INDIANAPOLIS-- When it pertains to catching the Mairet family's love for racing, it's not only in the images ... it's in their blood.
" It's been the household custom given that we were kids," said Douglas (Doug) Mairet.
Doug, who attended his very first Indy 500 in 1974, is on the roadway to seeing his 49th race.
" You catch that bug, and you wish to come back every year," said Doug.
Just ask his dad, David (Dave).
" I've been to 70 races. Ideally, in a number of weeks, it will be 71," Dave said with a laugh.
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For Dave, he was bit by the racing bug as a kid after World War II. That's when his father, who he referred to as a "racing fanatic", took him to his first 500.
" He took me when I was 10 years old," he stated. "That was the start, 1946, right after they opened the track up."
Despite missing out on a few races throughout the years, trips from their Wisconsin house to the Speedway ended up being the plan of what's now a Mairet Family tradition, one that's now spanned through multiple decades and 4 generations, in spite of the passing of Dave's dad in 1968.
" I never ever went to a race with my grandpa," said Steve Hudson-Mairet, Dave's kid and Doug's bro, "but I know that we're carrying his memory on through what we do, and that's what customs are everything about."
Steve's race count sits at 41, and while he's also missed out on a few races throughout the years, he states he's still not sure if the "bug" ever bit him.
" On some level, it's less about the race and more about the family," Steve said.
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In the area for the Grand Prix, Steve and Dave made the trek from Wisconsin to Indiana, investing the weekend at Doug's home in Fishers, where he's now lived with his own household because the mid-90s. Going through the Mairet Family 'Race Day' Photo Album, BNN met with them as they recollected about their 500 customs throughout the years.
Before Doug moved to Indy, the household recalled West Lafayette as their point of stay during race weekend.
" We 'd go to Noble Romans for pizza, struck all the ice cream parlors, and get up about 5 in the morning, get the automobile," stated Dave. "We usually parked up near the high school, and then we 'd tailgate there."
The familiarity with West Lafayette throughout the years even assisted shape Doug's college years.
" We had actually come here so typically that I became familiar with Purdue University, and the area up in West Lafayette from staying there, that when it came time for me to pick a college, I selected Purdue," said Doug.
Nowadays, Doug is preparing to host his household under his roofing for another 500 weekend, a task he and his wife have happily provided for years.
" She's a saint for allowing 20 or so people to come descend on her home for Indy 500 weekend," laughed Doug.
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The Mairets state the weekend-long extravaganza is a reunion for their household, mapped out with several traditions, from prepping their race day early morning Subway orders and "must have" treats, to even taking a "family test" on the huge race.
" We spend the whole day before the race discussing what's going to go on the next day, reworking old races, and my grandson, Colin, he makes up a test. We all have to take a test about the race," stated Dave. "If you win the test, you get a little checkered flag with your name embroidered on it."
" For all the experience I've had, I was available in last, in 2015!" he joked.
Throughout the years, the Mairets have likewise preserved their seats in NW Vista. Every year, the prolonged trek from their parking area entered into the regular, but with time, they've made some changes.
" I'll be 87 next month," stated Dave. "Certain things break down when you get a little older, and one is my legs. Years earlier, when I was much, much younger, we would park at the high school, or even beyond, and walk back to the track. It was an easy walk, but now I can't stroll that far any longer."
" My kid, Doug, he gets as close as he can to the track at someone's lawn," Dave added.
As Dave approaches his 71st race, he knows it may be his last one physically in the stands. Battling leg discomfort, he says it's been difficult to make the walking since late, but he's been preparing himself for this year.
" The cardiologist told me my best friend was the treadmill. I work out on the treadmill all the time with this my goal, can I make a mile, can I make a half and a mile," he said.
" This is one of the most important events for my daddy. He does put the work in now to be physically ready to go," said Steve.
While it's still unclear if the 107th running will be Dave's last race physically in participation, he says he's taking it day by day while likewise thinking about other methods to assist preserve his household's old custom.
" It's going to be hard, but I'll still come down. I'll be here. I don't know how I'm going to see the race, they do not telecast it down here!" Dave chuckled.
" Dad will constantly belong to this," said Steve. "So, daddy will constantly be with us, whether he's here physically or otherwise."
" He brought us to this race. He taught us racing," Doug added. "Hopefully he sticks with us a few more years, and if he can't go into the stands, we're considering other methods he can experience the race. Perhaps we can get him behind the pagoda and other ways to get him to the track."
"If he can't get down to the track, we 'd enjoy to have him here at the house and socialize with us, and see us off, and invite us back when we return from the track," Doug stated.
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