Curiousity: Theme Day Missed, But It was Worth It

A public library is the most enduring of memorials, 

the trustiest monument for the preservation of an event 

or a name or an affection; for it, and it only, 

is respected by wars and revolutions, 

and survives them.  -- Mark Twain 

 I had intended to have a post for Theme Day. 

There aren't many "curiousities/ oddities" in Indy 

that don't verge on the downright scary.

What I had planned was pretty standard fare, 

but I missed it due to an odd conjunction

of circumstances not worth repeating.

Instead, I hied myself to Monument Circle

on Tuesday, September 2nd to take pictures

of Monument, one of six installations

comprising The Public Collection.

Developed to promote public art and literacy,

I found a wide range of books

provided by the Marion County Public Library,

titles that could entice just about anyone to

borrow something to read.

I found one for myself, a bit of historical

fiction that allows me to indulge

some life-long romantic fantasies. 

The SPARK Project continues on the Circle,

allowing visitors to mix and mingle among little

seating areas to play chess or checkers,

to stack giant Legos, play Foosball or ping-pong.

The temperatures were in the sun-baked

and humid ninetys so many folks, instead, 

seemed to prefer to sit in the shade with a bowl

of ice cream. 

But the serene and quiet activity at Monument 

and SPARK screened the main event of the lunch-time

schedule, a gathering of NHRA drivers and

displays of their Top Fuel and Funny Car dragsters.

They are in town for the annual NHRA Nationals

held each Labor Day weekend since 1955 

at Lucas Oil Raceway, just a few miles west

of Indianapolis.

I don't care for drag racing - it's just

not my thing, nor do I like Corvettes, but I 

do like the Camaro shown above.

Of course, I'd like it; priced at over $150,000

it was a beautiful expression of technologies

and mechanics wrapped in a sleek yellow and black

aerodynamic skin. If given enough money

to buy the damn thing, would I pay my bills or

have this low-flying road sculpture?

The Chevy Funny Car shown above belongs to 

NHRA Champion driver, John Force,

Shown below at the Fan Fest Autograph session 

with his daughters Ashley and Courtney,

themselves champion drivers who 

often beat their dad. He's taught them well.

While sitting in my own spot of shade with a dish of ice cream, 

I happened to notice a young man sitting at a picnic table. 

For whatever reason, I recognized him right away. 

He was Graham Rahal, Indy Car driver, son of 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, and fiance of Courtney Force.

He was waiting for her to complete a radio interview promoting this weekend's drag racing. Between the book kiosk, 

the cars and their drivers, and the displays at SPARK, 

seeing him made my day, topping both my curiosities and 

my interests with a little cherry.