Missing That Feeling in the Pit of Your Stomach

I have always loved the Indy 500. Not just for the speed and drama of the race itself but also for the traditional off track activities... and long may those traditions continue!

From the drivers walking down the pit lane to their cars, Jim Nabors singing "Back Home Again In Indiana", the National Anthem and the flypast (flyover), to the "Ladies and Gentlemen Start Your Engines", the 3-wide rolling start and on to the race winners drink of milk in Victory Lane; the off track activities create a great feeling of tradition and occasion.

Watching the Indy 500 build-up I can't help but get that feeling in the pit of my stomach that something exciting, something that matters, no more than that... something important is about to happen!

The same thing happens when I watch a NASCAR restrictor plate race and especially the Daytona 500. It must be hard for NASCAR to build the excitement in the pre-race show as by the time race day rolls around we have already enjoyed the Truck race, the Nationwide race, and have seen the Cup drivers in a couple of races in these cars at this track, but THE DAYTONA 500 creates its own excitement!

For me the "stomach" moment usually occurs with about 75 laps to go as the race shifts up a gear and gets serious! No more rolling round, keeping out of trouble, being nice. It's time to pull the pin, deal your cards and just plain get on with it! Suddenly the cars close up, all the good guys are up front and the race is on!

The moment you find yourself hovering on the edge of your seat on the verge of falling off, or the moment you are unable to sit down any longer are what make great events and great races truly memorable!

Hurry up racing season... I miss that moment!

On a separate topic - 

You have got to read this! It is brilliant! 

http://www.grandprix.com/columns/maurice-hamilton/old-mos-almanac.html

ONLY 33 DAYS TO THE 2011 SHOOTOUT!!
Ok I am counting