2001-Broke Tradition-Year 2!! Come On Man!!!

"The Gang"...Me, Cathy, Dennis (in Dennis's 2000 Gran Prix)

friends but NOT rookie's...Steve & Sue Hawley in their Honda

friends & rookies...Terry & Renee (from Diamond Jim's bar, Milwaukee) in their Jeep.

Talked our ol friends Steve & Sue to make a return trip to Indy this year. They haven't been back for the race in many a moon. (see scrapebooks 1 & 2). My friends Terry & Renee came to Indy to see what the fuss was all about. LMAO...

Saturday...Checked into motel. ("The Inn" @ 36th St & High School Rd.) Main lobby and building are in the process of being remodeled. YEA!!!!! Only catch was the manager tried to charge us $100.00/night instead of the $67.00/night I was quoted last year. WRONG!!

But I did talk him into spliting the differance @ $75.00/night.

Mine & Cathy's room wasn't too bad this year unlike last year. (see 2000) Least we had 2 sheets this year even tho' they were both top sheets! T.V. worked, but NO REMOTE.

Terry & Renee had no soap in their room and had damp, moldy smelling pillows. (But we were wondering if they had stayed here before, cause they had brought their OWN PILLOWS!!).

Steve & Sue's toilet in their room didn't work right, but that was OK, for they didn't have any toilet paper in their room anyway!!!

Afternoon we all went Indy Fanfest and stopped @ 37th St bar (next to motel).

Went out to Hooters (Dennis is now our G.T.G. photographer and took LOTS of pictures) for supper were we met Steve Page and his wife Vicky. (Steve is a friend and sportswriter for the Mooseville Times in Indiana. He used to live in Colorado and wrote for the Publeo Chieftain. (see scrapbooks 1&2).

Took our walk that night but too cold & rainy to walk long.

Sunday...Cold, windy & rainy..At track by 7:00a.m. By far the earliest we have ever gotten to the track on race morning. Steve Hawley had to meet Steve Page by 8:30 to get credentials. Steve Hawley came back to seats to give Dennis credentials so he could take his camera into pits & go with Steve Page to get some action shots in turn one.

Was a good race considering the cold, windy conditions. (54F. at start of race). Helio Castroneves won his first 500 driving for Penske and was the first to climb the fence @ the start/finish line after the race. COOL!!!

Came home Monday....God willing....See you in 2002

2000 - Broke Tradition -"Women"?

"The Gang"...Me, Scott, Dennis, John Cochran, Raf (rookie, Friend of Scott's) & "The Women", my girlfriend Cathy and John's wife Ann.
Note; I take full responsibility this year for breaking our self-imposed rule of NO WOMEN allowed to go to Indy with the G.T.G. But what could I do? I had 3 open tickets?? My father & brother are probably rolling over in their grave!!
"The Vehicles"... My '89 Corvette, John's '92 Corvette, & Scott's '93 Jeep
Saturday...Got to hotel @ 36th St. & High School Rd. (The Days Inn is now just called "The Inn", the place has sub-standard accommodations.) I'll explain;
Our Room; 1.) No Phone 2.) No top sheet on bed 3.) Cable TV doesn't work, cable too short! 4.) Extra bed frame under our bed tho'!

John & Ann's room; 1.) No towels 2.) Shower head falls off

For all our inconvenience motel management gave us $54.00 of room rate. (GOOD DEALS THIS YEAR!)

Ate @ Hooters Sat. night.

Took our walk down Georgetown to 16th St. Raf & women aren't rookies anymore.

Sunday...Rain-Rain-Rain...Found parking on side street off of 25th St. Started raining harder when a nice woman in a Ford Taurus offered us a ride to the track. Piled all 7 of us in her Taurus! Race delayed 3 hours. Took a walk during delay to see the new Pagoda Tower and Press Box and Formula 1 track. Returned to seats for start of race. Note; John Cochran needs to bring more of his own beer! Saw good race with rookie Juan Montoya winning driving for Chip Ganassi

After race, I purchased a souvenir shirt and handed woman a $20.00 and got back 4 $1.00 bills AND a $20.00. (GOOD DEALS THIS YEAR!!)

Sunday Night...Scott, Raf, Dennis went downtown to party and us couples went out for dinner. The restaurant messed up the soup order, so the manager says dinner is on the house! (GOOD DEALS THIS YEAR!)

Monday...Bright sunny day (figures!) Raf and the women have never been thru the H.O.F./Museum so we stayed to take them thru it. Then came home. See you in 2001.