First year the Nats moved to Indy (actually IRP @ Brownsburg, west of town), the hotel complex we were in had a short, 1 block divided street. An older lady in her Mopar happened to get in the "burn-out line" near that median, where others were doing the same thing. A county officer came up and approached her car, started to write her a ticket, and all ____ DID break loose. The younger officer called for backup. And as this was in the county, it was not "Indy" as such. They ended up blocking entry to the whole complex. "Riot" might have been an operative term? Cars got towed, including many fine E-bodies from NJ. It was a mess! One of the local shuttle bus drivers didn't like us being there, it was said.
Being on the second floor of an adjacent hotel, we could watch from the stairwell windows. Lots of angst, apparently on both sides of things.
The next year, the younger management at the hotel we were in, for both years, tended to "come to our rescue". As the hotel parking lots were "theirs", they allowed burnouts and spectators on their back parking lot. As long as it was "controlled" and no damage was done to residents' vehicles. One of our guys was in a rented Neon sedan. With the parking brake firmly on, the front wheels went up in smoke and dragged the rear wheels forward . . . the crowd cheered at that "four wheel burnout". Next morning, a good bit of evidence what had gone on that night. When we got there next year, there had been new asphalt laid down. That 's where we stayed for every year the Nats were in Indy. That was the only year of that parking lot action, but for those that were there later, we were glad they let it happen! Good PR, to say the least.
CBODY67
