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Visit to the IMS MUSEUM

Special Exhibit:
FROM THE VAULT

Monday, February 3, 2020
The speedway museum has brought some of their prized possessions
up from the basement for display to the general public.

Today was overcast, but dry and unseasonably warm, with the
temperature almost reaching 70 degrees!  So I thought it was a
good time to go have a look.

I was there from 1 to 3 o'clock and the place had few visitors.

I paid my $10 entry fee and was immediately quite happy at what
greeted me - a blue 1929 Bugatti race car!  Awesome!
The Type-35B won the 1929 Monaco, French and Spanish Grand Prix as well as the 1930 Monaco and Czech Grand Prix.
Built in Molsheim France by Ettore Bugatti, the car is powered by a straight-eight supercharged 138-c.i. engine.
1908 Buick 16B
It is believed that this is the car that Louis Chevrolet drove for a win in the first auto contest at the speedway in 1909.  
The car is powered by a 298-c.i. fourc-cylinder engine.
My heart leapt into my throat at the sight of this stunning red racer!
The 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C-308
While this car was made for the European Grand Prix circuit, it was sold to an American who brought it to Indy!  
It competed in the 1940, 1946, 1947 and 1948 Indianapolis 500.  
It was later raced at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in 1949 & 1950.
1991 Benetton B191
This Formula 1 car took Nelson Piquet to his last victory (1991 Canadian Grrand Prix)
Benetton didn't have the 1992 car ready at the start of that season, and their new rookie driver,
maybe you've heard of him -
Michael Schumacher, drove this car to 4th-place in the 1992 South African Grand Prix.
The car is powered by a 213.5-c.i.  Ford Cosworth engine.
1964 Ferrari 250 LM - The last Ferrari to win Le Mans
While the factory teams of Ford and Ferrari duked it out at the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans,
this privately-owned car actually won the race!
It is powered by a 3.3-liter V12 engine.
My main reason for coming was to see this next car in person.  
It had captured my imagination since I was a child and I've always wanted to see it.
1957 Corvette Super Sport
This race car was designed by the legendary engineers at Chevrolet.
It's purpose was to compete in international sportcar racing.
Unfortunately, after it's first race at Sebring, the Automobile Manufacturers Association
outlawed automakers from directly competing in motorsports,
so this car never got to race at Le Mans, or anywhere else.
It is powered by a 283-c.i. fuel-injected V-8.
Nearby was a similarly shaped race car from the same era.  Believe it or not, it is not a sportscar, but a Formula 1 car!
Mercedes had a fenderless version for use at tight tracks.
1954 Mercedes-Benz W196
Mercedes-Benz, so dominant in Grand Prix racing before WWII,
returned briefly in 1954 & 1955 with three of these futuristic looking cars.  
Juan Manuel Fangio won the World Championship both years  
with his team-mate
Stirling Moss finishing as runner-up in 1955.
Mercedes withdrew from racing after 1955.
This car was donated to the museum by Mercedes in 1965.
I enjoyed my visit.  I'll be back in May.  See ya then!
DAN'S PHOTO JOURNALS