President Trump visits a NASCAR race

[Michchamp]

I've been to one NASCAR race, the Indy 500 once and the Kentucky Derby twice. I was on the infield for all three events. Never saw a car in the NASCAR event, passed out on a folding chaise lounge chair at the Indy 500 and never saw a horse at the Derby. When I was young that kind of thing seemed fun. Now I wish I could have those hours back...what a waste of time.

I was in the infield for the Kentucky Derby once, when I was 22, and that convinced me I did not need to go to any of those other events (or go back to the Kentucky Derby) ever. and I say that as someone who enjoys drinking, and spent the rest of my 20's and early 30's drinking regularly.

Grandpa Michchamp later told me to avoid events like that, "amateur hour" he called them, where all the guys who can't handle their booze come out to drink. He also included the Super Bowl, with the Kentucky Derby & Indy 500 as events to stay far away from. and to go home early on St. Patrick's Day and New Year's Eve.

 

[Spartanmack]

I’ve been to the Australian Grand Prix, the Indy 500 and whatever NASCAR event is in the desert in Cali outside of LA - used to be an old Kaiser steel plant. I’m not a huge racing fan but I do like it and had a great time at all the events. for Indy we were guests of Arca which sponsored one of the Andretti teams. We raced go carts and got driving tips from Mario Andretti the day before then went to a huge party in the Andretti Racing garage that night. We got a police escort into the venue (saves us at least an hour waiting in line) where we were in the Andretti team suite in pit row. Watching live is so much different (and better) than on TV and they gave us 1 way radios so we could listen to all the drivers talking to their Pitt teams so we could follow what they were talking about. I’ve never been to a Super Bowl or a final four but I would do that again over either one of those events. I just sat in the stands in Cali and walked around to diff viewing spots in Melbourne but both of those were really fun as well.

 

[sggatecl]

they gave us 1 way radios so we could listen to all the drivers talking to their Pitt teams so we could follow what they were talking about.

I haven't watched a NASCAR race since I was a kid but that sounds really cool.

 

[tinselwolverine]

I was in the infield for the Kentucky Derby once, when I was 22, and that convinced me I did not need to go to any of those other events (or go back to the Kentucky Derby) ever. and I say that as someone who enjoys drinking, and spent the rest of my 20's and early 30's drinking regularly.

Grandpa Michchamp later told me to avoid events like that, "amateur hour" he called them, where all the guys who can't handle their booze come out to drink. He also included the Super Bowl, with the Kentucky Derby & Indy 500 as events to stay far away from. and to go home early on St. Patrick's Day and New Year's Eve.

What about just a typical day at the horse race track, to drink a few beers and make a few bets?

 

[Spartanmack]

I haven't watched a NASCAR race since I was a kid but that sounds really cool.

I was shocked by how calm the drivers were. They were flying around the track at over 200 miles an hour and they were talking to the pit crew like they were out for a Sunday drive.

It was a really cool experience - that and the sound of the cars was so intense. We were at the end of the front straightaway and if u didn?t have your earplugs in you couldn?t have your ear facing the straightaway without feeling intense pain. And they go by you so fast - TV doesn?t come close to doing it justice.

 

[tinselwolverine]

Every now and then I watch the end of the Indy 500.

 

[Spartanmack]

Every now and then I watch the end of the Indy 500.

I remember watching it a lot as a kid - not the whole thing but in chunks usually catching the end of it. Back then it was a bigger deal to the average sports fan - there was no MLB package and espn was just a fledgling network packing airtime with bowling and Aussie Rules Football. The Indy 500 was like major prize fights before pay per view.

 

[Michchamp]

What about just a typical day at the horse race track, to drink a few beers and make a few bets?

That's fun and good.