1973 - Spectacular Indianapolis 500 Race Amateur Super 8 Film Including Salt Walther Crash

[thevmanvj]

Great footage....well shot.....nicely preserved...and really great quality for Super-8.

Great job.

Unfortunately, that accident was just one part of what was a terrible month of May in 1973.

[1957thack]

Hats off John! U Could have been a camara man! Your video is clearer and more vivid than ABC's footage! So many things went wrong from the start to the end of that race. The horrible start could have been prevented.Notice all the cars are all bunched up. It's the pole sitters responsibility to pace, charge & lead the cars down the track after the pace car pulls off . JR's seems to be a bit layed back & complacent. USAC would learn a lot from these mistakes & relocate the Flagman up even higher

[toma23rulz]

best view of the crash there is!!!

[JettRink50]

Salt actually kept that wreck of a race car in his garage, he showed it to me and I can't imagine why anyone would want that around.

[Radar19792006]

This is the BEST view I've seen of the Walther crash. All the other views were too wide or missed the first few moments. Awesome upload!

[thenascarguy24]

@1:46 looked like Mike Mosely was kicked in the face

[3338MAN]

Salt claimed he was hit from behind. But I think he Coganed it.

[JettRink50]

@3338MAN I knew Salt and he kept that wreck of a car in his garage in Dayton. I give him credit for his courage to come back the next year but I think today he is in jail.

[3338MAN]

@JettRink50 What a conversation piece. A real mess, that car. Like I said, my theory is he got into the same trouble as Cogan in '82 at the start....ambitious application of the throttle. In Cogan's case, Kevin claimed a broken halfshaft, but it sure looked otherwise to many. Yes, Salt is doing time in an Ohio medium security prison for some domestic issues or run in with the police, something like that. Not terrible stuff, but bad behavior and irresponsibility. He'll be out.

[500stick]

johnmeyer, I recall at the time that for months after the wreck Salt's dad was offering $s for anyone with film of the wreck that would show exactly what happened- where in the heck was this film at the time?- it's the only one I've ever seen that clearly shows exactly what happened- I was there that day and thought I had seen all available footage of this accident decades ago- what an incredible find!!

[HappyJack01]

I was 14 and watching from the back straight just before the NE turn. It was very confusing to hear all the excited comments from the PA and radio. It struck home only when a few of the damaged cars limped past trying to get back to the pits. That night we saw it on TV and were amazed. Great video quality!!

[beyondnascar]

I am a Swede Savage fan. I was 12 when this all happened. Great footage of the crews pushing Swede & David Hobbs cars to the grid and EXCELLENT footage! Good Job!

[ohytr12]

the quality is amazing very good vid too bad no sound but fantastic quality.

[orvillequick]

yes, without a doubt some of the best footage I have ever seen of this start. I was 8 and it happened right in front of me and it was very shocking and frightening to me. I remember very clearly my dad telling me to look through his binoculars as you could see Salt Walther's legs sticking out of the car. I was so rattled I couldn't .Thank you so much for posting this!

[orvillequick]

I was sitting in the Paddock right where this happened, 8 years old at the time

[johnmeyer77]

@orvillequick You had great seats!

As you can see, these were pretty much the best seats in the house: front row Paddock, directly opposite the exit from pit row. I got a chance to use these tickets for one race, although I was not present on this day (my dad took these). I did film the 1966 race which also featured a crash at the start, and perhaps I should post that footage. It was taken about 20 rows pack with wheels coming towards the camera. Quite frightening in retrospect.

[Balddrinker]

I was 7 yrs old but remember this

[gentleonmymind1966]

Excellent HQ video!!thanks!

[GeoffEighinger]

Best footage I have seen of this.