2014 Brickyard Invitational: Video “A Lap on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the Black Beast”
The Alco Black Beast returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 2014 Brickyard Invitational and was on thee track on both Saturday and Sunday. This eight-minute video and images document the Black Beast pacing the pre-war racers on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
Happy Father's Day!
Howard Kroplick
SVRA Indy Brickyard Invitational 2014
June 11, 2014 by David Ferguson
Over 700 cars showed up for the inaugural Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational, staged June 5-8, 2014 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana. The cars, divided into 12 groups, raced on the newly redesigned 2.43 mile road course.
There was also a group of oval only entries that ran on the storied 2.5 mile oval, where spectators were treated to an incredible array of historical cars from the 1909 American Locomotive ‘Black Beast’ through the Kurtis, Miller and Watson roadsters to the Lotus 56 Turbine car and Mark Donohue’s 1972 race-winning McLaren. The grin factor these cars generated was huge. All the SVRA racing groups were also given time on the oval, and this proved to be quite an experience for the drivers that tried it.
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Courtesy of Bill Ray
Helmet Go-Pro Images
Courtesy of Bill Ray
Links to Photo Galleries from the 2014 Brickyard Invitational
Sports Car Digest Gallery (Scroll to bottom of the article)
Comments
Congratulations to the SVRA and all the participates in the first Brickyard SVRA Vintage Racing Event, hopefully this will be a yearly event for all to enjoy. Best regards. Wayne Carroll Petersen Barney Oldfield, Master Driver of the World & America’s Legendary Speed King Great Great Nephew
Excellent Howard. Is there more? How fast where you going? It looks like you were going at a pace.
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From Howard Kroplick:
Ted, the Black Beast was the pace car and went 30-40 miles per hour.
From Mark Dill:
Thanks so much for being there. It meant a lot to me personally to have you join us. You added a lot to the show and I am gratified you enjoyed yourself. Mark
Hey Howie, Who’s pacing who? Nice going.
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From Howard Kroplick:
Thanks, Tony. In 2002, we reached a top speed of 70 mph on the Indy track. In 2014, without seat belts and a rear-view mirror, I was pleased just to be the pace car for the race cars that were going over 100 mph.!
Something had to be wrong with your Go-Pro, Howard! It showed all these funny little bug-like things on the track, not real race cars! If they WERE real, why didn’t you just squash them? Great segment - keep ‘em coming, please. Love ‘em all! Thanks. Sam, III