Yes, hubby (Bud) and I now watch all the races on TV, and have subcribed to the NASCAR Scene weekly newspaper since '89.
He was watching NASCAR back when CBS first began televising portions of the Daytona 500. We quit milking cows in '87, and then in '89, when the last of our remaining youngstock and springers were sold, we bought an '89 Winnebago Chieftan 33' motorhome. The beginning of Sept. '89 we and LeRoy (blk. Lab. f. 4yr.) hit the 'big road'.
We headed for Mich. to visit some of my 'family', then on to New England for leaf watching. From there headed South with the weather. Mid Nov. found us in central FL (not 'dog friendly, FL :evil: ) While there he saw in the newspaper a 'notice' for the Atlanta 500.
Bud: I'd like to go to that, call the ticket office and see if there are any tickets left.
Me: What's the Atlanta 500? Like Indy 500, Al Unser? Ok, I'll reserve a ticket for you, but I'll stay in camp with LeRoy.
Bud: NO, like Daytona 500 - Richard Petty.
Me: Ok, I'll get two and drag myself along.
At Griffon GA, we watch practice, qualifying, and finally the race on Sun. Our race seats are on the backstreach, about halfway up. I'm only 5' tall and all the guys in front of us are standing, standing on the seat of their chair with the other leg on the back of the seat in front of them. I can't see anything but butts and thighs.
So I go down to the wall/fence and OMG, OMG 8O , this is WONDERFUL 8O :!: :idea: :arrow:
All afternoon I play 'tag' with security, watch the leaderboard and learn pick out and follow the different cars on the track. I WENT NUTS!
By the way, that weekend Dale Earnhardt won the race, Rusty Wallace won the Championship. And Grant Adcox died in that Sat.'s ARCA
race. :cry:
We got back home early Dec., and I whined and 'pissed' and moaned until my Mom coughed up the big bucks for a 10' satellite dish system so I could watch the races on ESPN. Then in April '90, we went to the Talledega 500. Met a couple from GA, and have been friends with and camped with them at Talladega ever since.
For many years after we went to at least three Winston Cup weekends a year; Talladega, Martinsvill, Michigan, Atlanta, and Milwaukee (Bush & Truck). We had a very good 16 year 'run'. Time moves along, we are both much older now (Bud 76) and the second 'new' motorhome was getting 'old' too, Earnhart's dead, NA$CAR has taken the RACING out of racing, track camping is now crammed and regimented, and seating capacity is so overbuilt that the roads and infrastructure can't really handle the crowds. What initially impressed and drew us to the sport was the fact that it was a "good old boy" sport, based mostly on hard work, tallent, and skill. Now it is all big bucks and glitz, which is what happens when something gets way too popular. So this past Dec. we sold the motorhome.
Speaking of Wis. drivers, don't forget Alan Kulwickie, an owner/driver who is WC Champ of '92. Dave Marcus was a regular on the WC circut for about 30 years, he is another owner/driver from Wis., and a close friend of D Earnhardt and R Childress. Jim Sauter ( from
WI and Tim, John and Jay's Dad ) and Dave Marcus and Dick Trickle ( also from
WI) still are the main set up guys for the IROC series races. And that only scratches the surface of what used to be called the "WISCONSIN CONNECTION" in NA$CAR. That Wisconsin Connection seems to be growing stronger each year.
I hope you can attend a NA$CAR race sometime. You will love it - nothing like being there in person. Be sure to bring fieldglasses, a scanner radio with headset (to protect your ears, listen to broadcast commentary/particular team communications) and have someone record that race for you so you can 'see' it again when you get home.
Enjoy!!! We sure did!!
