For
Immediate Release:For
Immediate Release:
For more information call:
Josh Laycock at Indianapolis Motor Speedway: 317-506-3034
Michelle Kyle at Southwest Airlines: 214-792-3733
Leo Hine at Warren Central High School: 317-442-7335 (special video and T-shirt)
Ed Hamilton at Capitol City Ford: 317-898-0700
John Brewer at Airport Executive Car Service: 317-507-5703
John Ausbrooks at Access Mobility: 317-313-4659
Ms. Jean Mellina at American Senior Communities: 317-787-6454, extension 301.
Bob Haverstick, Founder, Never Too Late: 317.823.4705
May 25, 2005
Winning mechanic returns to 500 70 years later
The last time Jimmy Dunham, 93, was at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway he was celebrating with the winning team of the 1935 Indianapolis 500.
The sole surviving member of the 1935 race, Dunham was the mechanic who rode along with the winner Kelly Petillo. Now, thanks to the Never Too Late
Foundation and others, Dunham will return to the track to watch the race and will even get a chance to ride in the parade on Saturday.
NTL secured ticket donations worth $1,000 from Southwest Airlines to fly Dunham to Indianapolis from his home in California. As a special surprise for Dunham,
his only grandson, Brad Dunham, is paying his own way to Indianapolis from the state of Washington, to be with his father Bruce Dunham and grandfather during
the 500 festivities. Three generations of Dunhams will be enjoying the 89th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be acknowledging Jimmy to the fans on Carburetion Day Friday. IMS will also include Jimmy in the pre-race activities
on Sunday and they will be providing tickets to the Victory Dinner at the track on Monday for Jimmy, Bruce, and Brad.
One America Insurance Company is providing tickets to the 500 Festival Parade on
Saturday for Jimmy’s family so that they can watch him riding on the American Senior Communities float in the Parade.
Also on Saturday, Jimmy and a family member will be guests of One America at the
Snake Pit Ball at the Indiana
Roof.
At 3 p.m. Friday, Leo Hine has arranged for the students in the Video Productions class at
Warren Central High School to interview Jimmy so that he
can share a synopsis of his life story on tape. The students will add the
graphic design “bells and whistles” to the video and present it as a legacy memento to Jimmy and his family to cherish for generations to come.
About NTL:
Never Too Late's primary purpose is to reach out to people in nursing homes,
assisted living facilities, hospice programs and adult day care facilities -- regardless of age -- and help make their dreams and wishes come true.
The time is right with the graying of America for programs like Never Too Late to have a lasting impact on the lives of our elders. According to the Census
Bureau, there are currently 34.7 million Americans 65 years and older. By 2011, there will be an estimated 40 million; and by 2050 almost 82 million in this age
category. Now is the time to ask yourself, "How can I help?"
For more information on Never Too Late or Jimmy Dunham's wish, contact founder and
president of the foundation Bob Haverstick at
(317) 823-4705. You can also find more information about Never Too Late on the Internet at
http://www.nevertoolate.org.
For more information call:
Josh
Laycock at Indianapolis Motor
Speedway: 317-506-3034
Michelle Kyle at Southwest Airlines: 214-792-3733
Leo Hine at Warren Central High School: 317-442-7335 (special video and T-shirt)
Ed Hamilton at Capitol City Ford: 317-898-0700
John Brewer at Airport Executive Car Service: 317-507-5703
John Ausbrooks at Access Mobility: 317-313-4659
Ms. Jean Mellina at American Senior Communities: 317-787-6454, extension 301.
Bob Haverstick, Founder, Never Too Late: 317.823.4705
More about Jimmy’s wish
Jimmy Dunham was born in 1911 as one of ten children. In the 1920’s, his father
worked for the Pontiac division of General Motors. Jimmy attended the Indy 500 race with his father in 1929 to watch Ray Keech emerge as the winner that day.
Jimmy told his father that he would come back to the track someday, not as a
spectator, but as a participant. Little did he know that those prophetic words
would ring true in 1935.
During the early 30’s, at the height of the Great Depression, Jimmy and his family migrated to California. It is there where Jimmy talked his way into a
job at the Arden Milk Dairy. There were no new jobs to be had, so Jimmy went out and coaxed enough people into signing up for home milk delivery and Arden
gave him a job as a milkman. Shortly after securing his new job, Jimmy met Mr. Harvey Ward, who was the chief mechanic for an Indy car racing team. Mr. Ward
introduced Jimmy to Kelly Petillo, who had raced at Indy, and they formed an immediate bond. Because of Jimmy’s mechanical aptitude, he was invited to become
Kelly’s mechanic in his two-seater Gilmore Speedway Special for the running of
the 1935 Indy 500. Overcoming many obstacles, Kelly and Jimmy won the 500, beating the legendary Wilbur Shaw and his mechanic Myron Stevens.
Jimmy returned to his home in California after that Indy 500 and never raced again. He married his fiancé, settled down, and raised two fine children.
After 70 long years, Jimmy is returning to the scene of his 1935 victory as the
sole surviving member of the participants of that year’s race. He is bringing
his helmet (first required as racing gear in 1935) and his racing goggles, along
with a scrapbook of articles and pictures from that year’s events.
Enter Never Too Late, thanks to Josh Laycock, the Manager of Media Relations at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway. On May 17th, Josh contacted Bob Haverstick
with Never Too Late to see if NTL would like to help 93-year old Jimmy Dunham realize a dream, to come back to the track where he had raced 70 years ago.
Never Too Late went to work immediately and contacted Michelle Kyle, at the Civic and Charitable Contributions Department at
Southwest Airlines. Within 24
hours, Michelle received the OK to provide two complimentary tickets for Jimmy and his son Bruce.
A longtime friend and supporter of Never Too Late, Leo Hine, contacted Capitol City Ford to see if the dealership would provide complimentary transportation
for Jimmy and his son while they are in Indy. Manager Ed Hamilton agreed to provide a 2005 Retro Mustang for Jimmy and Bruce to drive during their stay in
Indy.
Leo Hine also contacted the owner of Morris Inc. Apparel in Greenfield to do something out of the ordinary for Jimmy and his family to commemorate the
special return to the track. Morris Inc. is creating a one of a kind T-shirt
for Jimmy that showcases a photo of Jimmy and Kelly in their winning #5 car in 1935.
Never Too Late is working with John Brewer, owner of Airport Executive Car
Service, to provide limousine transportation to the track and back to the hotel
on the day of the race. John is working with the Speedway Police Department to secure an escort for the morning of the race.
Access Mobility will be providing the use of a wheelchair for Jimmy during his stay in Indy. Although he is quite spry and very mentally alert, the use of a
wheelchair will help to conserve Jimmy’s energy so that he can enjoy his time more while back at the track.