Beyond the Bricks Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Jake and Mike Remember Eddie Sachs May 19, 2023

Show notes

Tonight, on Beyond the Bricks with Jake Query and Mike Thomsen, they remember the 1961 Indianapolis 500 winner, Eddie Sachs. To start the show, you will hear an interview Sid Collins did with Sachs after he won the pole for the race he finished first in. When Sachs was born in 1927, George Souders won the Indianapolis 500. The two drivers would eventually become great friends through the sport they loved.

Additionally, Jake and Mike spotlight the time that the Pennsylvania native took the rookie test and passed it by playing back an interview that explains everything that happened. At the end of the show, you will hear the eulogy that Sid Collins gave impromptu style following the fatal crash in the 1964 Indy 500. It was a seven-car accident that ended with Dave MacDonald and Eddie Sachs not being able to survive the fiery crash.

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Beyond The Bricks - Voices of the 1950's May 18, 2023

Show notes

Tonight, on Beyond the Bricks with Jake Query and Mike Thomsen, they dive into the voices of the 1950’s when it comes to the Indianapolis 500. They start with a name that many might remember as a broadcaster of the race but was at one point also a racer. Freddie Agabashian, a color commentator for several years for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network was also a driver in the Indianapolis 500. Agabashian would run in the race 10 times but only finish two of them. Second is Tony Bettenhausen. Bettenhausen was a national title winner and managed to pull off an impressive 2nd place finish in the 1955 Indy 500. Bettenhausen was also the father of two future 500 racers, Tony Bettenhausen Jr. and Gary Bettenhausen.

Segment two features Jack McGrath a two-time third place finisher in the Indianapolis 500. McGrath would finish four 500 races in a row, having the pole position in 1954. Unfortunately, McGrath’s career would see an ill-fated end during a dirt-track race at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in 1955. Jake and Mike turn to some unique audio from Ed Elisian in the form of a rare interview.

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Jake and Mike Remember Events That End Year With #3 May 17, 2023

Show notes

Tonight, on Beyond the Bricks with Jake Query and Mike Thomsen, they remember significant events that took place during the year that ended in 3. The voices you will hear from tonight aside from Jake and Mike are former IMS Historian Donald Davidson, Al Unser, Al Unser Jr., and Emerson Fittipaldi.

Jake and Mike will hit on a variety of events starting with the 1963 Indianapolis 500, promos that aired on the WIBC in the 1970’s and finish it off by discussing Tony Kanaan’s first (and only) Indy 500 victory in 2013.

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Jake and Mike Remember Important Events From the 1980's May 16, 2023

Show notes

Tonight, on Beyond the Bricks with Jake Query and Mike Thomsen, they discuss an important anniversary close to Mike, remembering Gordon Smiley with today marking 41 years since his passing, and the introduction to a key racecar driver in Indy 500 history in the same year (1982).

Additionally, we revisit a classic commercial from 1981 that always makes Jake laugh anytime he listens to it, the racing career of a driver most race fans do not talk about frequently in Tom Bigelow after his bizarre entry to the 1982 Indy 500, and the controversy surrounding Kevin Cogan in the 1982 race because of an accident that he created resulting in A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Dale Whittington, and Roger Mears not finishing the race.

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Jake and Mike Remember Impactful Car Owners May 13, 2023

Show notes

Tonight, on Beyond the Bricks with Jake Query and Mike Thomsen, they highlight some of the more notable car owners in the history of drivers in the IndyCar. You will hear from and learn about Harry Hartz going from a successful driving career into an ownership role and some rare audio of an interview containing Bessie Lee Paoli.

Additionally, one owner that is around the sport today in Mario Andretti is another owner that Mike and Jake talk about tonight with some audio on an interview Mike did with Mario where he explains his decision to go into ownership. Also, Mario discussed on passing the torch of ownership to his son, Michael. Lastly, Jake and Mike remember Michael Lee “Mickey” Thompson because of how determined and unique he was at trying to create edges for his drivers.

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Jake and Mike Pay Tribute to Paul Page May 12, 2023

Show notes

Tonight, on Beyond the Bricks with Jake Query and Mike Thomsen, they pay tribute to a key broadcaster on TV and Radio for the Indy 500 in Paul Page. You will hear from Page in an interview that Mike did with him, a couple delta force intros from the 1991 and 1992 Indy 500 introductions, and how important Sid Collins was to Paul.

Additionally, they will spotlight the changes that Page made to the radio broadcasts that stick around to this day and what he tried to do when he was with ABC during the delta force opens and the importance of using the right words when describing the winner of a pair of Indy 500’s.

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Jake and Mike Remember the Mutual Radio Network May 11, 2023

Show notes

Tonight, on Beyond the Bricks with Jake Query and Mike Thomsen, they remember the early days of the radio broadcasts of the Indianapolis 500-mile race with tonight’s focus being on the Mutual Radio Network. You will head from audio from the late 1940’s, from a driver that Mike had to dive deep into his audio collection for, and Sid Collins co-anchoring with Bill Slater on the 1950 radio broadcast.

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Jake and Mike Tell Second Half of Johnny Rutherford’s Story May 10, 2023

Show notes

Tonight, on Beyond the Bricks with Jake Query and Mike Thomsen, they continue telling the story of Johnny Rutherford. With last night’s show focused on the first half of his life and racing career, Jake and Mike focus on the second half of his racing career that consists of two Indianapolis 500 victories, him recovering from a crash at Eldora, and his decision to retire. Other topics pertaining to Lonestar JR they hear from him about is how he was coined with his nickname, which sponsor he is most identified with, and being able to run with McLaren.

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Jake and Mike Tell Johnny Rutherford’s Story May 09, 2023

Show notes

Tonight, on Beyond the Bricks with Jake Query and Mike Thomsen, they tell the story of one of the most decorated race car drivers at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Johnny Rutherford. Jake and Mike tell the story of how the three-time winner grew up in Kansas, got started in racing, and him running in IMSA and his first USAC Championship race.

Additionally, they tell the story of Johnny revisiting his first Indianapolis 500, how he met his wide Betty, and then being able to ride with Smokey Yunick. Finally, during his interview with Mike, Lonestar JR told the story of the tragic crash that happened on the second lap of the 1964 Indy 500.

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Jake and Mike Spotlight Hoosiers That Ran in the Indy 500 May 06, 2023

Show notes

Tonight, on Beyond the Bricks with Jake Query and Mike Thomsen, they switch up their spotlight from early Indianapolis 500 winners to Hoosiers that had an impact on the way we experience the race today. The first driver that Jake and Mike profile was also a former president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Shelbyville native, first back-to-back Indy 500 winner, and second three-time winner (1937, 1939, and 1940) in Wilbur Shaw is the first driver that they profile.

Next, Query and Thomsen turn the spotlight on was Pat O’Connor from North Vernon. Pat was the driver that unfortunately passed away on the first lap of the 1958 Indianapolis 500 after a 15-car pileup where he sustained a fatal head injury after rolling his car and catching fire.

Finally, Mike and Jake spend some time on a pair of drivers in the final segment of today’s show in Jimmy Daywalt and Bobby Grim. In the 1953 Indianapolis 500, Daywelt finished with his best run of sixth and was tabbed as the Rookie of the Year. After finishing 26th in the 1959 Indianapolis 500-mile race, Grim was tabbed as the Rookie of Year.

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