Racing - who knew? (part 2)

Seriously - going to watch races is my new fave.  This past weekend, me and IB, E and J, and my Dad and G went to Lernerville Speedway to see the World of Outlaws race.  This is a dirt track, so it's a completely different experience than NASCAR.  The cars they drive are kind of like oversized, enclosed go-karts with these huge wings on the top.  It was pretty cool to see them race around the dirt track - they slide through the turns sideways and average about 120 mph.  A lot more potential for wrecks (which we saw a few of) and they also can lose control and kind of slide off the track coming out of the turns (saw a lot of that too). 

They start off doing individual timed trials, move to small heats with 8 cars in each, and then the top 24 get to participate in the main event, which is 35 laps.  What you're not prepared for as a first-timer is the AMAZING amount of dust that is generated by 24 cars racing around the dirt track.  We were sitting in the top row and we were fucking covered in dirt.  I pulled my hoodie as tight as I could around my head and face and held it closed around my mouth so I wasn't breathing it in.  Note to self: next time you go, take a bandana and some safety goggles.  IB was blowing dirt out of his nose for 2 days!

Of course, a night of racing wouldn't be complete without a few hours of tailgating first!  We enjoyed some sausages, hot dogs, broccoli salad, chips, and individual pies in the parking lot prior to heading in.  And beer.  You can't tailgate without beer.  It was a goddamn gorgeous, sunny (and a little windy) fall day!