The SMG team believes in building lasting relationships. Safety management is all about maintaining this kind of longevity — keeping people and businesses thriving in trusted hands. One of the ways we strengthen our bonds on a yearly basis is by inviting our associates as well as current and prospective clients to our suite at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in preparation for this month’s big event — the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” the Indianapolis 500.
SMG’s history with IMS dates back to former President Kent Burget, whose family held season tickets for 50-plus years. In 2008, Charles “Jug” Eckert — the founder of Jug’s Catering — introduced Burget and SMG Vice President of Operations Ron Hanson to some owners of the Turn 2 suites. Cut to four years later, and SMG has its own suite right next door to legendary racecar driver and four-time Indy 500 winner A.J. Foyt.
Hanson sees the suite as an investment in SMG’s future and its Hoosier home base.
“One of our goals is to be committed to our associates, our clients and the community,” he said. “Over the years, we’ve strived to incorporate all three of those elements into the hospitality suite. We’ve hosted fundraisers and donated tickets for the benefit of numerous charitable organizations there, and we’ve hosted professional associations such as the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), Top Notch and the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).”
Hanson added: “A lot of our clients are interested in coming out and spending an afternoon watching cars on the track, and the historical significance of IMS for Indiana and globally is a year-round attraction for many. It’s a good chance for us to get some quality time with our longstanding and prospective clients that we may not otherwise get. Sometimes it’s hard to schedule that hour-long phone call. Plus, time in the suite allows everyone to loosen up, relax and get to know each other in a more genuine way.”
Other perks of hanging out with SMG on race weekend include a suite view that’s just roughly 50 feet away from the racecars, a chance to ride a lap around the track and an opportunity for younger generations to join the fandom.
“When an associate or client brings their children who have never been to IMS, it’s neat to see the look on the kids’ faces when they see an IndyCar going around the track at 230 miles an hour,” Hanson said. “It’s good to get younger kids involved in racing and IndyCar so they maybe take it to the next level down the road. That’s why IMS President Doug Boles and his team have revamped the Snake Pit with electronic dance music and a more youth-oriented vibe. At the end of the day, the hope is that all the twentysomethings partying it up out there will one day get married, have children and support the track like the generations of families before them.”
Perhaps the best benefit of SMG’s connection with IMS is the fact that the Speedway sets a prime example and essentially serves as a safety clinic for us and our associates and clients. The IMS team members have their eyes peeled for a number of various safety issues, and there are contingency plans for essentially every scenario that could possibly occur on race day.
As Boles said in an interview on our podcast, Vine to Zero, “Risk is one of the biggest factors in this business — not just for drivers on the track but fans in the grandstands. IMS is an old facility, and parts of it that remain today were built shortly after World War II. So, you’re talking about 75-year-old structures that have to live through Indiana winters, so you never know what you’re going to get here in the spring. And one of the biggest safety challenges we face is weather. You can’t control it, especially in Indiana, where it could be a beautiful day at first and be completely different an hour later. On race day, we have 5,000 employees prepared to deal with situations that require a lot of OSHA training. So, a lot of things are high on our radar here.”
Through IMS’s major renovation endeavor prior to the 100th Indianapolis 500, Project 100, the facility now has new roofing above the grandstands as well as new, ADA-accessible elevators, both of which help in regard to weather safety, among other things.
For SMG and the businesses we support, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy 500 are more than just a racing attraction — they are the greatest spectacle in safety. We’ll be at the IMS all month long in Suite 264.
