Saturday, September 14, 2013

Here & There Column 9-10-13

A Bristling Experience

  Up close and personal is what I like to do and while traveling on Interstate 81 in Tennessee recently I  knew I wanted to view the 4th largest sports venue in America and the 8th largest in the world........none other then the Bristol Motor Speedway.
  Of course Shirl immediately came forth with "there is no racing going on now and we won't be able to get anywhere near it."
  I was intent on driving right on in and walking right out on the famous highly banked track.
  No one stopped us at the gate and after viewing the Bristol Drag Racing track we proceeded down towards what they now refer to as "The Last Great Colosseum."
  An employee in one of the massive parking lots was more than happy to direct us to where we could get into the Speedway. 
  Drove right up to the truck entrance and walked in and seemingly had the entire Colosseum to ourselves.
  Wow.......breath taking........ now it isn't like we have never been to any other NASCAR track as we have seen in person several races at Daytona......but Bristol is just so different......the half-mile short track venue and despite its short length Bristol is among the most popular tracks on the NASCAR schedule because of its distinct features including extraordinary steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads, stadium-like seating and one of the loudest tracks.
  I told Shirl we could have our pick from the 165,000 seats as I walked out on the highly banked track and somewhere deep inside me I hear this track calling me back to witness an actual race.
  Interesting enough just several miles down the road we found the Sullivan County Court House......now isn't that a coincidence?

                                                  


IDENTIFICATION OF ABOVE PHOTOS

Ed Townsend is standing on solemn NASCAR racing ground which is part of the actual track at Bristol Speedway and who ever would have known that several miles down the road from the track was the Sullivan County Court House.


         

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