ooooo, this is my favorite time of year in Charlotte. Yep, it's race week. i'm not going to any of the races in the next two weekends, but i do love it here because of it.

we usually do go, at least to the All Star Race(as they're calling it now that Winston is no longer the main sponsor). I skip the 600, because by the time all those rednecks (with four and five people in our family going, we have to sit in the cheap, chicken bone seats) sit for six to seven hours, guzzling beer, they get pretty rowdy, and we're all packed in tighter than sardines and it's just mighty uncomfortable.

But I only live about 10 miles from the track, and this part of town is always buzzing with activity. Drivers make various appearances, and you can't walk in any restaurant without seeing tons of people wearing race gear. Most of the drivers shops are here, Charlotte being the official NASCAR home. So the streets are always busy and people will roll down their windows at stop lights and ask directions to the track or a certain driver's shop.

Jr's is out in the sticks. You can stop on Odell School Road at the little store on the corner to ask directions. Several men will be in the back of the store at a table drinking beer. They'll be more than happy to tell you where the shop is, having done it so many times. And if you're lucky, the guy at the register will tell you something personal about the Earnharts, like how Jr used to live across the street from the shop, but too many people kept trying to come up his driveway.

It's fascinating really, you're cruising along country roads, nothing but an occassional farm or house, but mostly trees and lovely countryside. Then as you turn a bend in the road, the massive Earnhart Inc rises out of the landscape, looking all modern and out of place.

One of my ex-neighbors works for Jr. He builds the chasises(spelled wrong, sorry)and used to work on Steve Park's pit crew. One year, he gave me his uniform shirt with the big Bud logo across the front. I keep forgetting I have it, but this year, today as a matter of fact, I'm gonna put that puppy on and make more than a few people jealous.

But the absolute best thing about this time of year, is Speed Street, which starts next Thurs. They close off the main street of Uptown Charlotte. Lining both sides are food booths, beer booths and race sponsor booths. They hand out samples and bags and hats and coupons. You can see many of the cars up close and personal. They have pit crew challenges and racing video games. But best of all, they have free music.

This year offers several great choices...Three Dog Night and Creedence Clearwater Revisited(for you older folks), Joan Jett, Fuel, Tantric(for you younger sprites)and if you're into country, they got you covered too(I'm not)with Tracy Bryd and a few others. It's just one big stinkin party in the streets underneath the stars and towering skyscrapers.

Man, I love race week, the excitement is both electric and palpable.

.......................................................

Well, Mark and I strolled across the street last night to our favorite little mexican restaurant. They've added a covered patio...es muy bueno. I'm looking forward to some nice summer nights spent sipping mango and rasberry margaritas.

Last night we hopped up on our bar stools. A few minutes later another regular came in to sit down. We've seen him in there before, talked to him before, and listened to him not answer his goddamn cell phone before.

He's always loud and annoying. Last night was no different. He was "teasing" one of the waiters, but doing it in a kind of condensending way. He started bitching because he wanted to watch the basketball game instead of soccer so he goes off, "I own this place and I own you, don't you forget it." don't know what that was suppose to mean...then he says, "I'm about to get up off of this stool and go out to my car. You don't want that. Cuz when i come back in, it's all over."

what an asshole. I guess when you've been "kept down by the man" for so many years, and another group comes along that is one rung lower on the social ladder than you, then racism is ok.

Mark felt bad, and slipped the waiter his tip, telling him, "We're not all like that"

and then we wonder, why we can't ever get things done right in this country...

*sigh*