Latest news with #JoeHale
Forbes
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum President Joe Hale Will Depart
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum President Joe Hale at the official ceremony that reopened the ... More famed museum on April 2, 2025. Joe Hale, who oversaw the historic renovation and redesign of the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, can take pride in a job well done after the facility reopened on April 2 on time and below budget. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum announced on Friday, April 25 that Hale will step down as President effective June 20, 2025, after completing a successful five-year reign. Hale became the president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in January 2021. Recognized for his expertise in fundraising and managing capital campaigns, Hale guided the Museum through its successful inaugural $69 million capital campaign and oversaw the completion of a massive renovation that came in under budget and on schedule - its first major renovation in 40 years. 'It's been five years since I was originally contacted about this amazing opportunity, and we've accomplished the objectives I was given,' said Hale. 'I want to sincerely thank the Museum's Board of Directors for providing me with the chance to be part of this transformative experience. 'I will miss my regular interaction with our many members, donors, the racing community, and especially my very talented colleagues on the staff. The timing is right for new leadership to guide the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum as it enters this new era, and I look forward to watching my colleagues build on its current success.' Under Hale's leadership, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum garnered community support and attracted thousands of new donors, fully funding the museum's renovation. The museum reopened to the public on April 2 and welcomed a record number of visitors in its first few weeks. The reimagined space engages new audiences and serves as the home to new educational programs. Hale also played a key role in establishing a $100 million endowment that will ensure the Museum's sustainability for years to come. Kirk Hendrix, a current board member, has been named interim President by the Board of Directors. Hendrix retired as President and CEO of AAA Hoosier Motor Club in July 2023 after leading the organization for 10 years. Before that, Hendrix served in the same role with the 500 Festival in Indianapolis. 'On behalf of the Board and the entire Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum community, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Joe for his visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to preserving the legacy of this iconic institution. Under his guidance, the Museum has become not just a repository of racing history, but a vibrant celebration of the spirit of the Indianapolis 500,' said Chuck Jones, Board Chairman of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. 'As Joe embarks on his next chapter, I also want to thank Kirk for assuming the role as interim President and ensuring continuity and a smooth transition.' The Board has begun a comprehensive nationwide search for a permanent replacement. Hale was a highly successful fundraiser when he was contacted by Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles about the position about five years ago. The goal was to completely renovate and reimagine the Museum so that it would remain relevant well into the future. In 2021, Hale and his staff toured and studied other museums. He went to the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan and the Air Force Museum to see how they were telling their stories. Hale and his staff started planning, and ultimately, the project became a little bit bigger than just the museum because they needed to renovate the museum building. 'We knew that the HVAC needed to be replaced, the windows, the fire suppression. So, we knew it was going to be an extensive renovation,' Hale recalled. 'Another challenge we got from our landlord is, see if you can maybe double the size of the museum without going outside the footprint? So that was a challenge that I love taking on to see how we could do that. 'The way we doubled the museum space without going up or outside the footprint was when our contractor got in there and said there's a lot of space above this drop ceiling. 'It turned out that we could put a mezzanine in the museum and add another 6,000 plus square feet display space there. 'But then at the same time, we also needed a place to store about 150 cars. We started planning a restoration shop that we'd hold about 150 cars, have a six -bay restoration, two -bay detailing area, some event space, lobby, little gift shop. And so that became part of the project. And we said, well, you know, if we build a museum, we're going to want to do bigger and better exhibitions. 'So, then we wanted to put another $10 million into our endowment. Our project became an $89 million project, which we kicked off in July 2023.' Hale's plans were ambitious and ambition cost money. Joe Hale (center) and Roger Penske (right) at the ribbon cutting ceremony to reopen the Indianapolis ... More Motor Speedway Museum on April 2, 2025. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is not owned by Roger Penske, the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and it was never owned by the Hulman-George Family. