UPDATE: See the link to the article in a later post in this thread. Bob
Here's a self-explanatory copy of a letter to Editor David Zivan back in May, following an wonderful, extensively-researched article that appeared in the May 2009 Indianapolis Monthly magazine. It wasn't intended to be a Letter to the Editor for publication...but much to my surprise, they published it as the first Letter to the Editor in the July 2009 edition!
(Now before anyone jumps on my reference to Studebaker's financial position in May 1960, remember; even though they were just getting by at the time,
they were still better off than was General Motors the day I wrote this letter![:0]) 
BP
Hello, David Zivan;
'Just a note to express appreciation for the wonderful Indianapolis Motor Speedway and "500" article your team assembled for the May 2009 [u]Indianapolis Monthly</u>. What an undertaking, studying all those images and having to pare them down to the ones selected. Colorfully written and nicely arranged, too. A great job all around, in which you should all take satisfaction.
As a life-long Studebaker enthusiast, I was pleased to see your including Studebaker's famous 1930s race car "assault team" and caption on Pages 70 and 71; a worthy inclusion from another famous Indiana company.
Also of interest was the Page 76 Pace Lap photo from the 1960 race. Understandably, the 1960 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Convertible Pace Car is the most prominent element in the photo. Surprising, though, is the fresh new 1960 Studebaker Champ pickup truck support vehicle seen on the point at the south end of pit row! One would think General Motors would have supplied GMC trucks for support vehicles, yet the newest Studebaker truck on the market, the just-introduced Champ, was right there, almost "front and center."
South Bend's Studebaker was a going, profitable manufacturer in May 1960, contributing greatly to Indiana's economic base...as was General Motors, of course. Although 1960 was a profitable model year for Studebaker, only four short years after that photo was taken, the company would no longer be manufacturing consumer vehicles of any kind in the United States of America.
Now, today, Oldsmobile is gone...and General Motors executives would likely envy what was Studebaker's financial condition as of May, 1960.
My, how times change.
Thanks again for a great article; thoroughly enjoyable.
Bob Palma
Technical Editor
The Studebaker Drivers Club
(an international organization of almost 13,000 members)
Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 17:45:05 -0400
Subject: Re: Great Indianapolis Motor Speedway article
From: DZivan@indymonthly.emmis.com
To: bobcaripalma@hotmail.comDavid Zivan Editor
Indianapolis Monthly
40 Monument Circle, Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317.684.8345
www.indianapolismonthly.com
Here's a self-explanatory copy of a letter to Editor David Zivan back in May, following an wonderful, extensively-researched article that appeared in the May 2009 Indianapolis Monthly magazine. It wasn't intended to be a Letter to the Editor for publication...but much to my surprise, they published it as the first Letter to the Editor in the July 2009 edition! (Now before anyone jumps on my reference to Studebaker's financial position in May 1960, remember; even though they were just getting by at the time,
they were still better off than was General Motors the day I wrote this letter![:0]) BPHello, David Zivan;
'Just a note to express appreciation for the wonderful Indianapolis Motor Speedway and "500" article your team assembled for the May 2009 [u]Indianapolis Monthly</u>. What an undertaking, studying all those images and having to pare them down to the ones selected. Colorfully written and nicely arranged, too. A great job all around, in which you should all take satisfaction.
As a life-long Studebaker enthusiast, I was pleased to see your including Studebaker's famous 1930s race car "assault team" and caption on Pages 70 and 71; a worthy inclusion from another famous Indiana company.
Also of interest was the Page 76 Pace Lap photo from the 1960 race. Understandably, the 1960 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Convertible Pace Car is the most prominent element in the photo. Surprising, though, is the fresh new 1960 Studebaker Champ pickup truck support vehicle seen on the point at the south end of pit row! One would think General Motors would have supplied GMC trucks for support vehicles, yet the newest Studebaker truck on the market, the just-introduced Champ, was right there, almost "front and center."
South Bend's Studebaker was a going, profitable manufacturer in May 1960, contributing greatly to Indiana's economic base...as was General Motors, of course. Although 1960 was a profitable model year for Studebaker, only four short years after that photo was taken, the company would no longer be manufacturing consumer vehicles of any kind in the United States of America.
Now, today, Oldsmobile is gone...and General Motors executives would likely envy what was Studebaker's financial condition as of May, 1960.
My, how times change.
Thanks again for a great article; thoroughly enjoyable.
Bob Palma
Technical Editor
The Studebaker Drivers Club
(an international organization of almost 13,000 members)
Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 17:45:05 -0400
Subject: Re: Great Indianapolis Motor Speedway article
From: DZivan@indymonthly.emmis.com
To: bobcaripalma@hotmail.comDavid Zivan Editor
Indianapolis Monthly
40 Monument Circle, Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317.684.8345
www.indianapolismonthly.com
We've got to quit saying, 
]
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