Meet Patricia Parsons-Vigants, Daughter of an Indianapolis 500 Winner

Each year in May, Patricia Parson-Vigants visits the Speedway, Indianapolis. It's in her blood, she says.

The Indianapolis 500 is held each year on Memorial Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indianapolis. The race is the largest single day sporting event in the world, with an estimated 400,000 people in attendance. Churchill Downs, Yankee Stadium, the Rose Bowl, the Roman Colosseum and Vatican City all can fit inside the speedway oval, which covers 253 acres.

Timothy Becker: Patricia, I understand that you just returned from a two-week visit to Indianapolis. What was special about this year's race?

Patricia Parsons-Vigants: This was the 100th Anniversary of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The first race was run in 1911.

Timothy Becker: As a child of an Indianapolis 500 winner, do you get special credentials at the race?

Patricia Parsons-Vigants: My family receives a silver badge that is good for all access at the racetrack including the pits and the garage areas. It's good for the entire two weeks. The first week is for practice. Saturday is called “Pole Day.” That is when the racers qualify for pole position on the track. They qualify 11 rows of three cars. Sunday is called “Bump Day.” That is the last chance for racers who haven't qualified yet to get a position.

Timothy Becker: You grew up with auto racing?

Patricia Parsons-Vigants: Yes. I was born after my Dad had won the race. I was literally born into it.

Timothy Becker: How did your dad get started in auto racing?

Patricia Parsons-Vigants: My Dad's uncle owned a garage that he rented to a race car team.  He was about twelve years old when he began hanging around when they were working on the race car. The race car driver thought that he would give my Dad a real scare when he gave him a ride in the car, instead he got hooked on auto racing.

Timothy Becker: When did you go to your first race?

Patricia Parsons-Vigants: I was six -months old when I went to my first race.

Timothy Becker: At that time you went to Indianapolis every year?

Patricia Parsons-Vigants: We lived in California. Every April we left to go to Speedway, Indianapolis. We lived there until September as my Dad traveled the curcit.

Timothy Becker: How did that affect your schooling?

Patricia Parsons-Vigants: I started school in California and then went to school in Speedway, Indianapolis. I was given extra work so that I didn't fall behind in my studies. My Dad retired from racing in 1957. His last race was at Bonelli Stadium in Saugus, California.

Timothy Becker: What brought you to Manchester?

Patricia Parsons-Vigants: My husband Egils and I were living in Los Angeles. When I became pregnant with my daughter Cory June, we decided  to move to the East Coast to be closer to his family in Albany, New York. He requested a transfer. Eglis is a manager for the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Contract Management Agency. We moved here on Superbowl Sunday of 1994. We were from southern California and Manchester had triple digit inches snowfall that year! We found Manchester to be a nice environment to raise our family. We met with Ludis Upenieks, owner of U & R Construction, who set us up with a home to rent. Rose Rainville was instrumental in helping us with the purchase of our home.

Timothy Becker: You are also a licensed cosmetologist. When did you start your own business?

Patricia Parsons-Vigants: I started in 1981 in Beverly Hill, California.

Timothy Becker: What services and products do you offer?

Patricia Parsons-Vigants: The Parson's Group provides services, products, and consulting to the entertainment industry and to private clients.

Timothy Becker: What products do you offer?

Patricia Parsons-Vigants: I have my own line of Mane Stay hair care products that I developed with a chemist in 1989 in Los Angeles. I also sell Jafra cosmedics, which are made in West Lake, California.

Timothy Becker: I understand that you have a large client in Bristol?

Patricia Parsons-Vigants: ESPN is one of my clients. I do the make-up for the on-air talent. I work with Chris Berman, Stuart Scott, Hana Storm, and Linda Cohn to name a few. I work at ESPN five days a week.

Timothy Becker: What other celebs have you done make-up for?

Patricia Parsons-Vigants: I have done make-up for Paul Newman, Rene Zellwager, and former Governors M. Jodi Rell and John Rowland.

Timothy Becker: What are you planning this year for the Parson's Group?

Patricia Parsons-Vigants: I am planning to expand my presence on the Internet for my Mane Stay hair care products with an e-commerce site.