The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 36

A. 0L.1.S Freddie Agabashian Fights Hard Against "13 Jinx Glamorous Racers Also Have Routine Jobs BadOmenHaunls WMMM California Driver managers for automobile agencies. Jack McGrath operates an engine rebuilding shop and Cecil Green is an auto spring maker. vc 13 I. 1 Most Race Car Jockeys Are Superstitious Doun To Core I liUlDIK AOAKASIflAV Surrounded lv Thirteens Automobile racing can be a rewarding profession if the "breaks" go your way, but most of the drivers find it handy to have another occupation for a steady source of income.

It's pretty hard to explain to a hungry child that "daddy didn't finish in the money yesterday." When they aren't at the helm of big cars, midgets, stock cars or one of the other types of racing automobiles. Speedway drivers can be found doing everything from selling real estate to butchering. JIMMY JACKSON is the offseason house and lot peddler. Dick Rathmann is the sirloin-si icer. Gene Hartley is a farmer, Walt Ader a steam shovel operator, Mack Hellings manufactures handlebars for motorcycles.

Sam Hanks is a lumber salesman. Many of the drivers, naturally enough, follow occupations in or closely allied with the automotive field. The list of mechanics includes Walt Faulkner, George Connor, Jim Rathmann and IXike Dins-more. Mauri Rose is an automotive engineer. Both Bill Holland and Joie Chitwood operate automobile thrill shows.

Cilhooly Was Real, Race Records Show Most followers of automobile racing are familiar with the slang term "Gilhooly" which means a spin. But few realize that Gilhooly actually lived and drove in the 500-mile race. Records show that he drove an Isotta in the 1914 race and went out on the 42nd lap when he crashed. remainder of the disability period without limit. Premium cost is shared by drivers, car owners and race promoters.

Cliet Miller Now Race's 'Old Man' Oldest driver at Ihe Speedway this year from the standpoint of experience is the veteran Cliet Miller. Miller started whirling around the Speedway bricks just 21 years ago, back in 1930. He now has driven a total of 4,657 miles during 500-mile race competition. Despite this heavy travel total, Miller mus yield the spot in mileage among currently active drivers to Mauri Rose. Rose didn't start until 1933, but he has racked up 5,469 miles.

WEAVING COMPANY All at I Cor. Market at Illinois ENTRANCE 17 HtNKV BANKS is a test driver. Tony Eettenhausen sells cars. Fred Agabashian and Johnny McDowell are service INDIANA j- Illinois S.E. 1 If an; body on the track today is it's Kredd.e Apaba- I The dark-haired dmer lrom Aibar.y, was the 13th qualifier and he made his trial run or.

May 13. To cinch the jinx finished 13th in the AAA p.Mnt standings last ear. And AR-iha-hian ad-nits to bc-j-. supfis'iti-nis al-out such trunks, to-i. Jl'sT AKTKK completing a blaing qualification run a' mote than miles an hour in the Granatelli Bardahl Special, Krcd was reminded by his mechanics about the rerurring 13.

"I don't like it a bit," he said. Most race drivers are like that superstitious down to the core. Among their common superstitions are violent dislike for Tw-annts. the color creen. chil dren sitting in racing cars and.

WIBCToUadio Speedway Race Time Trial Only Dealt With On TV By BEATRICE HYNKS Armchair enthusiasts have only one pass to the 500-miler this year radio. And it won't be the "Now for Joe Schmoo on the south turn and Harry Skittel on the back stretch" type of coverage either. Description of the race will come directly from the broadcast booth in the pagoda. For activity in the pits and elsewhere, tape recordings will be used. Broadcast times for Indianapolis are 10:45 to 11:15 a.m., 12:15 to 12:30 p.m., 12:45 to 1 p.m., 2 to 2:15 p.m.

and 2:45 p.m. to conclusion on WIBC. Though WFBM-TV has tele-vised the race for the past two years, video coverage was nipped this year, practically in the bud. Viewers had to be content with portions of time trials. It was touch and go on the tadio side for a time.

Mutual, which has traditionally been stationed at the track, was unable 10 persuade a piston ring manufacturer to pick up the tab again this year. Cost to the sponsor was reportedly hiked to $30,000, a 510,000 increase over past years. With no network angel in view, local stations began the scramble for rights. Most of them already had prospective backers lined up when WIBC was awarded the prize. The production will be a strictly local one.