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is actually a 501c3 Not for Profit corporation. It relies on fundraising and donations to become sustainable. Because of that, it led Hale to the basement – a famed area of the Museum that few people have ever seen, and nobody is allowed to photograph because it includes some of the most priceless artifacts in racing history. 'The basement was off limits to everybody for so long,' Hale admitted. 'And about four years ago, we created an exhibition around the basement. We called it 'The Basement Collection' and we needed to raise some money to pay for the feasibility study and pay for the planning of this new museum. 'So, what we did, we re-lit it, and we painted it. We didn't do a lot of work beyond that, but we put some of our many of our cool cars were down there, obviously. People couldn't see them because we didn't allow anybody in the basement for some reason. 'So, we said, 'we'll allow six people to go down at a time, and it must be led by a member of our staff. You can stay for 30 minutes. Absolutely no photographs are allowed.' 'Lo and behold it helped us raise about $400,000 in the next couple of years that helped pay for the planning of the new museum.' There is a good reason why photographs aren't allowed in the basement, according to Hale. 'Because it created even more of a draw from the public, the curiosity,' Hale explained. 'They hadn't been allowed down there. 'And we thought, 'Well, if everybody's going to start posting pictures of it in social media, there's not going to be that desire to go down there and see what's down there yourself.' So, we made that decision, whether that was right or not, but it sure helped us make some money. 'And now the basement, the lower level, is all going to be part of the museum. So, there will be some additional winning cars from our collection. There will be a featured car gallery down there.' The money raised from creating the basement tours helped the museum fund many important aspects of the renovation. 'We started the planning in earnest we did a feasibility study,' Hale said. 'It was not just how much money we can raise but what's it feasible for this actual this structure to support. What's the new business plan going forward what's the staffing level going to have to be. 'We did all that and as I said then we kicked it all off in July 2023.' The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is much about the future as it is the past. The future of the automotive industry was why the Speedway was built in the first place back in 1909. But so much of it is tied to the past, the history and the traditions. The Museum has successful balanced the history of the Indianapolis 500 with a bold look at its future. 'Our focus is on telling the stories of what's happened at the track,' Hale said. 'Now, you've got Purdue University doing the electric vehicle program that they've got going. We don't have too much planned about trying to predict the future, but once you see it, you're going to agree that we've done a really good job of telling the stories of the past and the present. 'Every year, on race day, we get many new stories to tell, and I think that's what we really excel at. And like I said, that and, you know, this education program, we've got a new education director who started on July 1, a dynamic young man who I think is going to do a wonderful job. But with so many people coming from outside of Indiana, our goal is to really mobilize the local population and get them more involved in the museum. 'That's going to be one of our objectives.' The museum is evidence the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is not just a sporting venue; it is a true part of the fabric of the state of Indiana, a true part of the fabric of America. That is a tremendous story to tell and a heavy responsibility. 'I think it's very important,' Hale said. 'The Indianapolis 500, the museum, the whole complex, it's such an economic development driver for the state of Indiana as well. 'I don't care where you are in the world, if you write down that you're from Indianapolis, most people are going to think of the 500 before they think of anything else if they know where Indiana is. 'I just think it's very important for us to, as I said, maintain those stories so that, we can preserve the past and at the same time try to take a glimpse at the future. 'What racing might look like, 10, 20, 50 years from now. Nobody knows for sure. But we've talked to a few people about, would that be an exhibition idea, where you could get some smart people working in the industry to make some predictions about what it's going to look like.' The importance of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway includes the future of racing and the automotive industry and preserving its rich history and tradition of a sporting spectacle that dates to May 30, 1911, when Ray Harroun won the first Indianapolis 500. Ray Harroun driving his Marmon Wasp, was the first winner of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race on May ... More 30, 1911. His average speed was 74.59 miles per hour. Under Hale's leadership, he started a dramatic renovation project that will take the old museum out of its sleepy past and replace it with a new museum that will honor the past with interactive displays while still featuring some of the priceless remnants and relics that have made the Indianapolis Motor Speedway one of the most famous institutions in the world. The concept of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum dates to Tony Hulman's ownership of the facility in