A Checkered Past: Indy 500 Program Covers

This 1981 cover featuring the top of the Borg-Warner trophy was the first to use an actual photograph.

The centennial of the Indianapolis 500 is only days away. So while you’re resting up for all that Snake Pit revelry, here’s a selection of official programs from over the years. The National Indy 500 Collector Club has every program with details going back to the Speedway’s pre- 500 races including the first race in 1909, which was a balloon race.

The programs parallel magazine trends, including book thickness and styles of cover design. There are the Art Deco illustrations of the 1930s, those illustrated montages from the 1980s, foldouts, and the requisite hologram cover. The program prices, which are prominently displayed on the covers through 2000, climb through the years from ten cents on up!

Upper left, program from the first 500 in 1911. Upper right, 2001 hologram-cover. At bottom is a foldout from 2009 by the renowned artist Thomas Kinkade.

Most of these are on eBay right now, where prices can go as high as $250.

1919
In celebration of the Allied victory in WWI, the
race was renamed the "Liberty Sweep Stakes."

1930

1931

1935

1936

1938

1946

1951

1956
From 1955 through 1975, this program cover ran
for all but two years.

1976

1979

1982

1988

1990

2003

2011
One of three covers for this year’s race.

Brimfield Blues

I have to believe that at some point during the Brimfield antique show's 50-year history, some dejected dealer, picking away at an unsold Gibson, came up with the Brimfield Blues. I’m imagining that it was in the 95-degree heat of July, or a solid week of rain. One thing I can say for sure, though, is that it was not written nor sung this year. I’ve never seen a happier bunch of dealers than the vendors at Brimfield last week. I’d say the report on sales ranged from happy to delirious. That’s how good business was—even after one day. I’m sure there’s a economic indicator in there somewhere …

But back to blue. My first treat of the day was waiting for me in the bushes right outside the front door. Four exquisite robin’s eggs, in an expertly crafted nest. Consummate perfection is definitely a good way to start the day.

We stopped at the Sturbridge Coffee House for refueling, and were greeted by this fabulous Plymouth Fury parked right in front. By the way they have very delicious muffin tops and a sign at the counter poses the question, "What's Your Cup Size?"
It was when I watched Terry get out of the car in her cerulean parka, that I realized there was a definite blue thing going on.
Here’s how the theme played out the rest of the day…

Roof level of a multistory toy parking garage










Aren’t these incredible? They were rescued from an old house in Massachusetts and were at the same Antique Therapy booth I wrote about the other day. So far, I haven’t been able to find anything about the Armand Art Studio of Detroit.

Blue eyeshadow--just the right accent for a pink cat. Don't you think?

Artist, Terry Rosen, was scouring Brimfield for vintage New England ephemera. When she hunts, she doesn’t just look on the tables, she looks under the tables. Which is a good thing because her eagle eye spotted this flea market equivalent of “today’s news, tomorrow’s fish wrap.”

Vintage Porsche Brochures

You are probably familiar with the stunning posters designed for Porsche by Erich Strenger (1922-1993). If not, go immediately (after reading this post) to see them at grain edit. Less familiar, but equally stunning, are the many brochures Strenger designed. A native of Stuttgart, he worked as a graphic designer for Porsche from 1951 to his retirement in 1987.

Porsche literature expert Charlie White has a most impressive collection of everything Porsche. At his website, you will find even the most obscure technical manuals and service bulletins. You will also find info about his comprehensive books for the 356 Porsche. Many thanks for his permission for use of his images.

White met Erich Strenger in 1983 at the Ozarks '83 PCA Porsche Parade at which time Strenger signed many of the brochures you see here.


The 'Rainbow Convertible D' brochure from 1958 with excerpts ...

Porsche power is no paper fiction

… it is a car that worthily ignites your pride of possession.

It turns on a dime, parks in a wink and corners like a cat.

New convenient roll up windows have
been added to this youngest member
of the famous Porsche family.
And windshield washers are
standard equipment too!

We Woke Up in Bed with Cha Cha

Meet Cha Cha, our classic 1964 T Bird Convertible. While working on interior design of our Scottsdale Arizona Home, we had some friends over for drinks who mentioned that they had Cha Cha and that she was for sale. Well, three martinis later, I heard the car wheels squeal as one of the guys went home to retrieve her. It was dark, she was sexy and she wore "jungle red". Let's just say, she wasn't pretty in the morning!

This "three martini" transaction began the process of a new "interior design" project to renovate this classic car. We chose to completely redo the interior upholstery, add air conditioning, and redo all of the faux wood veneer and interior chrome. Mechanically she was in pretty good shape, thank god,  except for the mechanism for the convertible top which we replaced as well.

We added a touch screen media player and reworked the speakers so that new speakers would pipe sound out of the original location of the speakers (up front and between the seats in the back). We gave up some sound quality, but avoided having cumbersome speakers on the door panels and retained the authentic look of this classic car.         

SHARE THIS: