Milwaukee Mile Rex Mays Classic Returns
Indy car race driver Rex Mays name was linked to the traditional open-wheel race that was held at The Milwaukee Mile from 1950-1983 the week after the Indianapolis 500. This years Rex Mays Classic will feature over fifteen authentic vintage Indy cars, including one Mays captured the pole position for the Indy 500 in 1935 and 1936.
The first of two Rex Mays Classic exhibition sessions will take place shortly after 9:00 a.m., with another session scheduled at 1:30 p.m., which comes after the 100-mile Firestone Indy Lights race (start time 11:30 a.m. CST), leading into pre-race activities for the ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225 IndyCar Series race, set for a 3:00 p.m. green flag.
Among the vintage cars entered is the 1961 “Sun City" Watson-Offy that Rodger Ward drove to victory at Americas Legendary Oval in the 1961 edition of the Rex Mays Classic, covering the 100-mile event in flag-to-flag fashion for Milwaukee’s own Leader Cards team.
Joe Leonard’s 1968 Indianapolis pole-winning Lotus 56 turbine-wedge will be a popular draw is it is expected to whoosh around the historic oval.
A 1933 Detroit Gasket Special, in which Charlie Crawford piloted to 16th in the 1934 running of the “500," will also be on-track.
A must-see, Rex Mays Indy pole winner, a 1935 Adams-Miller, has been beautifully restored and will participate.
A record-setting 1937 Thorne-Sparks “Big Six," driven by Jimmy Snyder will be on hand. Snyder in this car became the first driver to qualify at over 130 mph at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Also participating will be the 1997 Lola 97-20 Indy Lights car that current IndyCar Series driver Townsend Bell won with in dominating fashion at The Milwaukee Mile in 2001, which helped Bell secure the series title. Prior to Bells success in the car, Oriol Servia and Casey Mears raced the car in 1999 and 2000 for the formidable Dorricott Racing team.
Several more historic cars are expected to participate in this inaugural Rex Mays Classic vintage Indy car event.
When not on-track, the proud owners, drivers and Rex Mays Classic race cars will be easily accessible within the infield of The Mile, near Turn Two inside the speedway. Fans who have a Sunday, June 1 grandstand ticket can access the infield for no additional charge.
The vintage cars will at speed at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.. Schedule and participants subject to change.
For more information on the ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225 race weekend, visit www.milwaukeemile.com.