Some things go out of style, paisley slacks and pet rocks being two of the trends quickest to be ushered out the door by society’s better judgment.

Others have a knack for sticking around.

Fast cars, warm temperatures and fierce competition stand competent on their own, but together they are an irresistible force to be reckoned with.

Case in point being Anderson’s own Little 500, which began left-turning its way into people’s hearts in 1949 and hasn’t let up. In many ways the event, celebrating 59 years young this week, is bigger and better than ever.

Come Saturday night, every one of the speedway’s 10,000 seats should be occupied as 32 drivers attempt to knock defending champion Brian Tyler from his pedestal.

The way Tyler knocked seven-time titlist Eric Gordon from his. The way Gordon knocked Jim Childers from his back in 1993, or two years after Jeff Bloom’s snapped Bob Frey’s four-year Little 500 win streak.

Little 500 lineage is impressive, much the way of the Indianapolis 500, and if one connects enough dots, it all leads back to that 1949 race when Sam Skinner outdueled Bob Flock for the checkered flag.

Saturday’s drivers are bidding to take home sizable portions of the record $123,000 purse, among them Tyler, Gordon, three-time winner Jeff Bloom and two-time champion Bentley Warren.

All Little 500 activities aren’t stuffed into a single evening of racing.

Nowadays it’s better known as a week with out-of-towners migrating to Madison County by Monday or Tuesday so not to miss a single moment of racing, which begins in earnest this evening with the USAC Sprints, Kenyon Midgets and SuperTrucks.

Little 500 qualifying kicks off Thursday and continues through Friday, the latter also offering Street Stock, ThunderCar and Front-Wheel Drive competitions. They all set the table for the crown jewel of the busy Anderson Speedway spring/summer schedule, Saturday’s Pay Less Little 500.

We urge race fans in and around Madison County to support Little 500 week with their patronage.

First-timers will discover what annual race observers have long known — there’s really nothing little about it.