November 1945. The original museum opened at the corner of 16th and Georgetown on April 7, 1956, in a building was designed by C. Wilbur Foster and Associates. It also housed the ticket office and was next to the main gate. It was very small and featured just a few displays and six cars, but the centerpiece was Ray Harroun's 1911 Indianapolis 500 car, the famed Marmon Wasp. Karl Kizer was the first curator, but the popularity of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum led dozens of car collectors to donate former winning cars and other artifacts, to the museum and it quickly outgrew its space. According to the late Indianapolis Motor Speedway publicist Al Bloemker, by 1961, the museum was seeing an average of 5,000 visitors per week (not including month of May crowds), former driver Freddy Agabashian said in an interview at the time. In 1975, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway broke ground on a new 96,000-square-foot museum and administration building inside the track's infield. In addition to the museum, the two-story building housed the Speedway's administrative offices, ticket office, a gift shop, and photography department. Ray Harroun's Marmon Wasp on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum on May 18, 2016. ... More This is the car that won the first Indianapolis 500 on May 30, 1911. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) The expanded museum opened to the public on April 5, 1976, coinciding with the year-long United States Bicentennial celebration and nearly 20 years to the day the original museum opened. The original museum building outside turn one was converted into additional office space. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987, with a plaque on display outside of the Museum. It was a palace at the time it opened in 1975 and remained one of the greatest museums to commemorate auto racing through the following decades. Despite its impressive collection and history, however, over time it fell a few laps down to other modern museums that had kept up with the technology of the times. 'The museum was a little tired,' Hale said. 'It really hadn't changed in nearly 50 years now. And so, three years ago, we started looking around. 'We kept getting slammed as being an indoor parking lot. You would come in, and all the cars were in front of you, and there was very little storytelling that was kind of integrated into the museum. 'So, we thought, let's plan this so that it not just appeals to the folks that love the cars and love the history. When you think about it, that's really our mission to preserve and tell the stories of the 500.' Joe Hale accomplished that mission, and a month after the 109thIndianapolis 500 is held on May 25, 2025, he will move on, leaving an impressive legacy that is on full display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Joe Hale (left) with Indiana Governor Mike Braun at the official ceremony to reopen the Indianapolis ... More Motor Speedway Museum on April 2, 2025.
Fox Sports
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum Reopens after Incredible Transformation
INDYCAR The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is open to the public after the completion of its $60.5 million, 17-month renovation, its first significant renovation in 40 years. The IMS Museum was closed to the public since November 2023 while undergoing a comprehensive transformation of its space and experiences. Now reopened, visitors of all ages will experience 40,000 square feet of additional space housing new immersive and dynamic experiences, including: Seven permanent and three rotating galleries The lower level, an area previously restricted to only select tours A new mezzanine dedicated to displaying non-vehicle artifacts, including: A race suit from three-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou The NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 trophy A piece of the SAFER Barrier to highlight safety innovations at the Speedway The 'Starting Line Experience,' placing guests in an immersive video space showcasing the pageantry leading up to the start of the "500' State-of-the art racing simulators allowing guests to try to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 A 'pit stop challenge' for guests to learn the tools and equipment of the racing trade The new exhibits and experiences will bring to life the Museum's vision to create a global destination that provides interactive, immersive and diverse Indianapolis 500 storytelling and educational experiences that can be enjoyed by guests of all ages. 'I'm thrilled to welcome guests back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum after a massive renovation that finished on time and under budget,' IMS Museum President Joe Hale said. 'With the support of our campaign from Lilly Endowment Inc., the John H. Holliday Family, Penske Foundation, Dyson Foundation, The Heritage Group and countless others, we have made the IMS Museum a cultural destination celebrating the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis 500.' Current galleries include The Heritage Group Gasoline Alley Gallery, Starting Line Experience, The John H Holliday Family Indianapolis 500 Winners Gallery, Mezzanine, Qualifying Zone, Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation Innovation Workshop, Penske Gallery, The Bobby Rahal Family Gallery (Featured Car Gallery), Best of the Best: The Four-Time Winners (The Chip Ganassi Gallery) and the Track Lounge. One of the cornerstones of the renovation was ensuring accessibility so all guests felt included. New features include a wheelchair-friendly racing simulator controlled fully by the steering wheel instead of the pedals and a wellness room designed for anybody that needs a quiet, private space, from nursing mothers to those with sensory sensitivities. The Museum is also working with Kulture City to become Sensory Inclusive™. Sensory bags can be checked out at the Welcome Center and include soundproof headphones, fidget toys, and glasses to reduce light. Signage around the building will indicate 'headphone areas' for those with sensitivities to noise. General admission tickets and memberships for the IMS Museum are now available at For more information on the IMS Museum, visit recommended
