Verging on Pertinence

Yesterday turned out to be a gorgeous summer day, negating the threatening weather reports of rain showers for mid-afternoon. This was a good thing because the family was parked in section 116 on Turn #4 at the Monster Mile. While some precipitation would have been welcome to cool our bodies, any rain that would have halted the Busch Series Dover 200 would have stalled the race rhythm. There were enough human elements that had precipitated caution flags and even two red flags that had already slowed the race down without Nature arriving with raindrops.
I'd discussed some of the intricacies of race day with some of the folks I work with to get a feel for the faux pas and the yee-haws. Out of the 450 or so folks at our facility, a conservative guess would be that over 80% have attended at least one of the races in Dover, while at least 40-50% attend one of the two annual races held here in the capital of the state. I had a great pool of fans to draw the needed information. Their pooled advice sounded like this.

1) Come early. If the race starts at 3:00, come at least 2 hours before.
2) Sit in the area of Turn #4 or Turn #2. This is where the law of physics and pent-up adrenalin combine for a slingshot effect that will catch your breath as the cars zoom by.
3) Come early. Yes, re-stated again. And, if you're coming early, come early enough to catch the qualifying heats for race positions.
4) Bring lots of water bottles and a sherpa to lug said bottles around. If a sherpa's not available, be sure to make an appointment with a professional masseuse; you'll be in need of some kneading. The water is for drinking and for pouring (onto one's pate and back). It gets hot, make that broiling, sitting out on the aluminum stands and there are no vendors strolling about because it's TOO LOUD for them to be sceaming about their wares. So, for us newbies it was quickly evident that ...
5)...we should have brought a seat cushion if you don't want to have a hot flat backside by the race's conclusion,
6)Bring ear-plugs or ear protective devices because it gets jet engine loud when the cars are running. Funny how the crashes are almost silent because the roar of the engines shooting by is so deafening. The Ever Loving Wife noted that I must be in Spousal Heaven as her wit and her Social Observational Points, though shouted in my general direction, were lost in the atmos due to the things plugged in both ears. She did have to tap me on the shoulder quite a few times at the conclusion of the race to let me know it was o.k. to remove the noise blockers. My ears tingled in anticipation of her pent up opinions. At least I wasn't wearing these! (Which I didn't simply because I didn't realize they existed). A NASCAR race is a gadget delight of a competition. You've got this to watch as you watch the race in person (Not sure if the controls to this gizmo allows you to control the race car as well). There's this item as well, though I did not see any in operation during the race. Perhaps they're pulled out of the Cleaning Garage after the checkered flag is waved.
7) A couple of tubes of SPF 30 and a hat are de riguer. Also, a shirt with a collar you can pull up around your neck. There's a reason red necks are associated with racing and it has nothing to do with attitude.
8) A book or magazine suitable to to lug along, but nothing along the lines of this or this. People with varied opinions were well-observed on race day. But, there's a point where you should stop making your point. I brought along this book, which Mr. Whisky Prajer has repeatedly recommended and which I have duly repeatedly started and then repeatedly mis-placed (WP, I swear it's not the book! It's quite enjoyable and, from the half I've read, highly recommended. BTW, did you know it's also been made into a film?) In between reading, watering, sweating, and shifting one's derriere on the hot and non-conforming seating (since we forgot to bring cushions), one can catch the qualifying heats for race position for the Busch 200.

Since this was our first live exposure to a NASCAR race, the speed and the noise were eye-opening and ear-shattering (even with the earplugs). The Dover racetrack, named the Monster Mile for its length and its steeply banked turns, is one of the shortest on the NASCAR circuit. This translates to the need for drivers to come out of the turns at maximum speed so as to minimize their time through the short straightaways. That's why Turn #4 is the most coveted place to sit. Maximum speed shooting through the turn and pit row right at the end of that turn. Lots of burning rubber and "incidents".

My prevous exposure to NASCAR racing was of the sofa-sitting tv-watching variety. I admit that I was one of those buffoons who mouthed off about what the interest was in seeing cars go around in circles. Over and over again. For hours on end.
I had no interest in going to a live event until recently. Since the tickets were already purchased and re-selling them offered minimal return, I persuaded the fam to come along, noting that it's a part of Delaware tradition that we had seriously neglected. Watching and thoroughly enjoying the race, I was immediately reminded of another sport.
Ice Hockey.
Bear with me please.
The first time I saw an NHL game, I saw it live. The rushes, the defensive battles, the kick saves. I saw the entire rink all of the time, so if there was a hard check into the boards and a change of possession, my eyes tended to dwell a bit longer on the guy who was checked, to see his reaction to being summarily dumped. When I saw an NHL game on tv afterwards, I noticed that the camera never lingered. It stayed with the puck and not necessarily with the action. The beauty of the game is dimmed by the tv camera.
I saw my first NASCAR race on tv, where the camera almost always stayed with the leaders, only straying back to the stragglers in the pack if there were wrecks. Seeing a race live made me appreciate the entirety of the race, of the track. Your eyes aren't cameras being directed by ESPN; you can linger and stare independently of the front pacers of the race. Just like a hockey game, there are things of interest happening all over the track. The limitations of television in broadcasting a race are incredible. The heat of the tracks, the shudder of the stands as a pack of cars slams through a curve, the smell of oil, gas, and burning rubber, and the energy of the crowd as a favored car passes another are all missing while sitting and eating chips on a sofa.


The eventual winner, Car #60 driven by Carl Edwards, crossed the finish line first, albeit on a dual checker and yellow flag. The latter was typical of the whole race as exuberance, a very narrow track, and the unforgiving nature of the Dover track on any little mistakes resulted in quite a few dings against the wall and minor pile-ups at various corners. Mr. Edwards celebrated his victory with his now-famous backward flip off of the roof of his car. Mr. Edwards reflects the new type of athlethic driver v. the drivers of the bygone eras when NASCAR style racing was more of the seat-of-the-pants style and certainly a lot more dangerous even though the average speeds were 30-40 miles less. A series of pictures of the race are viewable here, from the NASCAR site.


Oh, yeah. The strapping fellow at the top with a back broad enough to be rented out as a billboard? Quite the interesting and helpful fellow. He was there as part of a son-begats the son-who begats the son continuum of NASCAR racing. Quite the attentive dad to his own young heir to fandom and more than helpful in doling out advice and insight about the tactics on the track.

Turns out the only red neck that I saw was my own, where I'd neglected to spread on the SPF 30. A great day was had by all.



N.B.: Click on any of the pictures to see a larger version.

Labels: Delaware, Only in America, Trips