Getting Your Mind Right

By Jared King

05/09

Spring is a wonderful time of year. Saturdays are filled with the tasks of working in the yard, playing with the kids, throwing a ball for the dog and cooking dinner on the grill as the setting sun fades into a cool night. Full days that leave you with a full spirit - spring has arrived. This is a great time to wipe away the grit and grime of the previous year and get our minds prepared for what is to be a great year of tailgating.

Focus On NASCAR:
Where Tailgating Is King

Although tailgating for football has been put to bed until fall, NASCAR is in full swing. For tailgating, there is no sport that offers such a fullscale opportunity. From the size of the venues, the droves of people and the sheer intensity of the events, nothing can get a crowd going like stepping on the campgrounds of a NASCAR venue. Thousands of tents, campers and RV’s line the public and private campgrounds for hundreds of acres surrounding venues such as Talladega. Live music, enormous party tents, countless grills and coolers fuel a party that is second to none – and there may even be a race going. NASCAR has the largest growing fan base of any sport. Nearly seven million fans attended events last year and a staggering 75 million fans viewed events on television. Once you witness a race first-hand you understand what all the excitement is about. The fi rst time you hear the roar of forty-three stock cars igniting, a chill runs down your spine and your senses overload with anticipation. To those who have not seen a race in person it is hard to imagine the physical demands placed on each driver. It is said that a driver can lose up to ten pounds during the course of a race. The three-pound helmet can feel fi ve times its normal weight as the driver enters a banked turn. Driver’s pulses quicken to that of a marathon runner as they maneuver their vehicle at speeds of up to 200 mph with in-car temperatures nearing 140 degrees. Intensity and excitement that never waiver from the green to the checkered fl ag combined with a tailgate party that lasts up to a week makes one of the best atmospheres in all of sport.

Focus On The Feast:
Grills And Coolers Should Be Used As Intended… Often.

In these economic times eating out is a luxury that we tend to avoid. Experimenting with a new recipe on the grill is a great way to escape from the mundane without emptying your bank account. Everything tastes better cooked outside. With the number of outdoor kitchens and portable grilling stations available, you can plan out a meal and prepare it at home or parked on a hill top catching a sunset. Fun with family and friends is easily achieved and extremely gratifying when in folding chairs enjoying the evening sun. For many tailgaters when Friday evening rolls around it is time for a nice cold beer to cap off the week. Beer is not only a staple at most tailgates, it is also the topic of conversation. With many micro-brews, imports and classic brand name beers to choose from, it is not… What beer do you want, but rather what beer best fi ts the situation? As more beers come on the scene, many people become connoisseurs who are determined to try them all... or stumble to the fi nish line.

Focus On The Outside:
Grab Your Gear And Get Going.

For many of us tailgating provides an escape from the grind of day-to-day living. It gives us an opportunity to forget about the projects awaiting us at home or the offi ce and offers a time of peace. Tailgating gives us a chance to remember what is most important in our lives. It is important to be open-minded and not think of tailgating as something that can only be done before the big game or when the race is in town. Getting a group of friends together to go camping is one of the greatest ways to have an amazing tailgating experience. Grab your tents, grills, horseshoes and fi shing gear and head to the campground for the weekend. There is nothing sweeter than the sight of grill smoke hovering over the edge of a lake. Catch a few fi sh and fry up some hush puppies and watch the sun set over the water. If you break out the radio, portable T.V. or wireless computer to catch the race or the game you will be amazed how quickly your secluded campsite turns into a full blown tailgating venue. There are no schedules, no arrival and departure times, no worries – unless, you forgot insect spray or a sleeping bag. Tailgating is many things. The culmination of food, family and fellowship gathered with the single purpose of enjoying a specifi c moment in time. Great stories have always been told around campfi res. Great memories are made while spending time with friends and family. That is exactly what makes tailgating great and why camping makes a great tailgating experience.