Avon Magazine December 2025

ON THE FAST TRACK

YOUNG AVON DRIVER CLIMBS THE MIDWEST SPRINT CAR RANKS

Unbreakable Spirit

Plainfield Gym Owner Takes on Navy SEAL Challenge to Honor Heroes & Inspire Others

LOVE YOUR extraordinary LIFE

ON THE FAST TRACK

YOUNG AVON DRIVER CLIMBS THE MIDWEST SPRINT CAR RANKS

Race fans know all about the excitement surrounding a racetrack. Fans are shouting, your heart is racing, and the sound of the cars as they pass by can be deafening, and yet they continue to come back for more — particularly those who have grown up with a love for all things racing and always wanted to get involved.

Writer / Melissa Gibson B. Raines Photography

Like so many before him, Avon High School graduate Trey “T-Mac” McGranahan grew up in the racing world. His mom worked for Tony Stewart Racing in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His dad enjoyed racing and took him to the track as often as possible.

By the time he was 9, McGranahan wanted to try it for himself, and now the soonto-be Indiana University Bloomington graduate has been named Rookie of the Year for the Midwest Thunder 410 nonwing sprint car series in Indiana.

It’s been a long road to Rookie of the Year, and he said he has far more to go, but McGranahan continues to succeed by leaps and bounds.

“I think from a young age, going to the racetrack and it being kind of a family thing just sparked a fire within me,” McGranahan says. “I knew it was something I wanted to try and we started racing quarter midgets at the fairgrounds in Indianapolis.”

From quarter midgets to 600cc micro sprints, McGranahan was eventually hired to race a 410 wing sprint car and captured

a 2023 championship at Butler Motor Speedway in Michigan.

Even from a young age, his success continued to snowball, and today he’s traveling the Midwest and racing nearly every weekend.

McGranahan races an open-wheel, 410 non-wing sprint car with a V8 engine and 900 horsepower on a dirt track. The cars go approximately 100 to 110 miles per hour, and though his team hasn’t won a main event race yet, he’s excited to see what the future will hold.

“As of 2024, I’m on the Tyler Sturgeon Racing team with my teammate Travis Berryhill,” he says. “We’re in a really competitive series and getting things sorted out as an entire team. We’ve had numerous Top 10s, several Top 5s and I think in the last half of the season, we’ve been ramping up, getting a lot more comfortable.”

The team travels to racetracks all over Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. McGranahan has been to them all. With his love of racing and experience on the track, it hasn’t hurt to call the racing capital of the world home.

“We’ve got the drag strips in Brownsburg [Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park] and probably seven or eight dirt racetracks in Indiana,” he says. “They’re all prestigious. They’ve got a lot of hype around them, and they’re just a couple of hours from here.”

They maintain their own cars, and McGranahan says he enjoys the handson aspect of racing. With the ups and downs of winning and losing, he says it’s not always fun to go back to the shop and maintain the cars, but he knows it can

make or break a race.

He continues to do it for the adrenaline rush — the thrill of the race.

“I think it’s the danger involved that drives the excitement,” McGranahan says. “It’s a long-term goal of mine to reach the top of racing and the nerves and the adrenaline just fire me up.”

As he’s continued to grow and improve, the hard work is evident in recognition

like Rookie of the Year. Throughout the Midwest Thunder series, racers accumulate points and at the end of the season, whoever has the most points is recognized.

It’s a win for McGranahan personally but also a win for his team.

“It’s really exciting and rewarding,” McGranahan says. “It feels good to represent this new team, the town of Avon and to step out onto a stage in a regional series.”

Still, he’s looking forward and hoping for even more wins in the future.

“I just want to try to get better in every race,” he says. “It’s almost like you’re racing against yourself. You want to continue to improve and figure out new creative ways to get things done and try new things.”

Racing is expensive — a constant challenge for those who want to continue. However, McGranahan has received some local sponsorships. Businesses in Hendricks

County have had his back, such as Matchbox Meats, Big D’s Detailing, AIRfeet Insoles, Shafer’s Collision Repair Center and others.

Most recently, Engine Ice Hi-Performance Coolant has jumped on board. However, McGranahan says they’re always looking to partner with businesses in the area.

“A lot of my sponsors are also family friends,” he says. “I’ve received so much support from everyone. It’s exciting for them and I always look forward to getting out of the car and seeing everyone there, excited to see the race.”

When he looks forward to long-term goals, McGranahan sees himself in the United States Auto Club (USAC) Racing Series. They travel coast to coast, and he hopes to be successful among the premier circuit.

“I want to do this for a living,” he says. “It would be like living the dream. For now, we’re going to look forward to making a run for the championship next year. As a team, we’ve now been to all the tracks, so there will be no unknowns going into next year. We want to jump in and get right to it.”

Follow McGranahan at Trey McGranahan Racing on Facebook for more information.

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DECEMBER

2-7, 9-14, 16-18, 23-28

THE LUME INDIANAPOLIS FEATURING CONNECTION

Newfields, 4000 N Michigan Rd.

