At the Races

It’s not going to be the same going to whichever race we happen to get tickets for. That is usually the NASCAR race, or recently the Indy Car race at AAA Speedway in Fontana (Fontucky as Brian accurately put it). We had vague plans to attend some of the sillyness at Irwindale, too.

Our tickets came courtesy of our connections with AAA, and Cheryl being one of our suppliers always came with us. As often as not, Ivy would also attend. This last year we had Nico and Henry along & thought it was the first in years of sharing our addiction with them.

The fun always began with us meeting at The Pits to pile into Brian’s big Titan. Cheryl always in the rear passenger seat. Brian would have selected music for the long trip to both wind up and calm down Cheryl and confound all of us. Some years we had plenty of time, others we miscalculated and missed the start.

Once we got to our seats, we’d have to find out where #24 and #48 were so we could inflict maximum teasing. Cheryl is a big Gordon fan, and we all are NOT Johnson fans. However, when #48 was ahead of #24, that was our cue to start the teasing. Cheryl was always sure to rise to the bait. Brian and I were always sure to have Ivy as a buffer, and she would have a sore shoulder by the end of the race.

Afterward, we would all try to keep Cheryl from getting onto a fight on the way to the truck for the long, tired drive home.

While it will still be fun going to the races, and sharing the sport with the boys, it will never be quite the same and there will always be an element missing.

 

Brian and my outings to the races goes a long way back now, and what was I think our first was probably my favorite. One year only the Japanese GT championship visited the US at AAA speedway. Along with the wild 250HP and 500HP silhouette racers, they brought the Formula Drift circus back when it was just getting going here. Brian had purchased tickets for us for my birthday.

We both greatly enjoyed watching the racing, taking pictures (Brian borrowing Juli’s beloved Nikon), wandering the paddock to take a close look at the cars. Best of all was the test drives. Some brave (foolish) manufacturers provided test cars for attendees to thrash around a small autocross course. Naturally we availed ourselves of the opportunity. We both got to drive a couple of different cars and compared notes.

That was probably one of the best birthday gifts ever.