Mutual is intervening only for "feeds" to be carried on a sustaining, or noncommercial, basis. Approximately 90 per cent of the web's 300-odd affiliates have asked for coverage. Sid Collins, WIBC sportscas-trr, will handle almost all and commentary, lie will tape record pit interviews end color for playing in a later segment. Production will be under the guidance of William 1'ean, program director. And, so it goes.

You're Lkely ta find your favorite "glamorous" speed star in a decidedly routine role when he isn't on the race track. LI. 9674 ft i I Li! Injured Drivers' Henefils (nealer Under IVew Plan Drivers in this ear's race and qualifications are covered by increased insurance benefits. Wilbur Shaw, Speedway president, and James H. I.amb, secretly of the American Auto-riK biie Association contest arranged the greater covrras-e in a recent conference VM'h the Continental Casualty Company.

The new plan took effect on the opening day of qualifications and will cover drivers in jured in all events sanctioned by the AAA. Previously. Indemnity payments of $40 a week for injured drivers were limited to a 10-week period. The new plan adds tavments of week for the 1- l.ij Agabashian. Mut will iecu.1 honor if they Me munching peanuts in th garage area.

Gnen cars and clothing are virtually taboo. Jackson, however, is one- driver who has consistently this tradition and driven ats. AI.THOl ni-t of the won't bt any child sit ii. th'-ir drivers' many carry su articles as baby shoes or socks as good luck symbols. The number 13 is in designating the cars for the race These are a few of the of superstitions at the track.

Manv drivers have other pet ones of their own. The "13" jinx is pel Imps the most universal. Agabashnn will be fighting it today. Size Of Cars Now Limited New Rule Prevent Definite limits were placed on the overall size of cars this year for the first time in Speedway history. Entries cannot exceed Ifi feet in length or be more than 6 feet, 3 inches wide.

The size limit, approved by the American Automobile Association contest board, was imposed to guard against use of "freak" body designs. "It has been inserted in our regulations as a curb on designers who might disregard the safety of other drivers by building over-size cars with extreme emphasis on streamlining," Speedway President Wilbur Shaw said. One other rule change put two-cycle Diesel engine on an equal basis with four-cycle diesels. But, this change will not have any effect this year because no Diesels wera entered. Specifications for conventional engines remained unchanged with maximum piston displacements of 183.06 cubic inches for supercharged cars and 274.59 cubic inches for the non-supercharged.

Speedway Swings To Four-Cylinder. 270-Inch Motors One type of engine has taken over almost complete domination of the 500-mile race. Results of the 1950 classic are an excellent testimony to the emergence of the four-cylinder, non-supercharged, 270-cubic inch motor as the standard power plant for Indianapolis cars. And, rear-drive cars are shoving front-drives into the background. Of the 33 cars which started the 1950 race, 32 were four-cylinder creations.

The Cummins Diesel car, driven by Jimmy Jackson, was the only six-cylinder entry. Most of these "fours" were of thf 270-ineh. non.supprehHrgerl type. Car Speed 124.002 1 22.638 121.778 121.706 121.755 121.009 121.094 121.086 119 961 119.952 laps 138 137 137 137 136 136 135 135 135 135 tr.at number 13 is lDIx LE l5 WW C4 'if 7,: 1 1 I jRW I zflCIRL PACE CRR FIRST WINNER AT WHEEL "Meet the first champ," says Speedway President Wilbur Shaw (left) as he lifts the right arm of Ray Harroun, who won the first 500-mile race wcy back in 1911. Harroun took the wheel of the Chrysler pace car to entertain 1951 qualification crowd.

The Top Ten In 1 950 2201 N. Capitol Va. Ave. and South St. 1211 W.

Washington 8209 W. Washington New York and New Jersey 2037 E. Washington 42d and Fall Creek Blvd. Emerson and Bethel, Beech Grove Madison and Troy 45 S. West 4720 W.

Tenth 401 Kentucky Ave. rr. 1 2 4 Car No. Driver 1 3 .11 54 37 8 SH 5 7 Bill Holland, Mauri P.ose, Cecil Green, "Tony I.ee Wallard, Walt Faulkner, fieorge Connor, Paul Russo. 8 9 Parsons, Wynn's Spl Blue Crown Spl Howard Keck Spl John Spl Bettenhausen, Wolfe Spl Blue Crown Spl Crant Piston Ring Spl.

Blue Crown Spl Russo-N'ichoU Knl 10 59 Pat Flaherty, Granatelli-Sabourin Spl. 'Drove relief for Joie Chitwood..