More Karting Photos!

Spring finally had the chance to sit down and upload the rest of the photos from the got milk? Fall Nationals in Hartville, Missouri last Friday. Believe it or not, even after editing out over 200 photos, she still ended up with 730!

We hope everyone enjoys looking at them, and especially the collage poster she created. It's really awesome. Way to go, Spring!

Here's the link to the pictures. Enjoy!

2006 got milk? Fall Nationals photo album.

Back to the Basics

(Val) There is a scene in the movie The Rookie where Jim Morrisey is torn between hanging up his big league dreams once and for all, or sticking it out in the minors just a little bit longer. He wanders out into the night and hears the sounds of a nearby little league baseball game so he makes his way over to the fence to watch for a while.

A young outfielder sees him, tips his hat, and Jim nods back. That’s it, just a tip of the hat and a nod, not a word is exchanged. Yet in that moment, a whole conversation takes place, and it is that unspoken dialog that sets the wheels in motion for one of the greatest player comebacks in the history of the game.

I have no idea the percentage of kids who start out in minor league sports, dreaming of some day making it in the big time, that actually see that dream through to reality. It has to be low, but not low enough to discourage hundreds of thousands of kids from trying.

Last weekend, Spring and I saw dozens of young athletes who have sports dreams of their own, and those dreams involve not baseball or soccer, but racing. These kids look, sound and more importantly, race like professionals. The only thing missing were snobby attitudes and big paychecks. I think that’s what made it so refreshing.

These kids don’t go out and race for big bucks every week. These cars don’t come into the track via million dollar haulers followed by million dollar motor homes. There are no deep-pocketed sponsors or sleazy agents knocking down their doors. Media circuses don’t exist at this level, and no one seems to mind. These guys and girls race for the joy of racing, for the thrill of taking home a little trophy or an even smaller check. They do it for the sheer love of the game. And I’ll bet those kids are more proud of those little plastic trophies than some professional drivers are of the real thing.

To me, this is what it’s all about. Grassroots racing at its very finest.

All evening long, I wondered if I might be witnessing history in the making because you never know which of those kids might just pursue that dream to the highest possible level. For all I know, I met a kid who may some day kiss the bricks or drink the milk at Indy.

Sure, the odds are against them, but anyone who’s worth their salt doesn’t let a little thing like odds get in the way of their ambitions. And yes, a large number of those kids may get just as tired of trekking to races every weekend as other kids get of making three baseball practices a week. For the majority of those drivers, it won’t be long before these days are all just fun memories tucked between the pages of a dusty scrapbook, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that because kids should be kids.

But a few of them feel the passion, fall asleep running through the turns of the next track in their mind, hands gripped tight, foot mashing the imaginary gas pedal. They live for the rush and even now they understand what competition really is. They understand defeat, and they yearn for victory.

These young drivers have one thing in common with the guys who suit up every Sunday afternoon and climb into cars that cost more than the average American home. And it’s the only thing that matters. They dare to dream and they won’t let it go.

It’s too bad more of the big guys don’t take a night off now and then and head out to a small town Karting event. Maybe they would see that kid in his Daddy’s too-big, hand-me-down driver’s suit nod, tip a hat in return, and then walk away remembering what it’s all about.

GRRREEEAAATTT? Not so fast....

