"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain. It appears we are experiencing some difficulties with ..."
This is on the list of the top 5 things you DON'T expect to hear when you're in an airplane, some 35,000 feet above solid ground...
"... with the lavatories. It seems they are not flushing. We're about an hour and a half from landing in Orlando, so if you can please hold on, that would be greatly appreciated."
It's no wonder I don't fly. First they tell you to stay hydrated, then they tell you not to flush. What gives?
*****
You're not in Kansas anymore, Toto.
How do I know? As if the palm trees standing outside the pit booth at New Smyrna Speedway weren't enough, The Caretaker certainly took care of clueing me in.
Stopped off for one of the best burgers I've ever had, at a true authentic burger joint -- a Steak 'n Shake restaurant. I highly recommend the vanilla shake. And the double cheeseburger. Wolfed that down, then high-tailed it with The Godfather over to New Smyrna for the first of 9 consecutive nights of racing at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.
It didn't disappoint, no matter that The Godfather and I waited almost 20 minutes in line just to get to the pit window. No, Unity Raceway this isn't...
And yes, they race all night. And yes, it does get chilly in the wee hours in New Smyrna -- but still not as cold as it was when I left Maine earlier in the day, and no white stuff on the ground.
*****
New Smyrna Speedway rose out of the Florida flatlands like a real "Field of Dreams." Very, very eerie. It's darkness along a county road, interrupted by the glow of lights and the roaring race engines (even the crate ones!).
It's as high-banked and fast as promised, and they wadded up more than a few cars pretty good, too. But that's part of the whole process, I suppose -- throw an entire season's worth of racing into barely more than week.
Awesome. I can hardly wait to head back...
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