ACE Rent A Car

In 1957, two lifelong friends from Chicago, Robert Sorensen and Ken Osterand, embarked on their entrepreneurial journey by launching Speedway Auto Laundry, a pair of car washes in Indianapolis at 5800 W. Washington St. and 3433 W. 16th St.

As their business grew, they recognized the need for car rentals in the nearby communities. In 1966, they responded by adding 10 Volkswagens to their services under the Airways Rent A Car name, a venture that continued until 1969.

That same year, with aspirations of expanding to the Indianapolis International Airport, Sorensen, Osterand, and nine other operators decided to break away from Airways. This bold move led to the co-founding of the American International (AI) Rent a Car franchise system, marking a significant milestone in their business careers