The first months of 2026 have been incredible and a lot of fun. We led off with the La Porte High School Basketball Invitational at the Civic Auditorium from 9-11 January with 12 of the top HS programs in the country participating, and La Lumiere HS hosting. Many thanks to Jack Arnett and all the Civic volunteers for their support. The Bus was front and center for the event and an indication of the level of college interest was shown in the following video which was shown on Fox Sports One (FS1) nationwide:
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Kap & J. Hood from ESPN Chicago were front and center as was Keith Smart, hero of IU's victory over Syracuse in 1987, seen with the bus owner. Number 21 below is Purdue recruit Rivers Knight.
Rushville, IN Memorial Gym |
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The next event was down to Rushville, IN on 5 February for a celebrations of the 100 year anniversary of their Memorial Gym. They again played Greensburg, the exact team they played in 1926 for their first game at the Gym. Thanks to Melissa Winkler, the Athletic Director and Girls Basketball coach for the invite.
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St. Peter Immanuel Lutheran School, Decatur, Indiana
Next up to Decatur, Indiana 6-7 March for a charity event for St. Peter Immanuel Lutheran School. They hosted the bus for two days/nights and it was a very successful fund raising event. Many thanks to Erin and Ben Franz for organizing the bus appearance and trailering it there. Also thanks to Ian and Deb McDonald for hosting the intrepid bus driver.
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New Castle - Castle Theater - Hoosier Movie Showing
The Hickory Team bus was over in New Castle, Indiana on 21 March for a special showing of the movie "Hoosiers" at the renovated Castle Theater. Thanks to Don Davis of Matoon, Illinois for working with new Castle officials to make this event happen. Don also brought a variety items from his impressive list of "Hoosiers" movie paraphernalia.
2026 NCAA FINALS - Monument Circle in Indy
The Hoosiers Team Bus" and Gene Hackman's '51 Chevy from the movie were featured on Monument Circle in Indy for the 2026 NCAA Finals. Thanks to the NCAA, Isabella Carrillo from the Indiana Sports Corporation, and Michael Burke and Courtney Howell Rissman from downtownindy.org for making it all happen.
The Hoosier Gym Boys and Girls All-Star Games
On 25 April the Hoosier Gym hosted our annual Boys and Girls All Star games. 20 each of the best boys and girls players in the state divide up into "Hickory" and "Terhune" and each have an exciting game. Indiana Hoosier Legend Kent Benson was our Guest of Honor and Mike Gillespie (first picture) was the announcer. Thanks to Tom Eddy and the Hoosier Gym for the first rate ticket "coat of arms"! see below :-) I was able to get Luke Ertel from Mt. Vernon, Mr. Basketball in Indiana for 2026, in the drivers seat.
New Palestine High School: Freshman - Sophomore Indiana All-star Game
On 1 June the Hoosiers Team bus and Gene Hackman's
'51 Chevy were invited to New Palestine High School for the Indiana Freshman - Sophomore All Star Game. Thanks to Trent Whitaker of the NP Athletic Department for helping host both vehicles.
Mt. Vernon High School: The Junior - Senior Indiana High School All-Star Game
On 3 June the Hoosiers Team bus and Gene Hackman's '51 Chevy were hosted by Mt. Vernon HS, the division 4A State Champions and home school of Mr. Basketball Luke Ertel. Many thanks to Athletic Department AD Brandon Ecker and Asst. AD Julie Shelton for the hospitality.
Bus and Car to Matoon, Illinois for Hoosiers Movie Showing - 13 June
The bus and car were invited by Don Davis of Matoon to participate in a Hoosiers movie showing at a local theater. The showing included a discussions before and after with Hoosiers writer and producer Angelo Pizzo, who both Darryll, Bob and Jay all had the opportunity to fly over to Matoon with Angelo to participate in the event. Many thanks to Don for making it happen!
American Dairy Association - Ice Cream Social on Indy's Monument Circle - 16 July
Jay Holsapple took the bus to downtown Indy for the ADA - Indiana Ice Cream Social. A very, um, cool, tasty experience! Many thanks to Meg Magsamen for making it all happen!
Hydroplane Races in Michigan City, Indiana 30 September to 2 August
The bus was a featured in Entertainment Alley at the Annual Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City. A wonderful event where Sunday, race day, was unfortunately cancelled due to dangerous waves and weather. Maybe next year! Thanks to Jack Arnett, Scott and Chelsea Miller and Amy Riehle for the invitation and support.
2024 and 2025 Bus Events are being updated
L-R: Bobby Plump, Roger Schroder, Gene White
Governor Eric Holcomb and Angelo Pizzo (writer and producer of "Hoosiers")
Cincinnati: At "The Banks"
Horizon League Championships 10-12 March at the Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Bobby Plump
Bobby's son, Jonathan Plump
Five Milan original team players attending the Horizon League Championship
NBA All-Star Game Crossover Event
A Polish film crew
Indianapolis "Superfan!"
Bill Benner. Longtime Indianapolis sportwriter and VP for Marketing for the Pacers for many years.
The bus...
Gene Hackman's '51 Chevy and the Hoosiers Team Bus participated in the 2023 Indy 500 Parade
A very animated crowd estimated at 200,000 people watched the parade and it will definitely be a highlight of the year!"
If you'd like to donate to help preserve the Hickory Team Bus (now a registered 501c3) you can easily by scanning the QR code below.
The Hickory Bus and the Gene Hackman Car will be a regular display at
Hoosier Gym Events.
To know if the Bus and the Car will be at the Gym on the day you are visiting check the Gym's social media.
Instagram: @hoosiergym
Twitter: @thehoosiergym
Facebook: facebook.com/thehoosiergym
"After nearly a quarter century I'm thrilled that the Hickory Team Bus is coming back to Indiana. It has been an amazing journey, and labor of love, since we began restoring it from 1996-2000. I'm looking forward to partnering with the Hoosier Gym to support Indiana basketball at all levels, Hoosier sports across the board, and a variety of charity events and festivals around the state. I hope everyone has a chance to see the bus, and enjoy the family and movie stories of this most recent addition to the rich history of Indiana basketball."
- Darryll Baker, Owner of the Hickory Husker Bus (2001)
Hickory Husker Bus
Famous for appearing in the movie, Hoosiers, this bus has been beloved by many. It returned home to Knightstown recently and is owned by Darryll and Cathy Baker of Greenfield, Indiana. The bus has participated in many different events from parades for the Indy 500 to the Pacers and now it will be part of the Hoosier Gym events in the future.
Gene Hackman Car
The 1951 Chevrolet Deluxe two-door car was used by the academy-award winning actor Gene Hackman in the movie Hoosiers. It can be seen in the four-minute opening credits of the movie: youtu.be/r74qegjbF28
It has returned home to Indiana and is owned by Bob and Jan Brown of Seal Beach California and Greenfield Indiana. The car is often parked at the gym on special event days or it may randomly show up on a sunny Indiana day.
It has returned home to Indiana and is owned by Bob and Jan Brown of Seal Beach California and Greenfield Indiana. The car is often parked at the gym on special event days or it may randomly show up on a sunny Indiana day.