Infiltrating the Man Trip

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to attend my dad's annual man trip to Indianapolis. Typically, there are a group of guys who go on Wednesday or Thursday, and spend the week shopping for classic cars at the Mecum Auto Auction and spend Saturday at the track watching they Indy 500 time trials. You may, or may not, know that I was born in Indy, and it is the only place that felt like home while I was growing up a corporate brat. (A corporate brat is very similar to an Army brat, yet the military isn't involved, just the corporate headquarters).

We have a tradition that started in our house when we moved to California, and stayed with us ever since then. My parents used to go to the race when we lived close, but California to Indy is quite the commute. We started getting Kentucky Fried Chicken and watching the race together at home. We still do this. I grew up in and around Indianapolis and had never been to the track before this year. I have watched it every year while growing up. The tradition that surrounds the race still give me chill bumps and make me teary eyed on race day. So, being able to go to the track for my first time trials was quite the treat.

I loved being able to see the bricks that make it the brickyard, and being able to sit high enough to see the entire track.

You truly can't appreciate how awesome this track is without being there. Besides the fact that it is enormous, it's just so pretty. There is a golf course that runs through the back straight away, and everything is just so wide open.

We spent most of the morning and early afternoon at the track, and decided to grab lunch before heading over to the fair grounds for the auction for the rest of the day. Now, if you are ever in Indy, specifically Speedway, at any point in your life, this bit of information will change your life! I'm not kidding, it's life or death! YOU MUST EAT AT THE MUG N BUN!!! It's is Indiana's oldest drive-in. Everything on the menu is a heart attack on a plate, they make their own homemade root beer, and all the food is either fried or covered in grease. IT'S AMAZING!! I decided to go with your traditional cheeseburger, root beer, and fried mac and cheese wedges. MMM... I can't wait for another trip to Indiana just to eat there!

Then, we finally arrived at one of my favorite places. The Mecum Auto Auction. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, check out the speed channel this weekend. They are constantly playing re-runs from the past shows. You may even see me on Saturday afternoon up on stage checking out some of the cars! We saw some beautiful cars come across the auction block. Almost every car was selling in the $100,000+ range, and almost all of them were meticulously taken care of. It's too bad they aren't made the same way anymore. There is something so elegant about a classic car that just can't be re-done today.

I think the pink one could really make Barbie look like a Bad Ass!! All muscle!

I have been begging to go on this trip for years. I love looking at cars with dad, and loved the idea of getting to go to the track. I can't believe I was actually invited this year, and it surpassed all of the expectations I had. It's very rare I get to spend that much time with big bad dad, but it was truly a blessing.

Now, I need to figure out how to sneak in next year! *wink*