Forbes
01-04-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Reimagined Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum Reopens To The Public
The famed Marmon Wasp that Ray Harroun drove to victory in the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 is one ... More of the prized exhibits at the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame that reopens to the public on April 2, 2025. The celebrated history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500 is on display in an impressive, reimagined and renovated Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. On Monday, March 31, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum announced the completion of its $60.5 million, 17-month renovations – it's first significant renovation in 40 years. After a few private viewings for benefactors and other VIPs, the famed Museum reopens to the public on Wednesday, April 2. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is schedule for 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on April 2 and will feature special speakers IMS Museum President Joe Hale and Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske. Other speakers include Indiana Governor Mike Braun, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, Mayor, Chuck Jones, IMS Museum Board Chair and Robert Dyson, IMS Museum Chair Emeritus. The Museum had been closed to the public since November 2023 while undergoing a comprehensive transformation of its space and experiences. About the only thing that resembles the Museum that opened in the infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1976 is the outer shell of the building. Everything else has been completely rebuilt and reimagined, connecting the incredible history of the world's most famous and historic race to a boundless future. The outside of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum When the Museum reopens to the public on April 2, visitors will experience 40,000 square feet of additional space housing new immersive and dynamic experiences, including: • Seven permanent and three rotating galleries. • The lower level, an area previously restricted to only select tours. • A new mezzanine dedicated to displaying non-vehicle artifacts, including: ο A race suit from current IndyCar driver, and reigning champion, Alex Palou ο The NASCAR Brickyard 400 trophy ο A piece of the SAFER barrier to highlight safety innovations at the Speedway • The 'Starting Line Experience', placing guests in an immersive video space showcasing the pageantry leading up to the start of the "500'. • State-of-the art racing simulators allowing guests to try to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. • A 'pit stop challenge' for guests to learn the tools and equipment of the racing trade. The new exhibits and experiences will bring to life the Museum's vision to create a global destination that provides interactive, immersive and diverse Indianapolis 500 storytelling and educational experiences that can be enjoyed by guests of all ages. 'I'm thrilled to welcome guests back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum after a massive renovation that finished on time and under budget. With the support of our campaign from Lilly Endowment Inc., the John H Holliday Family, Penske Foundation, Dyson Foundation, The Heritage Group and countless others, we have made the IMS Museum a cultural destination celebrating the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indianapolis 500,' said Joe Hale, IMS Museum President. In the past, an impressive collection of race cars, mainly the winning cars from previous Indianapolis 500s, were on display in a static environment. When it opened in 1975, it was state of the art, but over the past 40 years, Museums have been redesigned and reimagined to help give the visitors a more interactive experience. To achieve that, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum includes various galleries, each with a different theme. Jim Clark's famed Lotus Powered-by-Ford that won the 1965 Indianapolis 500 inside its Gasoline Alley ... More garage display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. This exhibit allows visitors to literally stroll through history in The Heritage Group Gasoline Alley Gallery. The gallery features seven garages, representing different eras of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, that highlight the stories of each time-period through cars, decor, and immersive audio and visual elements. Corresponding cases are on the opposite side featuring several artifacts on view for the first time, including the original 1909 Articles of Incorporation for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Company and the bucket hat Janet Guthrie wore in 1978 when she finished ninth in the Indianapolis 