Why good parents bring their kids to the Indy 500

Why good parents bring their kids to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500.

So many times I come across people in Indianapolis that have never been to the Indy 500, or even worse — they think it’s a “guys only” thing.

Both of those situations are a total shame, considering my entire family celebrates Easter as a welcome party for the adrenaline-filled month of May, and guess where we celebrate Easter? Yup, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Couple of years ago we embarked on a journey that led us to become very close with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway — To change people’s perception that races are only for beer drinking, cigar smoking, rowdy guys with racing numbers painted on their bellies. The atmosphere at most races couldn’t be any further from that, and while there is nothing wrong with the above-mentioned, and yes, there is still plenty of hard partying, that doesn’t mean that the entire venue is that way. Plus, kids under 12 get in FREE! (Genera Admission)

Every year we make at least fifty trips to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (most during the month of May), and half of those trips are with our kids. And the reason being is that we believe there are good lessons to be learned from the drivers, teams, and racing in general.

Things my kids have learned thanks to racing:

– Hard work pays off: Most drivers have been go-karting since they started walking, and they’ve had to fight and work extremely hard to get to Indycar, Indy Lights, etc.

– Teamwork: Few things represent teamwork better than a pitstop. Everyone plays a vital role, everyone has to be in sync, everyone has to perform to the best of their ability. If they don’t, there are big consequences.

– Face adversity: Have you seen a driver crash by mistake, a pit crew member mess up a wheel nut, or a crew chief get the fuel strategy wrong? It happens, but it’s how they react to it that’s important. They shrug it off, learn from it and move on.

And my favorite one…

– Business skills: Racing is a business — and a risky one. Teams and drivers need sponsors, which means they have to sell themselves, they have to be public speakers, they have to know marketing and advertising, they have to perform magic to get the dollars needed to go racing across the world. This is an invaluable lesson for our next generation of employees and business owners to learn while they’re young.

But if that weren’t enough, here are a few fun and playful reasons why your kids will love going to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Race Cars – What boy or girls doesn’t like fast, loud, and in your face race cars? Even if they’re only interested for 10 minutes or so.

Autographs – Indycar drivers LOVE spending time with their fans. They truly enjoy snapping selfies and signing autographs for the people that cheer them on at every race. Plus, have you ever been to a Formula One race? You’re lucky if you even catch a glimpse of one of the drivers… from two miles away.

Cool stuff – The Indianapolis Motor Speedway does a heck of a job at honoring our Armed Forces and inviting them to the grounds, and they usually bring tanks, obstacle courses, and all kinds of stuff that kids love. Plus it helps kids develop appreciation for the men and women that keep us free.

Kids Zone – By far my kids favorite. Bouncy castles, slides, face painting, Radio Disney, dancing, even racing simulators. Heck, sometimes even I enjoy going in the kids zone!

 

I’m sure you get the point by now. Bring your kids with you, have a family picnic, and watch their faces light up at Indycars going 227-mph. Don’t listen to the naysayers, and don’t you dare leave them at home! And if you happen to see my family and I, come say Hi. We can party together.

See ya there!