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1956
AT INDIANAPOLIS
"500 MILES TO GO"
"An outstanding
film on the 1956 Indianapolis 500" is how Rare Sportsfilms president
Doak Ewing describes Dynamic Films' "500 Miles To Go". Now, you
can get your own beautiful COLOR copy of this vintage Indy film,
available for the first time on a new 29-minute DVD!
1956 was an interesting year at the Brickyard. The newly-resurfaced track helped make it possible for almost the entire field to break the 140 MPH barrier, and pole-sitter Pat Flaherty's 145.596 broke the old 1955 record by over three MPH! It was the first year of the new speedway entrance and the final year for the old pagoda. And, it was a year of RAIN (you'll see amazing scenes of flooding at the track)!
However, the focus is on the cars and drivers for 1956. National Champion Bob Sweikert's yellow #1 is one of many cars you'll see close-up before the race, during practice and in qualifications. Others are Johnny Boyd's #15 Bowes car, the red #9 Bardahl Ferrari Experimental (Nino Farina, driver), the streamlined Sumar Special, Troy Ruttman's #53 Zink special, and the two Novi cars of Jim Davies and Paul Russo.
There's plenty of qualifying action, as Pat Flaherty sets a new record to grab the pole in his white #8 John Zink special. A.J. Watson, chief mechanic and the builder of Flaherty's car, talks about Perfect Circle piston rings (the original sponsor of this film). The white #34 Trio Brass Foundry Special is crashed in qualifying by Johnny Tolan, and the baby blue #54 Travelon Trailer Special is spun out by rookie Jack Turner. Other cars seen close up during practice and qualifications are Al Herman's black Bardahl #12, Jimmy Bryan's white #2 Dean Van Lines car and Gene Hartley's blue-green #82 Central Excavating Special. Driver close-ups and personalities shown include speedway President Tony Hulman, Paul Russo, Bob Sweikert, Flaherty, Ray Crawford, Johnny Thomson, Sam Hanks, Bryan, Troy Ruttman and Freddie Agabashian.
On raceday, you'll see good shots of the '56 DeSoto pace car, particularly during the parade lap. Dick Rathmann takes the lead on the first lap from Flaherty but is soon passed by Pat O'Connor. The cameras catch Russo in the Novi passing both O'Connor and Flaherty to take the lead in the main straightaway on the 11th lap. After 125 miles, the Novi is still in front, but going into turn one, a rear tire blows, and after riding the huge car into the wall, Russo becomes the first man ever to walk away from a wrecked Novi! It's the most spectacular crash of the race! Troy Ruttman's skid and tangle with Keith Andrews follows before O'Connor and Flaherty again take up the battle as the green flags waves. Other spins and crashes of the race are shown, including Ray Crawford's spinout in front of the pits, Jimmy Bryan's spin in the south chute and Jimmy Daywalt's crash in turn two. With the yellow on for Crawford's wreck, Flaherty is shown pitting and getting three tires and fuel in "only" 42 seconds! O'Connor takes over the lead, but gives it up to Johnnie Parsons when he himself comes in. Pit stops of Flaherty (twice), O'Connor and Sam Hanks are all shown, including Bob Sweikert's stop after almost a full circuit around the track on a bare rim after a blown RR tire!
Sam Hank's gallant effort to catch Flaherty in the final laps is covered, as well as mechanic-car builder A.J. Watson in Flaherty's pit sweating it out. Pat Flaherty, the last driver to win Indy in "tee shirt and tennis shoes" is shown in victory lane with wife Marilyn and movie star Virginia Mayo.
To add this outstanding nostalgic racing DVD to your collection,
send $29.95 + $4.00 for shipping and handling (Illinois residents
must add $2.00 sales tax) to:
"RARE SPORTSFILMS N",
1126 Tennyson Lane,
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 527-8890
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