Five 2018 New Year's Resolutions for Every IMS Fan
January 05, 2018 | By Paul Kelly, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Less than a week into 2018, how are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions?
Admit it: We all make resolutions this time of the year. Lose weight. Exercise more. Get organized. Be nicer. And so on.
We’re no different here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. So here are five more New Year’s resolutions for IMS fans for 2018. We’re trying not to be masters of the obvious here, so you won’t see no-brainer ideas like, “Attend a race at IMS,” “Check out Carb Day concert” or “Visit the Hauler Parade during the Brickyard 400.”
Instead, here’s our list of resolutions for “under the radar” interesting experiences for IMS fans in 2018:
Play a Round at Brickyard Crossing: Brickyard Crossing Golf Course is one of the most unique layouts in the world of golf, with four holes inside the massive IMS infield and 14 outside the backstretch of the oval. It’s also a great golf course, designed by the legendary architect Pete Dye and honored as one of the top 100 public courses in the United States by numerous golf media.
Brickyard Crossing is open for public play from spring through fall, except for selected days in May and when race events are taking place at IMS. The course often is open during INDYCAR and NASCAR testing, providing the surreal experience for golfers of driving a golf ball at the same time the world’s best drivers are hurtling around the oval at 200 mph or faster.
Visit brickyardcrossing.com for more information or to schedule a tee time.
See a Donald Davidson Presentation: IMS Historian Donald Davidson is a marvel. He knows more about the Indianapolis 500 and IMS than any human on Earth. He’s also one of the nicest people you’ll meet, more than willing to share his knowledge of and passion for IMS and “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” with fellow fans.
Donald often gives talks about IMS and Indianapolis 500 history in the spring, leading up and through the Month of May, at Central Indiana locations. These engaging presentations also include lively, fun question-and-answer sessions with Donald. In the last two years, his “talks tour” has expanded throughout Indiana and a few neighboring states.
If Donald is giving a talk anywhere near you, go see it. Soak it all in. You’ll learn something, laugh and be engaged by Donald’s warmth, wit and incredible knowledge and passion.
Take a Tour: The IMS Museum is one of the greatest automotive museums on Earth. The collection of racing machinery, memorabilia and trophies is tremendous – a must-see for any visitor to the Racing Capital of the World.
But there’s more to a trip through the Museum than just strolling past the displays and cases. You must take a tour of this incredible, 108-year-old facility to truly understand its history and magnitude and to feel the spirit of the past weave with the present.
A variety of tour options are available for fans, ranging from a lap of track in a tour bus with narration by IMS Historian Donald Davidson to a full VIP Grounds Tour that includes access to the Pagoda and Gasoline Alley. They all provide a fantastic, deeper look at this iconic facility – well worth your time and money!
Visit indyracingmuseum.org for more details on the available tours.
Buy a Bronze Badge: You’ve probably heard or read that the Month of May Bronze Badge is one of the best values in sports. Guess what: It’s not a cliché. It’s the truth!
A Bronze Badge grants gate admission and Gasoline Alley garage access every day the track is open in May except for INDYCAR Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil Race Days.
Think about that: You can hang at IMS to your heart’s content and get inside the “locker room” of the racetrack nearly every day during the greatest month of the year. And the price is incredibly reasonable when you factor in how much access and entertainment you receive.
Want to dash to the track after work to catch Happy Hour on a practice day? Want to see all the drama of Pole Day from one of the best spots available? It’s easy-peasy with a Bronze Badge.
Purchase your Bronze Badge today!
Visit the End of Season Sale: Nearly every racing fan likes swag, whether it’s T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, diecast cars or more. We love to display our passion for our favorite series, drivers and tracks (hopefully IMS!).
If you’re a racing swagmaster, you must visit the annual End of Season Sale that usually takes place in early to mid-November at IMS. Incredible deals are available on a wide variety of IMS and INDYCAR apparel, collectibles and more.
The discounts are deeper than Roger Penske’s Indianapolis 500 roster of drivers. We’re talking serious savings. Take the 2017 sale, for example: T-shirts and hats from $3 to $5. Diecasts for $3 to $25. Jerseys for $30.
It’s the perfect opportunity to turbo-charge your holiday shopping early and also pick up a few cool items for yourself. Go ahead, treat yourself: You’re worth it!
Stay tuned to IMS.com and IMS social channels in late October and early November to get all of the details on the End of Season Sale.
Happy New Year! Good luck keeping your resolutions, including these five. We hope to see you at the track many times in 2018!