Bill Alsup

[4 Corner Fan]

My wife went skiing today at Purgatory (Durango Mountain - I was at work ) and a guy pulled up next to her in the parking lot and said "That's something you don't see every day" referring to the IRL sticker on the car. So they got to talking about Indy and how many years we've been going (this year is my 50th anniversary, and 49th 500). Anyway, he said his last name was Alsip and his Dad raced at Indy. Of course, I knew who he was talking about, Bill.

I believe Bill lives in Silverton, at least part of the year, and was or still is involved in a local one run ski hill in town. His son said his Dad was getting all kinds of contacts about attending the race this year. I told my with to tell the son his Dad could ride with us!

I know Bill wasn't a big name, but hey, he got to do something I sure wish I had gotten to do at least once.

[Truth Detector]

Cool story. Didn't he run for Penske at least once?

[4 Corner Fan]

That was my recollection that he ran for Penske at least once. Is he the guy that qualified for Mario one year when he was not able to qualify due to F1?

[KevMcNJ]

It was Bill Alsup With a "u"

Yes he was in a Penske car around 1981-ish

I remember a sponsor named A.B. Dick on the sidepods

No idea what they were or what they made

Purgatory is a wonderful ski area.

Great mid-90s memories of that place for me

[DaveL]

It was Bill Alsup With a "u"

Yes he was in a Penske car around 1981-ish

I remember a sponsor named A.B. Dick on the sidepods

No idea what they were or what they made

AB Dick was a Chicago area company that made office equipment like copy machines.

[4 Corner Fan]

Purgatory is a wonderful ski area.

Great mid-90s memories of that place for me

We live two miles from Purgatory. I drive past it every day on my way to work. My wife drives to it to go ski, although some days she just snowshoes to it. Some people have a tough life!

[ARROWZ46]

Bill Alsup drove the entire 1981 season for Team Penske

[KevMcNJ]

We live two miles from Purgatory. I drive past it every day on my way to work. My wife drives to it to go ski, although some days she just snowshoes to it. Some people have a tough life!

I learned to ski there in 1994

Penske cars dont look as good in brown. Yecch!

[flatlander_48]

I learned to ski there in 1994

Penske cars dont look as good in brown. Yecch!

Yes, if that photo had not popped up, I was going to say that Alsup's car was basiically a brown paint scheme, whereas the other 2 Penske cars were basically blue. That looks like Michigan in the photo. If so, I was there for the 1st Michigan 500 in '81. Took 2 weekends to run, had a bunch of nasty crashes and a major pit fire (Herm Johnson, I think). Bizarre race with a bizarre finish. Pancho Carter won followed by Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. (best career finishes for both of them).

[mathouser]

That was my recollection that he ran for Penske at least once. Is he the guy that qualified for Mario one year when he was not able to qualify due to F1?

He was Penske's first "ride-buyer"...

And no Alsup did not qualify for Mario, that happened twice, Wally Dallenbach and Mike Hiss did the driving.

[mlv]

Note the camera built inside the nose of this PC9B. Alsup`s car in 81 was also "guinea-pig" for NBC.

[flatlander_48]

Note the camera built inside the nose of this PC9B. Alsup`s car in 81 was also "guinea-pig" for NBC.

Yes, driver's right corner of the nose. I taped the race while my brother and I went to Michigan and saw the images later. Very impressive for the time. Weird view also, because it was so low...

[flatlander_48]

He was Penske's first "ride-buyer"...

And no Alsup did not qualify for Mario, that happened twice, Wally Dallenbach and Mike Hiss did the driving.

I don't think Penske went looking for him. I think Alsup had a deal with A B Dick and went looking for someone to field a car for him. Penske had a 2-car team already with Mears and B Unser.

[mlv]

3rd AB Dick(BTW Albert Blake Dick was company founder in 1884) sponsored Penske was actually meant for Mario but in december 1980 Roger Penske announced that Andretti would be unable to meet the schedule requirements of sponsor in 1981 because of his F1 commitements and Bill Alsup will compete in 8 races with AB Dick sponsorship. For the unsuspecting Alsup it was an impossible dream come true...(G.Kirby)

[DaveL]

3rd AB Dick(BTW Albert Blake Dick was company founder in 1884) sponsored Penske was actually meant for Mario but in december 1980 Roger Penske announced that Andretti would be unable to meet the schedule requirements of sponsor in 1981 because of his F1 commitements and Bill Alsup will compete in 8 races with AB Dick sponsorship. For the unsuspecting Alsup it was an impossible dream come true...(G.Kirby)

Alsup kept the AB Dick sponsorship on his own in '82, so Kirby's information seems questionable.