SUSQ
07-04-2013, 08:25 PM
While online last week my 15 year old car guy son Alex (yep, he still plays bass guitar, guitar, drums and sings) noticed that the local drag strip, Maple Grove, was having a grudge match night that Friday night. With an enthusiastic, "let's go check it out, Dad!", we were off to the races.
The weather was a little iffy and surely cut down on the number of participants, but that certainly didn't dampen our spirits or those of the racers. Man, it was great! We saw everything from full-on racecars dukeing it out side by side to a brand new full-size, stock BMW taking on a 90's Chevy pickup. Fun for all indeed. We will certainly be back again this summer and I came away with the following observations:
1. I'm lucky to have a son who is a dyed in the wool cars and guitars guy who still thinks his Dad is way cool.
2. I'm lucky to have a first-rate drag strip 40 minutes from my home. I sure do miss York U.S. 30 (40 minutes from home in the other direction) and was lucky to experience it as a teenager before it went away.
3. Although the import scene isn't my thing, I came away from this night with new found respect for the power these guys can make.
4. No helmets required? I was amazed to see helmetless drivers going down the track at 100+ mph. Maybe I'm just an old guy but I'm surprised a helmet wasn't required for ALL drivers regardless of speed.
5. Co-pilots allowed? Was kind of strange to see a late model Chrysler 300 going down the track with the driver's Mrs. riding shotgun.
Was an honor and a privilege to be there enjoying the racing as father and son, for sure! Support your local track if you've got one and take every opportunity to take a kid to the races!
The weather was a little iffy and surely cut down on the number of participants, but that certainly didn't dampen our spirits or those of the racers. Man, it was great! We saw everything from full-on racecars dukeing it out side by side to a brand new full-size, stock BMW taking on a 90's Chevy pickup. Fun for all indeed. We will certainly be back again this summer and I came away with the following observations:
1. I'm lucky to have a son who is a dyed in the wool cars and guitars guy who still thinks his Dad is way cool.
2. I'm lucky to have a first-rate drag strip 40 minutes from my home. I sure do miss York U.S. 30 (40 minutes from home in the other direction) and was lucky to experience it as a teenager before it went away.
3. Although the import scene isn't my thing, I came away from this night with new found respect for the power these guys can make.
4. No helmets required? I was amazed to see helmetless drivers going down the track at 100+ mph. Maybe I'm just an old guy but I'm surprised a helmet wasn't required for ALL drivers regardless of speed.
5. Co-pilots allowed? Was kind of strange to see a late model Chrysler 300 going down the track with the driver's Mrs. riding shotgun.
Was an honor and a privilege to be there enjoying the racing as father and son, for sure! Support your local track if you've got one and take every opportunity to take a kid to the races!