500, generously donated by Guthrie. The Starting Line Experience helps guests in what it feels like to be at the starting line of the Indianapolis 500 by experiencing Race Day traditions with a seamless blend of cutting-edge technology, imagery, and show cars of the front-row drivers of the most recent '500'. A seven-minute video will play on an 80-foot by 20-foot LED-screen that begins with the cannon firing and concludes with the green flag at the start of the race. When the 'Drivers, start your engines' command is given in the video, the show cars will roar to life. The Front Row for the 108th Indianapolis 500 in 2024 featured in the "Starting Line Experience." This gallery is featured on both levels of the Museum. The John H Holliday Family Indianapolis 500 Winners Gallery celebrates the winning cars that have shaped Indianapolis Motor Speedway history. From the 1911 Marmon Wasp to Dan Wheldon's 2011 William Rast Dallara, the cars are now displayed on platforms with improved lighting and signage, including hydraulic platforms along the wall at a 45-degree angle to allow people to look inside the driver seats. The Borg-Warner Trophy is the focal point in the center of the space, with an updated display worthy of holding one of the most unique trophies in sports. "Having had the cherished opportunity to create the images of Indianapolis 500 winning drivers for the Borg-Warner Trophy since 1990, I am deeply honored and grateful to see my work displayed in the beautifully renovated IMS Museum,' said sculptor William Behrends, who has crafted the face of each Indianapolis 500 winner since 1990. The process of creating Josef Newgarden's face on the Borg-Warner Trophy. Also recognized in a special display case is the work of Julie Harman Vance, a florist from Yorktown, Indiana that makes the winner's wreath for BorgWarner. 'I am honored to be part of the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum BorgWarner display,' Harman Vance said. 'The fact that my years of making the winners wreath has become an amazing Hoosier tradition has brought me an enormous sense of pride and accomplishment.' The gallery is located on two levels, with 17 winning '500' cars showcased on the main level and 12 on the lower level. Indianapolis 500 winning cars featured in the Indianapolis 500 Winners Gallery The Mezzanine, located above the Winners Gallery, focuses on the extensive artifacts in the Museum's collection. This oval-shaped area, in honor of the Speedway's iconic oval, allows more opportunities to tell the stories of IMS—from '500' traditions and fan experiences, to safety improvements and innovations in technology. There will be multiple interactive kiosks, including ones dedicated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame and a timeline of IMS's history. This gallery also showcases the other motorsports the Speedway has hosted including stock cars, sports cars, motorcycles, and air racing. Through immersive hands-on activities like a pit stop challenge, driving simulators, a strategy challenge and more, guests can learn what it's like to be a driver, strategist or pit crew member in the new Qualifying Zone. This area of learning has something for guests of all ages—from a soft play area for the youngest fans to the dissected car display which goes into detail on the parts that make up an Indy Car. Adjacent to the Qualifying Zone is the Allen Whitehill Clowes Foundation Innovation Workshop, a classroom space for the new education department to offer STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) hands-on experiences for K-12 students. The classroom will be the home for field trips, summer camps, and presentations. Students will examine the concepts, challenges, and innovations that drive a successful racing team and participate in career exploration programs designed to promote job opportunities in the racing industry. The Penske Gallery is an interactive experience that chronicles the history of Team Penske, its team members, and the driving force behind the team, Roger Penske. The gallery features historic race cars, legendary trophies, unique artifacts, and displays honoring some of the most iconic and accomplished drivers in racing history. The McLaren M16B that Mark Donohue drove to victory in the 1972 Indianapolis 500 — the first of ... More Roger Penske's record 20 Indianapolis 500 victories. The Bobby Rahal Family Gallery will host rotating featured exhibitions, with the theme changing every three to nine months. The lower-level gallery will open with a feature on 'NASCAR at the Speedway'. Eight winning Brickyard 400 cars will be showcased, including Jeff Gordon's 1994 winner, Dale Earnhardt's 1995 winner, and Jimmie Johnson's 2006 winner. Only four drivers have achieved the prestige of being a four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. This rotating gallery highlights those legends: A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears, and Helio Castroneves. Each driver has one of their winning cars on display as well as a racing suit, helmet, and other relevant artifacts. This gallery will change every three to nine months and can be divided into two smaller modular exhibits to give the curatorial team flexibility and provide guests with a reason to visit time and time again. The car that AJ Foyt drove to victory to become the first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 ... More in 1977 — the famed Coyote. The Track Lounge serves as the conclusion to the Museum, offering guests the opportunity to book a tour of the track. While