Yep, for a fact, this is a very true story that came to mind as I watched the race on tv today from Indy. What I am about to relate is an example of why being in the grandstands at a major race these days is MUCH more comfortable and convenient than back in the mid nineties.
Sometime about 1994, 1995, or 1996, a friend gave me ONE ticket to the Southern 500 at Darlington (remember when they actually raced THE SOUTHERN 500 there on Labor Day weekend?). As the track is only about an hour from home I decided to take the ticket and go. I took some sunscreen and a headset radio along with a cap and those were the only accessories as I didn't want to lug things up to the grandstand seat.
When I got to the track and entered the grandstands I was very early as I did believe in getting there early so I could see everything. My seat was about six from the aisle on what is NOW the front straight, about 30 rows up located behind what would later become the flag stand for todays' races there. I found my seat number and parked myself in a metal chair seat which was obviously designed for the rear end of about a 10 year old (and I was not nearly as large then as I am now) than the rear end of an adult male. After sitting there about 30 minutes I decided it would be a good idea to invest in a seat cushion as that metal got very hardvery quickly. So I walked up the steps to a vendor who sold me a seat cushion which appeared to be made from vinyl but was obviously made from spun silk and stuffed with gold dustconsidering what it cost me. But, I figured, better that than a very sore rear end six or seven hours later.
After a bit, a family, mom, dad, a 12 year old daughter and a 15 year old son took seats just behind me and we struck up a very friendly conversation. I recall they were from a small town in Tennessee, not far from Nashville, and they were pulling for Jeff Burton.
Soon, a couple in their mid forties took the seats just in front of me. The female half of that group had more tattoos that a U.S. Marine with 8 tours of duty in a war zone. The one most visible to me as it was on the back of her neck, referenced something about a strong dislike of certain aspects of people from the northern parts of the U.S. I thought it better that I keep my conversation going with those behind me.
About 30 minutes before race time, the stands were almost completely full. Oddly, I thought, the seats on either side of me were empty. I'm thinking to myself that this is a pretty good thing because it was really hot and the little free space I had was an advantage. Then it happened.
I was talking to the folks behind me when I see these two guys walking down the steps, each carrying the biggest allowable ice chest, seat cushions, radios, binoclars. and what appeared to be beach bags like my wife uses when we go to the beach. Each one of these guys looked like the perfect candiate for the NBC show "The Biggest Loser" although that show wasn't around then. Pity. Each wore a black t-shirt with the big white "3", one with the sleeves cut off and the neck band cut with that little "v" that kids like to cut into t-shirts. The other shirt looked as though it had just been purchased. The sleeveless guy was looking at his ticket and stopped at the end of the row where I was. He nodded to his friend and the folks between me and the aisle stood up in their seats as these two guys shoved and tumbled my way. Assuming I had mistakenly taken one of their seat, I slid to my right leaving the other two seats empty.
When the "gentlemen" got to the seats, Joshua as I was to later learn was the name of the sleeveless one, informed me I was in his seat. Jeremy, the other guy, pointed to the middle seat and said "that one is yourn" Not a typo, he said "yourn". I offered to allow them to sit together but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, that was not an option.
So, I sit, Josh on one side and Jere on the other. I literally could not move. My arms were pressed to my sides and the two ice chests were placed in such a way that caused me to have to put one foot on top of the other as there was no room for both feet on the floor.
Josh opened his "beach" bag and took out a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken and passed it to Jere. No offer to me, but that was fine, I was not in the mood for fried chicken at the time.
Then it was time to stand for the Anthem and the Invocation. I was forcibly lifted between the two of them as they stood because I could not move. When they sat back down. so did I. There was no movement. The race got underway and when something exciting would happen, I would be jerked out of my seat as the two of them jumped up.
To go into the language of these two guys would prevent this from being on this site. To consider the tattooed lady in front of me was singlehandily raising the price of R.J. Reynolds stock by constantly smoking one Winston after another which still leaves a smokey haze in front of my eyes when I think of Darlington. If there were a market for KFC chicken bones, I would have paid for my parking and the seat cushion from thecollection of those scattered at my feet.
Finally, just after 100 laps in, I told my new found "friends" that I needed to leave and I hoped they would enjoy the race. I tried to stand on my own, but that didn't happen. Jeremy finally lifted me up and over him and the 200 or so beer cans on the concrete and I excused myself over the remaining six seats to the aisle. When I finally reached that open space giving me the freedom to escape, I knew how Faye Raye felt when King Kong finally put her down. I walked to the back of the stands,behind the last row, and stood the rest of the race. Josh and Jere left with about 40 laps to go figuring, I assume, it was going to take them at least an hour to stagger up the steps and down again to the parking lot. I didn't go back to the seat because I didn't want to fall over the empty beer cans or, perhaps, sit on a chicken bone. I just watched the race and afterwards walked over to the pits to hang out.
I had almost forgotten that encounter with Josh and Jere until I watched the race from Indy today. I am so happy to see the immense improvements NASCAR has made to grandstand seating. I noticed that most seats, including those in the low priced sections, had plenty of room between spectators, in fact, a huge amount of room. It was almost like each person having 25 square to himself or herself. What an improvement!!! How nice it is that NASCAR is so considerate as to allow such large seating areas and such space between individuals. Go NASCAR!!! Keep advancing.
Can't help but wonder if Jeremy and Joshua were somewhere in those stands.
Tim
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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM
