1981 Michigan International Speedway photos

[indycals]

Stu's thread about the Old Hound prompted me to get off my butt and get these uploaded. Although they are on my Indycals Facebook page, I don't think you need to be registered on Facebook to see these. These shots are from the Michigan 500 and the September Detroit News Grand Prix. My Uncle was employed by Gould at the time and was able to get us guest access to the races at MIS in 1981 and 82. Picture quality isn't that great on many of them but they are noteworthy nonetheless. Shot by my dad with his new 'zoom lens' I later came to learn that said lens was a piece of crap, and this was in the days before auto focus, so I'll cut him some slack (plus it was his first time shooting racing)

www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153331684003613.1073741838.124766508612&type=3

Here's a small preview.

The Herm Johnson Pit Fire


The Michigan 500 winner (albeit this was taken in September)


Funny thing about this shot. My dad was just shooting the car - oblivious to the people in the photo. 30 years later I found out that's Chuck Sprague sitting on the front tire. By that time I had gotten to know Chuck and I showed the image to him mentioning how our paths had crossed many years before we knew each other. The first thing he said "That's my dad walking into the frame". Funny how things come full circle


Getting ready for the start of the first Michigan 500 (Old Hound can barely be seen in the top right - last car in frame)

[harveythedog2]

Great stuff Michael and thanks for posting! Man, I miss going to MIS. My first trip was in 1987 after I caught "the bug" having seen my first Indy 500 the May before.

I was just at the speedway in late September though for something else. My oldest son and his girlfriend did the "Tough Mudder" and it was held at MIS. 13 miles run with all kinds of obsticles like crawling through mud, ice baths, electrical shock maze, etc.. Crazy stuff!

[clm1545]

I really enjoyed every race I saw at MIS. The traffic after the race, not so much.

[alwaysindy]

Just think: if Indycar goes back to MIS, we could all stay at Craig's house for the race...
Tim
Please don't tell Libby I said this...

[clm1545]

To quote Al, on Home Improvement, "I don't think so, Tim"

[indycals]

OMG that traffic coming home was the worst! I lived 90 minutes to the northeast away and there were times it took 7 hours to get home. I've gotten home from the Indy 500 faster than that!

[harveythedog2]

You guys were doing it all wrong. I learned my lesson after getting stuck in the grass lot for hours. Every year after that until CART/Champ Car stopped racing there, I would park accross the street. Long walk yes, pay thru the nose, yes but on the road heading out with-in minutes of getting to your car.

[Calvin]

I love the ground effect era!

My favorite Michigan 500s are 1981, 1982, and 1984

[Deleted]

You guys must have attended the few Indy car races at MIS that had large crowds.I was always relieved to go to an open wheel race there because it was always so easy to leave compared to when a NASCAR race was there.I used to make it to the restaurant on Egan Road on the shore of Wampler's Lake in about 15 minutes.