Well, I can now officially mark off thing #5,243 on my list of Things to Do in my Lifetime after today. Courtney’s over-accommodating friend Matt hooked us up with some tickets for today’s Auto Club 500 race at Fontana Speedway. I have to admit, it was nothing like I had imagined. I had been there before when the place was empty for a meeting with their marketing director about a hundred years ago when I was trying to work out a cross-promotion with them. I had no idea the place went off like it does on race day.

We started perusing the place and ran smack-dab into The Band from T.V.. About 20 minutes in, Court decided to take the kids to a couple of kid-friendly booths they had, and I stayed back to see if I could get some photos. Lo and behold, I had the best position possible as evidenced here:

I hate to say it, but every one of these guys (and gal, who I still cannot figure out who she is) were remarkably pleasant and spent ample time chatting, taking photos, and signing autographs. So much so, I asked Jesse Spencer if it drove him nuts because it was bugging me after a while, and he gave me a look like, “It sure as hell does man, but how can I complain?” Thirty minutes later, he was still signing.

Once Hugh Laurie left, most of the crowd departed. I was waiting for the wife and kids, so I hung out and caught Gavin Rossdale and his band hanging around before going on stage.

From there, we watched his set which I think was broadcast live on FOX, and then headed to our seats. As you will see by the look on Madison’s face in the last photo, we didn’t make it that much longer. All in all, it was a good time had by all.

Well, I have to be honest, I had no idea what to expect when it came to these types of events. Would I be forced to do the Chicken Dance in front of the entire student body of 6 to 8 year-olds? Would I become the Lincoln Elementary Limbo Champion? For God’s sake, would I have to remember the Macarena? Luckily, none of these event occurred. In fact, we spent over an hour in line waiting for pictures (which is beyond ridiculous) while Madison chomped down on the selection from the nearby snack table and gulped down some so-sweet-it-makes-your-teeth-hurt pink lemonade. We took our photo, and then it was off to the dance floor where, no sooner did I start working up a sweat and getting into the groove, did Madison determine that she, “Had a long day, and would like to leave now.” Huh, women.

…not only is Saturday the first day of Spring Training, but we will now have 19+ chances to scream “A-Roid!” during the season: