Random Thoughts of Colette G: September 2009

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Perfect End to a ... hmmm ... Day ...

OK ... today Gene and I ventured to the new ZMax Track in Concord, NC (you know, in Charlotte ... across the street from the Lowes Motor Speedway) to watch the NHRA Full Throttle Series Nationals (that's drag racing for those of you who don't know).

I must say, the Charlotte track is quite a step (a big step) above the Atlanta Drag Strip in Commerce, GA. The facility was quite impressive, as were the people attending. Don't get me wrong, they had their share of the "die hards" but the most part ... things were fairly calm ... didn't get beer thrown on me or see anything that couldn't be unseen or hear any stories about Aqua Net, cigarettes, and faces catching on fire (stories from my trip to Commerce this past Spring) ... but this will give you a small idea of the sea of humanity that we saw.

So ... the highlights of my day were:

Watching a very large guy named Lucky with a Mohawk and multiple tattoos catch, not one, but TWO Geico t-shirts shot out of a cannon.
Witnessing the biggest blow dryer I've ever seen.
Seeing a guy who someone apparently forgot to tell him he was going to a drag race and not a drag club.

Being blinded and choked by the exhaust from the top fuel cars firing up their engines in Nitro Alley.
Seeing famous people that I had NO IDEA who they were.
Seeing the body of a ga'zillion $$$ funny car dropped by one of the crew. Can you say fired?

Having all my internal organs "shook up" while standing at the fence at the starting line watching the Funny Cars.
Watching a top fuel car go 1/4 mile at 316 MPH in 4 seconds (no lie)!

Seeing a young man with a kelly green mullet (but it was a wig, thank goodness).
Having every stitch of my clothing soaking wet because the humidity was at least 200%.

And to end this day in perfect style ... we stopped at the Waffle House on the way home for dinner where apparently the guy eating at the bar thought it was karaoke night and sang every song that came on the juke box loud enough so we all could enjoy. He started with Hick Town, followed by a lovely rendition of Beer for My Horses and ending with a moving version of American Pie! This is where Gene made the best quote of the day ... "There are more rednecks in here than there were at the drag race!"

Can't wait until March 2010 for the next event in NC ... Nothing beats living in the south (especially the Carolinas) ... you just can't make this stuff up!