It's HOT!

I don't know what it's like where you are, but it's plenty hot here in Southern California. Yesterday we headed up visit my father-in-law in Santa Paula and on the way up the outside air temperature gauge on the car read as high as 102 near Magic Mountain north of Los Angeles. That's nothing, because on the way home the gauge read 112 as we passed the same location about 4pm. How'd you like to spend the day in an amusement park (with concrete and asphalt walkways) in 112 degree weather?

And the poor boys of NASCAR's Busch and Cup divisions are enjoying some California hospitality this weekend in Fontana. The temperature out there was over 105 during the day, and even by last night's racetime was still hovering around 100. The surface temperature on the track was 140 degrees, and by some estimates it was as hot as 180+ in the cars. That race started at 7pm so they had the benefit of a sundown not too long after the start, but today's 500 miler starts at 5pm, right in the worst heat of the day, and with a little added humidity, they predict heat indexes of better than 110. Don't tell me those guys aren't athletes.

I've attended one race at Fontana (and IndyCar race a couple of years ago) but never have attended a Cup race. For one thing, it's very expensive to get decent seats, and there's no way I'd buy a ticket to the Labor Day race given the possibility of such high temperatures. I can't imagine anything more miserable than sitting in the sun in 100+ weather. I'll just stay home and watch it in the comfort of my air conditioning.

Stay cool out there.