What is the Indy 500 Today as we approach the 100th
running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race? By; Jim Gandolf
How can one control the biggest spectacle in racing? This all
started back on May 31, 1976; with the death of Elmer George on a crazy night
in Terre Haute, Indiana. Who is Elmer George? Elmer George (July 15, 1928 – May
31, 1976) was an American race car driver. Born in Hockerville, Oklahoma,
George died in Terre Haute, Indiana. He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship
Car series, racing in the 1956–1963 seasons with 64 starts, including the
Indianapolis 500 races in 1957, 1962, and 1963. He finished in the top ten 36
times, with one victory, in 1957 at Syracuse. George was also the 1957 USAC
Sprint Car Series champion. Elmer George was married to Mari Hulman George,
daughter of Tony Hulman, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Elmer and
Mari had three daughters and one son, Tony George, founder of the Indy Racing
League, and Ex-CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. During the late 1960s
and early 1970s, George was the director of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Radio Network. On May 3, 1976, Mari filed for divorce. On the day of the 1976
Indianapolis 500 (May 30, 1976), Elmer George argued by telephone with Guy
Trolinger, a horse trainer at the family farm near Terre Haute, and Mari's
alleged boyfriend. After the race, George drove to the farm and confronted
Trolinger. At around 1 a.m., gunfire broke out, and George was shot and killed
of multiple gunshot wounds. A grand jury ruled that Trolinger killed George in
self-defense, and charges were dropped.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmer_George But Wikipedia does not cover the human side
of the real Mrs. George at all. Was Mari Hulman George in an affair with someone
named Guy Trolinger a horse trainer, or was she just being a nice person that
no matter what was going on Elmer George was just upset and jealous man on the
outs? Mari Hulman George was soon to be a victim on May 31, 1976; with not ever
having a chance to reconcile her divorce action, or as most call it a wakeup
call to Elmer George. I feel that whomever Mari Hulman George was nice to, would
have been accused of herself having an affair with anyone that came in front of
a camera or a reporter. Mari Hulman George’s life from that point on in May 31,
1976 had to be with closed doors atmospheric reaction for the rest of her life.
I happen to think Mari Hulman George is a wonderful business person, and humanitarian.
I did not know Mari Hulman George back in 1976, because I was only eleven years
old. All though I was only eleven years old, I did keep every box score of all
the drivers that attempted to make the running of the Indy 500, or try to be in
any USAC race in that time frame of 1976. I have seen Ms. Mari Hulman George at
certain events and just wanted to say, “I believe in what you are doing in
motorsports!” But then again who the heck am I to make that claim? I am a
person that has grown in this sport from a fan, unofficial corporate tour
guide, to closing sponsorship packages for certain race teams. I have failed so
much over the years it makes it hard for one to breathe positively in any
direction. I have always have kept myself positive in each year that comes up
and hopes of new companies that will sponsor a IndyCar Race Team for my own
self. I feel each year I have had so many company officials tell me misguided action
of non-performance area of the here and now. I have looked at my own failures
as that I am getting closer to success in my corner of motorsports. I look at
Mari Hulman George as a big part of the history of motorsports and the balance
of strong exclusive club of strong woman leaders that never get to tell their
story even though the story might be so grand of an illusion of glory.
Reporters want to tell stories that sell a certain amount of copies. I want to
sell the truth with real glory, that Mari Hulman George is the woman of the
year and many years to come. What did she go through to rise to the top? Why hasn’t
Mari Hulman George made woman of the year at ESPN? Time magazine? For the woman
that has ran the largest single day sporting event in the world since 1988, and
sits in the shadow of shame because of a few reporters trying to acclaim fame
over a certain tragedy in one’s life? All of Mari Hulman George’s children and grandchildren
are wonderful in her own right of powerful upbringing. Her commitment to
education quality and humanitarian efforts are on a grand private scale. Remember after losing her father to her
children in 1976, Mari Hulman George lost her Superman of a father the next
year in 1977. Eleven years later Mari Hulman George became the Chair-Woman of the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. So in honoring the 100th running
500 Miles Races throughout the years of turmoil and spite, over Women not even
being allowed in the pit area or even tragedy of certain human race not even
being allowed in the pit area of the most greatest race in the world. We have a
wonderful woman being at the head of the single day sporting event in the
world. Mari Hulman George has been a positive leader in sports, even when it
was not popular for women to be a leader. I say Mari Hulman George is my hero
of my life, because if she can be a leader, I can be inspired to achieve my
goals through Mari Hulman George’s happiness. Yes; I used to play hide in seek
on the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when I was an early teen, and
love every minute of that action. I made my first speech in Speech Class in
Port Washington, Wisconsin over the value of sponsoring a race car in the
Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, called the Indy 500! My first Indianapolis 500 Mile
Race that I got to attend was in 1978 and loved every minute of that race in its
entirety! I wrote a book called “500
Miles the Book” I am a real fan of Mari Hulman George in my whole adult life
and to this point in my life. The motorsports capitol of the world needs to recognize
what a great person Mari Hulman George has been as a leader, not only in
business, but in her family, and community.
Jim Gandolf “500 Miles the Book”
Jim Gandolf Motorsports
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