[69Stang]

OK gang, it's time for the Memorial day classic in Indiana, a little race we call the Indianapolis 500. This weekend marks the 101st anniversary of the great race and the 88th running of the "500".

While I do not collect a large variety of 1:64 scale cars, I have worked hard to maintain my collection of Indy 500 winners. I like to update my photo every year and share it in hopes that others may enjoy the cars and be inspired to find their own winning replicas.

I found three more cars this past year and was pleased to include last years Dan Weldon winning ride as well. It seems very few winning replicas are available in the scale, but I always enjoy the hunt!

So grab up your cars, make engine sounds as you push them around the table, and enjoy this years race!!!! (a full list follows the photograph).

ROW ONE...(left to right)

Frank Lockhart - 1926 #15 Miller by Hot Wheels
Troy Ruttman - 1952 #98 Agajanian by Hot Wheels
Parnelli Jones - 1963 #98 Agajanian Watson Offy by Hot Wheels
Mario Andretti - 1969 #2 STP Ford Hawk III by Hot Wheels
Al Unser, Sr. - 1970 #2 Ford P.J. Colt by Johnny Lightning

ROW 2

Johnny Rutherford - 1974 #3 McLaren M16C Offy by JOhnny Lightning
Bobby Unser - 1975 #48 Jorgensen Eagle / Offy by Jounny Lightning
A.J. Foyt - 1977 #14 Gilmore Coyote / Foyt by Johnny Lightning
Al Unser, Sr. - 1978 #2 Lola Cosworth by Johnny Lightning
Rick Mears - 1979 #9 Penske PC-6 Cosworth by Johnny Lightning

ROW 3

Al Unser, Jr. - 1992 #3 Galmer/ Chevy by MiniChamps
Emerson Fittipaldi - #4 1993 Penske PC-22 Chevy by MiniChamps
Al Unser Jr. - 1994 #31 Penske PC-23 Mercedes by Racing Champions
Kenny Brack - 1999 #14 Dallara / Olds by Johnny Lightning
Juan Pablo Montoya - #9 2000 G-Force / Oldsmobile by Action

ROW FOUR

Buddy Rice - 2004 #15 Panoz G Force / Honda by Greenlight
Dan Wheldon - 2005 #26 Dallara / Honda by Greenlight
Sam Hornish, Jr. - 2006 #6 Dallara / Honda by Greenlight
Dario Franchitti - 2007 #27 Dallara / Honda by Greenlight
Scott Dixon - 2008 #9 Dallara / Honda by Greenlight (swap with #10 below)

ROW FIVE

Dario Franchitti - 2010 #10 Dallara / Honda by Hot Wheels (swap #9 above)
Dan Weldon - 2011 #98 Dallara Honda by Greenlight

If you know of any winner cars in this scale that I am missing, PLEASE let me know. It's hard to find correct replicas. Thanks for any heads up and for looking....enjoy the race!

POST YOUR INDY CARS HERE AS WELL, LET'S SEE SOME CARS! Winners are not....

Ward

 

[PWSchuh]

Nice collection. (I collect the Indy pace cars in 1/64th, but not the race cars.)

 

[1970AMX]

Very sweet collection

 

[69Stang]

Thanks guys for the look and words, part of the fun of collecting our toy cars is found in sharing with others.

I started with collecting pace cars originally myself, but being more of a race guy, I switched to chasing the winners several years ago. I sold the pace cars (30 or so by various manufactures) as a lot for good money, but honestly I still miss them!

Ward

 

[Diablo_Fire]

sweet collection bro, very sweet

 

[camaro75]

WOW!!!! super Nice!!!

Sweet collections dude!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[matchboxtom]

Here is a Matchbox set...

 

[69Stang]

Here is a Matchbox set...

Yep and that is a winner as well! I have what I feel is a better representation of that car (Al Unser, Jr. - 1992 #3 Galmer/ Chevy by MiniChamps) but I had that MB before I found the Minichamps. In fact, the only MB winner I have EVER found! Great set you have there.

 

[sschevyman1]

Very well done Ward and hope your doing well!!!!

 

[69Stang]

Very well done Ward and hope your doing well!!!!

Thanks man, been flat of my back for weeks with a torn calf tendon and a blood clot so I have used a lap top and the extra time to have a blast on the boards! It's a hard way to find the time, but might as well make the beast of it hu?

 

[Rick Voegelin]

Great collection, Ward! I like your focus on winners, and the early Roadsters are terrific. My interest in Indy Cars comes and go (depending on the politics and the cars of the day), so my collection is pretty ragged. I'm having some difficulty warming up to the new generation of cars. I'm writing these captions from memory, so might be a little fuzzy on identifying drivers correctly <g>.

The three Dallaras are variations of Panther Racing's entries driven by Sam Hornish Jr. -- Aurora and Chevrolet powered. The No. 2 Pennzoil car is a really clunky Matchbox car, but I kept it anyway because it reminds me of Johnny Rutherford and Rick Mears.

