August 19th., 2007 we made the annual outing to the running of the GFS Gordon Food Servi 3M 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn Michigan. We made it there, but the drivers did not! Well, actually they were there, but a single car never made it to the track all day. Rain – rain – rain. Unending rain. We still had a good time, walked the lot viewing the merchandise that was available from all the drivers, the racetrack, the Army, Navy and Marines and so on. Our total purchases equaled the number of laps they ran that day = 0. Oh wait, I did get a badge holder so I could put the ticket in it so as not to get it soaked in my pants!
A break for Italian sausage sandwich and up to the stands for the start of the race! Well, they were sort of racing the jet drier trucks that were doing a great job of getting the track dry – really! The surface of the track was turning that light gray which indicates the moisture was out of the asphalt, and they even started announcing the drivers and awarding the checks to them from last weeks race. Then the rain started up again. The trucks made a few more laps, then gave it up as a lost cause – which it was. I think the drivers, crews and the MIS managment knew something they were not telling us since normally by the time they do the driver intro’s the car’s are on pit road getting prepped and ready to go. This time the tool boxs were not even uncovered let alone bringing the cars out to the track. About 3:30 we took a look at the skies and the time of day and decided they were not going to run at all on Sunday, so we packed up and took off. On the way home we heard they had called the race shortly after we left the track. In retrospect I am really glad we left when we did…. the parking area is totally grass – which was already getting pretty well mushed up after a week of rain and thousands of cars coming into the parking area. It must have gotten really bad later on. This was backed up by a letter which came a week later from the track thanking all the fans. It also noted there would need to be some improvements to the parking areas!! No doubt!. The race was supposed to be help Monday at 1, which was also cancelled, which was the first time in many years it was cancelled two days in a row. It was then rescheduled for Tuesday at 10 am…. this time it did run. 24 was leading until close to the end when he got taken out…. oh well, still leading in the points race and is a lock for the final 10 spots.
Until they put a roof over MIS,
George