tours will depart from the lounge, it's not just a place to board a bus—this space includes an interactive 3-D track map where guests can visually see the evolution of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1909 to present day, a photo car for souvenir pictures, and the 'In the Race' video experience, where guests can see footage from the '500' projected on the walls as they walk down the hallway. A grab-and-go food and beverage stand for guests to fuel up completes the lounge. One of the cornerstones of the renovation was ensuring accessibility so all guests felt included. New features include a wheelchair-friendly racing simulator controlled fully by the steering wheel instead of the pedals and a wellness room designed for anybody that needs a quiet, private space, from nursing mothers to those with sensory sensitivities. The Museum is also working with Kulture City to become Sensory Inclusive™. Sensory bags can be checked out at the Welcome Center and include soundproof headphones, fidget toys, and glasses to reduce light. Signage around the building will indicate 'headphone areas' for those with sensitivities to noise. In 2023, the IMS Museum launched an $89 million capital campaign, The Stories Behind the Spectacle, to fund the Museum's transformation. Of that $89 million, $64 was earmarked for the complete transformation of the interior of the Museum building. The Museum has surpassed its phase one goal, having raised $69 million to date. With the Museum renovation completed at less than initially estimated, the remaining funds are now a part of the second phase of the campaign, which includes a new off-site restoration facility. As a public, non-profit organization separate from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the IMS Museum admission revenue helps cover operating costs, provide students nationwide with free or reduced educational programming, and allows the IMS Museum to offer a variety of community programs and benefits, including Access Pass, free Community Days, Blue Star Program for active military and others. On April 1, IMS Museum members and donors received an exclusive preview of the new space at an invitation-only event. Then on Wednesday, April 2, the IMS Museum will celebrate with community leaders, donors and members with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by the official reopening of the Museum. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum represents more than a century of motorsports history and is driven by its mission to celebrate and preserve the history behind the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500. Since 1956 when the IMS Museum first opened in the old ticket office building outside Turn 1, it has brought to life the innovation, thrill, and cultural significance of motor racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. What began with only 12 cars on display has become one of the world's premier collections of racing automobiles and artifacts – with more than 55,000 artifacts and over 150 vehicles. • Established in 1956 • Current building opened in 1976 • 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, separate from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway • 40,000 square feet of exhibit space added with the renovation • 55,000+ artifacts in the Museum collection • 150+ vehicles in the Museum collection • 140,000+ visitors annually • 1,500 square foot STEAM classroom • Final cost of the renovation came in at $60.5 million—under budget, and on time. o $64 million was earmarked from the capital campaign for the renovation • There are 33 lights in the entryway rotunda, representing the 33 drivers in the Indianapolis 500. • The green paint in the Gasoline Alley Gallery was matched to the original green used in the actual Gasoline Alley. • The banking in the Indianapolis 500 Winners Gallery on the lower level matches the banking of the four turns on the IMS oval: 9 degrees, 12 minutes (9.2°) • The cutout in the Mezzanine that overlooks the Indianapolis 500 Winners Gallery is designed to resemble the IMS oval. • The simulator steering wheels were modeled after Scott Dixon's steering wheel. • The dissected car in the Qualifying Zone was completely assembled by the Museum's restoration team over a three-month period with real parts donated from teams and manufacturers. It weighs roughly 1,000 pounds. • Real IMS 'Yellow Shirt' staff were used in the video telling guests to 'wait' before the Starting Line Experience. • Shiel Sexton installed more than 14,200 linear feet of new piping—a little more than the track length. • Excluding Museum staff, more than 180 team members from architects to fabricators to construction staff brought this project together over 164,000 work hours. February 2023: Project kickoff. Shiel Sexton, Schmidt Associates, and JRA are chosen as construction, architecture, and design firms. July 2023: The IMS Museum's $89 million capital campaign, The Stories Behind the Spectacle, launches with 51 percent of funds raised, including a $20 million grant from The Lilly Endowment. September 2023: The Museum's historic collection of 150+ vintage automobiles are moved from the basement into storage. November 2023: The IMS Museum closes to the public for a 17-month reimagining and comprehensive renovation. February 2024: Demolition of the interior is completed. April 2024: Exterior refresh of the IMS Museum building is completed. April 2024: The new Mezzanine level is installed, and the skylight is removed from the old Atrium area. November 2024: The Gasoline