23 Days in August: No. 6, Mike Hiss, 1973 Thermo-King Eagle/Offy

If you joined us for 30 Days in May earlier this year, you’ll see some familiar faces from that countdown. We’ve also added some new entries for 23 Days in August. So let’s celebrate some notable drivers and cars from the glorious past of the Indianapolis 500!

 

Photo credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway photo

Mike Hiss enjoyed a fine debut at the Speedway in 1972 by finishing seventh,
but in 1973 he had a "sophomore slump" and was 17th. 

23 Days in August: No. 6, Mike Hiss, 1973 Thermo-King Eagle/Offy. After being named Rookie of the Year after placing seventh in the 1972 Indianapolis 500, Mike Hiss returned in 1973 with the Thermo-King team. The Thermo-King cars were one of the most striking of this era, as the dark blue/light blue livery really stood out.

Hiss posted a respectable speed of 191.939 mph in qualifying, but because he was a second-day qualifier he had to start 26. He wound up 17^th, departing after 91 laps with drive train trouble.

His chief mechanic was Lynn Reid of Logansport, Indiana, the city where in 1989 I began my newspaper career as the Assistant Sports Editor (and later the Sports Editor) of the Pharos-Tribune, the Light of Loganland.

Thermo-King was a primary sponsor at Indianapolis throughout the 1970s. They are still around, providing temperature control systems for trucks, trailers, railcars and more.

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