We left today for a 4-week trip. We’ll visit 9 sates this time, including Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee. Among some of this trip’s highlights are Texas Stadium, Sea World in San Antonio, the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, and New Orleans. We’re also going to see the Gulf of Mexico.
We already arrived at the first of many campsites. After getting ourselves comfortably situated, we drove to Talladega Super Speedway. Talladega is the largest track on the NASCAR circuit, and used to be the fastest. The track is a monstrous 2.66 miles long, and before NASCAR implemented restrictor plates, speeds easily topped 200 miles per hour. Bill Elliott was the first driver to break the 200 mph barrier. However, NASCAR decided to enforce the use of restrictor plates after Rusty Wallace obtained an average lap speed of 228 mph. In today’s races, drivers are lucky to make 195 mph.
Also housed at the track is the International Sports Hall of Fame. Racers from NASCAR, the Indy Racing League (IRL), as well as many famous racing personalities have been worthy of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Among my favorites were Benny Parsons (racer & TV announcer, died 2 years ago), Dale Earnhardt (racer, died in the 2001 Daytona 500), Darrell Waltrip (former racer and current FOX analyst), and Jack Roush (owner of NASCAR’s largest team). Also in the Hall of Fame was a lady from Greenville, SC. Her name was Louise Smith, and she was one of few women to make a sensation in the world of racing. It is said that she drove her husband’s brand-new car down to Daytona Beach to watch a race. However, the temptation was too great, and she entered the car into the race. Needless to say, she crashed, but she will forever be remembered as one of the great ladies of stock car racing.
After checking out three buildings full of legendary cars, we ended our day in the Dale Earnhardt room. This room abounds with memorabilia from Dale’s racing days. Outside of this room was my favorite car that we saw all day, Darrell Waltrip’s “Bertha.” Waltrip figured out early on that lighter cars ran faster. He would have his car altered so that it would be lighter than the minimum weight. In order to pass pre-qualifying inspection, his crew would make up the remaining weight by filling up a hidden compartment with BBs. Once out on the track, he would pull a lever and let all the BBs out of the compartment, thus giving him a lighter car and faster qualifying time.
After eating supper, we were all ready for bed. After all, we have to rest up for whatever tomorrow brings. ☺
We already arrived at the first of many campsites. After getting ourselves comfortably situated, we drove to Talladega Super Speedway. Talladega is the largest track on the NASCAR circuit, and used to be the fastest. The track is a monstrous 2.66 miles long, and before NASCAR implemented restrictor plates, speeds easily topped 200 miles per hour. Bill Elliott was the first driver to break the 200 mph barrier. However, NASCAR decided to enforce the use of restrictor plates after Rusty Wallace obtained an average lap speed of 228 mph. In today’s races, drivers are lucky to make 195 mph.
Also housed at the track is the International Sports Hall of Fame. Racers from NASCAR, the Indy Racing League (IRL), as well as many famous racing personalities have been worthy of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Among my favorites were Benny Parsons (racer & TV announcer, died 2 years ago), Dale Earnhardt (racer, died in the 2001 Daytona 500), Darrell Waltrip (former racer and current FOX analyst), and Jack Roush (owner of NASCAR’s largest team). Also in the Hall of Fame was a lady from Greenville, SC. Her name was Louise Smith, and she was one of few women to make a sensation in the world of racing. It is said that she drove her husband’s brand-new car down to Daytona Beach to watch a race. However, the temptation was too great, and she entered the car into the race. Needless to say, she crashed, but she will forever be remembered as one of the great ladies of stock car racing.
After checking out three buildings full of legendary cars, we ended our day in the Dale Earnhardt room. This room abounds with memorabilia from Dale’s racing days. Outside of this room was my favorite car that we saw all day, Darrell Waltrip’s “Bertha.” Waltrip figured out early on that lighter cars ran faster. He would have his car altered so that it would be lighter than the minimum weight. In order to pass pre-qualifying inspection, his crew would make up the remaining weight by filling up a hidden compartment with BBs. Once out on the track, he would pull a lever and let all the BBs out of the compartment, thus giving him a lighter car and faster qualifying time.
After eating supper, we were all ready for bed. After all, we have to rest up for whatever tomorrow brings. ☺
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