LA Times pans NASCAR
Close to 25% of the grandstand seats were empty at California Speedway Sunday, so Californians continue their lukewarm acceptance of NASCAR. What was most disappointing was the fact the upper section was more empty than the lower section. The upper section tends to be paid for by fans whereas the lower section tends to be bought by corporations who give away the tickets as part of a promotion.
02/25/07 The morning began early, as I checked out of the Hyatt Regency in Irvine, $129 for the room, $13.03 in taxes, $63 for dinner, $13 for self-parking and $14.99 for an in-room movie.
The wife, who will be sitting in the bleachers today for the red carpet arrivals — she'll be easy to spot, she'll be wearing Target — has made a point of seeing every movie up for any kind of Academy Award this year, save one, "The Good Shepherd."
She learned the movie was being offered by the Hyatt, so we paid $233.02 to make sure she has now seen every movie in the category of "art direction."
I suggested we rent a few other movies to make the night really memorable, but she said she couldn't see any good reason to spend more money.
Lucky me, I've got a frugal wife.
I left Irvine for the drive to Fontana. I figured I could make it in two or three days.
They've got another auto race way out there — a bunch of cheaters from down south coming here to make some noise, and probably run off with some of our women.
Last year the president of California Speedway, Gillian Zucker, offered a $1,000 donation to the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA if I stopped by the track. I wasn't surprised to learn they have to pay people to go to these things. More at LA Times