Trip to Indy, Part 2 – The Dark Knight and O’Reilly Raceway Park

After driving to Indianapolis on Saturday morning, we found an IMAX theater so we could watch The Dark Knight.  It was an outstanding movie.  Heath Ledger did an amazing job as The Joker.

We then briefly stopped by our hotel (The Jameson Inn) to check in.  It was both nicer and more expensive than Motel 6.

We then headed out for O’Reilly Raceway Park (formerly Indianapolis Raceway Park).  It’s a 3/5 mile short track a few miles outside of Indy.  It was out in the middle of a bunch of cornfields with nothing else nearby.  I’ve been watching races at this track on TV for years, and it surprised me how “old school” it was.  The main grandstand was very small, and the rest of the stands were portable bleachers.  The section of the stands that we were in didn’t even have access to a permanent restroom – only Port-a-Johns.

We decided to pay $11 extra to sit in the “all-you-can-eat” section of the stands.  Given the normal price of racetrack food these days, it costs almost that much for a burger, chips, and drink at most tracks.  So, we thought this sounded like a good deal.  The all-you-can-eat tent was seperate from the main concession stands.  The advantage to this was that there was no line to wait in.  The disadvantage is that the food and drink selections were severely limited compared to regular concession stands, which we didn’t expect.  Still, I had 2 cheeseburgers, 2 hotdogs, a bag of hot fries, a bottle of water, and 6 cokes, so I got my money’s worth.  They were also encouraging people to take as much as they wanted after the race because they had a lot of leftovers, so we wound up with another backback full of cokes, and I had another cheeseburger.

The race was very good, even though Kyle Busch led 197 of 200 laps.  Guess who led 2 of the other 3 laps – Morgan Shepherd!  Yes, that’s all I have to say about the race.  Leave it to me to write more about the food than the race.

The coolest part of the night was what happened after the race.  As we were walking out of the spectator gate, we noticed some crewmen pushing a wrecked race car past us.  I looked to my left and saw a truck with the car’s sponsor on it, so I assumed they were pushing the car to their souvenir stand to display it.  We then realized it wasn’t a souvenir trailer – it was their car hauler!  We then realized all of the car haulers were lined up right beside us.

It isn’t uncommon for the car haulers to be left outside the track at the smaller tracks, but they are usually inside a fenced-in area.  This is the first time I’ve ever seen the car haulers parked in the same parking lot where the fans park, and just a few yards away from the first row of parked cars.  So, we got to watch them load the cars as if we had a pit pass.  One crewman came by trying to push David Reuitimann’s car by himself, and he yelled for a group of fans to help him push it.  My friend Chris wound up helping them load the car into the trailer!

After that, we headed back to the hotel to rest up for Allstate 400 at the Brickyard!

Trip to Indy, Part 1 – Getting There

Last Friday, I left on a trip to Indianapolis with my friends Chris and David.  We decided to spend the night in Lexington in order to split up the drive getting there, especially since we weren’t able to leave until Friday evening.

We had a Garmin GPS system in the van with us, which turned our vehicle into something akin to a female version of KITT.  The Garmin worked very well, except that she was very insistent if we decided we’d rather take a different route than the one she recommended.  After we got to the Virgina line after passing through Lynn Garden, she tried for 17.4 miles to get us to do a U-turn and go the way she wanted us to.  She finally gave up and recalculated our route.

When we got to Pineville, Kentucky, Chris told us an interesting story.  He pointed out an outcropping of rock high up on the mountainside above Pineville, saying it was a large boulder.  He also said that what looked like a tiny rope from that distance was actually a giant chain with 6-foot long links.  The story goes that when the town of Pineville was being built around 100 years ago, the residents became concerned that the boulder would fall off the mountain and crush the town.  So, they tied the chain to it to ease their minds.

After a stop in Middlesboro for supper at Arby’s, we drove on to the Motel 6 in Lexington, where we had reservations.  At the price we paid, it was a nice place.  The furnishings in the room were minimal – beds, a table, and a chair, as well as fewer light fixtures than in most hotels – but it was clean and well-kept, which is the most important thing.  There was some kind of store across the street called “Hustler Hollywood”.  I don’t know what that is.  They must sell pool tables or something.

The next morning, we were off to Indy!

Trip To Indy – Update

As you might have noticed, I wasn’t able to blog during my trip to Indianapolis like I’d hoped.  I had problems with my laptop, and I didn’t get it working until a few hours before we left for home.  I’ll post about our experiences from the trip in the coming days.

