The Month of May is here – Part 1

Most people like the month of December for Christmas or if you are like my father, you might like the month of March for all the college basketball that is March Madness. But for me, it is all about the month of May.

I like the month of May for two reasons and I will give you one here. Not that you asked or anything.....

The month of May is known for race fans as the month of all the action at the Indianapolis Speedway that ends with the Greatest Spectacle in Racing - The Indianapolis 500.

Even though the Indy 500 has lost some of its glory over the years because of the explosion in NASCAR and the split in to two series. Now the Indy Racing League and Champ Car Series have merged after a 12-year divorce to make the IRL a bigger, promising series.

Future Indy driver? Nope. Future Pervert

When I was a kid I grew up on racing. It was mostly open wheel racing like Sprint Car, World of Outlaws and of course Indy car racing (better known as CART back then). However when I was a kid they didn't broadcast the Indy 500 on television until later that evening of the race. So me and my Father would go out in the garage to listen to the race on the radio and he would work on his 1923 T-Roadster he built from scratch. From then I was hooked on cars. Although I never listened to the end of the race because I wanted to be surprised when it was on television.

Back in the day the Indy 500 was a HUGE event. I and my father and I haven't missed one together in the last 30-plus years. When people get excited and gorge themselves on food for Christmas or Thanksgiving, we do it on Labor Day weekend where they have been running the 500 since 1911.

Back in the day my man was A.J. Foyt, and to this day he is my racing hero. Then it was Al Unser Jr., and then he got old, drank too much and retired. But he still comes back to the 500 every year and sometimes gets a ride. Now it is more Danica Patrick (of course), Dan Wheldon and Helio Castroneves (even though he drives for Roger Penske).

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 3 the Speedway opens for Rookie Orientation, and then there will be practice and pole day on March 10-11. Followed by Bump Day and then the race. Race cars going 230 MPH on a 2 ½ Mile track is amazing. Needless to say I am stoked.

I am sure if anyone is reading this, and they actually got this far before clicking the X button, thinks I am a big dork, which is most likely true.

There is a second reason I love this month so much, but that will have to wait for another day.

XoXoX

TROY