Indy Park Ride And Fly

Life has slowed only a bit for Luyendyk

June 8--Talk about your classic what-if stories.

If Arie Luyendyk had not been featured in a story in a Michigan International Speedway program in 1981, he may never have connected with Aat Groenevelt, a fellow Dutchman.

If Luyendyk hadn't met Groenevelt, he wouldn't have become part of an extended second family in the Milwaukee area.

He wouldn't have had a sponsor, his racing career in America would have stalled out at the Super Vee level and the list of two-time Indianapolis 500 winners would look significantly different.

"Aat's brother Erik, he was reading this article about me in the program, about this Dutch guy racing in the USA, so he decided to come look me up," said Luyendyk, 57.

"It was like (Aat) became my American dad. He saved my career and made my career, and he was also a friend of mine."

Among Groenevelt's business interests was Provimi Veal, a meat processing company through which he sponsored cars driven by Derek Daly and Tony Bettenhausen Jr.

Luyendyk, a champion in the Netherlands, came to the United States in 1981 and he spent his first couple of years commuting to race in Super Vee, then the training ground for hopeful drivers aspiring to a career in Indy cars and the Indianapolis 500.

But by mid-1982 he had become disillusioned. Luyendyk's cars were breaking down regularly, and he wasn't sure what his next move would be when he dropped out of the race at Road America in Elkhart Lake. Afterward he visited the Groenevelts.

"Being a little bit desperate the way I was then, I said, 'I have nothing going on anymore and no outlook on anything. So maybe if you sponsor me, I will,'" Luyendyk recalled. "I just kind of threw it out there.

"He knew I had to go home the next day, he says, 'Why don't you go home and then come back next week and we'll fly you over and we'll talk it over.'

"They decided to buy a car and run me in a few races in '83. Then he said, 'You're in charge. Here's a budget. You go buy the equipment and hire the people.'"

Luyendyk packed up wife Mieke, son Arie Jr. and daughter Maida, moved from the Netherlands to Brookfield and ran a three-man team out of a Groenevelt-owned hangar at the Waukesha County Airport.

In the third race of the season, on the mile at State Fair Park, Luyendyk scored his first victory in the United States, and the Provimi Veal team went on to win the title.

New Indy Park Ride & Fly Opens – Travel News | Taking off Travel blog

Indy Park Ride & Fly and 1st Class Express Airport Parking, two offsite airport parking facilities servicing Indianapolis International Airport (IND) have merged to create a bigger, better Indy Park Ride & Fly in conjunction with the opening of the airport’s new Midfield terminal.

“After 11 years and over 1.5 million parking stays, we’re extremely excited to relocate to the new Midfield terminal,” says Amy Strohmeyer, Indy Park Ride & Fly’s General Manager. “Our new Indy Park Ride & Fly facility will hold more than 2300 cars, and will be the largest off airport parking operation servicing the new Midfield terminal.”

This Ronald Reagan Parkway facility offers the same outstanding, hassle-free service as before, plus more parking spaces, long-term or short-term parking, car care services, enhanced self-parking option, free shuttles to the airport and back, 24 hour surveillance, secure, fenced-in lots, complimentary luggage assistance and more. For an even faster airport parking experience, travelers can sign-up for the Indy BizXpress Fast Pass member program, which will allow them to simply drive in, park, ride & fly.

Another brand-new bonus offer  available at this new Indianapolis airport parking facility is Long-weekend Savings. When traveling from Thursdays to Mondays between November 13th, 2008 and March 2nd, 2009, customers will save more than 40% on Indianapolis Airport parking with discounted rates as low as $6.00 a day.

Presidential Measures To Ease Holiday Woes

Last time I wrote about some ways of achieving stress free vacation travel , but ASTA’s not the only one interested in relieving holiday travel woes. In fact, measures to ease holiday travel congestion come right from the top. President Bush recently revealed measures to improve travelers’ experiences by easing journeys, reducing delays and protecting them from lost luggage. The military is to open up three new flight routes to Southern California, Colorado and Arizona during Thanksgiving, while fees for lost luggage will be raised. Airlines will also have to show how they plan to handle tarmac delays at each airport.

Top Tens From Orbitz

If you are thinking of traveling over Thanksgiving and the holiday season, then it might be helpful to know which airports will be busiest over the holidays. Orbitz has come up with a list of the airports likely to see the most traffic over Thanksgiving, based on ticket sales for travel that week.

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