by: Susan N. Beranek
When May arrives each year, for those of us in Indiana--a place not known for great weather most of the time -- we Hoosiers come out of hibernation. Spring is here, summer can’t be far behind. It means that the “30 days of May” have arrived.
Events of race day morning move swiftly along.. It is a non-stop round of activities. The IMS Radio Network takes over from local stations an hour before the start of the race. The air is filled with electricity. The Purdue University Band plays “On The Banks of the Wabash,” Florence Henderson’s sings “God Bless America,” the invocation is given, and the haunting sounds of “Taps” reverberate throughout the two and a half mile oval of the track. There’s just one thing left to be done ... the singing of “Back Home Again in Indiana, by the incomparable Jim Nabors. Race fans everywhere love that moment.
Tom Carnegie, for many years the voice of the 500, used to introduce Jim by way of saying, “His voice is an institution at this race. As Jim’s voice resonates through the stands of over 300,000 people, hearts beat a little faster. Feelings about that song are difficult to put into words. For some, it brings a spiritual renewal, a sense of hope and joy. For others, it’s a time to stand and cheer at the largest sports event in the world. For Hoosiers, it’s a time for all of that, plus a feeling of huge pride in our own home. When Jim sings, for a brief time, Indiana becomes everyone’s home.
How does one describe that song or what it means? The answer to that undoubtedly comes in a variety of responses. I can only describe what it means to me. It’s about my state, my home, the place where I have lived most of my life. It recalls the many times I have gone to the race and sat in the heat or the rain. But most of all, it has meant for me--especially for 31 of the last 37 years--the stirring of my heart by a person who is very special to many of us, Jim Nabors. When he takes the microphone in his hands and sings “Back Home Again in Indiana,” it is the essence of what it means to hear a song beloved by so many. We’re all a little richer for the experience. Oh, yes, after the song there is a race to be run. But the command cannot be given, the green flag cannot be dropped until Jim has sung.
Thanks, Jim Nabors! You make the Indy 500 come alive in a very special way.
by: Susan N. Beranek
Thank you again Susan for this! Truly wonderful!4790 W 16th St.
Speedway, IN 46222
Museum Phone: (317) 492-6784
Official Site: Here
| Main Page | Indianapolis 500 |
|---|---|
| Media | Regulations |
| Directions | Tours |
| Camping | Facts |
| Tribute To Jim Nabors |
| Permanent Seating: 257,325 |
Shape: Oval |
|---|---|
| Completed: 1909 |
Banking: 9° turns |
| Distance: 2.5 Miles |
Banking: 0° straights |
| Frontstretch: 3,330 Feet |
Backstretch: 3,330 Feet |
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By: Susan N. Beranek
When May arrives each year, for those of us who live in a part of the country that is not known for great weather most of the time, it is almost like we Hoosiers are let out of a cage. Spring is here, summer can not be far behind. And it also means that the (30 days of May) have arrived. When I was a much younger person, I started listening to the Indianapolis 500 each year on Memorial Day. The race was changed from Memorial Day to the Sunday, however, has no bearing on what the opening ceremonies mean to me, or the way they emotionally move me to tears...