I would have been at both those races. I haven’t missed one since 1973.
My dad took me to the track the first time for practice in 1967 when I was seven years old just to see Parnelli Jones in the STP Turbine. I’ve been back many times and have some great track memories.
The 1980 500 was not the best race but it was the most memorable for me. After a 3:30 a.m. stop to the White Castle at 16th & Georgetown, we learned that “Gates Open at 6:00 a.m.” means “barbarians storm the castle.” We sat on the berm inside Turn 4. A cloudless sunny day with the race dominated start to finish by JR in the Pennzoil Chapparal. After the last car left the track, about 10 guys jumped the short fence, went on the track, and mooned the Northwest Vista. The only reason I wasn’t one of them is they didn’t tell me they were gonna do that.
My two sons have their own track stories now, too.
We have seats at the end of Turn 1/beginning of south short chute.