"500 LEGENDS"

1968...It was the first year I ever saw the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. I was 6 years old. My father had always been a great fan and had attended the race many years. I can still to this day hear him talk of the sound of mighty Novi's and how Vuky would get two wheels in the grass to pass a car going into a turn and how the cars of today just don't compare. My mother, though not as big a fan, always went with us to time trials. As I remember, she never really seemed as excited to go as we all did mainly because as I would later realize as I got older she really was only there to babysit so my dad and older brothers could go down to gasoline alley and see the cars and prepare food whenever anyone wanted a drink, piece of chicken or a sandwich. But, like the good sport she always was she went because there was nothing more important to her than having her family together enjoying something they truly loved...the Indianpolis Motor Speedway.

1968...My father had been given two plum tickets that were in the penthouse paddock section on the front straightaway by a dear friend of the family, Indiana State Treasurer, Jack New. Needless to say, my dad and older brother were as excited as two race fans could possibly be. I mean two of the best seats in the house and they were going to see the race like they had never seen it before. That is until my mother stepped in! She decided that it just didn't seem fair that only two members of the family should be able to go to the race she thought all six should!! So, as it was, my father reluctantly traded those two incredible tickets in the penthouse paddock section for 6 tickets on the inside of the track in turn 3. Being so young, aside from the much louder than normal conversation my mother, father and older brother seemed to be having, I don't really remember much about what took place leading up to the decision being made about those 2 great tickets being traded for 6 not so great tickets. What I do remember though was that I was going and we were all going as a family.

1968...RACE DAY...it was the most spectacular thing I had ever seen. There were so many people and I remember how long the line of cars were and it seemed to take forever before we finally made it to the track. Once we got to our seats the complaining began. Again I don't recall much, but if you have ever sat on the inside of the Speedway in turn 3 you can see maybe all of about 400 yards of track. Nevertheless, to me it was the most unbelievable thing I had ever seen. When the race cars finally came around for the pace lap they were beautiful and so colorful. But it was when I heard the sound of the 33 engines, just as my father had described to me, I was hooked for life. The brightly colored day-glo red STP Lotus Turbines are still my all time favorite cars and to this day my family still enjoys the memorial day classic every year. So, that is how this website came to be..."500 LEGENDS".

I have enjoyed for many years making custom conversion 1/18 scale Indy Cars and vintage replica helmets of the "500 LEGENDS" for family and friends. Now I would like to share my love of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race with fans from around the world. Scroll through my site and enjoy looking at the work I have done. Each of the high quality works of "ART IN MOTION" you will find on my site is meticulously built and detailed with pride. I guarantee that the quality of my workmanship will meet or exceed all of your expectations and and will be some of the most prized Indy car memorabilia of your collection. You will also find rare Indy racing memorabilia...car parts, helmets, uniforms, artwork and actual vintage racing cars that were historically signifigant to the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race and open wheel racing. Also, you will find an incredible collection of pictures and videos that I will add to daily. Feel free to send me pictures and videos from your own personal collections to share with the many fans from around the world who share our same passion. There is a blog for you to share your thoughts, ideas for my diecast cars and replica helmets and your stories of the greatest spectacle in racing. My website is dedicated to the many Indy Car fans from around the world who love the "BRICKYARD" as much as I do, but most of all it is dedicated to my mother and father whose love for their family and wanting to share this special event with them that "500 LEGENDS" came to be.

All the Best,
John Edwards "500 LEGENDS"