Thanks to the Never Too Late Foundation and the Indy Racing Experience, 88-year-old Louis Schuette of Columbus, Ind., had his dream fulfilled Monday with a 2-seater ride around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Former IMS Volunteer Firefighter Returns to Brickyard 72 Years Later to Ride in 2-Seater
88-year-old Louis Schuette learns it's never too late to fulfill a dream

When Louis Schuette first came to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway he was a 16-year-old kid from Columbus, Ind., who didn’t have a dime in his pocket.  Some 72 years later, after taking a ride in the Indy Racing Experience/HP 2-seater Monday, Schuette left the famed 2.5-mile oval feeling like he hit the jackpot.

Schuette’s ride in the 2-seater came by way of the Never Too Late Foundation, which reaches out to people in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospice programs and adult day care facilities - regardless of age - and helps make their dreams and wishes come true.

Initially, Schuette’s “last wish” was to fly on a plane that broke the sound barrier.  Since that experience could not be arranged, flying around the Brickyard was the next best option.  And since Schuette was granted this wish last fall, his first option was to ride in a NASCAR-style car around the IMS, but a Goodyear tire test in October prompted the postponement of his wish.

On Monday, the 88-year-old thrill seeker donned an HP fire suit and climbed into the HP 2-seater with the help of his close family, including his daughter Diane Shepherd and two grown grandchildren.  Following his ride by driver Stephan Gregoire, Schuette was amazed by the speed and g-forces of the 2-seat Dallara IndyCar.

“I thought (Stephan) was going to turn us over in the turns,” Scheutte said.

Perhaps what was even more meaningful to Scheutte was the chance to come back to the Speedway during its Centennial Celebration.  At the age of 16, Scheutte first came to the IMS on an invitation from a friend who was serving as a volunteer firefighter.  In 1937, the volunteer firefighters were allowed to bring buddies inside the gates to work days when cars were on the track.  It would be a role in which Scheutte would serve from 1937 to 1939.

But on his first day at the track, when his friend had already selected his volunteer firefighters for the day, the rest of the gang pooled their money to give Scheutte the $2.50 admission needed to get in the gates.

“I was going to get the money and actually walked right in past the gate,” he said.  “I asked one of the workers, ‘Where to I buy a ticket?’ and he replied, ‘Son, you are already in’, so I guess I slipped in the first time I was here.”

Scheutte continued to visit the Speedway each May until 1964 when Eddie Sachs was killed in a seven-car crash on the second lap of the Indy 500.  From that point on, Scheutte opted to watch “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in the comfort of his own home.

But on another sunny afternoon in May, Scheutte looked back home again at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  In fact, he was even quick to quip that his first visit to the track also featured a 2-seat IndyCar, but that car was for the driver and the riding mechanic to his side.

Surrounded by a large gathering of family members, Louis Schuette learned Monday what it felt like to be an IndyCar driver.

And thanks to a generous foundation and the Indy Racing Experience, Schuette also learned that it is never too late to fulfill a lifelong dream.

The Indy Racing Experience operates daily at the Walt Disney World Speedway and opens for both riding and driving experiences at 4 p.m. ET. Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) 357-5002. For more information on the Indy Racing Experience, which also operates at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and at all North American IndyCar Series tracks, please contact us by phone or submit questions and comments HERE.