Oregon daily emerald., May 27, 1983, Page 13, Image 13

This may be oldster’s year
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Eighteen years ago
Dick Simon parachuted into the center of a
auto race track in Salt Lake City, accepted a
ride around the track in a super modified sports
car — and was hooked.
“I knew right then automobile racing
would have to be my life,” said the balding
former insurance executive who will take his
12th shot at the Indianapolis 500 title on
Sunday.
Simon’s chances are rated somewhere
between slim and none, but you can’t tell him
that.
“This is the first time I’ve raced here with
new equipment,” he said. "In the past. I’ve had
nothing but hand-me-down cars. In my first race
in 1970, I drove a car that cost $12,000 and
hadn’t been in a race in five years."
He finished 14th. In the ensuing years, he
has done no better than 13th, giving him a dou
ble distinction going into this 67th Indy classic.
Figure filberts say no one has ever driven
that many races without finishing better than
13th. At 49, he is the oldest driver in the field.
Simon takes exception to critics who, after
52-year-old Bob Harkey was seriously injured in
an accident during practice, argue that men of
such age should not be allowed to sit in
machines going around a track with 32 others
at speeds up to 200 mph or more.
Such drivers, the critics argue, are mere
spear carriers in the big show where big money
and expensive machines always prevail.
“The difference between me and Harkey is
that I am in perfect physical condition," Simon
said Thursday after his final test run. “I have ex
cellent reflexes and peripheral vision. I have the
physical assets and instincts of a 30-year-old.”
A.J. Foyt, seeking his fifth Indy champion
ship, is 48 years-old. On the other hand, George
Snider, who will drive Foyt’s second car under
sponsorship of Kentucky’s Calumet horse
farm, is 43 and has been in 17 Indianapolis
races without ever getting higher than eighth.
“There is no difference in any of us,”
Simon said. “We love driving, and we all — no
matter who — hold out the hope of winning.”
The father of seven and grandfather of six,
Simon, a stocky, 5-foot-10 native of Bakersfield,
Calif., said neither he nor any of his family ever
considered the prospect of a fatal accident.
“My wife, Debbie, is into this more than I
am," he said. “I think auto racing is the safest
sport in the world.
“I’ll give you an example, I went over to
England to buy this new car from March Cars,
Ltd., paying $200,000. Driving in a passenger
car at 35 miles an hour later in England, I was
injured and spent 14 days in the hospital.”
Born in Seattle, Simon attended the
University of Utah on a skiing scholarship. He
was Intermountain Ski Jumping Champion for
two years, was former national parachuting
champion and holds a multi-engine pilot’s
rating.
He was doing a carnival-type parachute
jump when he got acquainted with car racing.
“I raced sports cars for trophies for six
years,” he said. “I made the transition to Indy
cars in 1970, mortgaging my kids and getting
$50,000 from an associate, Fred Auerbach.
“I had a good chance in my first race in
1970 and was in the top five in 1980 when my
front suspension came off and I went into the
pits on three wheels.”
He hardly blinks when he talks of the
tragic 1973 Indy race in which Salt Walther was
seriously injured and Swede Savage was killed.
Simon’s roll bar snapped, his helmet was
broken and the water tank back of his head
completely destroyed. He missed death by
inches.
“Just a roll of the dice,” he said with a
shrug.
Italian clocked Indy’s fastest
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Teo
Fabi has no more worries
about driving at the In
dianapolis Motor Speedway.
Now, after a final show of
speed Thursday, the worries
may belong to the other
drivers who will try to catch
him in Sunday’s Indy 500.
The Italian road-racing
veteran, who established new
one-and four-lap speed
records in winning the pole
position for the 67th Indy
classic, again found the
quickest way around the
21/2-mile oval Thursday during
"carbureation testing" the last
opportunity for the starters to
get on the track prior to Sun
day’s race.
Fabi’s Cosworth-powered
March made three successive
laps at more than 201 mph, the
fastest caught by the Speed
way’s electric timer at 201.795.
Although 10 drivers
qualified at more than 200, the
only others over that figure
Thursday as the teams worked
on their race day setup were
Kevin Cogan at 200.490, Bobby
Rahal at 200.522 and Derek Da
ly, an Indianapolis rookie and
Formula One veteran, at
200.330.
All 33 starters made it onto
the track during the two-hour
session and all but six of them
posted laps averaging more
than 190 mph. But, again, it
was the diminutive Fabi —
whose one-lap high of 208.049
and four-lap average of
207.395 now are the standards
here — who led the way.
“The car is comfortable and
I am comfortable now with the
track," said the native of
Milan. "I have said I felt afraid
of the place when I came here
and ran 10 or 15 laps on it, but
now I really like the track and I
think I can run at the speeds
we’ve been going (in practice)
quite a bit in the race."
Emerald photo
Brian Crouser will sit out the NCAA championships
because of an injury to the elbow of his throwing arm.
Continued from Page 11
“There has to be a happy
balance,” says Irving.
“Sometimes an athlete can
overlift and that can be
counter-productive."
Crouser thinks the
weight a thrower is at is the
important thing. The
sophomore feels an athlete
should lift until he’s at his
prime weight.
