The Race Continues...
Part II...
Weather wise we couldn't have asked for anything better while we were up there. The temperature never got out of the 70s. There was always a breeze...except for Friday afternoon when it just stopped!! BZ was jinxing us by commenting on how nice it was, it's not hot, there's a breeze. He has yet to figure out how superstitious I am and you do NOT mess with the weather gods by commenting!!! At one point on Friday while in the stands watching the practice of the racecar drivers, he points to the clouds in the beautiful blue sky and says, "Doesn't that look like the opening to the Simpsons?" :) Aren't y'all jealous?? It did crack me up though and from then on, we'd look up in the sky and say, "It's a Simpson day!"
We were able to move around in the stands on Friday and Saturday. We started off in our seats for Sunday, the actual race. We had darn good seats! We were in the first turn and would be able to see three more. I know that seems odd, but unlike Nascar, F1 doesn't just go in circles. They make some right-hand turns, too!! BZ kept saying if there's going to be a wreck or screw-up, it will happen in the first curve more than likely. We saw numerous drivers speed past it and hit the grass or have to go to another entry point to get back on the track. One lap was a little over two miles and they were making it in a minute and ten seconds or more...at times well over 200 mph. The race would consist of 73 laps. We moved under the grandstands Fri. afternoon. Why we didn't move sooner I don't know...I have a purty tan "V" on my chest!! We sat across from the pits and through our handy-dandy binoculars were able to see the drivers "up close and personal." Unlike Nascar, these drivers are pretty aloof and arrogant. I suppose though if I was making over 80 million in a YEAR, I would stay away from the peons, too! :)
So anyway, we saw a pretty darn good crash. A tire blew on the car and it skidded into the wall, lost two tires, spun around and stopped almost right in front of us. The driver was okay. BZ got a great shot of him kicking the nose of the car when he got out. I figured out you go to hockey games to see a fight and races to see a crash. Now that I've seen one in each, I'd rather just see the sport...no blood, please!
BZ went back on Sat. to watch the qualifying. I opted to stay at the hotel and lounge. It was great...until the remote stopped working!! Dammit. I then had to pull the desk chair in front of the TV and change the channel. I do not squat and there were a lot of channels. :)
Sunday we're both excited about the race. BZ is like a kid he's so excited yet trying not to show it. We get to our seats in PLENTY of time!! Plenty. Two hours before race time plenty. We also bought seat cushions for the race. The two days of practicing and qualifying took its toll on both of our behinds!! Cushions are nice! :)
So we all stood for the national anthem. Luckily I didn't have to yell at some foreigner to respect the country they're in. The drivers line up on the grid and take off on their warmup lap. One car stops right in front of us and revs up and takes off. The crowd goes wild. It was the Red Bull car...very cool looking and the driver has a jawline to die for!!! He's a cutie! As they come around to line back up in the grids, 14 of the 20 cars go into the pits and into their garages. We're all sitting there going, what?!?! Six cars raced. Three teams, two cars per team. One of the best teams and two of the worst teams. Not much of a race there. When BZ saw the Canadian driver get out of his car, he said let's go! The crowd was booing and leaving and some tossed crap onto the track. We're leaving the speedway and some guy is going absolutely beserk, cussing and yelling and throwing his cushion and cooler. I was tempted to pick it up. :) It was not a good scene, but hey, we were there for history! BZ didn't seem too upset. He understood what the controversy was all about, which consisted of one tire company sending the wrong tires for the 14 cars. Needless to say, there were some very disgruntled fans walking along with us. The state troopers were prepared for rioting, tear gas and all! Glad we left.
We stopped off at the hotel where I left my shoes. One girl goes to check while the other one reassures me that they have THE best maids in the world and they turn in everything...they even turned in a suitcase with over $1,000 in it!! They keep EVERYTHING, never throw anything away. The other girl comes back and says there's nothing in the maid's room...maybe they haven't found them yet. BZ and I both said, but that was Wednesday night that we stayed here!! There's some damn maid in Seymour, IN, walking around in my Clark slides, the bitch! Hope she twists an ankle!!
BZ drove from Indy to Bowling Green, KY. I took over then and had to battle my way through Nashville traffic..H-A-T-E that city's traffic!!! And by the way, where do they pass out the badges for the left lane monitors?!?!?!!!! Why do those drivers feel like it's their duty to be our guardian angels/escorts?!?!?!! I don't want one!!! I've never been into stealing street signs, but I'm swiping one of those "slower traffic use right lane" signs and bolting it to the rear of my vehicle!!! Road rage was beginning to simmer!!!
It was a fantastic trip even with the fizzled out ending. I would go back again in a heartbeat. I find it interesting, but I really like to see how excited BZ gets and how happy he is watching it all.
So now we're home, back to reality...work for both of us and sorting all my new beads for me!!! :) I really am done buying beads for now!! But did I mention we're going to Gulf Shores in July when the boys come down?? There's a NEAT bead store right on the highway as you're coming into GS....