Karens Road

My friend Katy made a comment that has me thinking. I have lived in Indiana for over 30 years and I have only attended the Indianapolis 500 once. I have been to the time trials a few times and that was fun. It has been a long time since I have been to the race.

At the time trials, we visited the garages to see the drivers up close. I don’t think they allow that any longer. When we went, the kids each got Lyn St. James’s autograph. She was just the second woman in history to race in the event. I am thinking that the year was 1992. I need to dig through my scrapbooks to see what year I stuck my neck out and got Al Unser, Jr.’s autograph. All I had was a deposit slip out of my checkbook for him to sign.

My husband’s brother, Doug, has purchased tickets every year since who knows when. He has been letting us purchase a few of his tickets the past couple of years as some of his regular attendees have been unable to go. I haven’t wanted to go but maybe this year I should.

The day of the race starts early when we attend. Although our seats are reserved, we like to get there early to watch all the people. Many have spent the night, camped on the sidewalks. Too wasted to enjoy the race, they nap the day away. Silly people. The infield used to be a sort of “den of iniquity” but it has become more family friendly the past few years.

The way the seating is set up has us packed into our seats. We are sure to use the restroom before we are settled. We take a cooler so that we don’t have to climb over people to get refreshments. We use our binoculars to watch the drivers, team owners and crew chiefs as they prepare for the race. We’ve seen some famous people in the crowd. Jim Nabors was a standard icon as he sang Back Home Again In Indiana. He was unable to do that last year. We wait in anticipation of the legendary, “Drivers, Start Your Engines.” Then it is pure excitement as we watch from turn 4. We can see in two directions and that gives us such a great view of what is happening. We see the cars coming out of the short chute into the fourth turn and into the straightaway. The noise is unbelievable. I know why they call it “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”