The Derby game is on Crate Day so that "American-style tailgating event" could have a NZ twist!
Oh dear. Speaking from experience you drink too much too early and you ruin your experience of some great games…water between drinks. Food at appropriate times. Being overseas it’s weird to see people drink without having plenty of food on hand. Eating ain’t cheating, it’s part of the recipe for a great night out…
Some twenty odd years ago when visiting my elderly parents in Poland I was asked by some neighbours to come to their party to babysit-and-interpret-for their English-only speaking American work colleagues who for some reason were there (do not know / do not remember why).
After the third or so vodka shot they declined further drinks and said that "if they have four vodkas we would need to carry them back to their hotel". The hosts said to me "tell them that those that will be doing the carrying will have drank way more than that". Ah, the innocent days.
As long as the grass on the side of the road is soft and not too frozen!
I believe that such a pause is responsible for the Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy among other things…