*If you found this post without reading the first part, read this first (My Story)
So I last left off apologizing to my husband for his missing seeing Gil de Ferran win the Indy 500 in 2003. But, it may have been that one circumstance that launched my interest in the sport. Because of missing the Indy 500, we decided to go the Michigan race later in the season. And we count that race as being a turning point for me. Why? Well, I could see all the way around the track, follow the cars, and it helped me start to understand how the pit stops worked and how they effected the race, and who was ahead and why! I don’t think it was a one-day “ah-ha” thing. But I will say that another key thing was that Aaron watched every race and I was usually in my kitchen, and couldn’t help but listen to the pre-race interviews. He was religious about watching the pre-race show, and that was infectious for me. Because it was about the people, the “characters.” I started recognizing faces and putting names with faces. I would get to know the personalities and what the drama was at the moment. We always laugh because for years I didn’t really know what Jack Arute’s name was, so I called him Jack-a-Roo! So, I do think that those two things were key in 2003 to get me from “I don’t like racing and just go to the Indy 500″ to “mildly interested because my husband likes it”!
But after that, it was years before anything really changed. I guess you could call it the years of my interest only deepening by accident and exposure. I weathered (and I mean that literally) the rain race of 2004, where Buddy Rice won as the tornado sirens were blarring! Then I endured one of the hottest 500′s on record in 2006, but it was also the best, most exciting finish I had seen (although I could not SEE the finish from the SW Vista). Over the years we also got to see a race in Chicago and Kentucky, which were both ovals where I could see all the way around.
But something new happened in 2007. We got seats in the 2nd row of B Penthouse, sitting with an friend of my husband. I think we realized after the Michigan race, that for me personally, I might need different seats. And so, that was a major change that really helped me. And OH was it nice to sit under a roof. Since then there has been both a really hot race and a rainy race, both of which I enjoyed under the comfort of the roof. Besides the roof, the best thing about the seats was that I could see cars coming all the way down the straightaway and I would have time to identify them…and see them go through turn 1. And, I could see what was happening in the pits. All the action I could see was a huge difference from the SW Vista! I HIGHLY recommend getting seat where you can see a straightaway and hopefully with a roof, if you are trying to interest someone in racing who is just grinning and bearing it for you. Or, kids. Seeing the flag stand and the Start/Finish, the Pits and all the pre-race activities, will really give your kids the best possible experience going to the race.
2008 was THE year for me. First, we found out that Mike King did his weekly radio show live at the restaurant at the Brickyard Hotel, and that anyone could attend. We arranged childcare for all four nights, and went and had dinner and listened to the show. I got a racing flag and so I would get drivers to sign it for me…so I MET them! That was a fun date night for us and we were beginning to figure out how to enjoy the sport together. And, we also attended the first ever Carb Night Burger Bash and went home with some nice racing memorabilia from the auction! I think by doing some of these more “entertainment” based activities that surrounded the race, it got me more excited. I started to find HOW I would like it.
So…it was 2009 when I did the first Race Party for our family. The first one was a surprise for my husband. I knew that if we did it in future years that he would know in advance, so I did make this one especially for him. And the one thing that came out of that was the gift that I got for him. I bought him a Bronze Badge. He had never had one before. He says now that 2009 was the year that he really felt that he could go “all in” with his sport and that it was all right and that I totally supported it. It was so fun! I knew it would be a great thing for him. He loved it so much and I really wanted him to enjoy it to the fullest. So that year he went to the track multiple times for practice and qualifications and I stayed home with Nathan. We still went to the radio show and the Burger Bash, but I just didn’t think I would really like being out at the track all of the time.
Oh well…in 2010 I decided that I wanted a Bronze Badge too! I really thought that getting it for both of us was like a nice date. Would I use it to the fullest? No. But even if I went a few times, I knew it would be worth it to spend time with Aaron and see what he cares about. And it was fun. I will say that we always drove separately, and we still do when we go to the track. Just because he wants to stay for every possible minute, and it can get to be too much for me. So we have options! This year we got up and got to the track at 6:00am on Pole Day. I’m doubtful that I will be doing that again! 
So there you have it! It was a 10-year process from “girl who hates racing” to becoming IndyCar Mom. I do really love the sport but it is hard to get established as a fan! Especially if you don’t live in Indianapolis. I think it is a great sport and with this blog, I just want to use my experience to help us all to get our kids more interested. Because starting early is the only way! And by creating traditions around the sport, OTHER than just going to the Indy 500, our kids will want to continue those traditions and get their kids into the sport as well. And…hopefully some of thier friends. I totally see myself in the not-so-distant future, carpooling a mini-van full of teen boys to the track in May! I hope that my son will want to involve his friends.
I feel for those of you who are kind of “alone” in liking the sport in your family. I hope you can take a long-term approach and use some of these tips I have given to get someone you love in your life to love your sport too!
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