TV Kids Meet The Indy 500

When my friend and fellow former kid star, Tim Considine (Spin on “Spin and Marty”) called me in Hawaii in January to invite me to the Indy 500, it took me all of a second to say, “Yes.” Tim is a leading automotive writer and has been for decades, so it was no surprise that he had “friends in racing.”

“These friends of mine,” he explained, “Mike and Jack Lanigan, are putting together a theme party for the Indy 500 and they want to invite people who love racing to be their guests for the race.”

I had no idea who Mike and Jack Lanigan were, nor had I ever heard of their company, Mi-Jack Products, (http://www.mi-jack.com/). It was enough that Tim Considine asked. Tim’s friends are good enough for me.

Little did I know that I would meet some of the most wonderful people in the known world…and have the time of my life at the great American tradition, the 85th running of the Indy 500.

How great was it? Here’s a photo to whet your appetite:

That’s Barry Livingston (“My Three Sons”) on the left (with his brother Stan’s hands holding his ever-present camera just off the left edge of the frame), Billy Gray standing next to the massive Warner Trophy on the Victory stand…then me, Jon Provost (“Lassie”), Charlotte Stewart (“Little House on the Prairie”), James Victor (“Zorro”) and on the far right, Art Metrano (“Police Academy, 2 & 3,”). Tim Considine has his back to camera on the right edge…busy shooting a chronicle with his ever-present camera.

This is Race Day, my friends, and we were introduced to the 300,000 fans attending the Indy 500 just an hour before the drop of the flag! Did we feel special? You better believe it.

I’ve jumped way ahead in my story. Stick with me, friends. After a ‘meet and greet’ Welcome Party at the Mi-Jack suite at the hotel next door on Wednesday, the plans for the following day were set…and what plans they turned out to be. Everyone in our group was excited by the prospect of seeing the Mi-Jack Suite, which had been redone to reflect the theme of the weekend…namely, Tradition.

When we walked into the Mi-Jack suite for the first time, this is what it looked like:

The official opening of the Mi-jack Suite took place on Thursday, three days before the race and the opening celebrated the wonderful work of “The Friends of Uncle Mike” charity which is a family-driven charity set up by the Lanigan family to honor their Uncle Mike who, though childless himself, devoted considerable energy and treasure to helping the children in his Chicago neighborhood. We all were pleased and honored to be on hand to support this celebration. As you know from reading our website, we in A Minor Consideration stand for doing what is right for all children, at any time and in any manner. The Lanigans can be proud of the honor they do “Uncle Mike.” The true stars of Thursday’s gathering were those individuals and companies that gave so much to “The Friends of Uncle Mike.”

You know Our Gang, but on the left you’ll see big Mike Lanigan…the ‘Mi’ in Mi-Jack…and in the center that’s Arie Luyendyk and pole-sitter, Scott Sharp who came up to the Mi-Jack Suite as “friends” of Uncle Mike.

On Friday we had a race of our own at the “Fastimes Indoor Kart Track”, and on Saturday several of us visited the extraordinary Indianapolis Fine Arts Museum. I can’t explain the hospitality extended to us and do it justice, dear friends. We even had a private tour of the Indianapolis Speedway Hall of Fame, escorted by the world renowned Don Davidson, Curator who also spoke to Saturday night’s formal dinner at which I met a man who is running for the Governorship of Illinois, Patrick J. O’Malley, currently a State-Senator.

Then came Race Day and the best surprise of the whole trip. Mi-Jack, after late night negotiations, had a racecar in the 85th running of the Indy 500!!! And here it is:

The Mi-Jack car was driven by Davey Hamilton and after a clean race the car broke down just fourteen laps from the finish. We almost cried when the #99 car came in with a blown engine. Davey finished 19th for the Sam Schmidt racing team. Davey would win the Scott Brayton Driver’s Trophy for his spirited drive.

We also had a sentimental favorite running in the race, at least those of us from Southern California who remember the old Ascot Motor Speedway in my hometown of Gardena. A good friend, JC Agajanian, Jr., had survived “bump day” with Ol’ # 98 driven by Billie Boat who would eventually finish 9th overall. It was great to see JC on the starting grid standing alongside #98 (a storied number in Indy Racing, believe me).

Like any car-racing fan, I must tell you that “the Race” is the thing, but you know something? If we had just shown up to meet Mike and Jack Lanigan and the whole Mi-Jack family, it would have been a great trip. We couldn’t have been treated better. In fact, I don’t ever recall a trip that was so much fun. Tim Considine set the whole thing up and there aren’t enough thanks in the world to convey my feelings for not just Tim, but the other vintage celebrities who came along to experience the 85th running of the Indy 500.

When you come away from a trip with more friends than you left with, it’s a good feeling.

Most of all, I’d like to thank our hosts, Mike Lanigan and his brother, Jack Lanigan. These are the kind of men who make this a great country…not just with the company they have created, but in the way they treat people. Thank you, Mi-Jack Products for the best five days I’ve had in a long time.

Paul Petersen