St Louis
This past weekend I made a trip out to St. Louis to watch some races. My journey was filled with high-octane drag racing, jaw-dropping drift racing, and even a bit of classic American baseball, along with some unforgettable BBQ. Here’s a rundown of my action-packed weekend.
We left on Friday, St. Louis is about a four hour drive from Chicago. After packing the truck we hit the road with some tunes and good vibes. It didn’t feel like a 4 hour drive unless you paid attention to the vast expansiveness of flat and fertile farm land that makes up the great state of Illinois.
As soon as we arrived in St. Louis right on our way to the hotel I pleaded to see the Arch we made a quick pitstop at the arch and I got a few flicks and checked out the waterfront area as well. Then we dropped our stuff off at the hotel then went back to Illinois to the Track (World Wide Technology Raceway is located in Madison, IL just across the Mississippi from St. Louis), The air was thick with the smell of burning rubber and high-octane fuel, a scent that every automotive enthusiast knows and loves. Some people were doing test and tunes, and some people were doing daily drags.
My Focus was on the drifting that was going on at the drift pad that was set up at the track. Drifting is a perfect blend of speed, control, and style, and the drivers in St. Louis did not disappoint. The drivers were pushing their cars to the limit, sliding through turns with precision and grace, and occasionally eating a traffic cone or two.
The smoke, the noise, and the sheer skill on display were mesmerizing. I found myself constantly on the move, trying to capture the perfect shot of cars in mid-drift, tires smoking and engines roaring. The combination of fast-paced action and the beautiful St. Louis Arch in the backdrop made for some unforgettable memories.
WWTR Is a Huge track that hosts, NASCAR, Indycar, Formula D and way more large scale events but when they aren’t hosting those events they are open for daily drags and drifting and the occasional car show as well. They have tons of parking, event more amenities including games, restaurants, and a bar area. definitely a place to come back and visit in the future. It was a beautiful track, very clean and modern. We left the track around midnight and headed to the hotel to call it a night.
Saturday Morning I had some breakfast hit the pool super early then snuck out to snag some photos of St. Louis. The city seemed dead which was a stark contrast from the night before, all night I heard cars zooming down the street, people talking and having a good time. In the morning it was a barren wasteland I may have seen 10 people at most which is a drastic difference of what I would have seen in Chicago during the same time frame. The blend of modern architecture and historic buildings gave the city a unique charm. I also visited the Delmar Loop, a vibrant neighborhood filled with eclectic shops, restaurants, and street art. Each corner of the city offered something new and exciting, from the bustling markets to the serene parks. I got my photos in seen a few sights then got ready for a Cubs Game.
No trip to St. Louis would be complete without experiencing a Cubs and Cardinals game. The historic rivalry between these two teams added an extra layer of excitement to the game.The atmosphere was electric, with fans passionately cheering for their teams. It was a close match, but the Cardinals managed to pull off a win, much to the delight of the home crowd, and a little bit of trash talking by me.
After the game we grabbed some BBQ from Pappy’s, which was the highest rated BBQ I could find on every list. The food network rated their ribs to be the best in the entire US. I got to try some of their ribs and man lemme tell you they were the best I ever Had, also their corn on the Cob was fire.
Afterwards we headed back to the track for Race night. With my camera in hand, I captured the raw energy and intensity of the races. The burst of speed as the cars launched off the line, the blur of color as they raced down the strip, and the triumphant faces of the drivers made for some stunning shots. The highlight of the evening was a 4 way battle between a Camaro, a Mustang, and two Chargers. The drag racing event was a spectacle of speed and precision. Each race was a testament to the power and engineering behind these incredible machines.
My Thoughts on St. Louis as a whole is the city seems dead but has a good soul that just needs a makeover. there isn’t much going on and even less inhabitants it appeared, but there are a few beautiful places. Union station was amazing and fun, The Arch park is gorgeous, their excitement for their soccer team and The unique City museum was cool as well. Busch stadium and the surrounding area is nice. The Architecture of St Louis and its blend of Modern and Classic is beautiful, I especially loved the old style buildings including their court house. The people I had the opportunity to interact with were all very nice and inviting well mannered and hospitable even the individuals suffering from homelessness.
My weekend in St. Louis was an unforgettable adventure. The thrill of the races, the excitement of the baseball game, and the charm of the city itself made for an incredible experience. As I drove back to Chicago, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to capture such amazing moments and to be part of the vibrant culture that defines St. Louis.
If you ever get the chance to visit, I highly recommend immersing yourself in the diverse events and attractions the city has to offer. And of course, don’t forget to bring your camera—you never know when you’ll capture the perfect shot. Check out Union Station, The city Museum, go to a ball game, eat at Pappy’s and Chris’ at the docket and most importantly go check out World Wide Technology Raceway.
As always if you would like to see anything from the blog feel free to send me an email at coyote@codenamecoyote,com any questions, comments, concerns or advice is always appreciate, Thank you and stay classy!
