Profil von AlienJ

This indoor go kart track is nothing like I’ve ever experienced in the US. First of all, there’s a bar…and yes, you’re perfectly free to have a drink before as well as after your turn a few laps in their karts. Instead of a series of legal waivers and a lengthy safety briefing, they happen to have a little safety video on loop as you wait to get into your kart. The gist of the video is, ‘please wear a helmet if you don’t mind and seatbelts are optional.’--all with the undertone of: ‘guess what? if you mess up and hurt yourself, that’s on you!’ Ah personal responsibility, a concept almost completely foreign to my fellow countrymen.

And the track itself is definitely no kiddie park ride. The karts are quick and unrestricted, so full throttle is really full throttle. The track has a number of technical turns including a second story! After coming down the front straight, you take a serious hairpin, dodge a chicane and head straight up a ramp to the second floor. Whip around some esses on the top then dive down another ramp to get you back to ground level…after just a few laps I was definitely getting a workout and sweating a good deal. If you’re used to indoor karting in the US though, be forewarned, the locals know how to take a curve and are significantly more aggressive on the track….to avoid getting slammed into a track barrier, you better be a quick driver, or willing to get out of the way of that Schumacher wannabe directly on your tail.

So, once you start to get bored of the almost endless dairy fields of rural Holland…the Kartbaan’s an oasis for speed demons. Did I mention that they have a bar too?

If it's race, or even practice week, you can pretty much forget about sleeping in. Right on the dot at 0900, any silence (or hangover) will be pierced by the shrieking of something like 50,000 horsepower. Because unlike pretty much every race track in the US, the Circuit de la Sarthe isn't hidden away in some remote location miles away from life like you might hide a garbage dump or military proving ground...it's as integral to the town of Le Mans as the church itself. Instead of being some kind of public nuisance, the town and its people have been celebrating this annual spectacle of internal combustion since 1923.

Of course, me being new to the experience, I woke up to the sound and thought...."oh wow, the cars sound so close! I'll just walk to the circuit today." Six kilometers and a bucket of sweat later, I finally arrive at the entry gate. Even if you aren't the slightest fan of motorsport, visiting on a race day provides you with a unique sense of history, place, and even life. One of the most striking images that I had was that of pure technological juxtaposition. As one of the Audi prototype cars zoomed by with its 550 horsepower and cutting-edge carbon fiber monocoque shell...not 20 meters away, I watched a local resident tend to their small, homestead farm.

In addition to the stark contrast between old and new, the racing here is probably the most progressive in motorsport, with increasing efforts to field more environmentally friendly race cars. Since 2006, Audi has been dominating with its cleaner diesel R10, and there increasing numbers of entries that make use of diesel and bio-diesel. For 2008 gasoline powered cars are mandated to use at least some mix of bio-ethanol. And while it certainly isn't a perfect environmental solution, it shows a unique commitment to exploring alternatives to oil dependency.

And since this is going to be an all day event...you're likely to take part in some form of refreshment. Andouillette frittes is the way to go...as long as its unique bouquet isn't a turn off to you. However, if that's too adventurous you could also go for a saucisson en croute, a far cry from the smoky stadium dogs that we're used to, but tasty regardless. Seriously though, the Andouillette is the far tastier option. Of course, the beer flows freely, and the camp grounds are known to turn into a 24h drunkfest.

Bleeding edge technology, a strong sense of history, the excitement of competition, gross displays of power, great stadium food and beer...really it all adds up to an overwhelming and unique spectacle...and I haven't even mentioned the Hawaiian Tropic Girls...

There are few perfect sandwiches in this world…but this is certainly one of them.

And like the few examples of perfection, it shows itself in its simplicity. Really, it’s just boiled meat (or tripe if you prefer), a roll dipped in some of the jus (ask for it “bagnato”), and perhaps a little salsa verde or salsa picante. But no matter if there are only 5 people waiting for one or 30, there is only ever one man…hand slicing the meat to order for each and every sandwich.

Folks may tell you that you have to fight for your place in line, or that locals are likely to muscle you out of your spot if you aren’t careful…but that’s rubbish. Just be aware of the system and don’t be clueless about where you’re standing. Head for the register, request your panino bollito and get your receipt. Immediately queue up for the sandwich line and maintain your spot. Use your idle time to watch them slice up sandwiches like clockwork. Enjoy yours…and don’t mind the slightly cray-cray seeming older gentlemen who seem a little too eager to clean up your place for you when you’ve finished. Might sound like a lot of effort to figure the whole thing out…but it’s certainly worth it.