The idea for this blog came about a year ago when we were camping. We walked past a really nice fifth wheel where a young family was camping. They had a Jimmie Johnson #48 pennant hanging on the side which, to Hubby, meant "Please stop and talk to me about Nascar."
This nice young dad said that he would love to camp at a track and go to a race but his wife wants no part of it. I told him about how much fun we have in Dover and he said, "I wish you would talk to my wife!" As we walked away Hubby said, "You really should write a blog ..." And the rest, as they say, is history!
Can you relate to this young dad? Do you, too, wish your wife would be interested in going to the races with you? If so, let me share a couple of
The first thing I would tell you is a bit radical for most men and at the risk of having you stop reading here, I'm going to say it anyway. And that is .... LISTEN to what she says when you ask her to go to a race. I'm sure -- in fact I know -- she doesn't simply say 'no thanks'. I KNOW she always follows it with a reason WHY she doesn't want to go. Key words to listen for are "boring" "too hot" "porty potties" - you get the idea!
Your job now is to anticipate and eliminate all her objections. This may sound like a daunting task, but keep this thought in mind - someday your kids will be out of your house (I promise!) and you and your wife are going to need to have things that you like to do together. Believe me, I know what I am talking about! So consider this first race experience an investment in your happy future. You won't always need to do this, but it is necessary now to win her over to your side!
Okay ... here goes:
1. Choose a race in an area you know she would like and then plan some non-race things to do. Number One on my list is Watkins Glen, but we have had a great time exploring everywhere we go for a race. Your conversation could go something like this, "Honey, how about we go to (Watkins Glen) for a few days. We can check out (the wineries and hike the falls) and take in the race on Sunday."
2. Before you present the idea to her, check out what special seating/packages the track has to offer. I'm not an expert on all the tracks, but all of the tracks that we have been to have some nice, affordable options for tickets. My big objection has always been that I don't want to sit on metal benches in the blazing hot summer sun for hours on end and I absolutely WON'T do Porta-Potties!!! So at Bristol we got tickets in the Budweiser Suite which gave us access to a nice place where we could go for food and a beer without standing in long concession lines. Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress made an appearance which was really cool. It was also air-conditioned which, in Tennessee in August, is a really big deal. And we had nice sort-of private restrooms but also seats for the race outside in the grandstands. At Watkins Glen, we had tickets in The Bog which allowed us to walk all around the infield and watch the race from all different vantage points. Both of these options eliminated my objections so I really had no reason NOT to go!
The people who work in the ticket offices are always very helpful when you call. Tell them what you are trying to do and ask them what special offers they have for you. Walking pit road before a race is lots of fun too. It adds a whole new dimension to racing for people who think it's only a bunch of cars driving in circles. Seeing what the pit crews have to do before a race is really interesting, even if you aren't mechanically minded.
Now your conversation continues with, "I know you don't like to sit in the sun for that long, so I checked out some special things we can do at the track. We can get tickets with access to an air-conditioned suite so that you can get up and go there whenever you want to!"
You're liking how this is going now, aren't you?!
3. Tell her how HAPPY it makes you are that she would even consider going with you and then tell her that if she absolutely hates it you will never ask her to go with you again. But, if you follow these few simple steps I don't think there will be much chance of that! And then tell her she can wear this shirt to the race!!
It's not rocket science, but I guarantee that if you follow these few easy suggestions, you will soon have a NASCAR WIFE & HAPPY LIFE!!
