Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!!

Today was the first day back to work after the first public Holiday of the year; Memorial Day. It wasn’t so easy going back in after the three day weekend, especially considering the weather that we had. Ignoring some torrential rain on the Saturday night, the rest of the weekend was as far removed from anything I’ve experienced out here so far. 30+°c everyday and I have the Rudolph-esque nose to show for it. For once, just once, I was pining for the rain, damp and wind that the UK can be sure to offer. The fact that my neighbourhood pool opened did help to raise my spirits though, so don’t worry about me too much.

This weekend was also the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It has some significance as the 100th anniversary of the first race was being celebrated. Oddly, it wasn’t the 100th race (World Wars ensured a couple of breaks) but there were celebrations at the track none-the-less.

After having some tasty breakfast provided (thanks Amy), we headed to the track around 07:30 and, even after surviving a $1-shuttle-ride-in-the-back-of-a-pick-up-truck-driven-by-a-redneck-looking-guy, we were claiming our spot in the infield around 09:00. The track/arena was absolutely huge; seating for over 257,000 spectators with a total capacity of around 400,000 including the infield areas. We managed to find a spot on Turn 3 in the infield (with a track view) and made camp with our large tarpaulin and single blanket. This turned out to be great later as when everyone else was jammed in like sardines we still had plenty of room to ourselves. And it got PACKED.

Before the race even started there was plenty of entertainment going on around the track. There was a giant Hot Wheels ramp that had been erected for a world record attempt jump, and with my basic camera I managed to get a snap just before it landed and set a new world record. The car that is; not my camera.

We played some games that probably meant I drank too much beer in a short space of time in the heat, but in all the morning seemed to fly by before you knew it the actual race was about to begin. As with all American sporting activities, it was very patriotic. There was a rendition of “America the Beautiful”, which was followed by plenty of fist pumping and chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A” … I should have joined in “Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land” but I guess our reserved nature overrides. Next up we had the national anthem performed by a trio of Seal, Kelly Clarkson, and someone else (couldn’t hear over the school disco style PA system). This was COOL, as towards the finale of the song there was a flyover by a (not so stealthy) B-2 bomber … that is a good looking aeroplane. Sure enough this ensured more chanting from the locals. I recorded the video below on my phone, that’s why it’s crap.

I can’t really tell you too much about the race as there wasn’t too much to see. The noise (my favourite part of motorsport) was amazing and is up there with my encounters with F1 cars at the Goodwood FoS. The heat also made it pretty unbearable to be too still for too long. I can tell you though that a Brit won (nice one, mate) although in slightly controversial circumstances. Not Dick Dastardly style controversy, just some issue of rule interpretation. I heard all this from the radio, as we decided to leave and beat all traffic/3rd degree sun burn by leaving with about 40 laps to go. As we started to pack up all our coolers and bags, a group of guys who had been sitting near us for the duration of the day offered to buy any leftover beers we had; the girls in the group did a great job of getting $20 for a few leftover ones. As we made our way out of the infield we sold some more; this time $20 was exchanged for a couple less beers but included a partially eaten box of Krispy Kreme donuts. I know what I would be doing next year if I had a spare cooler …

All in all it was a great day with some new and (relatively) old friends. After a quick shower and an after sun session it was rounded off with a meal sitting on the outside decking of a Mexican restaurant in what was still incredibly warm temperatures. We also played some word games but I think was only so others could have a giggle at my pronunciation/accent …

I’m now off to rub some more after sun into my skin. Bye bye.

p.s. below here are some more photo’s that show the crowds and some of the, err, characters seen on the day. I can’t wait for the Indiana State Fair; I’m told it’s good …

Has It Been That Long?!

It’s almost a month since I last updated this blog!!

Quite a bit has happened in that time; obviously there was the Royal Wedding, I made a trip home to see friends and family, and the world was going to end (but it didn’t).

Unlike everyone back home in the UK, I didn’t get the bonus of a day off for the wedding. The fuss over it, here, was incredible; especially to me as I wasn't bothered with it all. We did however have a bit of a Royal theme in the office and so I bought some crowns from a party shop. I hung a huge Union Jack on the wall (some conditioning for the Americans for when I hang it on Independence Day …), and I had plenty of visitors throughout the day asking me questions about William & Kate; although I didn’t have any of the answers. I didn’t wake up at 4am to catch the coverage of the wedding, although plenty of others did. When I woke up, I looked back through my Facebook timeline and realised the attention had quickly turned to Kate’s sister Pippa and her arse. It’s pretty much the same here in the States too! My manager here in the US wanted us to have a departmental photo taken as a memento of the day (in other words, something that can be used as blackmail!) so, for your amusement on a Sunday night/Monday morning, below is a cropped version of the photo (saving the others in it from the shame!) …

A week later I made a trip back home to a very sunny England! Was great to see everyone, but it was a very manic trip home trying to squeeze so much into a week and a half. Managed to catch up with everybody, ate all the foods I’ve missed (mum’s Sunday lunch, fish & chips, proper bacon sandwiches!), and got to only my 2nd Arsenal game of the season (terrible game, result, atmosphere, and travel; but as always a great day out with dad). Before I knew it, it was time to head back to Heathrow to board my flight to Chicago. This turned out to be one of the worst flights I’ve ever been on; sandwiched between a guy who virtually had his name on my arm rest, and a woman who was, err, of the larger variety.

The first five days of my time back in the States have been pretty dismal weather; until this weekend. It’s 11pm here and still 24 deg C, today has been so humid. The temperature in the apartment also hasn’t been helped by the fact that I didn’t realise the a/c had been set to heat! A quick slide of the lever and I’m now sitting in conditions that would make a polar bear feel at home.

This week should be a good one. It’s the build up to the Indy 500 and next weekend I’m off to the race with a group of friends!