Tools at the Indy 500

[Flatintoone]

For the first time since discovering tool history and collecting, I attended the Indy 500 this past weekend. I arrived Friday afternoon and left Monday morning, taking time to see the sights, meet old and new friends, absorb the history, and catch a great race (maybe the best ever). I thought that, this year, I would try to take pictures of as many different tool company sponsors as possible.
Starting chronologically, I paid my first visit to the IMS Photo shop and spent too little time browsing through the vast library of historical photographs from the Speedway. In spot checking a few years from the 1950s, I zoomed in on some shop photos and may be the first person more interested in the toolboxes than the cars or drivers. Multiple photos appeared to show Herbrand toolboxes and wall cabinets. Next time I hope to do some more searching and maybe buy a photo or two. I'd also like to check out some prior years and see what was used in the 1920s and 30s.

The Black and Decker logo on Bob Sweikart's 1955 winner

Marquette welding equipment and battery chargers on Johnny Boyd's 1959 Bowes Seal Fast roadster.

Another Marquette logo on what I believe is an early '60s Watson roadster.

AJ Foyt's 1964 winner. I believe this car was taken to the museum right after finishing a race at Trenton. Marquette, Black and Decker, and Proto.

That Marquette logo again, this time on what I think is Don Branson's 1965 entry.

Some competition for Marquette. Sun, on Bud Tinglestad's 1967 Federal Engineering Special.

Bobby Unser's 1968 winner. Notice that Proto is now "The Official Tools of the 500." Also, is that Rockwell the power tool company?

More to follow...

 

[Flatintoone]

Into the '70s, and a shift from Proto to S-K:

From a 1973 STP Eagle.

Mario Andretti's 1975 Vel's Parnelli Jones Viceroy car, bearing the S-K ribbon.

Ingersol-Rand Tools on AJ's 1977 winner

Still more coming...

 

[Flatintoone]

True Value Master Mechanic on Tom Sneva's 1983 winner

Klein Tools, on Jacques Villenueve's 1995 winner.

Snap-On, on Will Power's 2012 Team Penske Verizon show car.

Finally, we watched some of Friday's pit stop competition from behind the pit fence. Happened to stand behind one of the AJ Foyt team pits when a mechanic came over to do some work. Craftsman tool chest on the pit cart, from which he pulled fully-polished Craftsman Professional wrenches.

I was slightly disappointed that the old garage diorama in the museum was not on display, but the Parnelli Jones Collection kind of made up for that. This was a fun project and I hope to repeat it next year, when the cars on display will be rotated.

 

[softailgarage]

I'm liking the "Proto Tools" sticker on A.J. Foyt's car

 

[54FordPanel]

Very cool pictures! Thanks for posting, those are great. The top pictures look like they were taken outside? Did they roll the museum cars outside?

I've got to get there someday. I just go crazy over those race cars, especially the roadsters.

 

[V70R]

Great post, love the photos. Always great to see what tool manufacturers were apart of automotive history.

 

[Flatintoone]

54FordPanel,
They had a few (mostly privately-owned) vintage cars running laps on Saturday morning. Afterward, they were set up on display behind the pits. Those pictures were taken outside.
The museum cars were all indoors, but some were under skylights that helped the photos out.

The museum is great. A bargain at $5, they only have a small part of the collection on display at any one time, and rotate other special exhibits through. Last year it was most of the winning cars for the centennial celebration. This year they had part of the newly-acquired Parnelli Jones collection and some land speed record cars.

 

[byoungblood]

To answer the OPs question, yes that Rockwell logo is the power tool company. My father just sold off a Rockwell band saw, probably made in the late 60s, early 70s that used that logo. It originally was my grandfathers, my dad got it back in the late 80s IIRC.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

Black and Decker loooong ago had a full line of power tools for automotive work, including very good valve seat and valve machines also sold by Snap-on...
Champion at Indy provided an army of specialists who read sparkplugs and made tuning suggestions from them...I read in the '60's of an astonished mechanic reporting that a Champion plug geek had correctly diagnosed a loose condenser connection on his Offy just by looking at the removed plugs! Champion tools included a REALLY NICE and REALLY EXPENSIVE flashligh magnifier*, special ratchets and sockets, and racks to line up you old plugs for reading.

*WANT ONE!!

 

[jeffmoss26]

I sure would like to have a Klein Tools race car LOL

 

[PrecisionTools]

Great post!

 

[vga]

Grt pic's. Thanks for sharing them with us! Good to see Craftsman tools still being used at this level of racing!!! I now think I will cont to use my Craftsman sockets and be happy!!!

 

[wrenchr]

Very cool, thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dragoocoda]

Wasn't AJ Foyt one of the pitchmen for Craftsman Tools a few years ago?

 

[garboui]

your pics only make me want to be ot and say, "I love ITB's!"

 

[Coach James]

A+ Post!!!

Coach

 

[Cinneagh]

Thanks for sharing! Post of the year?!

 

[Chuck122]

I would kill for one of those "great ones" sk stickers

 

[zkling]

Sweet cars

Do I see rod ends in bending??? Say it ain't so Batman Any other former FSAE guys here?

Wew, I now feel much better about my craftsman tools. I think I have that same top chest.

I would kill for one of those "great ones" sk stickers

Interesting... How would you put a dollar value on "kill for"? (reaches for razor blade to start scraping )

 

[Flatintoone]

Sweet cars

Do I see rod ends in bending??? Say it ain't so Batman Any other former FSAE guys here?

Wew, I now feel much better about my craftsman tools. I think I have that same top chest.



Interesting... How would you put a dollar value on "kill for"? (reaches for razor blade to start scraping )

I've seen a LOT of 'non-engineering school-approved' stuff on race cars... Many things mounted in single shear. I guess Carroll Smith wrote those books for a reason...

 

[oldldh]

Best looking race cars ever made were A.J.Watson's roadsters...

Enzo Ferrari copied the twin inlet nose for his early sixties racers...

Now if I could just find a 270/255 Offy to build a hot rod around...(that I could afford...)

 

[honcho]

I like the dolly / cart that the toolbox (white with Honda and Craftsman logos) is riding on in the A.J. Foyt Racing Team area picture Can't tell but it looks like it may be powered.

 

[APEowner]

Thanks for sharing. The IMS museum is indeed a bargain and the photo archives are amazing. A visit there should be on every car guys bucket list.

 

[KLRCraig]

I loved seeing the Drake sticker on Unser's car, I worked there in the 70's and 80's it brings back good memories.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Still more coming...

Cool pic's.....
But this one struck me --The FMC Motorcoach sticker - is there ANYTHING that FMC DIDN'T make at some point???.....and now I see RV's at one point too....Geeeshhhh

 

[brum]

ABC Supply...in the pits of my buddy Conor! Cool pics.

 

[bluebolt]

Sunnen stickers were on a lot of cars for their engine building equipment.