NASCAR HALL OF FAME

It is a cold and snowy here in Pennsylvania which, for some strange reason, I really like.  Maybe because everything feels different - people are staying home from school and work so there is very little traffic outside - and maybe because I seem to use days like this to catch up on all sorts of things that I would not be doing if it was a dry, sunny normal kind of day.

So today I spent some time catching up on all the Nascar news I have fallen behind on over the holidays.  There are all kinds of countdowns to races, team and drivers news updates, but the one tidbit that really caught my attention was the news that the Nascar Hall of Fame is struggling financially.

Hubby and I visited there in the fall of 2012, and I really must say that if you consider yourself a fan, this is a MUST DO for your Nascar Bucket List!

I will be the first to admit that, being the casual fan I am, the thought of spending an entire day aimlessly wandering around the HoF did not excite me.  But this was part of my Christmas gift to Hubby so I bit the bullet and went.  And I am I ever glad that I did!  So many fun and interesting things to see and do there!  We were there on a day when they also had a driver's appearance so we got to spend some time with Martin Truex which was really interesting.  It's kind of funny to see a driver in street clothes and talking about normal stuff - you know, just like us 'common folk'!

There was a nice place to eat inside the Hall as well as a Buffalo Wild Wings adjoining, but that was two years ago so you should check to see if that is still the case.  Don't take my word on that one.

The one thing that I thought was very thoughtful was the abundance of well-placed white wooden rocking chairs for people like me.  When Hubby would drift away looking at things that maybe didn't interest me ... at all!.... I would just point to a group of rocking chairs and tell him to take his time and see everything he wanted to see.  I would be very happy sitting there waiting for him.  There were lots of other people like me -- okay women! -- doing the same thing so we enjoyed chatting while the men wandered.

According to the news article, the Hall of Fame needs 400,000 visitors a year to be profitable.  Last year there were only 170,000.  It would be a real tragedy for our sport if this facility had to close its doors.  SO ..... if you are looking for a really great spot for a brief winter break allow me to suggest Charlotte NC and the Nascar Hall of Fame!  I'd also suggest that you plan to stay for several days and tour some of the team shops and garages.  It is a fun, fun trip!

Here is the link to the news article:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2015/01/05/5427276/charlotte-to-banks-write-off-176.html#.VKsUstLF9WI