Vintage car fun comes to IMS this weekend

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) – A weekend of vintage car fun starts Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Balloon rides, auctions, and of course racing is all scheduled for Friday. “Motostalgia,” a high-end car auction, will be held at 3 p.m.

Potential buyers will have time beforehand to see the cars that are out now. Among the cars up for bidding is the Lotus Turbine that Graham Hill drove in the 1968 Indianapolis 500.

There’s more than just racing cars to buy. Vintage racing memorabilia will also be up for grabs to the highest bidder. To get involved you need to register online. There is a regular bidder option or a CIP bidder option. As a bidder it’s $150, but you get admission to auction, access to auction block, auction catalog and one guest pass.

Also starting at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, fans will have a chance to go up in a hot air balloon. The event is to commemorate the 1909 balloon races that were the first events of any kind at the facility.

They will be tethered in the infield and fans can ride up 75 feet in the air for a unique perspective on all the action. Rides are $10 per person, with children 12 and under free with an adult.

Friday events:

• 8 a.m. – Gates Open
• 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Road Course Qualifying Sessions 2
• 12:40 p.m. – 1:10 .p.m – Pro/Am Practice – Road Course
• 2:15 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Oval Exhibitions
• 3 p.m. – Public Balloon Rides
• 3 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Motostalgia Collector Car Auction – Pavilion
• 6 p.m. – Gates Close

Saturday events:

• 8 a.m.- Gates Open
• 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Road Course Qualifying Sessions 2
• 12:40 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. – Pro/Am Practice – Road Course
• 2:15 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Oval Exhibitions
• 3 p.m.- Public Balloon Rides
• 3 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Motostalgia Collector Car Auction – Pavilion
• 6 p.m.- Gates Close

Sunday events:

• 8 a.m. – Gates Open
• 8:20 a.m. – National Anthem
• 8:25 a.m. – 9:35 a.m. – Vintage/Classic Enduro Race (60 min.)
• 9:55 a.m. – 11:35 a.m. – Historic GTP/GT Enduro Race (90 min.)
• 11:50 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. – Unser Family Reunion Fan Walk – Pit Lane
• 12:35 p.m.- Unser Family Exhibition Race – Oval
• 1:05 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. – Oval Exhibitions
• 5:30 p.m. – Gates Close