bad weather. Tops among them was the always favorite Freddie Agabashian who set track records for both one lap and four laps in the exotic Cummins.
With that being the case, with 26 positions to fill and good weather in the offing, the prospects for the day were great. As it happened, all the cars would make appearances that day either during practice sessions or in actual qualification attempts.
Four cars would make the biggest impression on me, my dad, and for that matter most of the estimated 50,000 race fans who filled the Speedway that day. They were built most specifically for the Indianapolis track whereas the others were built to run on the one-mile dirt ovals which made up most of the race schedule.
The beautiful low-slung red and yellow Cummins with its diesel engine was out frequently during the practice sessions and attracted every eye.
Another 500-purpose built car with a sleek low profile was the Fuel Injection Special. The car was not as flashy owing to its gray color. Bill Vukovich was the driver. Vukovich called his car the “Roadster.”
Alberto Ascari drove the bright red Italian Ferrari Special. Ascari, a Formula One driver, would win the first of his two World Championships later that year. His powder blue driving suit made him stand out from most of the Americans who tooled around the oval in their T-shirts.
Overwhelmingly, the crowd’s favorite car was the Novi, (that’s with a long i). The other cars screamed down the track. The Novi roared! Most the cars had four cylinders; the Novi had eight.
Anticipation was great, as word got out during the week that the Novi had done a 140 mph lap which would eclipse Agabashian’s record by two miles per hour.
Early in the day however, it was Vukovich’s “Roadster” that would break the Cummins record for both one and four laps.
The day grew late. The sun was slipping behind the double decker grandstand in the front stretch. Where was the Novi? It had yet to make an appearance.
Dad and I were on the inside of Turn 2 waiting like everyone else. Then there was a different sound coming from over in the pits. There began a chatter among the fans. Dad nudged me with his elbow, “The Novi’s coming out.”
Out of the shaded Turn 1 came this long white torpedo with the veteran Chet Miller at the wheel making its warm-up lap as the now standing crowd roared.
The progress of the Novi could be followed as it picked up speed heading through Turns 3 and 4 before taking the green flag. Soon it was in front of us again, but now in earnest. About a minute later it flew by again and the announcement blared from the speakers, “A new track record! 139.600!”
But too soon the roar was going quiet and then the announcement was made, “Miller is pulling into the pits.” A fused piston had ended the Novi’s run. The one lap record however would stand.
Two spots remained to be filled but Sunday was another rain out. Monday the field would be filled and the Novi, now repaired, did set a new four lap record to add to its one lap mark. The Novi was the last car to make the field.
I have been back to the track many times and witnessed many historic racing moments there, but none will ever top that first one with my dad.
Jim Watkins is a Brown County resident who was a public school teacher for 42 years and has special interest in history. He is also a member of the Brown County Historical Society. He can be reached at [email protected].
Jim Watkins is a Brown County resident who was a public school teacher for 42 years and has special interest in history. He is also a member of the Brown County Historical Society. He can be reached at [email protected].
