Oh the Humanity!!

So, earlier this week I received a text from my sister-in-law asking if we wanted to go with her, my brother, and the kids to see a demolition derby. I can't say I've ever been to one, and it sounded like something my boys might enjoy. We met at my brother's house at 5, for some pre-demolition grilling (somebody's brat was licked by one of my bro's dogs and I suspect he knows who got that one - probably me), then off to the races we went. After driving through what seems like miles of farm land, a huge stadium appeared on our right. I was awestruck - those demolition people must be raking it in - who knew? Turns out that wasn't the track we were heading to, although I am still shocked that a race that comes to the Chicagoland area once or twice a year makes enough money to warrant a stadium that size. Up ahead on our left was the stadium that houses the drag racers and right past that was where we were headed. The parking lot was crazy!! Although our track was the smallest of the three, it was still respectable in size. Holy crap - who knew this stuff existed out here in the sticks! We parked and liberally applied the bug spray, and off we went. The parking lot was full of tailgaters and flowing cans of Bud. Camo was the clothing of choice, that and t-shirts with the sleeves ripped off, with pictures of race cars and their drivers. The hair - the hair was like a time capsule!! Mullets, buzz cuts done at home (I could tell because the backs of many necks were not leveled out, instead the buzz went all the way down past the collars), mohawks, bad dye jobs... It was a hairstylists worst nightmare, and I'm not even a hairstylist!

We entered the stadium, and I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't the big oval of mud in front of me. My brother told us to follow him to where they always sit, at the very top. Honestly! The very top seemed like miles away, and it felt that way too. I parked myself and made a vow that I wasn't going down those stairs again, until this derby was over. Once we were settled I sat back and had a good look around. I'm a people watcher, and this crowd did not disappoint. The family with the mohawks and neon green (sleeveless, of course) t-shirts caught my eye first. Then I gazed over to the group of goths, then amused myself by trying to read some tats, and then, the jewel of the night - I hope you're sitting down - the guy with the flannel shirt, unbottoned, and yes sleeveless!!! It was awesome! He was also sporting a camo hat with a fishing hook stuck on the brim. I can't remember when I've ever been so thrilled with my people watching adventures. My flannel wearing friend (it was 90 degrees out, therefore no sleeves) came over and talked to his buddy who was sitting right in front of us, who was also sporting a t-shirt that had been removed of it's sleeves, and a "get-r-done tattoo". What more can I say?

So, people watching wasn't the only thing we were there for - turns out there were some cars crashing into eachother on the mud track below us. I actually enjoyed myself, especially after figuring out there was some method to all the madness. The boys had a good time too. Aidan was so facinated by what he was seeing that at one point he held his hands in front of himself and mimed that he was playing a video game and the crashing cars were being controlled by him. Connor was also mesmorized, until the storms started to roll in. After a brief announcement to remind everyone they were in fact sitting on metal bleachers whilst a big ol thunderstorm was moving into the neighborhood, the derby concluded. A good time was had by all I think it's safe to say. We got to the car just as the rain started, and people seemed in no hurry to move out. Beers were still being drunk in the parking lot, future tats were probably being discussed, and t-shirts thrown to the crowd were probably being seperated from the sleeves. All in all, a good time was being had.

The cherry on the people watching sundae occured when were in the line of cars exiting the lot. The rain storm was working up a full head of steam and lightning was flashing everywhere around us. As our car inched forward we came up to a pick-up in the next lane over. In the back of said truck was a boy who was probably about 15, weighing in at probably 300lbs, wearing a shirt with the sleeves ripped off, sound asleep while the rain pummeled him. Facinating.

So thanks to Dan and Lynn for inviting us out to the track - we had a great time and the derby was pretty cool. Even more enjoyable was dipping a big toe into the sea of humanity we had never really witnessed except in the movies. A good time was had by all!