40th Anniversary of Salt Walther's Crash at the Indianapolis 500

This year will be 40 years since the fiery crash of the No. 77 car of Salt Walther at the start of the race. May 28th 1973 crash would mar what was to be fire and rain of Indy that May. Art Pollard was killed on May 12th running hot laps after already qualifying for the race in turn 1, dying from flame inhalation. After the race was eventually restarted days later after Salt's crash ended the attempt on Monday, Swede Savage hit the inside wall in turn 4 during the race and the car came apart with Swede sitting in the cockpit on the track and on fire, he passed in July from medical complications.

Salt told us that he was very anxious to get the race started and hadn't eat'n in 2 days. At the start cars were swerving wildly jockeying for position. Salt to the day he passed in 2012 maintained he was bumped from behind and that caused the accident.   

We took Salt's daughter Brittney who just turned 18 to the track on pole day this year and was able to put her in touch with the track and even people from the IMS Safety Team who had assisted her father after the accident. We walked by the infield hospital and explained what the process was and showed her the helicopter that would have rushed her dad to Methodist Hospital. 

Most people remember the crash, but forget that after giving only a 5% chance to live and massive injuries to his body, Salt Walther returned to the track in 1974 and put his new No. 77 McLaren in the field at the 14th position with a speed of 180.920 and finished in 17th when a piston failed on lap 141.

With the race this Sunday, lets hope it's a safe one. This will be the first Indianapolis 500 since the early 60's that Salt Walther will not be around for. We will have more details on this and more in the new book coming later this year "For the Race of Your Life".
   

Brittany Walther Goes to Indy

We had the good fortune and good weather to take Salt's youngest daughter to the track for her very first time this past weekend. She was very excited to see where her dad and grandfather spent most of their time in the 1970's. I got to talk with long time track historian Donald Davidson via phone while trying to set up some special stuff for Brittany.

Brittany Walther in Turn 1 Site of her father's accident

 

Chuck Little w/Dayton Walther Team Jacket [Salt's good friend] and Brittany

While visiting turn 1 we happened to notice some older gentleman in Safety Crew shirts sitting in a golf cart. We walked over and introduced Brittany to them and they were members of the IMS Safety Crew that worked the accident in 1973. They were very excited to meet her and share the experience of that day with her. 

Brittany then drove the Firestone simulator, which was an eye opening experience for her. She told us the steering was too sensitive. 

Brittany Walther heading into turn 1

Brittany got to visit the garage area later in the day and she got a case of the goo, goo's with A.J. Foyt's young rookie driver Conner Daly who is the son of long time F1 and Champ care driver Derek Daly. She got a picture on her camera with him and an autographed poster. It was more than likely the poster was going on her bedroom wall Saturday night.

Conner Daly Garage with A.J. in the back

We also, briefly met A.J. and long time crew member Lew Parks who had crewed for Dayton Walther Racing back in 1978 before leaving for A.J. Foyt Racing. Lew shared some stories with Brittany about here dad and was in the middle of a story about her grandfather when A.J. summoned him to help find a flat cart as they were going to try a qualifying attempt late on Saturday afternoon.

It was a long day, but she had a great time getting to see and experience something her dad and grandpa had so much passion for.