Watch the first Behind The Bricks episode of 2021 featuring Doug Boles chatting with recently retired #IMS Historian Donald Davidson, 2020 #Indy500 winner Takuma Sato, and much more!
Donald is a treasure that will never be replaced. His knowing Ray Harroun and being up until now...I'm going to miss him when he steps completely away.
Golly, I love that man... He is the embodiment of this place. I've flown in from all corners of the globe to be at race day. Every time I saw DD he'd ask...Where did you come from today? I'd tell him and he'd have a story about wherever that was !!!
Talk about personal memories, a few years ago I was working on a story involving an Indianapolis engine and he not only answered my inquiry he actually called me on the phone, I could not believe that a man that has to be supremely busy took the time to personally help my project. Thank you Donald for all of your dedication and profesisonalism and thank you Doug Boles - you are clearly the right person to lead the IMS.
When I was a kid growing up in Indiana, I could not get enough of Donald Davidson. I remember listening to him on WIBC every chance I got. I wanted to be Donald Davidson when I grew up.
What a wonderful gentleman Donald Davidson is. I have learned so much from him hearing his segments on the radio. I also had the good fortune to hear him speak at a luncheon sponsored by the Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce several years ago - I could have spent the entire afternoon listening to him. Thank you, Mr. Davidson. Safe road...
Donald's voice and stories were the best thing to hear on the ride home from the 500. Thank you, Donald!! Enjoy your retirement. Sato is a great champion for the sport.
Me and my kids would leave the 500 heading north towards Fort Wayne...we would listen to Donald doing the post race on the radio until we would loose the signal...alot of great great memories....
1977 was my first race. I was with my friend his brother and his girlfriend I was in 7th grade. Did not sleep the night before. It was better than going to Disney. I was Hooked.
Donald came to a fundraiser we had in Joliet, IL for a Hall of Fame we have that honors drivers who used to race at the old Mazon Speedbowl, Grundy Speedway, and other tracks in Illinois and Indiana. I spoke with him both times, he was impressed with an old Indy Motor Speedway pennant I brought, and I handed him a glass of Sam Adams after his speech both times. Great person. Down to earth. Very friendly.
I called Donald with a question and left a message. 3 or 4 days later the phone rang. It was Donald. He's a very kind man and he lit the fire in so many of us who study Indy's history.
Really enjoyed hearing how Donald gathered info and interest of the Speedway during a young age. Then, how he came here and was welcomed. And the interview with Takuma, WOW, what a great video!!!!! 👍👍👍
Thank you Mr Davidson for sharing your life and knowledge of The Indianapolis 500 with us all these years! My best memories are driving up from Texas with my son in our VW Bus, listening to episodes of the Talk of Gasoline Alley recorded from the Month of May leading up to our trip to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing!
I well-remember when Sid Collins introduced us during the broadcast to "the amazing young man from England with a phenomenal memory of all things of the Indianapolis 500." I've been a fan ever since. Thank you Donald, for... well, literally, ALL the memories. You've expressed them beautifully. ("Hoosiers" Donald Davidson and Mike "Doc" Emerick retiring at the same time, sports are changing and Donald Davidson and Doc are two unique "presenters " of two great sports.)
I developed a soft spot for Sato during the 2004 USGP, I became a fan at the 2012 Indy 500 when I was at the front of B Stand watching him chase down Dario and go for it. Now that didn't work as well as Taku had hoped but it was the sign of a driver who was not afraid of going for it
Visited the museum one day and kind of off hand as a joke so she would know I knew my stuff asked the lady who sold us our tickets “hey! Is Donald Davidson here today?” She said “yes he is” I kind of laughed it off and went about our business and next thing I know Donald Davidson walks up while I’m admireing one of the race cars and says hi We were blown way He was such a nice guy and chatted with us for 30-45 minutes I’ll never forget that
Wonderful stories as told by a truly wonderful man. Donald, we share the same retirement date! All the best to you as you progress through this uncharted territory called retirement. Be happy my friend.
Indycar is such an exciting sport with good drivers, good racing, cool tracks, the INDY 500! and great access when you go to a race. Indycar should be getting a team together to get more content out there besides just race highlights and old race replays. In the mean time, thank you IMS!
Really enjoyed the interviews. The Indy 500 is a great event. Pure racing. I start to get excited when May comes around just thinking about the possibilities. Who is going to qualify. How are the new drivers going to do. Who might win. I hope to see the race in person one day. From a British fan of motorsport.
That dudes need to be In house chillin. Yet again he is old. I’d say fuck it too if I die I die hahah I wouldn’t give a fuck after still being alive after all this shit haha
Epic. That was great. Thank you for posting. That being said, how did Joe Biden get 400,000 votes after the pool closed promptly after knowing Trump was going to clearly win? Just a question. That being said,,, Who do you have as a favorite of winning this year?