John Menard's Oldsmobile Dallaras driven by Tony Stewart (pre-NASCAR model) and Greg Ray.

Kelley Racing entries of Scott Sharp and Al Unser Jr.

Two variations of Hemelgarn Racing entries driven by 1996 winner Buddy Lazier.

Chip Ganassi's cars driven by Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Dixon.

Dreyer & Reinbold cars of Sarah Fisher and Robbie Buhl with various liveries and engines.

Continued in next post . . .

 

[Rick Voegelin]

Cheever Racing cars driven by Eddie Cheever (Infiniti) and Alex Barron (Chevy)

Andretti-Green Indy Cars of Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan, and Dan Wheldon

CART cars: Michael Andretti, Al Unser Jr., and big horsepower.

Art cars

And finally a Hot Wheels Turbo Streak that could fill in for any number of early-'80s Indy Cars. Driver's feet ahead of the front axle -- what were they thinking?

Even though I fall in and out of love with the Indy 500, I'll turn on the radio and listen to the broadcast on Sunday morning. After all, it's all about tradition at Indy!

Thanks,
Rick V.

 

[69Stang]

Well played Rick, great photos of so many wonderful cars. I agree with you on the cars, I lost interest in American open wheel racing when it became a spec series. For me, once you take the engineering away from motorsports, it ceases to home my attention.

I think that is why I became a INDY winner collector and sold my large open wheel collection off. I think it was the tradition like you mentioned that kept me hooked to the classic 500. Though this year we at least get to see a couple of engines even if it's in the ugliest car I have ever seen!

 

[Rick Voegelin]

I just noticed that among your terrific collection of Indy winners, several have "Penske" instead of the original "Marlboro" liveries -- probably an edict enforced by the PC police who insist that children (and adults!) will be tempted by evil tobacco logos on race cars. Fortunately there are offshore decals that can restore historic accuracy <g>.

Thanks,
Rick V.

 

[69Stang]

Yes, it is such a frustration to me!!! I would be dead were it not for the PC police keeping me from smoking by the ban. Though be the looks of todays sponsorship, it's still OK to drink so we got that going for us!

I was reading a story today about the Topper Johnny Lightning sponsored Colt's that the FTC even cracked down on toy cars as sponsorship!

"Following the 1971 season, the car was retired and kept by Leonard Faas until his death. Sadly, the crowd-pleasing Johnny Lightning color scheme would become just a memory as the Federal Trade Commission ruled that a toy company's use of racing might have a harmful influence on children.

For 1972, the primary sponsor for the Vel's Parnelli team became Viceroy Tobacco with no complaint from the FTC."

I guess their really is nothing new under the sun after all!

http://www.glennmason.com/jlc/jlnumber2.html

 

[69Stang]

OK, so I bumped my own thread from the second page:freak: But I am pumped for the show! I am just so pleased to see different engines back at the speedway, as I have hated the "spec" series that we've had for the last several years.

Being a fan of Lotus, It hurts me to not see them at speed and falling apart as a provider, but I think the right call was made to not increase boost. Everyone knew what the challenge was from the start, they simply got spanked! I would love to see them dump the Judd based motor and maybe work with the Toyota power they have available.

Let's see some more of your Indy cars as after Tomorrow, this becomes somewhat dated until next year!

Ward

 

[Atencio]

I have about 20 of them but I couldn't tell you which ones they are. I'll be on a plane all day and will miss the race

 

[NTxSlotCars]

I have an old Matchbox STP indy car.........................................somewhere...

 

[PWSchuh]

"The Federal Trade Commission ruled that a toy company's use of racing might have a harmful influence on children."

Hard to believe that a sentient being could ever utter, or even think, such a thing.

 

[54belair]

Here are a few from the 1994 Indy 500...

Lola/Buick #36 of King Racing driven by Roberto Gurrero who crashed during the Parade Lap

Lola/Ford Cosworth #6 of Newman/Haas Racing driven by Mario Andretti who finished 32nd

Lola/Ford Cosworth #1 of Newman/Haas Racing driven by Nigel Mansell who finished 22nd

Reynard/Ilmor #11 of jim Hall Racing driven by Teo Fabbi to 7th place

Reynard/Ford Cosworth #8 of chip Ganassi Racing driven by Michael Andretti finishing 6th

Lola/Ford #9 of Walker Racing driven by Robbie gordon who finished 5th

Penske/Ilmor #4 of Rahal/Hogan Racing driven by Bobby Rahal who finished 3rd. Miller Genuine Draft logos deleted by the Diecast PC Police

Penske/Mercedes #31 of Penske Racing driven by Al Unser, Jr to 1st place. Marlboro logos deleted by Diecast PC Police​

Well, it won't be long until we hear: "Gentlemen, start your engines..."