Gary’s Q&A

Listener question & Gary’s response · Transcript passage

Tim DeLong asks, You often mention the NFL. As an avid fan of auto racing, I’d like to know if you’ve ever been to an auto race, either in the US or abroad? Road America, in Elk Heart Lake, Wisconsin, is a stunning venue. However, I’m partial to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car course.

Well, Tim, I wouldn’t consider myself to be an auto racing fan per se. I don’t really follow the support other than occasionally checking a few times a year to see who is leading the Formula One or NASCAR standings.

That being said, I have attended several races. Growing up, my dad used to take me to the Wisconsin International Raceway, which is where the great Dick Trickle used to race.

In the course of my travels, I’ve attended two races. I attended the Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia, Spain, in 2011 where I had the opportunity to ride in an actual Formula One car that was retrofitted to allow passengers to sit between the wheels.

I also attended a Formula E event in Riyad, Saudi Arabia, in 2018.

For both events, I was accredited as media, so I had access to the paddocks and I was able to see how everything worked behind the scenes.

Believe it or not, I’ve never been to Road America, even though I don’t live that far away. For those who don’t know what it is, Road America is probably the top road racing track in North America, and it hosts multiple racing events throughout the year.