By Collins Williamson
Once upon a time, there was a land not so far away to which people from all over the country would flock for a long weekend full of camping, loud cars and non-stop partying.
Do you wish this place still existed? Well you’re in luck because not only does it exist, but it’s right in our backyard. Talladega Superspeedway is located just east of Birmingham, about and hour and forty-five minutes away from Tuscaloosa.
Alright, some of yall may be thinking, “What do I care about some Podunk racetrack?” Talladega isn’t just any racetrack.
An estimated 250,000 people make the pilgrimage to “Dega” twice a year. Campers start pulling in as early as Monday the week prior to the actual race and by Friday, the campsites reach out as far as seven miles from the racetrack.
Still aren’t sold? Maybe this will help. Two years ago, I ran into a man by the name of Stan Anderson while walking through one of the campsites. Outside of his tent he had a Washington Huskies flag flying directly below a Jeff Gordon flag. I looked at the license plate on his car and sure enough this man was from Washington. I asked him how long he has made the trip to this Mecca, to which he responded, “15 years. I started making the trip with my college buds and we loved it so much that we set aside a weekend every year to come down here.”
When I asked him what keeps them coming back, he said, “This place is special. Everyone comes here to have a good time and leaves forever changed by their experience. It doesn’t matter where you are from. Here, everybody gets crazy with everyone. Anything goes.”
Stan was right. At Dega anything goes.
Don’t feel like showering for a day? There are people who don’t shower for four. If it rains, that’s no problem. Mud-wrestling anyone?
From beerpong to wet t-shirt contests, the possibilities are endless. This paradise is like a cross between Bourbon Street and Woodstock.
There are people of all shapes, sizes, ages, races and social statuses.
The fat man passed out with nothing but cut-off jorts and a Budweiser box on his head outside of your camper could be a millionaire and you would never know. For example:
Does the guy on the right look familiar? That is Matt Stafford, former UGA quarterback, number one pick in the draft two years ago.
There is no telling what you’ll experience at Talladega Superspeedway. This April, I encourage everyone to make the trip to experience partiers dream.
