Going to the race this weekend? The O’Brien Automotive Family has a long history with the race. I have only been with the organization for a couple of years, so you can imagine my surprise when the Tom O’Brien CJDR Greenwood President carried in a large copy of the photo included in this post into a meeting this past Monday! Check out this interesting tidbit of history!
Per our company history, the O’Brien family automotive business started in January 1933 when Thomas J. O’Brien opened Sullivan and O’Brien DeSoto and Plymouth dealership on Virginia Avenue here in Indianapolis. One of their first advertising ventures included sponsoring car #25 during the Indianapolis 500 in 1933, a mere 5-months after opening. The car was driven by Shorty Cantlon.
Shorty’s race ended short of the finish that day, but the experience of sponsoring a vehicle for the dealership was well-received by the general public. Consequently, they went on to sponsor a car several years after that initial race.
Do you have a story to share about your family and their involvement with the Indianapolis 500? We would love to hear about it!
Regards,
O’Brien Automotive Family – “Our family works for you. Since 1933”
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