Originally Posted by RATHER B RACING:
One of the best parts is I get to hang out with Bill Gardner every Saturday night.
Posted via Mobile Device
Ah, another one led astray.
Enjoy seeing old and new friends. Bill is one of many.
Most always I find myself thinking of my dad, and then...
I watch my grandson, who sits and watches these guys race. It's a treat when he fixes drivers' names in his mind and then points them out to me or whoever we're sitting with.
For the first time, the other night at Kokomo, he kept asking how many more races. Soon I figured it out. He wasn't in a hurry to go home. Instead he wanted to know when he could go to the pits and sit in race cars. For a few minutes he occupied Christopher Bell's car, courtesy of Christopher's dad. A bit later he wandered over to Jamie Fredrickson's pit and ended up steering the car (with Jamie's help) into the trailer. What a picture that would have been, especially when he popped his head over the cage and smiled back at me.
Pre-race, the casual atmosphere in the pits before things get serious. Most everyone associated with a team will at least say hello.
On track, for whatever reason I'm partial to hot laps at Bloomington. When the track is fast, it is a treat to see people negotiate the high banks and the narrow groove. Plus the backdrop of red clay, green grass and trees, along with a blue (we hope) sky is as pretty as a picture.
Hot laps at Lawrenceburg can make one hold their breath longer than they thought they could. Love the aroma from the distillery. Takes me back to my childhood (a long time ago).Section A--say no more.
Heat races at LPS tend to see more passing as a rule. The BBQ sandwich is a treat (thanks to Mr. Gardner again). Add one of those huge sacks of popcorn and you won't eat for quite awhile.
Haubstadt is worth the drive. Every single time.
Wheel packing at Gas City, plus it's a relatively short walk to the pits. Ducking the tiny mudballs thrown into the bleachers during hot laps. Doesn't matter how high you sit either. One night a mudball knocked the ashes off Hoover's cigarette. I took it as a sign that he needed to quit smoking. He took it as a sign to duck better.
Kokomo has the pork chop sandwich which is a great break from cheeseburgers. It has group qualifying. I prefer single car, but this is a nice diversion. The racing is, in a word, phenomenal.
THAT has that old covered grandstand. Louder for sure, but it's still worth that. Good view from turn four bleachers as well. And the way they haul it into turn three is another good way to hold one's breath.
I could go on and on about other tracks (Salem, Winchester, Eldora, Paragon, etc.) but hey, I'm a busy boy.
Been
ed on this sport for a long time.
Thanks to the young man who started this thread.
