BROAD RIPPLE, Ind. (WTHR) – One local family wasn’t quite ready to give up all of their Indy 500 traditions.
Without a race in Speedway, they decided to hold their own race in Broad Ripple.
“We are hosting the first ever Guilford 500 at the Forest Hills Motor Speedway,” said Dan Mark. “The event is a 15-lap adult tricycle race.”
UPDATE: we have a yellow flag! Their dad says everyone needs to take a five minute break to cool off. This is going to be a photo finish! pic.twitter.com/SQUZdyk0G0
— Meredith Juliet (@MeredithJuliet_) May 24, 2020
“I have to say, I don’t think any of us properly trained,” his daughter, Sarah Mark, said. “We have not practiced a single lap.”
A handful of spectators came out on their front lawns to watch the adults peddle their tricycles around the block.
At one point, Dan flew the yellow caution flag and made everyone take a five-minute break.
“The break lap was necessitated by the field underestimating the intensity of the vehicles,” Dan said. “We didn’t really take into account the ambient temperature. I personally did not want to take a break but all the young people did.”
This was the first year for the event and potentially the last as many of the competitors say they were not physically ready for the challenge.
Hopefully next year they can just spend race day watching the professionals — in motorized vehicles — in Speedway.