1953 INDIANAPOLIS 500 RACE "THE HOTTEST 500" 75814

Support Our Channel :   / periscopefilm  

Produced by the Perfect Circle Corporation as a publicity project in 1954, THE HOTTEST 500 shows the 1953 Indy 500 won by Bill Vukovich in 120-plus degree heat. The 1953 race was infamous as one of the most memorable on record, with more relief drivers used than in any other year. Tragically, driver Carl Scarborough actually died of heat prostration. Bill Vukovich, who led in 1952 but ended up losing due to a mechanical failure with his car, led almost the entire race and ended up taking the checkered flag.

The highlights shown in the film include time trials with Vukovich qualifying. The film also shows pit row and various work on the cars, and footage of various drivers including Tony Bettenhausen, Freddie Agabashian, Jack McGrath, Paul Russo, Duane Carter, Duke Nalon and Marshall Teague, The race ends nearly after nearly four hours with Vukovich in the victory circle.

Motion picture films don't last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. We collect, scan and preserve 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have films you'd like to have scanned or donate to Periscope Film, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us via the link below.

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com