Drivers, Start Your Engines!

The Monster

Fourteen years ago Bob and I assembled a group of friends and attended the Nascar race at Dover International Speedway, aka "The Monster Mile". I remember lots of laughter, mishaps, and excitement as we enjoyed a weekend of fast cars, fly-infested hotel rooms, and fast food.

Over the years the group has changed, but each outing has been memorable in its own right. I'll always remember the emotions of attending the race on September 23, 2001. The crowd was a sea of red, white & blue t-shirts and waving flags, and I don't think there was a dry eye in the house when Lee Greenwood sang "God Bless the USA". No one does a flyover as well as Dover, and you'd be hard pressed to find a more patriotic lot than race fans.

The whole gang; plus one random mustached stranger
whom only Bob seemed to notice.

This year we welcomed some "regulars" back (Eric and Erin); recruited a few newbies (our friends Erik, Laura and their son Ben); and the young and pretty people - Dennis, Cearra, and Kyrra. We also decided that this was the year to take Owen to his first race!

"Coastal Escape". Highly recommend it if you are looking for a
vacation place near the beaches of DE and Ocean City, MD

And since we now had two 5 year olds as part of our entourage - plus, let's face it, staying in rather shabby and way overpriced accommodations get a little tiring - we decided to rent a home in the Bayside Community of Fenwick, DE. It added about 30 minutes to our drive to and from the track, but it gave us so much more: a beautiful, spacious place to get-away for the weekend. For about the same price as a hotel, we were able to spread out, cook our meals, gather around the table to share good food and laughter, and well, to just be comfortable.

Angry Birds. Ben and Owen's weekend obsession.

Amazing dinner spread courtesy of Laura.
She has cemented her invite for years to come.

On Saturday Erik, Eric, Dennis and Bob played the adjacent Jack Nicklaus designed golf course while Cearra and Kyrra took Ben and Owen to the community playground and carousel, and Laura, Erin and I grocery shopped (and snuck in a nap).

Sunday morning we bundled up and headed to Dover. The crowds were very thin this year; seems that the economy has really affected racing attendance. But there were still plenty of fans outfitted in their favorite driver's numbers and spirits were high as members of service organizations were honored, and parachuters circled in the gray skies overhead before landing on the track with the American flag. It's always a thrill to hear the engines start up; smell the gas fumes, anticipate the dropping of the green flag. I think Owen, Ben and all the race first-timers were impressed!

Pre-race football. A tradition.

Ready to go racing!

First glimpse of the cars lined up on pit road.

He loved that "the cars went fast"!

It was cold.

Really cold. And windy.

Cheering on his favorite car - the Aflac duck.

Who would have thought a race track
was a good place for a nap?

We heard later that this was the coldest October day on record in Delaware, and it was pretty brutal at the track. The ladies plus the little boys decided to call it a day at lap 150; the big boys toughed it out. When they got "home" we had the fire blazing and Laura's fabulous homemade turkey chili and chocolate chip cookies waiting for them. We all got warmed up and then geared up to cheer the Ravens on to another victory!

Erik and Eric discovered a shared love for head-banging.
And beer.

Kyrra found she was a Ravens fan after all
Good choice Kyrra!

Great ending to a great weekend with a great group of people. Same time, same place next year gang!