The Decorinator has done up my Library in an Indianapolis 500 theme, so I thought I'd show you a few quick photos to get you in the mood for the upcoming race.
Go, Slobberdog. Go!
That last photo caption is an obscure joke, so I'll give backstory, by way of this book trailer:
Back to the Decorinator's handiwork.
Hank & Willie are Set for Vintage Speed
Vintage, of course, because the boys are decked out in 1911-style (sort of) race driving apparel, as you can see in this photo of Ray Harroun, the first winner of the inaugural Memorial Day race.
A Begoggled Ray Harroun Driving to Victory
in the 1911 Indianapolis Race
Harroun's Marmon "Wasp" on Display at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum
Can you imagine driving at speeds of more than 75 miles per hour in THAT? Those wheels look like they came from a kiddy wagon! Train travel over open country could reach comparable speeds, but an early 20th century motor vehicle was quite another thing. Remember, 100 years ago practically nobody, excepting professional race car drivers, had driven an automobile at such high speeds; most folks were lucky if they could manage 15-20 m.p.h. as a top speed on the best roads of the time. A driver a century ago was as likely to hear "Get a horse!" from passing horse-drawn conveyances as his or her automobile sat broken-down alongside the road.
Hey, maybe that's not a bad idea.
Beats Walking
Just Horsing Around Here,
Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Racing News Beat
P.S. Fast-racing car songs are plentiful, but "409" by The Beach Boys, from their Little Deuce Coupe album (1963), will fill the bill nicely.
