Some tracks allow smoking everywhere, others only in designated areas. Some have loads of free parking, while some are so cramped for space that parking is a premium, meaning you pay a whole lot for the privilege of even being within ear shot of the track.
So now I am very intrigued by how these little differences affect the life of the races. Are the places that let you bring in your own booze more rowdy because people don’t have to buy beer for $10 a glass? Are the fans better behaved at tracks that have family sections? Do the teams and drivers notice a difference in the fans and the responses they get from track to track? And no, I don’t mean the difference between a laid back, lovin’ life, sleep on the beach Californian and a dusk till dawn tow the hoe redneck from lower Alabama…I know those differences. And no, I won’t tell you which ones I’m partial too…ha!
I think that’s my new mission…one that I’ve created for myself. I want to figure out what makes each track and their fan base so special. When I’ve earned the privilege of traveling around with these men and their big ole’ heavy metal babies, I’ll add that to my list of “must do’s”. But in the meantime, I’ll just tell you that since I have nothing to compare it to, Daytona International Speedway seems just about perfect to me…yep. It’s going to take something really impressive to fill that place in my heart that DIS has managed to take over.
The first time I climbed the stairs to the grandstands at DIS and stepped on to the landing, the view took my breath away. The cars were lined up for practice or qualifying or something, I can’t remember which, but the sun caught their colors and the engines were still silent…it was phenomenal. And it still is, no matter if I see it from the grandstand side, the infield, or from behind the scenes with the media folks, it still makes me feel like I’ve crossed over from a wish into a dream.
I can only imagine what it will be like the first time I step into Bristol or Talladega or any of the other tracks out there. Wow…that’s all I can think of to say…wow!
As this weekend approaches and our fellows begin to arrive for the next race on their crazy schedule, I wonder if they still feel that moment of “wow” when they get there. I sure hope so…I hope they still feel those little spark plugs bouncing around in their guts when they step out and see the track for the first time in awhile. It sure would be a shame if lost that somewhere along the way…sure would.
I do know this…if I ever get to the point where I’m not humbled by the hugeness of this sport, I’m going to back down and just sit in the grandstands again…because there is no replacing that special feeling, not at all.
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