Day 11: Exploring Racing History and Academic Excellence
from Indianapolis, Indiana, to Columbus, Ohio
Today began with the echo of roaring engines lingering in my head. Last night I slept late without falling into a deep sleep. I heard a lot of roaring sounds from what seemed to be a high-powered racing engine in downtown Indianapolis. This morning, after I woke up, I had the urge to visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a place synonymous with speed and history.
After checking out, we drove 15 minutes and arrived at the site. I joined the tour after parking my Honda Odyssey in the lot (momentarily indulging in the fantasy of driving on the legendary track). The tour I took was memorable. I was able to stop at the historic "Yard of Bricks", the iconic section of the track. The speedway, with its roaring engines and the smell of burnt rubber, was a monument to human ingenuity and passion, always pushing boundaries and striving for greatness.
With the morning's adventure complete, it was time to move on to our next destination: Columbus, Ohio. After a 2.5-hour drive, we arrived in Columbus in the late afternoon. We checked into the Hyatt Place Columbus/OSU. After a short break, we had an early dinner and then explored the Ohio State University campus.
Our self-guided tour started at the Ohio Union, the beating heart of student life. Since the pace is much slower in the summer, we encountered a much smaller crowd of students, as expected. From there we went to Ohio Stadium, affectionately known as "The Shoe". There I had to imagine over 100,000 packed and roaring fans on game days, which is often televised on Saturday college sports.
The final stop was the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, named for the legendary coach. The state-of-the-art facilities underscore the university's commitment to athletic prowess and academic excellence. Woody Hayes' legacy, defined by his contributions on and off the field, and especially by his "paying forward" attitude resonated deeply as I read his speech tonight,
"Take that attitude toward life, because so seldom can we pay back - those you owe - your parents and other people - will be gone… But you can always pay forward”
As the day drew to a close, I returned to our hotel and reflected on the diverse experiences of the day. From the imaginative speedway in Indianapolis to the academic and athletic excellence at OSU, it had been a day of exploration, reflection, and inspiration. These visits had turned an ordinary day into an delightful journey that blended history, tradition, and the pursuit of excellence in athletics and academics. I believe that both athletics and academics are the most important experiences in one's life, especially at a young age.
Looks like you want to sleep early and posted earlier than normal . Great job driving 10 + days and enjoying , I guess you will start to see Empire State Building soon ,good luck