Trip to Indianapolis

This weekend, I’ll be going to Indianapolis to watch the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Sprint Cup Race.  I’m not sure yet if I’ll have Internet access during the trip, but if I do, I’ll try to post a trip journal here on my blog.

Fun Fest Treasure Hunt 2008 – Closing Thoughts

I’d give the 2008 Fun Fest Treasure Hunt a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10.  The concerns I expressed in my Thursday post were dispelled when I learned that people were indeed figuring out the clues and enjoying themselves.  I actually thought the clues were pretty good all week.

In the opinion of an observer who follows the Treasure Hunt online and in the newspaper but who doesn’t actually participate any longer, this was the best Treasure Hunt since AFG stopped running it 2 or 3 years ago.  I love Pal’s, but I did not think they did a good a job of running the Treasure Hunt the past couple of years, mainly because their clues were terrible.  The organizers and sponsors of this year’s Treasure Hunt did a much better job and began the process of restoring the Treasure Hunt to its former glory.

That being said, I still feel there are a couple of areas where the Treasure Hunt could be improved.  As I mentioned yesterday, I feel that the organizers should take some steps to make sure the medallion isn’t found early in the morning quite so often.  One way to do this would be to make the first clue a little more vague and open to various interpretations.  Another way would be to hide the medallion a little better so that even after everyone has figured out the general location where it is hidden, it still takes some serious hunting to actually find it.  I always found the Treasure Hunts that last all day to be the most fun.

Another area that needs to be improved is the way in which the clues are given out.  I thought about discussing all of the various problems with the distribution of the clues that have plagued the Treasure Hunt over the years, but I decided to focus on the biggest problem that exists today – the online distribution of the clues.

Ever since the Treasure Hunt began having a website a few years ago, the website has been one of the official places to obtain the clue.  This could be a good thing, but there have been some problems. I think more than one web design and hosting firm have been responsible for the website, but the same problems have always existed.  I’m not sure if the problems lie with the people who are responsible for updating the site, or with the Treasure Hunt officials for not getting the information to the webmasters in a timely fashion.

The first problem with the Treasure Hunt website is that the clue usually isn’t posted on the website until anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes after it has been given out on the radio.    Even worse, sometimes they’ll skip a clue and not post it on the Internet at all.  That problem continues today, as the third clue wasn’t posted on the website today until after the medallion had already been found.

Another problem is that there have been times over the years where the announcement that the medallion had been found wasn’t posted for up to 3 hours after the fact.  This led to a lot of people (myself included) wasting time looking for a medallion that had already been found.

I hope that they will do a better job with the website in future years.  It should be a reliable place to obtain clues and other information.  It would only take a minimal amount of time and effort to make this happen.

Fun Fest Treasure Hunt 2008 – Friday

Friday’s medallion was found “under a bridge on the Greenbelt”, according to the Treasure Hunt website.  It doesn’t specify which bridge it was found under or the area of the Greenbelt where the bridge is located.  For the first (and only) time this week, all three clues were given out before the medallion was found around 4 PM.

Clue #1:  If caught by a mortal you will be, promised great wealth and allowed to go free

I can vaguely remember legends or fairytales involving trolls that hide under bridges and demand a toll from anyone who wishes to cross the bridge, so I assume that it what this clue refers to.  However, the way it is worded, it sounds like it is saying that if a mortal human being catches the troll, then the human will promise the troll great wealth and let it go.  I’m not sure if this clue is worded poorly, or if my memory of the “troll under the bridge” legend is inaccurate.

Clue #2:  Critters and creatures congregate here, look hard enough and the medallion is near

About the only meaning that I can get out of this clue is that is it referring to the various birds, squirrels, and other wildlife that are found along the Greenbelt.  If I knew exactly where the medallion was found, I might be able to determine whether there was a deeper meaning in this clue that would have helped narrow down which section of the Greenbelt the medallion was hidden on.

Clue #3:  Tunnel vision will help your mission

I wasn’t personally aware of any tunnels on the Greenbelt, but one my friends said there is a large covered bridge on the Greenbelt in the area near Cloud Park and Creekside Cafe, and he thinks that might be where the medallion was found.

To my knowledge, the 2008 Treasure Hunt is over, except for the grand prize drawing Saturday night where one of the finalists will win $5,000.

Fun Fest 2008 Treasure Hunt – Thursday

Well, I have to say that I’m rather disappointed with the 2008 Treasure Hunt at this point.