TONY STEWART"Not So Fast, My Friend!"
(Ash) Tony Stewart is out of championship contention, right? Wrong. Or in the immortal words of Lee Corso, analyst on ESPN's College Gameday built by The Home Depot, "Not so fast, my friend!"While Stewart will not be able to defend his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship, the driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing is still in line for a championship this season.Stewart's title run in 2005 earned him a ride in this year's edition of the International Race of Champions, better known as IROC. The series, celebrating its 30th round of racing, is incredibly simple. Take 12 of the world's top drivers from different racing disciplines. Put them in identically prepared cars. Give them a strict set of rules that prohibits pit stops, qualifying or driver setup of the chassis. Drop the green flag.In IROC XXX, Stewart has dropped the hammer in the three races leading into Saturday's finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway. After finishing eighth in the season-opener on the 2.5-mile oval in Daytona (Fla.), Stewart scored back-to-back wins at Texas and at the Daytona road course to take a 15-point lead into the deciding race at Atlanta. Only NASCAR's Matt Kenseth, Grand Am's Max Papis and NASCAR's Ryan Newman have a shot at usurping the title from Stewart. Kenseth is the closest of Stewart's pursuers at just 15 points back. But no matter what Kenseth does, if Stewart finishes third or better, the IROC championship will be his.If that happens, it will mark Stewart's 11th driving title in his 27 years of racing, as his first championship came at age nine in the 4-cycle rookie junior go-kart class championship at the Columbus (Ind.) Fairgrounds. Stewart's other championships are as follows:1983 International Karting Foundation Grand National Championship1987 World Karting Association National Championship1994 USAC National Midget Championship1995 USAC Triple Crown - championships in the National Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown divisions1997 IRL IndyCar Series Championship2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series ChampionshipAn IROC championship would be Stewart's first, as the closest the two-time and reigning Nextel Cup champion has come to securing an IROC crown was in 2001, when he finished second to his former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Bobby Labonte.And just as Labonte's name is etched next to the likes of A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Cale Yarborough and Dale Earnhardt, it's Stewart who is ready to add his name to the ever impressive list of IROC champions.While you're racing in the Bass Pro Shops 500 on Sunday you're also competing in the last round of the IROC series on Saturday. You're capable of winning the IROC championship that day, and if that happens, where would it rank amongst the other championships that you've won in your career?"Any time you can win a championship it's big. But the IROC championship… to compete against so many different drivers from so many different disciplines and to beat them in a series where the cars are so evenly matched, that's big. It really is about driving the cars, and whoever does the best job driving their car is going to win the championship. If you can beat those guys on talent and not because you've got a better race car, that's a great honor. It would rank right up there with the rest of the championships I've won, that's for sure."Is IROC a fun series?"Its fun, but it's competitive too. It's fun to race with guys you normally don't get to race with and real fun to race against guys from all those different disciplines at the same time. I really enjoyed seeing Max Angelelli and Wayne Taylor get a chance to run stock cars for the first time, something they've never had an opportunity to do in their careers. And it was really neat to go to their specialty on the road course at Daytona, and go out there and kind of let it all even out a little more. I keep preaching to (IROC) that we've got to get a dirt race on the schedule because (racing stock cars) leaves the guys like (National Sprint Tour drivers) Steve Kinser and Danny Lasoski at the truest disadvantage. It's stacked toward stock car guys, obviously, because of the type of cars and the tracks we're running, but the cars are set up to where it's easy for us to drive and easy for those guys to learn to drive also. It lets us all run together, a format that nobody else has ever duplicated."You mentioned that you'd like to see an IROC race on dirt. How serious are you? Would you offer up your track - Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio?"I told Barbara and Jay (Signore, owners of the IROC Series) that if I won the championship, I would give them back the million dollars it pays to win if they would bring a race to Eldora for next season. We can make Eldora perfect for the IROC Series. We have two of the biggest dirt late model races with The Dream and the World 100. It's definitely smooth enough and wide enough for IROC."What about the road course guys running on a dirt oval? How would you get them ready for an IROC race at Eldora?"We can get them plenty of practice. I guarantee that we can get enough volunteer dirt drivers to help teach those guys what to do."With your IROC car, what you're given is pretty much all you have, because you're not allowed to work on the car. IROC mechanics handle that aspect. But when it comes to making your No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet perform at Atlanta, what are the keys to being successful?"You just have to constantly adjust your race car. We've led so many laps in the first half of a race there and then been outside the top-five at the end of the day because we didn't stay caught up with the changing track conditions. Atlanta cools off so much and changes so much that you always have to be on top of your setups. You need to make sure that you have enough adjustability as the day goes on. You don't want to get your car so good at the first half of the day that it gets too tight at the end of the day. You almost have to be a little bit on the loose side to really be good at the end of the day."Until your ninth-place finish in the fall of 2001, Atlanta was the last track for you to score a top-10 finish. In your very next race at Atlanta in the spring of 2002 you won, and you've finished outside of the top-10 only one since. Can you explain your progress at Atlanta?"Greg Zipadelli (crew chief) has found a package that works really well there. I'm extremely comfortable in my car there, and every time we go back it seems like we just make The Home Depot Chevrolet a little bit better. It's not a track that we spent a lot of time testing at, but Bobby Labonte's reputation and track record at Atlanta have always been good, and that did help us. We haven't won a lot of races there. We've only won one. But it is a track I like."What's the trickiest part to making a quick lap at Atlanta?"It has its set of bumps. You need to make sure your car gets over the bumps but still turns well. Normally, if you turn after you hit the bumps, you're tight. If you turn before you hit the bumps, you're loose. Just finding that common balance - getting the car over the bumps but having it turn at the same time - that's what you're shooting for. And because the track is such a momentum race track, if you're a little bit off it seems like you're way off. If your stuff isn't right, you can't expect to run with the pack all day. You've got to be on your game, because it seems like there's always two or three guys who always get it right. And everybody's who's just a little bit off - it shows up big time on the clock."Explain a lap around Atlanta."The frontstretch is a D-shape, so you're running a natural arc all the way into (turn) one, but you kind of drop down into one when you turn the car into the corner. There are a couple of bumps that tend to upset the car, and you really have to work on your shock package on Friday to get your car nice and stable through there. But as soon as you go through those bumps and you get the car settled down, you're right back in the gas, carrying a lot of momentum off of (turn) two and down the backstretch right into (turn) three. You can carry a lot more momentum into three than you feel like you can, but that can be what hurts you later in a run because you're abusing the tires by getting into the corner so hard. But once you get to the bottom of three, the entrance into (turn) four comes up quick. It's a little bit tight getting in there, so you have to be careful and pay close attention to what's happening around you. Atlanta is fast because it allows you to be on the gas so often."

