80 year old celebrates birthday at 180 MPH - 14 News, WFIE, Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro

80 year old celebrates birthday at speeds up to 180 MPH

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN (WFIE) - -

On Monday, Eugene Keethers of Evansville turns 80 years old.  He celebrated this four score milestone by riding in a modified two-seat Indy Car. Friends and family made the day trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Keethers for the special occasion.

According to their website, the Indy Racing Experience Two-Seat Ride allows the passenger to experience speeds and g-forces previously available to only a handful of elite drivers. The purpose-built Dallara chassis allows a passenger to sit behind the driver, but in every other way, this is a true IZOD IndyCar® Series car. The car is complete with an authentic racing power plant that can reach up to 180 miles per hour.

This is the third year for Keethers to take a two-seat ride to celebrate another year of life experience.  He has attended every Indianapolis 500 since 1964. He purchases several tickets every year to introduce different friends and family to "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing". Keethers retired from a sales position with Firestone Tires and has worked at Casino Aztar since it opened in Evansville in 1995.

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