"The weight training
depends on the person,”
says Crouser. “Myself, I like
to be at 230 because I’m a
power thrower, but if you
weigh 210 and can stay
strong, that’s good too. It
just depends on how you
feel."
One area where coaches
and athletes agree is on the
subject of athletic ability.
All believe that the better
the athlete, the better the
safeguard against injury
“The more athletic ability
the better," says Burton.
And from Crouser: “Being a
good athlete gives you an
advantage."
Still, there seems to be
no sure-fire way to stay
away from injury for the
javelin thrower.
The trend may be to stay
away from throwing every
week. Petranoff prefers not
to throw on a weekly basis,
and Rouse came up with
three consecutive PR's this
season throwing every
other week. Crouser, heal
ing from overthrowing, is
adamant that he won’t
make the same mistake
next year.
“I want to throw less than
every other week,” he says.
"I’m at the point where I’ve
got to start thinking about
myself, and it’s to my ad
vantage not to throw too
much. Rc.z was really smart
to do what she did.”
Yet no matter how often
the javelin thrower per
forms, he or she remains a
fragile athlete.
“A javelin thrower is like
a finely tuned race car,”
says Irving, “and in my
time, I’ve seen quite a few
race cars.”
et al.
MEETINGS
International Stu tent Christian Fellowship maats
k vary Fri. at 7:30 p.m at the Way inn, 1332 Kincaid. All
internationals are welcome. For more information call
683-4190 or 687-8684
Lutheran Student Supper this Sun. at 6 p.m. at the
Metzlers Meet at 5:30 at the Christus House, 18th and
Potter tor rides For more information call 342-4844
Japanese Bible Study meets every Sat. at 7:15 p.m.
at 550 E. 14th, Apt. 21. Instruction is in Japanese For
more information call 687-8684.
Asklepiads will hold an Initiation meeting on Tue.
May 31 at the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at 7 p.m All new
members must attend
College Republicans will meet on Wed , June 1
evening in Rm. 109 EMU Everyone is welcome.
There will be an organizational meeting on Tue.,
May 31 for the University Pre-Law Students’ Associa
tion. The meeting will take place at 6:30 in Rm. 164
Oregon Hall.
LECTURES
Nicaragua 1982: Artist Batty LaOuka spaaks on the
passant painter of Solantlnama and the professional
artist, revolutionary committmont, and individuality in
Nicaragua. A slide-lecture based on he-' travels in
Nicaragua will take place on Wed. June 1 at 7:30 p m
at 1236 Kincaid St A SI donation is requested
“Towards a Theory of Design Studio Instruction” is
the title of a sMde-lecture to be given by Larry
Kasparowitz today in Rm. 177 at 4:30 p.m..
Consequences of on Hoalth In El Salvador, a
slide presentation with videotapes by Rafeal Barrera
will take place on Tue , May 31 at 7:30 p.m at 1236 Kin
caid St. A $1 donation is requested A discussion will
be included with local health workers.
MISCELLANEOUS
America's Love Run — a benefit for the Muscular
Dystrophy Association will take place the entire
month of June. The Love Run is a 30-day running pro
gram where participants obtain pledges for every mile
they will run during the month of June. Watch for entry
BLOOM COUNTY
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coupons at local running stores or call 686-2753.
Lana County Sheriff Mounted Posse la sponsoring
the 3rd Annual Rlde-A-Long, with all proceeds going to
Easter Seal School and Treatment Center. The Ride-A
Long will take place on Sun., June 5, on 10 miles of
trail from Mt. Plsgah in Buford Park. Pick up pledge
sheets at any feed store or western wear store, or the
Easter Seal School, 3575 Donald, or call 344 3050
Attantlon political science majors: apply for fall
term pear advising positions. Applications are
available in Rm. 907 PLC. and they are due today
All majors are encouraged to apply for pre-major
peer advlelng positions for fall term Valuable ex
perience for qualified and enthusiastic students for
upper division credit. Pick up applications in Rm. 164
Oregon Hall. These are due Tues., May 31.
Sociology Majors: Applications are now being taken
for new sociology peer advisers fall term. If you're in
terested , come to Rm. 709 PLC to pick up an applica
tion, or call x5012 with questions.
WORKSHOPS
Discussion on the purpose ol Ilfs will take place M-F
at 1:30 p.m. and 6:3P p.m. at 768 E. 16th. For more in
formation call 747-0192.
“Creative Partnerships Linking Business and
Childcare," a conference sponsored by the League of
Women Voters is scheduled for Tue., May 31 at the
Valley River Inn For further information concerning
registration call 344-5944, 683-7044, or 343-7917
INTERVIEWS
Please sign up immediately II Interested in Inter
viewing with the following recruiters:
May 27 — Jet Delivery Service (for Operations
Manager Eugene) — Spring grads — Bachelor's —
Marketing/Business preferred)
Sign up at Job Location and Development, Universi
ty of Oregon — returning students — Full Time Sum
mer Jobs — 9 a m 12 p m and 1-4 p.m. at 1511 Agate,
Public Research OSPIRG and other jobs — Portland,
Salem, Lincoln City, Beaverton, Eugene, San Diego,
Tigard.
BLOOM COUNTY
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