Vintage race car arrives at IND
1950s Kuzma champ dirt car displayed on Concourse B
INDIANAPOLIS – The latest in a lineup of classic racing cars greeting passengers at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) has arrived. The Dowgard Special #2, from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, is on display on Concourse B near the exit to Civic Plaza.
According to the museum, other than the Indianapolis 500, virtually all National Championship races held between the early 1930s and the late 1950s were dirt track "100- milers," the popular events still counting toward the national title as late as 1970. These dual-purpose, solidly built cars won the 500 in 1950, '51 and '52, and were still in the lineup as late as 1956.
The car on display at IND was built in 1958-59 by Eddie Kuzma. Owned by Lindsey Hopkins, it was driven on one-mile tracks by Jim Rathmann, Ed Elisian, Bobby Grim, Jimmy McElreath, and two-time National Champion Tony Bettenhausen, who won with it at Phoenix in 1959.
It became known as "The Grey Ghost" after a rush repair job in 1962 led to an appearance at a track in gray primer.
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