As what’s that ‘Ol Pink Floyd song about 20 Years
On and You’ve Missed the Starting Gun…
Life’s Uhm, like a bowl of what’s that ‘Ol
Forest Gump? As little did I know that I’d inexplicably be on hand to bade ‘Ol
Blue it’s final Farewell to thoust Great Wrecking Yard in The Sky! Some two
decades after that most Fantastic 17 day Road-trip outing to Mother Speedway
and All places in-between, as we definitely went Everywhere Man!
With Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary Ellen calling an
Audible, I unexpectedly found myself back in the City of Destiny, where ‘Ol
Robert Cray sang about the Back Door Slam nearly a Fortnight ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=resB-iV5w4o
As the Tow Truck said it would be there between
9Am-1PM, although didn’t arrive until 2:30PM, Crikeys! As I joked to Mary ellen
and Claaudio’ that I’d get to “See” It one last time. But then I actually got
to place my hands upon it when using it as a Shield to do what All Men do when
on road-trips out in Ye Wild, even if it was just on the Mean Streets of
Tacoma, Hya!
As Y’all may be asking who’s ‘Ol Blue, if you’re
still reading this? Whale’ it’s none other than Ye Trusty ‘Ol Circa 1978?
Vintage Ford Econoline Campervan with a custom, unique one of a kind opening glass
windows Pop-top; At least the only one I’ve ever seen! For which Mary Ellen and
her Hoond Sarah transported your Humble No Fenders Scribe Tomaso to his first
ever outing at Mother Speedway’, ergo Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
As the 2001 United States Grand Prix was the
first major Sporting event following the events of 9/11 Stateside, and I still
marvel at our audacity, and more bluntly Mary Ellen’s determination to drive to
Indianapolis with neither of us having Cell phones or any knowledge if the race
would actually be held, leaving a week ahead of the slated first (Free Practice)
FP1 session on Friday, September 28, 2001.
As this would be my first time ever to see my “Hero”
Der Terminator’, nee Michael Schumacher in action in the Flesh, even if “Mika the
Finn” won the race…
And I still recall now how Mary Ellen’s Hoond’
then, Sarah, a delightful Cardigan Corgi refused to ever willingly get into ‘Ol Blue
again after that trip, when she’d been forced to spend the entire day Friday
cooped up in the Bloody van!
As we’d elected to pay $20to park in somebody’s
yard far, far away, since Mary ellen had proclaimed we’re Not paying 40
Smackeroos’ ($40) for parking closer to Ye Brickyard!
Then finding out that Wayback then, Y’all could
park for Free inside the Speedway. Hey, how was I supposed to know? Never
having been Thar before.
Mary Ellen bluntly told me we’d be at the Entry
gate the following morning at Gory 6AM when it opened in order to park inside IMS! As I could go back to sleep after we’d parked and she’d be able to spend time
with Sarah. Whilst I still rejoice over her cooking me piping Hot Flapjacks with
real Maple Syrup inside Mother Speedway the next two mornings, since our
Campervan came complete with a propane Stove and Icebox…
Per usual, it’s not only hard to believe another
five years has slipped by since I put my memories of said trip into Ye Either
here upon No Fenders. But even more astounding that twenty years has just
vanished, Yikes!
As Y’all can read my memories of my Debutante outing
to Mother Speedway 20 years ago now in another Mega Four part story in the link
below. But Y’all might be Ah-Sayin’ Four instead, since it’s the usual Hefty,
long winded story I’m famous for upon Ye Isle ‘O Nofendersville Mateys!
http://www.nofenders.net/2016/10/retro-traipsing-off-to-mother-speedway.html
As this wonderful USGP trip just came Ah-Floodin’
back into thou Memory Banks before going to Tacoma, and then when trying to Poond’
out my personal Tacoma Trip recap notes, Enjoy.
Tomaso
