The Hat’s the Thing on Hoosier Minds in May
Written by George Katinger · May 14, 2007
|
|
|
Clayton Thomas, John Fort & Bill Pickering at Indy. Photo: Allan Brewer
|
Three Indiana Men Display Hat Handiwork on Indy Pole Day
by Allan Brewer
allan@fastmachines.com
Fast Cars. Courageous drivers. Gorgeous men wearing hats.
Something doesn’t go with the others here.
Mocking the springtime bonnets of the ladies who grace the Kentucky Derby, three Hoosiers took to the Pagoda Plaza on Pole Day to show off the finest fashion in headwear.
Clayton Thomas of Indianapolis has been sporting his velvety blue high-hat with the cow-bell on top for several years. He got started with “the hat thing” after being inspired by friend William Pickering (also from Indy).
“I had this hat at home and thought I’d wear it to a Pacers game, then I got the idea to bring it out to the track,” said Thomas.
“I’ve been coming to the race for a number of years, but this is the fourth year for the hat.”
“My friend Bill was the first. He started it, and I got the idea from him. He’s more famous than I am,” Thomas concluded.
“It’s just part of my IndyCar experience, to go with my jacket,” said Pickering, who also sports a patch-covered jacket. “I’ve been coming out to the Speedway consecutively since 1977.”
Guys Gone Wild
As women pass by, and comment favorably on the costume, William continues with a heartfelt expression of feeling about what possesses a man to dress like this. “This’ll be my 30th 500 and I’ve been to 31 overall. I’ve been hooked on this track all my life. This whole month of May is basically my summer vacation. It’s everything to me.”
Women aren’t the only ones who see and remark on this flippant fashion finery. Even the IndyCar drivers can’t help but be amused at this public display of goofy, lovable garb.
“Most of the time when the drivers ask me about my hat they ask me how I can even wear the hat. I point to the headband underneath, so it doesn’t sink on top of my head.”
William has only the one hat, but he rotates the commemorative pins on it to keep his chapeau timely. “These pins go back seven or eight years,” he said. “After so long I’ll retire them and put them on a bulletin board.”
There’s only one drawback to this kind of sartorial splendor. It does tend to dampen the enthusiasm of the ladies who might accompany these men to the Brickyard on a fine spring afternoon.
“The hat takes the limelight away from the woman,” added William. “When I come out here with this hat and jacket, it takes attention away from them.”
Checkered Head to Toe for Show
John Fort of Indianapolis may hold the record for longevity with his black and white checkered outfit, complete with helmet and goggles.
“It got started with switching from a regular little baseball hat and I wanted something more distinctive,” said Fort. “I had an old motorcycle helmet and I decided to paint it black and white checkered. I built some frames to hold the flags, and then I needed a race car to put on the top. I found one, painted it, attached it to my helmet.”
Fort’s unusual brain bucket sports the American flag on top, and together with his white and black blocked shirt and shorts, gives him an appearance something akin to a checkered Everest.
“This is fifteen years I’ve been dressing up. I’ve been coming to the 500 since the 1960’s,” he said.
Fort’s style extends to a dense pair of driver’s goggles in the same checkered pattern as the rest of his outfit, which beg the question “How do you see out of those things?”
“It’s an old Army goggles and they are sunglass lens. The material that covers the front is in the same spot as the sunglass lens so I can see right out of them and it still looks like it’s black and white that you can’t see out of.”
The trio of men looked right at home while they posed for pictures as the IndyCars droned on around the oval on Saturday (May 12th) Pole Day.
The 2007 IndyCar Series season continues with the 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 at 1 PM (EDT) on May 27th. The race will be telecast live by ABC and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network. The IMS Radio Network broadcast also is carried on XM Satellite Radio and www.indycar.com. The sixth season of Indy Pro Series competition continues with the Freedom 100 on May 25th at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will be telecast as part of ESPN2’s coverage of Carb Day at 4 PM on May 25th.
Comments
Got something to say?
You must be logged in to post a comment.