By Dick Mittman
indy500.com
Friday, September 24, 2004
Tom Carnegie has witnessed many dramatic things during his 58 years as the public address announcer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but nothing turned him speechless like a surprise 85th birthday party Sept. 24.
Carnegie thought he was going to lunch at the Brickyard Crossing Inn and Resort with D.J., his wife of 60 years, and friend Charlie Walker. But when the doors to the dining room swung open, he was greeted by a rousing round of the "Happy Birthday" song by about 75 longtime friends and working associates from the Speedway and his former television employer, WFBM-TV.
Tears came to his eyes as he looked over the crowd.
"I've been able to describe everything through the years until now," he said as a "king's crown" was placed on his head.
It wasn't long until he had regained his composure and was shooting out zingers as he was "roasted" at the podium by emcee and fellow IMS public address announcer Dave Calabro and others.
He was given some jocular gifts, including one that supposedly was his microphone at the Speedway. It was listed as Item 1919 (the year he was born), and a tin can and string were attached to the plaque. There was a picture of him interviewing 1950 winner Johnnie Parsons, but Calabro said it was a typical scene because there was some food residue on his jacket.
Maurice Kessler, who worked for many years with Carnegie on the Speedway public address team, brought him to the podium to read a jovial Top 10 birthday list. No. 1 was a desire that one more time Carnegie could say, "Mario Andretti is slowing down on the backstretch."
Carnegie's 85th birthday actually is the day after the party. He was born Carl Kenagy on Sept. 25, 1919. Many years later, as Carnegie was breaking into radio in Fort Wayne, Ind., a station manager changed his on-air name to Tom Carnegie.
When the Speedway prepared to run its first race under Tony Hulman's ownership in 1946, track president Wilbur Shaw heard Carnegie describe an antique car race, liked the sound of his deep, velvety voice and asked him to handle the p.a. for that race.
He's still there, an announcing icon to match - or exceed - boxing's Don Dunphy, the Chicago Cubs' Harry Caray or the Boston Celtics' Johnny Most.
"Well, to me it's becoming almost unbelievable," said Carnegie, father of sons Bob and Blair Kenagy. "I never realized the years were adding up until the last four or five.
"I appreciate the attitude of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They just expect me to show up every year. I've never signed a contract with the Speedway. I have given them my best through the years. It's been a wonderful relationship.
"Come May 1, I just show up at the racetrack, and I'm still the guy, you know. And to think any corporation, any public corporation like they are with a public interest, that would do something like that, I feel very honored by that, especially."
Carnegie said he feels fortunate that in his youth, when he was stricken by an illness that limited the use of his legs, "the Good Lord gave me a better voice for the public address system and for television and radio." He said that was a compensation and that he always has kept a happy attitude about life.
"I'm a cheerleader for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway," he said. "It's been that way, and it's always going to be that way."
Carnegie has seen and called it all - from a facility just re-emerging in 1946 after four years of inactivity due to World War II, to the magnificent racing palace of today; thousands of drivers, owners, officials, accessory, media people and millions of fans who have come and gone; the introduction of television; the roadster, the Novi, turbine and rear-engine cars; speed jumps from 130 mph to a 240 mph; arrival of stock cars and then Formula One machines, and, last but certainly not least, three generations of the Hulman-George family making the Speedway the foremost track in the world.
But there's one factor - the constant attention to safety by the Hulman-George family and those around them - that stands out foremost in his mind.
"I felt their dedication to safety has been the one continuing overriding principle of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway," he said. "And as long as that is their goal, I'm just so proud of them."
So, with a kiss from Indianapolis 500 driver Sarah Fisher, it's happy 85th birthday to you, Tom Carnegie. ***
IMS tickets: To purchase tickets, camping or parking for either the Indianapolis 500, United States Grand Prix or Brickyard 400, contact the IMS ticket office at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, (317) 492-6700 locally or log on to www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.
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