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Subject: Grand Theft Tire?!? (My weekend @ Bristol)
Posted by: The Beezer
- Leader [191202817] Mon, Mar 25, 2002, 11:03
Nah. But that's about the only thing you're not allowed to do with an all-access pass. :)
What an amazing weekend! My face is still swollen from the sunburn I got Saturday (don't forget the sunscreen if you're going to a WC event folks!), and my feet are still tender from all the walking and standing, but I have no complaints. You simply can't get this close to the action in any other sport - it's the equivalent to roaming the sdelines during an NFL game, sitting in the dugout at Wrigley field, or hanging out on the bench with your favorite NHL or NBA team.
My two friends and myself made it to the infield at about 9am Saturday morning, and we had just enough time to make one tour through both pit roads before WC practice started at 9:30. With all the WC cars double-parked on the frontstretch and the Busch cars the same way on the backstretch, you had 86 teams working on engines, shocks, etc., while we were wandering around taking snapshots.
We retired to the turn 1 wall for practice, and I was overwhelmed by the roars of the engines when they came off pit road. Definitely loud, but you can actually FEEL the sound waves coming off the cars as they go by on the track. It's a totally immersive experience, and I had a whole new appreciation for those cars by the time that practice was over.
After that, we wandered all over the infield, just taking in the sights and sounds. You had crew members hauling equipment around the track, and drivers, crew chiefs, car owners, and media folks were literally everywhere you turned. "Hey, Chocolate!" "Wow, Mark Martin and Ward Burton are short!" Simply amazing!
When it was time for the Busch race to start, we decided to head up to our seats and watch for a while, and then come down and watch the rest from inside the track. We were about 15 rows up in turn 4, and we had a fairly good view of the action. After about 100 laps, we went back down and watched the rest of the race from right behind one of the pit stalls that had been abandoned earlier. Tremendous!
We were able to see about the entire backstretch from where we went, and we were also chatting with some of the pit crew for the #19 Action Performance racing team of Tim Sauter while the race was going on. They had a fairly good day, finishing 16th, and it was remarkable to watch them discussing pit strategy, getting tires ready for stops, and in general giving an insider's view of a NASCAR race. It's stunning how much work goes into one of those operations!
After that, we took a lap around Bristol on foot (the 36 degree banking cannot really be appreciated until you have someone stand on the outside of a turn while you're on the inside, and you see them about 12 feet higher off the ground than you). After that, we headed home to rest up for Sunday. I'll post about that a little later.
Best scanner moment of the race was Michael Waltrip after getting whacked and sent into the pits:
MW: "That's the second time I've been run over today! I'm going to run somebody over when I get out there!
(pause)
MW: "Nah, just kidding."
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| 1 | Mike D
Donor
ID: 5915257
Mon, Mar 25, 2002, 11:36
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When I saw the thread title, I thought maybe Youngbuck went to the race with you…….glad you had a good time (even though you missed the Action thread…..lol).
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| 2 | KrazyKoalaBears
Donor
ID: 266182910
Mon, Mar 25, 2002, 12:07
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Sounds like you had a great time! I'm jealous! ;)
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| 3 | Tom
ID: 47252310
Tue, Mar 26, 2002, 09:12
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Beezer - NASCAR is great. If you want another real thrill go to a NHRA event. Those cars make the hair on your arm vibrate. You can stand beside the car while they rebuild the entire car in 75min. Motor change and all... 6000hp there is no substitute! Man I love motorsports!
Tom
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| 4 | Wahoo
ID: 280302214
Tue, Mar 26, 2002, 11:21
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Sounds like a great time, I'm planning on doing that one of these days myself.
So, what happened Sunday?
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| 5 | Challenger
ID: 3821129
Tue, Mar 26, 2002, 12:08
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Glad you had a great time!
Agree with Tom on the NHRA drag racing events. At one event the owner of the "The Little Red Wagon" even ask my buddy & I to pit crew for him. Great experience!! Wonder where those pics are now??
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| 6 | The Beezer
Leader
ID: 191202817
Tue, Mar 26, 2002, 15:37
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Part 2...
Sunday we arrived at the track at about 8:30 and headed inside almost immediately upon arrival. Most of the cars were already in front of their pit box being worked on. We watched several teams setting the timing and other settings on the car, which even for a non-gearhead like me was really cool to see. What's really remarkable is how methodical everything is before the race, as in every pit stall you can see lists taped to everything, and everything is done with almost military-like precision.