In the chase or not- he's still our favorite! Give 'em gas Tony!

Racin' to the alter...

(Ash) Have I been missed? Most likely not, but I have missed my racing "outlet," especially since I have been among family, lots of family, for many days- all for my sister's wedding. (Dubbed the BIG FAT BEACH WEDDING) Of course the members of the family that are from Alabama relate everything "racing" to Talladega or what they see on TV. The family members from South Florida can at least think outside the track with Seabring and other tracks that gain some attention in the cities where they are located. But after all these years of my dad "being in the business" and then here comes tomboy daughter for the past 5 years: They still don't "get it!" But what I did enjoy is the perception of the entire sport/industry that was represented within these 20 or so cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. Remembering that in the south, it is football, football, football, so of course everything was compared to "you know, like tailgating at an Auburn game." Ha, they have no idea. Tailgating goes on for a day and a half-- and if your team is lucky enough to go to a bowl game, maybe several days, but that "loyalty" pales in comparison to NASCAR fans, at the top of the tier, and racing fans in general.
To the southern football fan it is a fun diversion from everyday work and life, a time to let loose and party like you did in college. To the racing fan, it is a way of life: What happens at the track does not necessarily stay at the track. But these true fans will "duke it out" over a bag of ice or a stack of wood.
The stories I was relaying to them from just local track racing (some of them did not know they had a track practically in their own back yard) and then of course the NASCAR weekend long stories- had them in stitches. But, as you know--- they are true, they need no embellishing. One cousin and aunt/uncle had no idea that there was a track that existed on a road that is my last name and to get to that road you turn off of one that is my first name--- I kid you not, if you followed (fallered) that directional.
I was the maid of honor (old maid of honor) at the wedding, which provided me a weekend of jobs and other fun duties, but the best thing I could "bring on" was my ability to further educate yet 20 more people about the seriousness of racing--- or at least entertain them!
Happy motoring!

Year in Review: Rookie Season Surpasses Expectations for Girls Gone Racin’

(Val) It’s hard to believe that it’s been only eight months since we were inspired to start Girls Gone Racin’ because so much has happened in such a short time.

For those of you who don’t know already, Spring and her family invited my family to watch the Daytona 500 with them at their house back in February. I had always known she was interested in racing, but what I didn’t know was just how crazy about it she is!

While enjoying the race and the company, we started talking about how we should go to some races together this season, and how much she would love to try her hand at Motorsports photography. Sometime that day, the idea for Girls Gone Racin’ was born.

In just a few short weeks we had set up our web site, and put together a preliminary schedule of races we would like to attend. Over the coming months, that schedule would see some changes, but for the most part, we managed to make most of our original dates. The one goal we had was that we would attempt to observe some types of racing that we had never before seen. For Spring, that would be pretty easy, but for me, it was more of a challenge. Having grown up around dirt track racing, and having attended everything from Indy time trials to Stock Cars on asphalt, there wasn’t a whole lot left.

Funny how that dilemma was solved on our first night out!

Below is a list of the events we covered this year through Girls Gone Racin’ with a brief review of each one. We had a great time, and are very thankful for the support and encouragement we received along the way. Besides thanking our families, who were very patient with late-night phone calls, crazy schedules and our being gone, there are a few other folks to whom we owe our appreciation.

First, the tracks and sanctioning bodies who provided us with credentials for most of the events we attended. Thank you for taking us seriously, and for giving us such a wonderful opportunity. We were honored by the privilege.

Next, the drivers and teams who so willingly took the time to talk to us, pose for pictures and answer questions. You guys are awesome and we absolutely love you for what you do. Without your drive and passion, Motorsports would not be the greatest sport on earth.