For one thing, the medallion is being found way too early each day.  6:45 AM is too early to give out the first clue anyway, and every medallion has been found by 9 AM this week.  When I was able to go out and look for the medallion on a regular basis a few years ago, we enjoyed trying to figure out the clues and going different places throughout the day looking for the medallion.  It was a very social event that a lot of people looked forward to.   While the medallion was usually found early a day or two each year, there were always some days where the hunt went on for several hours.  I think the sponsors that have been in charge of the Treasure Hunt since long-time sponsor AFG stopped running it a few years ago have forgotten many of the things that made it special.  I’m not sure if the clues are too easy or if the medallion isn’t being hidden well enough, but the medallion shouldn’t be found so early every day.

Another thing about the Treasure Hunts from a few years ago is that the organizers would hide the medallion REALLY well.  It wasn’t uncommon for masses of people to know what location the medallion was hidden at, but still be unable to find it for a few hours.  That’s where the social aspect of the Treasure Hunt came in.  People enjoyed socializing while looking for the medallion.  For example, around 10-12 years ago, there was a Treasure Hunt that basically turned into an impromptu community picnic at Borden Park.  Everyone was convinced the medallion was there, but it was hidden so well that it wasn’t found until the afternoon.  In the meantime, everyone enjoyed hanging out in the park together.  It was a fun day.

Something that bothered me about today’s hunt in particular is that I see absolutely no possible way that anyone could have found the medallion based on the first clue.  My personal belief is that someone who wasn’t even participating in the Treasure Hunt stumbled across it.  According to the Treasure Hunt web site, the medallion was found in the “wheels” paper box at the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce.  The Kingsport Times-News publishes a publication called “Wheels” that contains listings of automobiles for sale, and I assume that is what they were referring to.  Here’s the problem with hiding the medallion in such a location – if anyone comes along and opens the box to get a paper, aren’t they going to see the medallion in there?  I’m guessing that is probably what happened.

Below is my analysis of today’s clues.  Remember that the medallion was found after only the first clue had been given out.

Clue #1:  Hang a left or a right at this traffic light.

OK, so this clue refers to a traffic light.  However, you can turn left or right at almost every traffic light, so the clue doesn’t really narrow down which traffic light the medallion was hidden near.  One of my friends pointed out that when you are coming down Broad Street towards the train station, you can only turn left or right at the traffic light at the intersection of Main and Broad.  However, that isn’t technically true.  While it isn’t a through street, you can still go straight through the light into a parking lot.

The traffic light in question is in front of the train station (which I think houses a bank), while the Chamber of Commerce is in the building to the left of the train station.  Even if someone figured out which traffic light the clue was referring to (which I think is a stretch), there is nothing in the clue that would lead anyone to think they should go to a building down the street from the light and look in a paper box for the medallion.  That’s why I think the person who found it was fortunate enough to stumble across a medallion worth $100 when they opened the box to get their paper.  I would be very surprised if the person who found it was even looking for it.  If anyone has any first-hand information to the contrary, please let me know.

Clue #2:  Need new wheels?  We’ve got deals

This is actually a good second clue.  It applies to where the medallion was found, but it also would have thrown people off the trail.  If I had heard this clue, I would have started looking near car lots.  It’s good to have clues that provide a little bit of misdirection.  That’s part of what makes the Treasure Hunt fun.  Unfortunately, the medallion was found before this clue was given out.

Clue #3:  Find me in a box near a clock

The clock tower in the train station is probably the most well-known clock in Kingsport, so I can see how this clue would lead people there.  Once they figured out which clock was being referred to, they’d also realize which traffic light was being referred to in the first clue.  I thought it was a little odd that the clue pointed to a building beside the one where the medallion was actually hidden, but I guess it was close enough to be considered “near”.

In closing, I think today’s set of clues was the best set of the week so far.  It’s unfortunate that the hunt was derailed by what I believe to be a poor job of hiding the medallion.  I believe it was in a place where it was likely that someone who wasn’t even looking for it would have run across it – and I assume that is what happened.

Update (7/18): Based on an article in today’s Kingsport Times-News, it appears that I was mistaken in my assumptions that nobody figured out yesterday’s clue and that someone who wasn’t looking for it just stumbled across the medallion.  The article detailed how one group figured out where to go look, and also mentioned that there were a lot of people there looking for it.  It also confirmed that the lady who found it was indeed looking for it.

Fun Fest 2008 Treasure Hunt – Wednesday

Wednesday’s medallion was found near the main sign at Northeast State.  Once again, it was found after only 1 clue was given out.  However, they did post what the other two clues would have been on the Treasure Hunt’s website.  I thought these clues were a lot more straightforward than Monday’s clues, so there really isn’t a lot of analysis to do.  Of course, it’s always easier to figure out what the clues mean after you find out where the medallion was found.

