New historic marker to honor Indy immortal Wilbur Shaw

The Wilbur Shaw historic marker. Photo by Linda Mansfield.

Shelbyville is a small city in south-central Indiana, part way between Indianapolis and Cincinnati. It was founded in the great westward push, and like any town its size, has its share of favorite sons. But only one of them is getting a state historical marker this coming Saturday. The metal marker salutes Wilbur Shaw, one of the most important single figures in the history of the Indianapolis 500 and, thus, in American motorsport as a whole.

Wilbur Shaw. Pencil drawing by Sam Mudd.

The marker will be unveiled at 10 a.m. Saturday in front of the Shelby County Fairgrounds in Shelbyville, where Shaw “drove” a goat cart in his very first race, in 1909, at all of seven years old. The Indiana Racing Memorial Association lobbied for the marker, which has been displayed in the Hall of Fame Museum at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to be relocated outside the fairgrounds.

The marker’s reverse side. Photo by Jim Haines.

Shaw’s shadow cast over racing cannot be diminished. He won Indy three times, in 1937, 1939 and 1940. Perhaps more importantly, Shaw is credited as the person who introduced speedway owner Eddie Rickenbacker to Terre Haute sportsman and business mogul Tony Hulman in the immediate aftermath of World War II. The speedway had lain dormant during the war years and fallen into disrepair. The dialogue that Shaw jump-started led to Hulman buying the speedway from Rickenbacker, who intended to develop it into housing, and rejuvenated the historic track. Hulman named Shaw as speedway president, a post he held until his death in a 1952 plane crash.

Saturday’s ceremonies will include a luncheon and a talk on Shaw’s legacy, presented by Indianapolis Motor Speedway historian Donald Davidson.