fencing. Did we mention that
Doug is responsible for all racetrack operations, client services,
NASCAR events, amenities for
suite and hospitality holders, facilities and anything else critical
to the success of the Speedway?
Yeah – he’s a busy boy! Definitely in the right place at the right
time in his career with the right
skills, knowledge and finesse to
make it happen.
Beth graduated from Hamilton Southeastern High, got her
BS from Purdue, and then went
into radio sales at WFBM, and
WIBC prior to her professional
involvement in the world of auto
racing. Her dad – a Noblesville
physician - was an avid lover of
all things related to transportation, and took her to shows all
through her childhood where she
could learn about and appreciate the various types. Thanks to
him she has never missed one
500 race since she was a little
girl (and sat in the same seat
every year). He died in 2006, and
she misses sharing their mutual love for the business with
him. He was involved in building the Transportation Museum
in Noblesville, and in fact was
way ahead of his time in terms
of using technology to record
events, photographing slides of
cars since the 1930s. These show
some fabulous shots of the history of cars and of racing, including a number of Bill Vukovich
photos. She herself has been
Owner and President of Blackburn Sports Marketing for over
20 years; the company handles
drivers’ appearances, hospitality, accommodations and amenities for racing events, and provides simulators and drivers for
events. She was a 500 Festival
Princess in 1978, and so, as you
can see, racing is in her blood.
Their family includes four
boys, the oldest of whom – Conor
(22) ran the 97th Indy 500 last
year for the first time. Younger
sons include Colin (19), Christian (17) and Carter (11).
In 2012 the Boles helped
Beth’s mom – now 86 – to sell
her home and move into Assisted Living, after a fall that
caused her to lose the ability
to drive. Doug’s grandmother
lived to the ripe old age of 103,
and his parents had helped her
a great deal with life decisions
and health care as she aged, so
as you can see, providing parental assistance is a value that is
a respected and encouraged in
this family. They stand ready to
help Doug’s parents at whatever
point that becomes useful or necessary as well. They admit that
providing ‘parenting’ services
to one’s own mother or father
sounds daunting, but we are seeing more Boomers take on that
responsibility as our parents live
longer.
How do they keep fit? Let me
count the ways… he runs or
bikes around the track to get
from one point to another on his
daily assignments; she swims
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