Alley Gallery theming and buildout begins. December 2024: Installation of the Starting Line Screen begins. January 2025: The dissected car, located in the Qualifying Zone, is the first vehicle to be moved into the Museum. February 2025: The Museum's extensive collection of artifacts and vehicles are moved out of storage. March 2025: Museum cars and artifacts are placed into their relevant exhibit spaces. April 2025: The IMS Museum reopens to the public with 40,000 square feet of additional exhibit space. $5 Million And Above John H Holliday Family, The Dyson Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc., G. Marlyne Sexton, The Heritage Group, Penske Foundation. $1 Million - $4,999,999 Linda and Mike Curb, Robert R. Dyson, The Bobby Rahal Family, Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, Scott and Sandi Borchetta. $500,000 - $999,999 Susan & David Roberts, A. Dano Davis, Hulman & Company Foundation, The Gordon Family, Thomas and Sharon Malloy. $100,000 - $499,999 Bill Simpson Foundation, Dorsey Foundation, Jenny and Bob Hillis, Mr. and Mrs. James H. Voyles Jr., Melissa A. Caito, The William Loadvine Family, Lynn and Preston Root, Shiel Sexton Company, Inc., Hubbard Family Foundation, French-Pheffer Family, The McGuire Family, Carol and Stephen Hatfield, Duncan and Renea Dayton, The MacAllister Family, R.B. Annis Educational Foundation, Anne and David Shane, Linda and Jeff Congdon, Shelly and Jim Shook, Team Penske, Schmidt Family Foundation, Schmidt Associates and the Wayne Schmidt Family, Miller-Eads $50,000 - $99,999 Timothy J. Cindric Family, Josie George, Laura and Tony George, Thomas and Barbara Beeler, Cheryl and Thomas VanParis, Cheri and Mitch Daniels, Karen and Mike Long, Shiel Sexton Foundation, Inc., Judy and Jim Singleton, Sue and Mike Smith, Cindy and Doug Kizer, The Wurster Family, Michael Fux and Gloria Rubin, Lila and Steve Huse, RJE Interiors, Susan and Bill Tolbert, Xtrac, Ilmor Engineering, Inc., INDYCAR, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Bruce R. McCaw Family Foundation, Dallara, Indy Racing Experience. The Indianapolis-based Shiel Sexton Construction oversaw the construction phase of the revamped Museum. 'The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum started with a vision to transform an already iconic venue into an immersive experience that tells the stories of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing from the very beginning to present day,' said Mike Dilts, Chairman, Shiel Sexton Construction. 'It was an honor for Shiel Sexton, along with our incredible design and trade partners, to bring these concepts to reality and maintain the rich history of the Indianapolis 500 and Indianapolis Motor Speedway for generations to come.' Indianapolis architecture firm Schmidt Associates handled the architectural process. "The IMS Museum renovation is all about creating a more immersive, accessible, and engaging experience for Visitors,' said COO Kevin D. Shelley, AIA, LEED, AP of Schmidt Associates. 'Through thoughtful updates, the space now better connects guests to the history of racing while incorporating modern design and sustainability for the future.' JRA, part of RWS Global, handled the Design and Creative Development. 'It has been an immense privilege to conceptualize, design and develop the reimagined Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum,' says Tony Schmidt, Director, Creative Design, RWS Global. 'The new galleries, exhibitions and interactive displays are engaging, immersive and filled with artifacts and digital experiences that will exceed visitor expectations.' Winning cars throughout the history of the Indianapolis 500 flanking the famed Borg-Warner Trophy.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Welsh council gives green light for major leisure project with zip-line, sky swing and more with panoramic views
A new leisure attraction on Swansea's Kilvey Hill which supporters say will make it accessible for more people, boost tourism and bring jobs has been given the go-ahead. Swansea Council's planning committee voted in favour of the Skyline Enterprises project by seven votes to two, with one abstention, after a long and, at times tense, debate. Kilvey Hill is around 630ft high and has panoramic views of the city and Swansea Bay. It overlooks St Thomas on one side, Bonymaen on another and, across the River Tawe, Landore. New Zealand-based Skyline Enterprises wants to build a gondola lift running from the Landore park and ride site up the hill to a station at the top leading to a food hall and outdoor terrace. At or near the top of the hill would be a sky swing attached to three towers, a zipline sending riders out on a 1km loop, and two luge tracks and a linking track. There would also be mountain bike routes, walking trails, a play area, picnic benches and a new bridleway. READ MORE: 'Reform can't be allowed into the Senedd under any circumstances' says Jane Dodds - and why she's backing the budget READ MORE: BMW convertible driver, 24, seriously injured in crash Nine objectors and a ward councillor, Joe Hale, who represents St Thomas, took turns to raise concerns and urge a deferral of a decision or a refusal at the meeting. A planning agent on behalf of the applicants spoke in favour of the project, as did Bonymaen councillor Mandy Evans and council leader Rob Stewart. The objectors focused on Kilvey Hill's quiet area designation and how they felt it would be threatened, the development's visual impact, its potential impact on private water supplies, increased traffic, the