10 a.m.

Be transported to the other side of the world at THE LUME Indianapolis featuring Connection: Land, Water, Sky – Art & Music from Indigenous Australians in this stunning exhibition.

5-6, 12-14, 1621, 23-24

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W. Washington Street

2 p.m., 7 p.m., 12 p.m. (Dec. 24 only)

Indy’s holiday tradition Banish your bah humbugs and celebrate the season at the Indiana Repertory Theatre!

5-7, 9-14, 16-21, 23 INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - YULETIDE CELEBRATION

Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle

2 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m.

(evening variations noted per day)

Get Ready for Gatherings!

6, 13, 20 REINDEER DAY AT PERRY CROSSING

The Shops at Perry Crossing, 2499 Perry Crossing Way 1 - 3 p.m.

Free photo opportunity with a living reindeer and her festive helper in front of our 54ft holiday tree!

5-7, 12, 14

TREES OF PLAINFIELD

Al and Jan Barker Sports Complex

6 - 9 p.m.

Step into a winter wonderland and get ready for some holiday fun! Admission is free for the entire community!

Merry

SWEET TRADITION

MILKSHAKE FACTORY BRINGS NOSTALGIA & FLAVOR TO AVON

Writer / Melissa Gibson

In 1914, a family of immigrants from Greece settled in Pittsburgh and opened their first chocolate shop and soda foundation.

At the time, a milkshake was seen as a luxury. Few had home refrigeration, and a trip to the soda fountain was a special treat. By the 1950s, new generations were joining the family business, and by the early ’70s, the family opened their first chocolate factory,

putting a special touch on the product by making handmade truffles, caramels and other treats.

Generations continued to operate the chocolate shop, offering a variety of milkshakes along with it, and in 2003, The MilkShake Factory was coined and a franchise was born, using the family’s original ice cream and chocolate recipes.

This summer, the town of Avon became the 18th MilkShake Factory in the franchise and only the second in Indiana.

Alex Chandler owns the Avon location and says they started with a soft opening in late July with limited hours, giving their employees time to learn the ropes. However, there was nothing “soft” about it.

“We set a record for highest sales in the first week when we opened Avon. We have had such great exposure and such a great response,” Chandler says.

A trip to the Avon location might give guests a bit of nostalgia — or “newstalgia,” as Chandler likes to say. It’s a trip back to the soda fountain days with a modern twist.

They’re aiming to become a destination for families, just like the original store in Pittsburgh has been for decades.

“We want the community to have a phenomenal experience and our team is working hard and they’re proud of what they’re doing,” Chandler says. “We’ve even had customers get engaged at one of The MilkShake Factory locations in North Carolina. We want to be that place for the community.”

What sets them apart, according to Chandler, is the focus and effort made toward the milkshake.

“The milkshake, in general, is an iconic American dessert, but it’s often an afterthought at a lot of restaurants. We are purely focused on making a good milkshake,” Chandler says. “Our signature shakes, the Cookie Jar, Chocolate Dipped Strawberry and Campfire S’Mores are probably the most popular.”

Gourmet selections include Bananas Foster, Caramel Toffee Cappuccino and Salted Caramel Pretzel. The Chocolate Cake Shake is delivered with a cake pop on top, and if you’re looking for the classic chocolate, vanilla or cookies and cream, they have those too.

In keeping with tradition, they’re still making chocolates in the back.

products on our chocolate bar as well.” Look for themed days, such as National Chocolate Milkshake Day in September, and regular promotional deals. You can even get a free shake on your birthday.

Chandler says The MilkShake Factory is also passionate about supporting their community, and he chose Avon for a special reason.

“A lot of people tell us how much they appreciate we chose Avon,” Chandler says. “We’re looking to put our brand in spots where families are thriving and Avon has been family-friendly since the beginning.”

He hopes the business can become an integral part of the community.

“We’re always eager to create partnerships,” Chandler says. “We’ve already hosted dine and donate nights, giving a percentage of the proceeds to schools or organizations. We’re always open for folks to reach out and we’re currently working on catering availability.”

Visit milkshakefactory.com for more information.

A new generation is learning the art of chocolate making, and customers can purchase homemade Chocolate Cake Pops, Pecan Caramel Terrapins or Roasted Almond Bark, to name a few. Even if you are a regular at The MilkShake Factory, stopping by often will reveal their newest flavors at the store.

“Every six weeks or so, we offer limitedtime flavors and we’ll have seasonal shakes such as the pumpkin pie shake or peppermint brownie shake,” Chandler says. “We have seasonal

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• Demonstation kitchen

• 12,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose

• 24’ x 36’ stage

• Easy load-in areas with overhead door

• High ceilings

• Epoxy covered flooring

• ADA accessibility

UNBREAKABLE SPIRIT

PLAINFIELD GYM OWNER TAKES ON NAVY SEAL CHALLENGE TO HONOR HEROES & INSPIRE OTHERS

In his youth, Jim Beebe, owner of Unbreakable Athletics Academy in Plainfield, loved working out and living a healthy lifestyle.