Clue #1:  Keep in mind, here’s your sign

Since the medallion was found near the sign at Northeast State, that must be what the “sign” portion of the clue was referring to.  The word “mind” might be a subtle hint that it was hidden at a college, since you use your mind to study and learn.  Or, it might have just been there to make the clue rhyme.

Clue #2:  Give them two, for what you will do

Northeast State is a 2-year college, so I think that is what this clue is referring to.

Clue #3:  Right next door, they’ll let you soar

This refers to the Tri-CIties airport beside the school.

Fun Fest 2008 Treasure Hunt – Tuesday

The Treasure Hunt Medallion was found at the “Puppet Theater” at Warrior’s Path State Park after only one clue was given out.  Unfortunately, there isn’t much information to analyze today, because they didn’t reveal what the 2nd and 3rd clues would have been like they did yesterday.

Clue #1:  Receive a standing ovation at this location

This would lead me to think of someplace with a stage, or even a stadium.  However, I didn’t know there was a puppet stage at Warrior’s Path.  There is an amphitheater there, but I don’t know if it is the same thing.  I’m not sure if I would have ever thought to look there or not.

Fun Fest 2008 Treasure Hunt – Monday

As those of you who live in my neck of the woods know, this week is the annual Fun Fest event in Kingsport.  One of the events is the Treasure Hunt, which this year is sponsored by Kingsport Town Center, WTFM, WJHL, and State of Franlin Savings Bank.

For those who aren’t familiar with the Treasure Hunt, the way it works is that each day, the contest officials hide a glass medallion somewhere in or around Kingsport.  Three times during the day, clues are given out to help treasure hunters figure out where the medallion is hidden.  Daily winners receive $100 (yeah, that seems a little low by today’s standards, especially considering that the prize was the same when this event began in the early 80s).  This year, there is supposed to be a grand prize of $5,000 – I assume there will be a drawing among the daily winners.

Here on my blog, I thought I’d analyze the clues each day after the medallion has been found and try to see if I can figure out how the clues lead to the medallion.

On Monday, the medallion was found early in the morning after only one clue had been given out.  Fortunately, they posted all 3 clues on the website so we could see what the second and third clues would have been, so I get to analyze them all!

On Monday, the medallion was found at Miller Perry Elementary School on Fordtown Rd.

Clue #1:  “You don’t have to visit the Queen city to find this kitty”

At first, this clue meant nothing to me.  Then one of my friends pointed out that the Queen City is a nickname for Charlotte, NC.  That immediately led me to assume that the “kitty” was referring to either the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA or the Carolina Panthers of the NFL.  So, we checked Miller Perry’s website, and there is an image of what appears to be a mountain lion at the top of the site. I suppose it could pass for a bobcat or a panther in a pinch.  So, I assume the first clue was referring to Miller Perry’s mascot.

To stretch this clue even further, I also saw Cincinnati referred to as the “Queen City”, and their NFL team is the Bengals (which are Tigers).

Clue #2:  “Catch a ride….over to Bayside”

There doesn’t appear to be a street in Kingsport named “Bayside”.  I’ve never heard of any area in Kingsport being referred to as “Bayside”, and if there is a business of that name, my research failed to turn it up.

So, that leads us to the only other thing I could think of – Saved By The Bell!  On that TV show, the High School was called “Bayside”, and their mascot was the Tigers.  To tie all of that into these clues, perhaps “Bayside” was supposed to make you think of a school in general.  Maybe the fact that Bayside High’s mascot was the Tigers further ties into the fact that the school where the medallion was hidden had a big cat as their mascot.  The fact that Bayside High was featured in a show called “Saved By The Bell” might tie into the third clue.  As you’ll see below, the third clue refers to a bell ringing.

Clue #3:  Rings at 8, don’t be late…Then at 3, we are free!

I think it’s pretty clear that this clue refers to a school.  I didn’t think there was anything more to it than that.  However, one of my friends mentioned that maybe the medallion was actually hidden near a bell at the school, but I don’t know if that was the case or not.

The thing that struck me about Monday’s Treasure Hunt is that the third clue is the sort of clue they’d usually use for the first clue.  The first clue usually leads you to a general location (such as a school – but it could be any school in the area), and then the later clues will narrow down which school.  I actually wonder if they made a mistake today and gave out the clues in the wrong order!

If anyone has any comments or additional insight into what the clues meant, please post your thoughts in the comments.  My analysis might be completely wrong!