I've been watching NASCAR for a few years now, after many years watching Formula 1. Not actually watching, more like having it on to accompany whatever I'm doing - on TV you miss the speed and sounds of a real race. I once had a taste of stock-car racing when I volunteered at the Edmonton Indy, and thought the thunderous sound of a V-8 pushrod engine at 9500 RPM was AMAZING.
So I'm planning to see a race - in Bristol, Tennessee ...
| 2012.08.23 |
Race Day 2: Food City Street Party and Hauler Parade |
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Thursday was time to go away from the track, into Bristol for the Food City Race Night, which actually ran from 1 to 9pm. About 6 blocks of the "downtown" part of State Street were devoted to booths, cars, music stages, and some vendor tables. I collected up all the free stuff I could for my hosts, things like maple syrup, antacid tablets, snack foods, coupons. I tried Sweet Tea for the 2nd and last time - not my cuppa - it's like tea syrup, dispensed right beside soft drinks in fast food places, and sold by the gallon in some of them. In the midst of the Birthplace of Country Music, I had lunch at an upscale-ish place called 620 State Street and was regaled with old favourites from The Cure, The Smiths, and other 80s/90s British bands. People lined up in very long lines for driver autographs or bits of free food, there was a semi-trailer devoted to cooking Johnsonville Brats for anyone in the crowd who made a donation to some charity, and a competition for dogs jumping furthest into a large pool of water. Even a street preacher exhorting the crowds as they passed. Southern fun!
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Carl Edwards is the main driver I have followed since I started watching NASCAR. | |
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This is probably a test car, but fully equipped for racing. | |
After the Street Party, the car haulers convoy down the Parkway to the track. People set up lawn chairs and cheer them on as they sound their horns and fireworks burst in several places.
The Food City V-8 shopping cart leading the convoy. | |
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Followed by police on motorcycles. | |
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Then the haulers | |
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Many brightly lit in addition to their paint | |
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