The Colors of Speed
The colors of power and speed captured in the exhaust header of the Maserati race car driven by Wilbur Shaw, and other significant drivers, of the Boyle Racing Team in multiple Indianapolis 500 races.
The 1938 Maserati 8C.T.F. serial number 3032, known as the Boyle Special, is nationally significant based on its relation to four criteria. First, it is associated with important events in automotive history and culture. The Boyle Special is the most successful automobile to compete at the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, having won twice, finished third twice and fourth once. Second, it is associated with significant persons in automotive and American history, including: Wilbur Shaw, a successful and prominent American racing car driver and former Indianapolis Motor Speedway President; Michael Boyle, an important American labor leader and race team owner; Ted Horn, Indianapolis racer and AAA National Championship winner; and Harry W. “Cotton” Henning, chief mechanic for Boyle Racing Headquarters who oversaw the mechanical preparation and attention for multiple Indianapolis winning cars including the Maserati 8C.T.F. Third, the Boyle Special features significant design and construction value: its engineering prowess proved itself on the Indianapolis race track for longer than most cars and is representative of the work of a master: Ernesto Maserati and the builders at Officine Alfieri Maserati S.A. Fourth, it offers informational value as one of the few racecars of the era to retain many of its original materials, components and craftsmanship. The period of significance for the Boyle Special was during its competition history at the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race from 1939 to 1953.
The car now resides under the ownership of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
