Yumans cook up parking lot feasts

For some Yuma residents, just attending a sporting event or a concert is not enough. So they take it upon themselves to transform the experience into an extravaganza by tailgating in the parking lot with their friends and others for days at a time.

Whenever there are NASCAR, Supercross or concerts in Phoenix or Southern California, you may find Yuman Roxanne Pierce with her husband and friends socializing among the thousands of parking lot revelers who spend their days before the event barbecuing and relaxing next to lampposts and pickup trucks.

“Shortly after I met my husband, Scott, he started taking me to NASCAR and Supercross,” Pierce said. “So it's pretty much been his influence and I've been going now for about six years.”

Pierce said she enjoys the NASCAR events because it gives them ample time to relax, since they stay for several days.

“When we go to NASCAR, we actually camp in the parking lot near the track, and it's pretty much just a huge tailgate party with 250,000 people. We usually end up staying there for about four or five days, and you become more involved in it than a one-day event.”

To survive that long in a parking lot, Pierce said she always packs the necessary provisions.

“Beer,” Pierce said with a laugh. “For longer weekends, we cook tri-tips and steaks and every night it's like a big feast. But for shorter events, like concerts, I just bring some snacks.”

But there is more to do at these events than just barbecue, Pierce said, since most of the organizers have plenty of booths and activities planned.

“At Supercross, they usually have a lot of stuff going on during the day. They have vendors, food booths and fun events where you have the opportunity to meet the racers. And at NASCAR, they have bands and bars set up so there are lots of things for people to do when they go.”

Even though there are countless activities available, Pierce said she and her friends typically don't participate in them.

“We've been involved for so long, we don't usually go to the track's events. We just go from site to site and visit with our friends because most of the people only get to see their friends at the next NASCAR or Supercross event. So we just like to get together with our friends and eat.”