Pitz Stop: Unveiling of the IMS Museum Car

Get ready for an exciting evening at SILO's next Pitz Stop on March 8th, featuring an exclusive interview with Jason Vansickle, the VP of Curation and Education at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Jason, who expertly manages a vast collection of over 200 vehicles and an array of memorabilia, will be sharing insights with John Pitz, a local car aficionado. Anticipate a special moment as Jason unveils a car from the IMS Museum collection.

Doors open at 5:00 pm, giving you the perfect opportunity to enjoy a delicious taco bar starting at 5:30 pm, and for those looking to relax with a drink, a cash bar will be fully stocked with a wide variety of options.

Don't miss this unique blend of automotive history, tasty food, and great company!

Doors open at 5:00pm. There will be plenty of delicious food available for purchase — starting at 5:30pm. And for those who want to indulge in some drinks, we will have a cash bar stocked with a wide variety of beverages.

About the IMS Museum car:

-Year Built: 1955
-Engine: Offenhauser
-Year Acquired by IMS Museum: 1964
-Livery Year: 1957
-Sponsor: Dean Van Lines
-Driver: Jimmy Bryan
-Donor: Dean Van Lines- Racing Division

This Dean Van Lines Special carried Jimmy Bryan to victory in the landmark 1957 500-Mile invitational “Race of Two Worlds,” a competition that challenged United States Auto Club (USAC) Championship drivers against their Formula One counterparts held on the steeply banked oval track at Monza, Italy. This Dean Van Lines Special was built in 1955 by craftsman Eddie Kuzma and contained a 274 cubic-inch Offenhauser four-cylinder engine.

Jimmy Bryan briefly led the 1955 Indianapolis 500 near the halfway mark only to retire from the race with mechanical problems. Bryan finished third in the 1957 Indianapolis 500 just before departing for Monza. With Bryan leaving the team after the 1957 season, the car was turned over to 23-year-old “rookie” A. J. Foyt, who spun out on the 148th lap of what was his first of a record 35 consecutive Indianapolis 500 starts. The driver for the 1958 “Race of Two Worlds” was none other than five-time World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio, who qualified third yet was eliminated after only a handful of laps. This Kuzma was still an Indianapolis 500 contender as late as 1961 with veteran Bill Cheesbourg running second for several of the early laps.