But like many, when he went to college, the “freshman 15” became a reality — with weight gain, bad food and beer.

However, once Beebe became a father, he changed his personal goals and was eventually offered the experience of a lifetime.

“I had become really unhealthy, but when my son was seven or eight, he said he wanted to be an athlete, and that was sort of a bottoming-out moment for me,” Beebe says. “I needed to get myself in shape, lead by example and show my kids how to live a healthy lifestyle.”

After 15 years in the finance industry, Beebe switched gears in 2013 and became owner and head coach at Unbreakable Athletics. It led to publishing a book, “Athlete Builder: The Blueprint to Build Champion Athletes,” and launching his “Athlete Builder” podcast.

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographer / Bazz J. Holmes & Vincent Duke

The weekly podcast is what led Beebe to a unique challenge.

“I interview a lot of people in Special Forces, Navy SEAL veterans and others,” he says. “Kenny Bigbee, a retired Navy SEAL and owner of DragonFly Martial Arts Academy in Plainfield, was on the podcast, and he introduced me to Bill Brown, also a Navy SEAL who runs the New York City SEAL Swim each year.”

The NYC SEAL Swim is an all-day event starting in Liberty State Park in New

Jersey, where participants jump into the Hudson River and swim to the Statue of Liberty. There, they do 100 honor pushups and 22 pull-ups — symbolizing the average number of veterans who die by suicide every day.

The athletes then swim from the Statue of Liberty to Ellis Island, where they do another 100 honor pushups and 22 pull-ups. From there, they swim across the Hudson River to Battery Park in Manhattan. They pick up an American

flag and run to the World Trade Center, completing another 100 honor pushups and 22 pull-ups. The event concludes with guest speakers and benefits the Navy SEAL Foundation.

The foundation supports wellness programs, higher education and other needs — addressing gaps found in Department of Defense and Veterans Administration programs.

Approximately 350 participants raise a minimum of $2,000 each, often collectively generating more than $800,000 for the Navy SEAL Foundation.

Brown invited Beebe to participate, but at first, Beebe said he wasn’t prepared. He had just turned 50 and was primarily a strength trainer without endurance swimming experience.

Though it would be a challenge, he chose to accept it anyway.

“I trained for a year,” he says. “I had to learn how to swim, and that first day, I did 10 lengths in the pool and had to rest after each length. Fast forward one year, and I’m swimming three miles without stopping.”

On Aug. 16, 2025, Beebe joined hundreds of others for the annual event.

The group ran into some challenges this year that were not typical in the past. Due to recent tropical storms on the East Coast, the Hudson River current was severe.

“It’s normally a 30-minute swim to the

Statue of Liberty, and 45 minutes in, we weren’t getting there,” Beebe says. “Some of the guys were saying we should call this event. I felt like on a good day, this was going to be hard for me, and I think with the current challenges, the event was beyond me.”

As they moved into the second swim toward Ellis Island, Beebe and one other

participant chose to sit it out.

“I felt confident about my decision but felt horrible emotionally,” Beebe says.

“The next leg of the swim was supposed to be about 30 minutes, and the current was so strong, guys were finishing in 10 minutes. You had 350 people trying to climb up to the barge, and they were smashing into it. Several got sucked

up under the barge, and one guy got a broken hand.”

Beebe says it was the first year the current caused major issues and the first time the Navy SEAL Foundation called off the final swim portion of the event.

“In the end, everyone was fine,” Beebe says. “There were a lot of safety

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precautions, and no one was seriously hurt, but I think I made the right choice for myself.”

With the challenge behind them, participants resumed the day. They grabbed their flags and began the run to the World Trade Center.

“Overall, the day was awesome,” Beebe says. “Running through the streets of Manhattan, the bagpipes are playing, the weather was perfect, and I met so many new people. Everyone was positive and willing to help each other. We heard from 9/11 survivors, a Navy SEAL Team Six member and veterans coming back together. It was super moving, and I was so happy to be a part of it.”

Would he do it again?

“Never say never, but I think I need a couple of things,” he says. “I need to train in open-water swimming. A lot of these

guys live on the coast and are trained for that type of swimming. I don’t want to be a liability. Secondly, I’d like to have a teammate. Many of them showed up in a group of two or four.”

More importantly, he’s proud of his accomplishment and the example he’s set for his training facility and his family. “It feels cliché to say it was about the journey and not the destination, but really, all the fears and insecurities I had had to be broken up and smashed through,” Beebe says. “It’s a huge feeling of confidence I’ve gained. I’m healthier,

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I can swim two to three miles, and when your family wants to do things like this, there’s nothing better than that. My daughter has been training and practicing and just made the rowing team at her university. My son plays football for Ball State. It’s a blessing.”

Navy SEAL Foundation donations are accepted all year. Find Beebe’s page at impact.navysealfoundation.org/ fundraiser/6145281. Hear Beebe’s full account of the 2025 NYC SEAL Swim on his Athlete Builder podcast, Episodes 101 and 102.