1996 - The Year Of The Split

Before we start, please read the following;


"The Gang"... Me , Rick, Scott, Dennis, Brent, Tom (from Watertown) and Dale Pappenga, "rookie" (guy I work with @ P.O.)
"The Vehicles"...My 93 Chevy p/u 4x4 and Tom's Chevy Van (custom).

Saturday - "The Party"... Got to our 'ol friend Bob's house @ 1:30p.m. Brent drove Tom's van. Set up camper and took our walk. (PIN ALERT - PIN ALERT!!) The old guy that we always bought our pewter pins from had a heart attack and his stand is not here this year. First year since 1985 we can't get our yearly pins.


Dale is in awe of the crowd. Came back to camp, shot the bull until it started raining.
Sunday - "Race Day"...Got up to rain, but not bad tho'. The race was only delayed about 1/2 hour. It was the first year for the IRL and all the rookie drivers everyone was so worried about, did just fine! In fact, as an old veteran of the Indy 500, I found it very refreshing and interesting to see someone without the name of Fittipaldi, Unser, or Andretti win it. On a sad note, on the Friday after pole weekend qualifying, the pole winner (Scott Brayton) was killed during a practice session when his back up car hit the turn 2 wall. Scott's car owner John Menard named Danny Ongais as his replacement driver and went on to finish 7th.



After the race, we walked around Gasoline Alley, came back to camp, ate, (slow cooker beef).

Monday - Raining, but stopped long enough for us to pack up camper. Good thing, cause just as we were pulling out, all HELL broke loose!! DOWNPORE!!
Congratulations to the first INDY 500 IRL Winner; Buddy Lazier

And on one finally note.........later on in 1996.....see below;
What can I say (?), this was in the scrapbook ~

1995 - Penske Cars Fail To Qualify!!!

"The Gang"... Me, Scott, Brent, Dennis, John C., Mike Sullivan (Dennis's friend from Watertown)

"The Vehicles"... Jim's 93 Chevy 4x4 P/U & Scott's Ford Escort!!!!! (with broken window!)

Pace Car...

"The Party"...Did things different this year since it seems Boney has fallen off the planet. I have been calling him but no one answers. So this year we left Milwaukee on Saturday and went straight to Bob's. Scott drove to Indy from St. Louis (in his Escort, with the broken window). He was at his grandparents wedding anniversary party. He also started college this year. Anyway, set up camp, ate, took our (you guessed it) walk, bought pins. Boys seem to be partying hard this year, and falling in love at the drop of a hat!! ( But hey, that's another story not to be discussed here). Note; Tom A. (Pres.), did not go to Indy this year because he lost ( laid-off) his job @ Kimberly Clark, but on a good note, he was hired by TNT Holland trucking later in the year.
Rick didn't go for financial reasons. (He's having a bad year too.)

Sunday - "Race Day"... Weather nice and sunny. This was the year the unthinkable happened, when the 2 Penske drivers (Al Unser Jr. & Emerson Fittipaldi) failed to qualify for the race.

Scott Brayton took the pole and Arie Luyendyk qualified second, both in Buick V-6's. This year Firestone tires made their return to the Brickyard for the first time in 25 years. In fact Scott Goodyear almost won the race on Firestone tires, but officials said he passed the pace car while leading the race on lap 190 and was penalized. He finished 14th. Jacques Villeneuve (Canadian) won the race at the age of 24 was the youngest driver to win it since Johnny Parsons won in 1950 at the age of 22.
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1995 INDIANPOLIS 500 WINNER

1994 - Mario & Lonestar J.R. Retire

"The Gang"... Me, Rick, Dennis, Brent, Mike Sullivan (rookie from Watertown)

Note; Missing in action are Tom Anderson & John Cochran. They say their getting too old for this S%&T !!! And my son Scott.

"The Vehicle"... My '93 Chevy 4x4 p/u. (traded in the '91 p/u)

Friday...Got to Boney's early (2:00p.m. didn't have to wait for Tom....ha-ha). Partied and ate grilled pork. Brent drove his own truck and had to meet us there (9:00p.m.) cause he had to work late.

Saturday...Got to Indy and set up camp at Bob's house again. We ate, (brats & italians) but this year I got really fancy and brought a small television set and video tapes I had from ESPN of old Indy 500's. Everyone around the camp sight thought that was cool s%^t! We did that for the most part all night and didn't party too hard. (Maybe Tom & John are right, we are getting old?......Naaaaaaaa!!)

Sunday..."The Race"... This was the first year a driver (John Andretti) did the "double". (race in both the Indy 500 & Charlotte 600) He finished 10th @ Indy and 21st @ Charlotte. Al Unser Jr. won his 2nd 500 and rookie Jacques Villeneuve finished 2nd. "Little Al" went on to win 7 more times that year and won the CART Championship.

1993 - A.J. Foyt Retires

"The Gang"...Me, Rick, Tom, John, Scott, Dennis, & Brent.


"The Vehicles"...Tom's Ford Explorer & My '91 Chevy 4x4 p/u.


"The Party"...Stayed @ Boney's Friday night. (ate brats). Must have been a quite year cause the scrapbook doesn't say what we did? Left for Indy Saturday, camped @ Bob's house. Again, the only thing the scrapbook is telling me, is that we didn't party too hard this year, ("must be getting old")...Oh well, not much story telling this year, so on to the race....




The below article was written by John Close. (Midwest Racing News, May '93)
I found it interesting cause it kind of sums up what the Indy 500 is all about for us fans. It's as if he wrote it with the "Wisconsin Good-Time Gang" in mind? Enjoy. (click on article to read up close)....

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