There were several businesses who also provided their support to this endeavor. My employer, RaceFan, Inc. is first on the list, and is followed closely by Weld Racing, SPEEDtv and Intensitee Graphics. Also, our Chrysler/Dodge vehicles got us everywhere we needed to go. To Vaughn and the guys at Zeiser Dodge, thanks for keeping us rolling!

We would be remiss if we left off the track photographers who were a wealth of information and support. It is so refreshing to see the spirit of cooperation that flows among you. To those who took the time to chat and share tips, we thank you. To the rest of you, who looked at we girls like we didn’t have any business treading on your turf, smile nice and we might give you another chance next season!

Finally, there was one person without whom I probably never would have gotten the web site started, and unfortunately, he never got the chance to see how it all turned out. Gene, you may have missed the dance, but you definitely heard the music. May God bless your babies who I know must miss you terribly.

Without further ado, here is our year in review, through the eyes of Val:

April 15, ADRL Outlaw Pro Mods, Gateway Int’l Raceway:
This was our very first drag race and we really didn’t know what to expect, but it was awesomely loud and incredibly exciting at the same time. That first rushing, roaring car is a visual and audible feast we will never forget. The Jason Aldean Concert was fun too, and we appreciated having Randy along on our first night out.

May 26-27, 410 Sprint Nationals, Saint Francois County Raceway:
I went to this one with my Dad and brother, and had a good time. Despite a lower than expected car count, the racing was close and it was well worth the drive.

June 14, Winged Sprints, Midgets, UMP Late Models, I-55 Raceway:
This was Spring’s first night out at a Sprint/Midget/Dirt Late Model race and I had a blast watching her take it in. She was fearless in her quest for great pictures, and it shows. For a rookie race shooter, she did an awesome job. Our perch on top of Derek’s hauler was perfect for the night too. This is the night she got hooked on dirt track racing and there was no turning back after that.

July 8, World of Outlaws vs. All Stars Circuit of Champions, I-55 Raceway:
This was another night out for me and the boys. It was a little different sitting in the stands instead of prowling the infield, but it helped me to appreciate that perspective as well. I-55 is such a great place to watch Sprint Car racing that I am never, ever disappointed.

July 12 Grand Prix Speedways Open House:
What can we say about GPS but “Wow!” We had a ball slinging those cars around the asphalt and trying to keep up with the pack. Going through the process of training, putting on all the gear, it was very, very cool! We really appreciated the invitation and look forward to going back again one of these days.

July 29, NASCAR Busch Series, Gateway Int’l Raceway:
This was Spring’s night out while I stayed home for a change. I know she had a good time, and I love her photos, even if she had to shoot from the stands!

July 30, Lucas Oil Dirt Late Models, Tri-City Speedway:
An interesting day of fighting the heat and making new friends among the staff at the track. The racing was fast-paced and full of drama. I would definitely do it again. Watching one hot-headed driver lose his temper while the fans booed was something we won’t soon forget.

August 6, USAC Sprints and Midgets, Tri-City Speedway:
Another hot night at the track, but not quite as bad as the week before. Good, close racing and a test of my nerves when Spring edged her way close to the “danger zone” while taking pictures! She seems to have a major addiction to anything that goes fast, and Wingless Midgets became a quick favorite.

August 19, O'Reilly Sprint Bandits Ron Shuman Classic, Lakeside Speedway:
A very long day of driving up and back with racing in between. The weather held off and I enjoyed hanging with family at the track. First time trying out the new camera too, and I found out I had a lot to learn! Spring had to stay home for this one, but I hope to get her there next year.

September 3, Ted Horn 100 USAC Silver Crown Series Race, DuQuoin State Fairgrounds:
A three-generation outing, I was enthralled with the sheer beauty of the place, and incredibly pleased with the pictures I managed to shoot. This was one of the highlights of my season. Another one of those “must take Spring there next year” places.

September 8, USAC National Sprint Cars, Show-Me Racin' Series Midgets, Lucas Oil Speedway:
What hasn’t already been said about our first girls-only road trip? The company, the track, the racing, the cabin…When can we do it again?

Sept. 15, 410 Sprints and Midgets, Jacksonville Raceway:
Another great night of close racing action. Even though the track got dusty, I wouldn’t have missed this one. Did not enjoy the long, late drive back, but it was worth it! Good luck to you in retirement, Bobby!

October 7, POWERi Midgets, Belle Clair Speedway and October 8, Winged Sprints and POWERi Midgets, Tri- City Speedway:
Despite the fact that Spring was sick and I had to do this entire weekend on my own, I had such a great time that I almost felt guilty. Everyone was so nice, and I loved meeting new people. The best photos I shot this year were at Belle Clair too, and that really made me happy.

