Who Is That Standing By The Wasp?
We got to the track first thing Friday morning on race weekend in
2003, intending on spending the whole day there, walking around &
soaking it all in. We walked to the museum and stood in line to buy
tickets, a little surprised that there was already a line at 9am. We
then got on the bus & took the one-lap tour of the track. Then we put
off going back into the museum to walk thru the Chevy displays around
the east side of the fountain. We took our time, grabbing all the
posters & keychains that they were giving away. After buying
programs, we were already carrying too much stuff, so we went back
to the truck to unload a little. then, finally, back to the museum.
If we hadn't done all this dilly-dallying, the rest of this wouldn't have
happened.
We took our time going through the museum. I noticed the Marmon
Wasp just after walking in, and made the decision to save that for
last, and so, started with the opposite side of the museum. My nephew
was really getting into the spirit of things, asking me all sorts of
questions, and so we had this very long conversation that my father and
brother apparently grew tired of, because they pushed on ahead while
nephew and I lagged behind.
We were just getting around the corner where Johncock's '82 car sat,
when I heard someone calling my name. I looked up and through the
glass wall to see my brother standing in front of the Marmon,
motioning for me to come over. I thought that he had just then
realized that the very first winning Indy car was on display, and
wanted me to come see it - well, I already knew it was there, but I
headed over to him anyway... though I kinda took my time doing so. all
the while my brother is waving more & more frantically.
So I pick up the pace, walk thru the opening in the glass wall & over to
the Marmon. My brother and dad are standing in front of it, along with
an elder couple whom I had never seen before. All four of them are
looking at me. I asked my brother "what's going on?" he gestured
towards this unfamiliar older gentleman in front of me, and introduces
him as Ray Harroun Jr.
I don't often get speechless in my life, but I sure did at that moment.
I shook his hand and said hello, absolutely amazed that he and his wife
would be there, and even more amazed that my brother figured out
who they were - he had struck up a conversation with Mrs. Harroun in
front of the Wasp, where she confessed that that car belonged to her
father-in-law. she went on to tell him she married Harroun's son, who
happened to be taking a picture of the AJ Foyt cars just behind my
brother at the time.
I did manage to push past my excitement and have a small conversation
with Mr. Harroun. We talked about the first race and the controversy
surrounding the finish. I also learned from him that his dad attended
all the races until '64 when one of his good friends died at the track. I
also learned that he had tickets to watch the race from the Celebrity
floor of the Pagoda (4th floor)... though I imagine if your last name is
Harroun, you can pretty much sit wherever you want to.
Finally, I pulled out my Garage pass, borrowed a Sharpie from a fan
standing nearby, and got his autograph.
I was awestruck by that event for the remainder of the day, and still
love to tell the story. We've attended the race every year since, but
haven't seen Ray Jr. again. People attend the museum to make some
kind of connection with the history of Indy, but I never counted on
meeting the son of the first winner of the race. You can't make much
more of a connection to Indy's earliest years than shaking the hand of
Ray Harroun Jr.
PREVIOUS STORY INDEX NEXT STORY