1987 "The Good-Time Gang" meets "The River Rats"

The Gang-me, Rick, Dennis, Tom, Brent, & Darold.



The Vehicles - my 1977 Chrysler N.Yer & Darold's 1986 Jeep Cherokee.



Last year when the G.T.G. was at Michigan for the Nascar race (we went there every year also, but thats for another time) we met Jerry ("Boney") and his wife Cindy. They lived in Lafavette,Indiana on the Walbash river. They always had a cookout on the Friday of Memorial weekend with their friends the "River Rats". They liked us and invited us to stop @ their house for their party/cookout and stay at their house before we go to Indy on Saturday. We took them up on their invite. The picture on the left from left to right is; Brent Anderson, Tom Anderson, Dennis Madsen, Boney, Rick Madsen, Darold Faro.... The picture on the right from left to right is the same except replace Boney with me

Tom & NYer "the boat"

When Boney's "River Rat" buddies started arriving we started to party while Boney deep fried 4 turkeys. The "Rats" kidnapped Darold and took him for a ride on their john boats down the Walbash. AT NIGHT WITH NO LIGHTS!!! When they brought him back he was pretty drunk but he said he had a good time......oh boy!!! Late at night the "Rats" started calling us"cheesepuffs". The G.T.G. not taking this lightly, said; "ok, next year we'll do a Wisc. G.T.G. vs. River Rat drinking contest"...All parties agreed.

Saturday; Had breakfast at a "greasy-spoon" (had to get some grease in the belly) in Lafavette and left for Indy and camping again @ Teresa's. Set up camp and had dinner, then we always take our traditional walk down 16th st & Georgetown road. Since 1985 we have found a souvenir stand that sells ($2.00) pewter pins. They are inscribed with that particular year of Indy 500. (1985, 1986, 1987, etc,etc..) We are always buying various pins for our hats and now are hats are 62 pounds!!!!!!!

The Race; Mario Andretti led most of the race and was dominating when he went out on lap 177 with fuel pick up problems. Al Unser Sr. coming to Indy this year without a ride, landed one with Roger Penske at the last minute, qualified 20th and went out and became the 2nd man with A.J. Foyt being the first to win the 500 for a 4th time!!

On a sad note this year, a fellow Wisconsin fan was killed by a flying tire, when it came off Tony Bettenhausen's car and was hit by Roberto Guerrero's car and launched into the air.