applicant's consultation two years ago, and what would happen if the scheme didn't deliver on its expectations. One of the objectors, Chris Lewis, said he questioned Skyline Enterprises' business plan and, citing other outdoor destinations like the Afan Valley to the east, wondered if this was a "saturated market". Mr Lewis said Swansea was relatively remote in terms of having large population centres nearby. Referring to the Skyline project, he said: "Once people have done it, will they come back?" Another objector, Clare Hughes, was critical of the way she felt the council had handled the application and objectors. Her 17-year-old daughter, she said, was part of the next generation of voters and had ended up writing to Sir David Attenborough to express her dismay. "They feel you are not listening to their concerns and are absolutely appalled," she said. Cllr Hale said he felt there was limited data about the scheme's tourism and economic benefits and wondered what happen if the project became a "white elephant". He said: "What guarantees do we have that it (Kilvey Hill) will return to its former use?" A planning officer report before the committee said the cumulative benefits of the proposal would outweigh "significant harm arising from landscape and visual impacts". Planning agent John Hurley said the Skyline development would attract an estimated 450,000-plus visitors per year, create jobs, improve access to the hill, and result in a net biodiversity gain due to mitigation measures such as replacement tree planting and woodland management. Cllr Evans said she and others had experienced threats and abuse on the subject of Skyline and "constant aggression" from a minority of people, which had been upsetting. She said she had lived in Bonymaen all her life and had listened to all sides, and concluded that the development would be a "world-class leisure destination" for Swansea, providing employment and work experience opportunities in things like hospitality and marketing. In her view a "blind eye" had been turned to crime, anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping on the hill. Swansea Labour leader Cllr Stewart also said he and others had received "unreasonable and unacceptable abuse" about the Skyline project. He said it would bring more people to the city who would spend money in shops, restaurants and hotels and that this in turn could generate more investment and strengthen the case for a new railway station at Landore as part of a wider Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro project. "I believe we do want these things," he said. "I believe the vast majority of people in Swansea want to see the city and county being successful." Councillors on the committee sought answers from planning officers on a number of points, such as why Skyline Enterprises intended the operate the gondola lift and food hall up until midnight seven days a week, and whether there could be impacts on private water supplies. Cllr Mark Tribe asked if there could be a "short-term deferral" to address matters raised by objectors. "Visitors get the chance to walk away, residents don't," he said. Cllr Mary Jones said: "We do want to put Swansea on the map. Do we want to put in on the map at any cost? I don't know." Cllr Mike White backed the project, saying it was good to see investment coming to what was once a heavily industrialised part of the city. "We need to let people know that Swansea is open for business," he said. A planning officer responded to concerns and queries raised during the meeting, saying that public access would remain for the vast majority of the hill and that many parts of it would still be quiet and tranquil spaces if the development went ahead. He said Skyline Enterprises has suggested it would monitor water samples before and after construction, that noise impacts had been assessed thoroughly, and that the "significant" visual impacts "will soften over time". Skyline Enterprises's application led to around 560 letters of objection and 40 letters of support. The Welsh Government Government has awarded a £4 million subsidy for the project with £1 million being repayable. No financial support has been directly provided by the council to Skyline but it is considering an investment of approximately £8 million which it expected to be repaid in full. Skyline Enterprises has previously said the attraction would take up 9% of Kilvey Hill. The company's board has approved a budget of 78 million New Zealand dollars, which is around £35 million at current exchange rates. Skyline operates eight other leisure developments worldwide but none yet in Europe. Danny Luke, the company's chief operating officer, said: 'We are delighted that Swansea Council's planning committee has agreed to our proposal for Skyline Swansea, as this decision marks a vital step in the development process. We have a successful track record of delivering accessible tourism destinations across the world, and our new leisure destination at Kilvey Hill would be our first European attraction and our ninth site globally. Our Swansea site would join the Skyline portfolio of much-loved, family friendly sites across Asia, North America and Oceania. "Ultimately, Skyline is all about bringing accessible fun to families across the world. We look forward to working closely with Swansea Council - and continuing to collaborate with partners and local community groups - as we deliver Skyline Swansea: an accessible adventure destination which welcomes tourists and locals alike, providing a boost to this wonderful city."
