Flyover performed by the US Air Force Thunderbirds at the 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500. © [Kenneth Midgett/ Spacesuit Media]
by Joe Jennings
In sports, streaks are monitored closely, such as games won or lost, hits, touchdowns, goals, baskets, etc. In motorsports, streaks in the form of races won, track records, individual accomplishments make for headlines.
Actions taking place surrounding the Indianapolis 500 are always newsworthy. When A. J. Foyt decided to hang it up after 35 consecutive Indianapolis 500 races, that became big news. This year when the race was postponed from its traditional Memorial Day weekend due to the pandemic sweeping the globe, banner headlines were generated.
And even more headlines were triggered when the rescheduled race was to be run without spectators, leaving 240,000 seats vacant. Ticketholders with long-running streaks of consecutive races attended were aghast, and their pleas for special consideration were politely declined. However, Speedway management did tell them by listening to or watching the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” would be sufficient to carry their streak over to the 2021 race.
St. Louis businessman George “Butch” Welsch has been a ticket holder for 72 consecutive years, seeing his first 500 in 1948, and being a diehard fan, he wanted to keep his streak intact. Factoring in his father’s 500 attendance, the Welsch family’s streak stood at 84. His dad, Vincent Welsch, saw his first 500 as a 12-year old in 1924 when his father took him. The elder Welsch’s attendance was off and on again for the next dozen years but after that, he made every race until he passed away in 1986. In total, he got to 51 in his lifetime. Consequently, his son’s motivation to succeed was high.
Conor Daly’s helmet for the 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 with the Welsch Furnace Company sticker. [Butch Welsch Photo]
Trying to keep his streak running, “Butch” Welsch, the owner of the Welsch Furnace Company, started knocking on doors but found the road to be a rough one. Helping him in the search were Patrick Stephan of Trackside-Online, retired IndyCar driver and St. Louis resident Robbie McGehee, Dragonspeed crew chief Vince Kramer, reps of Bryant Heating and Cooling and others were futile until someone suggested Conor Daly may have something to offer. In the end, the likable driver came through with two passes, and the Welsch Furnace Company decal was affixed to the driver’s helmet.
With his wish granted, Welsch and his son Bryan watched the 500 from the 5th floor of the iconic Pagoda, just across from their traditional Paddock Penthouse location – Box 12, Row A, Seats 1 to 4 – seats the family have held since it opened in 1951.
The two passes allowed Bryan to accompany his father for the 39th time, and the Los Angeles resident is keeping the family tradition on track with his young son accompanying him since 2013.
Working with his brother, “Butch” Welsch has accumulated notes on the family’s experiences over the years and he plans to publish a book entitled – “The Indy 500 – Memories of a Fan” — in 2021. He said it will include many photos never before published.
Dario Franchitti and Butch Welsch. [Don Figler Photo]
A few of his most interesting memories of his rookie race in 1948 are seeing the Mauri Rose victory, witnessing the inaugural release of balloons, watching the team updates on wooden scoreboards and remembering the name of driver Spider Webb. “I asked my folks if the Webb name was a joke,” he recalls.
Each year when the Speedway kicks off the new season, they invite a long-running ticket holder to join them along with the previous year’s winner for a media ceremony. In 2013, Welsch received the coveted invitation along with 2012 victor Dario Franchitti. (photo attached)
Still beaming with his 73rd official race a few days ago, Welsch can’t wait for the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500 to roll around next May and is looking forward to watching the race from his regular seats on the other side of the track.
