As some of you may know this past weekend was the Indy 500 and as the girlfriend of a pit crew mechanic I was able to tag along for one of the most popular races in the world.
I drove down on Friday with a co-worker who is a by far a professional Indy 500 fan. He came fully equipped with radio equipment to listen to the drivers, coolers - yes it is plural, a rain coat and sunscreen. He even reserved parking for race day at one of the houses neighboring the track.
I on the other hand was not so prepared. First, I did not have a radio or feel the need for one so I turned down my co-worker who offered me the use of one of his several. Needless to say on race day when my boyfriend's car pitted for what appeared to be no reason, I had to bug the lady next to me to inform me that the mirror of Bruno Junqueira's car had flown off in the first minutes of the race.
But before I even made it to race day there were clothing issues. I brought a coat, a nice warm one actually, but not one with a hood. Of course it poured Friday and I debated half the day on whether to buy a hat or poncho. Once I was already soaked I decided on the poncho and not five minutes after I put it on, it stopped raining.
A similar situation with the sunscreen on race day. Although I had it, I insisted I did not need it since I don't normally burn. It has now been three days since the race and my shoulders are blistering. I am also not sleeping since I normally sleep on my side, but with the sunburn I can't stand the sheets rubbing against my shoulders.
Now you would think not having a cooler is an easy fix - go buy one. But no, not that easy. I did buy one, but it was too big to bring into the track so me and my boyfriend's family emptied our cooler, filled our purses and bags with its contents and walked it the mile to the track in hopes of buying a new cooler there.
Note I said a mile because I was not smart enough to call my co-worker's parking lady and reserve a spot. No I thought there would be plenty of options. No, instead I had to pay a not-so-friendly looking man named MIke to park on his lawn in a not-so-friendly neighborhood.
And no, the track does not sell coolers. Luckily someone broke their 14-inch cooler and left it by the garbage. So we rigged it and used it for the day. But my friend and I had to each take a handle and carry it all around the two-mile track.
So my boyfriend's team did not finish in the top 10 and I'm burnt to a crisp. But the important thing is I've learned. And by next year I'm guessing I'll have scars on my shoulders to prove it.
Mallory Medved is an assistant managing editor of weekly publications for
the Sun-Times News Group. She helps cover the Lincoln-Way area and towns
southwest of Joliet. Being naturally nosy has led her to a career in
journalism and fulfilled her dream of getting paid to read. Being a new
homeowner and a future bride, she's also perpetually broke, but enjoys
hearing about other people in the same situation. She lives in Plainfield
but is a native of New Lenox.
Christina Chapman is a Will County resident who desperately wants to live in Grundy County. But since she lost that battle with her boyfriend when they bought a house, she makes due covering Grundy County news for The Herald News in Joliet. When not covering municipal meetings, school events and finding the truth behind the latest coffee talk, she is trying to balance life as a young home owner who is fighting the stereotype that she is living in sin because she is not yet married. She hopes to share with you her perspective on life and the news in hopes that you’ll share yours.
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