About
About the Gordon Pipers
The Indianapolis 500 Gordon Pipers have been a fixture at the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race and throughout the Midwest since 1962. Our band is a diverse group of individuals brought together for a common cause, to promote and share with the public the heritage of Scottish/Celtic culture and music. With the primary emphasis being the performance of bagpipe and drum music we hope to educate, entertain and enlighten those who see us perform. Through instruction and fellowship we hope to help others further their understanding and appreciation of the Scottish/Celtic culture.
In 2006 we became affiliated with the The Indianapolis Colts as the Horseshoe Pipes and Drums. In 2014 we became a part of the pre-game show.
How We Started
Early in 1962, Dr. Wallace Gordon Diehl and a few fellow Highlanders (John Hudgins, Bill Cochran and Bill Simpson) conceived the idea of an unrestricted civilian bagpipe band. With the assistance of columnists Lowell Nussbaum of the "Indianapolis Star" and Irvan Leibowitz of the "Indianapolis Times", the general public was notified of an organizational meeting at the Indianapolis Athletic Club. Twenty-two people attended the March 9th meeting. The evening was a very productive one. The name, Gordon Pipers, was chosen and to honor the founder and Pipe Major of the new band, it was decided that the pipers would wear the Dress Gordon tartan and the drummers would wear the Wallace tartan.
Our First Big Performance
The band landed its first big performance in June of 1962 at the Hoosier Grand Prix. That performance entertained and impressed the crowd at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Tony Hulman, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was in attendance that day. He enjoyed the pipes and drums so much that he invited the band to entertain for the WFBM Antique Auto Tour. In 1963 we began a 10 year affiliation with WFBM radio (now WIBC) as our sponsor.