March 20, 2011
By Kim Roberson
Kim Roberson
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If you could go to any track, to see any race, where would it be?
This weekend we are in Bristol, Tennessee -- a track that I have heard some put near the top of their list of places they would want to go if they had to pick just one track to go before they died. The track that has been compared to a cereal bowl or blender used to be best known for the fact that if you wanted to pass the driver in front of you, you had to move him out of the way -- which often led to some interesting crashes.
When you walk into Bristol, you get a feeling of what it must have been like to be a gladiator in the Roman Coliseum. The stands seem to rise up forever, and they completely encircle the track. The track seems amazingly small -- yet very high banked -- to run a NASCAR race on.
Just walking into the facility is an experience. Mike Bagley, who you hear calling races for MRN and who also co-hosts “The Morning Drive” on Sirius NASCAR Radio 128, commented this week that the first time he ever walked into Bristol, he came in through the cut-across gate. When he made it down the banking, the “wow” factor made him stop in his tracks and just take it all in. People were still filing in behind him, and he overheard one of them say “Must be his first time.”
I went to Bristol two years ago and had much the same sensation. The majority of the tracks I have been to are larger than a mile: Dover, Charlotte, Daytona, and Talladega. Richmond is a short track, but the stands (with the exception of the new high-rise stands in turn one) are only a couple of stories high. Martinsville is another very short track, but the back stretch is open, giving it a bigger feel even if the racing surface is far from long.
But when I first walked into Bristol, I also had the “wow” moment, when you just stop and look and try to figure out how 43 cars can go 500 laps and not just take each other out. Bristol had been on my “bucket list” of tracks I wanted to go see, and I was very glad I was able to check it off my list.
Another track I have been lucky enough to check off my list is Talladega. While it might seem from the outside that ‘Dega and Daytona are similar, the only thing they really share is the fact they are both over 2.5 miles, and use restrictor plates. For some reason, there is a tinge more what I would call “insanity” at the races at Talladega -- both on the track and off -- than you find at Daytona.
The legendary infield parties have moved to camp grounds outside of the track, but Talladega seems to be one big party that has a race thrown in for good measure, while Daytona kicks off the season and is more like a family reunion after a long winter, or a celebration of the 4th of July with 100-thousand plus of your closest racing pals.
To bring this point home, Talladega has their own, very large jail on site to bring the rowdy fans in to sober up overnight. Now THAT is when you know you have a party atmosphere.
This week, I asked a few friends the question “If you had to make a Bucket List of tracks you wanted to see before you died what would they be? And what tracks that you HAVE been to would you recommend to others?”
I got some standard answers, and some I wouldn’t have thought of. And since I didn’t specify that the track had to be NASCAR, I had a few F1 and sports car tracks thrown in.
Amanda Honeywell, who lives in Manchester, England and is a big NASCAR fan, was the first to respond. “Martinsville, Darlington, Bristol, Talladega, Watkins Glen and Road America. I don't know if I ever will (get to them) but I would love to see races at those.”
“Tracks that I've been to AND would recommend: Richmond and Loudon,” responded one of my Canadian NASCAR friends, Mark Szymanowski. “Been to Michigan, but the race is usually a snooze fest. Bucket List: Bristol (Night Race), Martinsville, Daytona (July Race), Dover. I'm almost feeling the itch to go to a race this year; haven't been to a race since 2008. Oh, right, Darlington! Cannot forget about one of the originals!”
Pat Sanders, who lives in Georgia, noted “I've done AMS (Atlanta Motor Speedway), Darlington, Bristol and Talladega. All good tracks. I would recommend any track you can get to! I wish I could see a road course; Road America would be my #1 choice. It would be nice to add a Daytona 500 to my list of been there/done that’s. I would also like the Las Vegas experience. “
A former co-worker of mine, Craig Foster, commented “Strictly NASCAR? I'd like to see Daytona or Talladega. I liked Dover a lot but didn't like Richmond. Charlotte would be nice, just for the spectacle. Bristol would have been on my list, but with the new banking the racing isn't as good. F1, I'd love to see Monaco.”
A fellow University of Florida band alum, Amy Stabler, has a larger list than the others. “I’ve only been to Daytona and Texas and would recommend both. I'd like to go to all the other tracks at least once before I die. That is my bucket list. My next racetrack that I'd probably go to is Charlotte and/or Phoenix.”
Another NASCAR fan from north of the border, Michael Peddle, says “Michigan (Been there), Charlotte (Been there), Daytona (Been there), Martinsville (Wanting to do that), Bristol (Wanting to do that), and Darlington (Wanting to do that).” In all caps he added “AND TALLADEGA (BIG TIME WANTING TO DO THAT!”
Betty Clark, who is a die-hard “Wal-nut” (fan of Michael Waltrip) has two on her list. “I would love to see a race at Bristol and Daytona.”
Darcy Curtain, who I was in band with -- way back in High School and now lives in Singapore with her husband, noted “Laguna Seca, Daytona and Indy for sure. Whatever local track you can get to. An indoor Supercross for the sheer spectacle of it. Sepang and Phillip Island are on my list while I'm on this side of the globe, and of course the Singapore F1, although I guess that doesn’t exactly qualify as a track. All the times they had the race in downtown Houston (Texas), I could hear it from my porch, but never went. For shame! Already missed one (Singapore) F1 but at least we were out of the country at the time. Fun topic -- made me realize how many tracks (and different kinds of racing) I've managed to see over the years.”
She then added “Had tickets to Motegi (Japan), but now that’s not going to happen.”
Twin Ring Motegi, which is north of Tokyo, suffered damage as the result of last week’s 9.0 earthquake in Japan, and will require repair to the stands and track before a race can be run on it again. No decisions have been made on whether the IndyCar circuit will race there as planned on September 17th (it was announced last month that this will be the last time IndyCar races the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi in Tochigi Prefecture), however a MotoGP race that was scheduled there next month has been postponed until October.
Everyone has their own reason for wanting to go see a race at a specific track, whether it has something to do with the racing, the history, or it just looks like a cool place to watch a race. Regardless of what track is on YOUR bucket list, I highly suggest you find a way to go there, and just sit and let that “wow” factor come over you. It will be a memory that you carry with you for the rest of your life.
Follow Kim on Twitter: @ksrgatorfn
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
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