We bummed around the midfield for awhile longer and saw quite a few driver. One of my friends got ran over by a woman walking backwards getting Kyle Petty's autograph, which results in Kyle asking him if he was all right. Other than that we were content to just observe and snap more photos. After picking up some lunch ("gourmet-style" cheeseburger, chips, and a drink only $8, which isn't absolutely terrible for a sporting event), we headed over to turn 2 to watch the race from there, which served as the entrance to pit road for all of the drivers.
After the opening ceremonies, the engines were started, and we went racing. The sound of the cars at the start of the race was overwhelming - some of the other people that were watching the race close to us were wearing no ear protection, and as loud as those cars were, they probably did permanent damage to their hearing. We were listening to the scanners as we watched the race, and let me tell you, it adds a lot to the race to get the driver's perspective on what's going on out there. Beats PRN any day of the week.
Being at the entrance of pit road, we saw a lot of spinouts and close calls, the biggest one being the Jeff Gordon spinout, which also was the loudest I heard the crowd get all day. I did not join them because I've got nothing against Gordon, and I had him on my ESPN team (groan). The amount of beating and banging going on is amazing, and if the drivers weren't so skilled, there could easily be 30 cautions a race.
Right after Johnny Benson spun out, there was another caution on the track, and I took that as an opportunity to take a bathroom break. On the way, I walked by the #10 as the crew was working on fixing the damage so they could get back on the track. When I walked into the bathroom, I fell in behind this taller guy. After about a minute, I realize I was standing behind Johnny Benson! He had that look that I get when I'm go-kart racing and the chain breaks. I was smart enough not to drag my camera out and take a picture, but I couldn't resist telling him "Tough break, Johnny". He replied, "Well, that's racing at Bristol". He then took care of his business, and I took care of mine. Shortly thereafter, he headed back out on the track, and I couldn't help pulling for him just a bit more.
My friend was able to capture the key moment of the race on video from where we were at, when Busch bumped Spencer out of the way and took over the lead for good. We were booing him, as we were really wanting to see Jimmy win the race if someone other than the #48 had to win. Jimmy Spencer and Michael Waltrip are by far the two best drivers to listen to on the scanner. Let's just say Jimmy wasn't happy about Kurt's maneuver. :)
Of course, Busch held on and won the race, but we missed all the shenanigans between R. Gordon and Dale Jr., just like we had missed Spencer-Sprague and Harvick-Biffle the previous day. Unfortunately, all-access doesn't include Victory Lane right after the race, but we were able to hang around the cordoned-off area for the 2nd-7th place finishers and watch them being interviewed. And since Jimmie Johnson finished 7th (he was extremely impressive all day, and he was probably the calmest person we heard on the scanner all day), we were able to get him to sign our credential-holders as he walked back to his trailer. Treeeee-mendous!!
After that, we took one more walk around the track, and I did obtain a souvenir - a lug nut from Jimmie's pit box. Not quite a tire, but it was definitely easier to carry. After that, we headed home. Let me tell you, it was tough making the transition back to ordinary Joe from being Mr. All-Access. :):)
All-in-all, it was one of the best weekends of my life. I can't wait for the pictures to get developed that we took from the race, and I'll be sure to make mine available to you guys so you can get a feel for what it was like. I'm just glad to have a weekend off to recover before having to get ready for Texas!
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| 7 | Wahoo
ID: 35111090
Wed, Mar 27, 2002, 00:16
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I can just imagine the ear to ear grin you must have had there. I'm smiling myself just reading this.
Glad you had a great time and thanks for sharing.
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| 8 | edperl
ID: 4223723
Sun, Mar 31, 2002, 12:12
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Beezer,I just got around to reading your Bristol diary today, sounds like you had a great time. Myself I get to make the Brickyard at Indy every year, and although you can't get quite as close to the action, it still is an exhilirating experience each year. Last years thrill was when Sterling Marlin acknowledged me in the crowd as he spotted me donning the old Kodak #4 uni.
P.S. As I tell friends, there's nothing like the fine aroma of the fuel wafting into the stands during the race, and the telltale sign of rubber in the kleenex when you get around to blowing your nose after the race. Bristol must amplify that fine experience.
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| 9 | The Beezer
Leader
ID: 191202817
Mon, Apr 08, 2002, 17:57
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Pictures from the race. Link is only good until early May, so feel free to save any you want before then. Not the greatest set of pictures (action shots in particular did not come out well) but there are some good ones in here.
Channelock.com 300 Photos
Food City 500 Pre-Race Photos
Food City 500 Race Photos
The 2 boys in the first photo set are my nephews. I don't take a lot of pictures. :)
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