October 20, “Got Milk?” Winged Outlaw Kart Fall Nationals, Hartville, MO:
This was the absolute highlight of our season. The fun we had meeting folks, and the successful experiment of on-site photo sales made for a great combination. We loved this event because it was so family-oriented and small-town, which are two of our favorite things. We look forward to going back next year for the whole weekend.

Who knows what’s on tap for next year? We don’t have access to all the schedules yet, but you can bet that DuQuoin, Hartville and several POWERi events will definitely make the cut. Check back with us often, as we refuse to let the site get stale just because the racing season is over!

Got milk...and cookies!

HARTVILLE, Mo. – Tonight is the kick off of the 4th annual Outlaw Kart Fall Nationals and Spring and I are here to take photos and see what the karting scene is all about. So far, we have met several nice folks and are getting a huge kick out of these kids in their driver suits. Oh, and we’ve already sampled the grilled burgers too. Yum!

We hit the road about 11:30 this morning after a detour to FedEx to pick up some sample trading cards and business cards that Spring had printed up. They turned out great and I think the traders will be a huge hit. I know how much I enjoy my son’s little league pictures, and so I can’t imagine why parents wouldn’t want a good photo of their kid with his or her race car.

The trip down went really fast, but that’s mostly because Spring is a race car driver at heart. I tried not to sneak too many peeks at the speedometer, but when I did, it was dialed in at a comfortable 80mph. Despite the speed, and Spring’s tendency to eat with one hand, talk on the phone with the other and steer with her knee, she never once made me nervous. I teased her with the nickname of Dalena Earnhardt, but I don’t really think it’s going to stick.

We had a nice chat about last night’s Cards victory over those nasty ol’ Mets and from the sound of it, we would have had a good time watching it together. Oh well, we have at least 4 World Series games coming up, so maybe we can plan to watch one of those instead.

The farther south we drove, the prettier the colors became. I was down here only about a month ago, and I can’t believe how much things have changed. Of course, on my last trip it was cloudy and rainy, and today the sky was picture-perfect blue, so that certainly helps.

I can hear cars warming up from our table here in the concession building, and the temperature is dropping fast. A space heater was on my list of things to pack, but when I went to look for it, I couldn’t find it, so I think I’m just going to have to tough it out.

Spring is out taking pictures during hotlaps, and I can’t wait to see how they turn out. She was very excited to see these little cars, and has been wishing Caleb was here all afternoon.

We have had several folks stop in to see what we were doing and everyone seems to be pretty interested. I’m anxious to see just what kind of business we actually do. Could be overwhelming, or just the opposite, none at all. Either way, we have already decided that this trip is all about having fun and enjoying our last race adventure of the year.

LEBANON, Mo. -- 1:51 AM

Well, we survived it! The road back from Hartville to Lebanon is about 35 miles and we were fortunate because we had a big ol' tractor trailer leading the way. We figured if there were any deer alongside the road, he could take care of them for us.

Right now, Spring is polishing off her apple walnut snack from McDonald's. She's trying to get me to split the last cookie with her too. Since they go well with wine, I think I'll go ahead.

What a fun night this was. I am exhausted, but I know I won't be able to sleep for a while be cause the adrenaline rush is still going strong. Things worked out really well. Spring spent the whole time out shooting, and I stayed at our table printing proof sheets, taking orders and printing pictures. The crowd was awesome and the photos Spring took were fabulous. Everyone loved her work and was glad to see us and we already have our invitation for next year. We will be back.

The track really did undergo a major transformation to go from horse arena to kart track and we spent a little time out in the middle during the hotlaps sessions. There were a lot of little bitty kids racing these karts, and they are really something to watch. You can tell that they just eat it up and the parents I met were right there cheering them on and doing whatever it took to keep them going. What a blast.

We both wish we could stay for tomorrow night's races, but it's just not meant to be as Spring has a big family shoot to do. We're putting this event on our calendar for next year though. What a fun time! And maybe next year we'll actually get to race against each other. That would be SO cool!

Here at the hotel, we celebrated our last race of the season with a glass of wine and these McDonald's chocolate chip cookies. There's nothing like $3 wine in plastic cups from the Days Inn, let me tell ya!

We hope everyone has enjoyed our adventures this season. I know I have had a great time. This blog and our web site will not be idle, however, so please keep checking up on us even during the cold winter months.

A huge thank you goes out to Dustin Arnall and everyone at the Hartville Saddle Club Speedway for making us feel so welcome and at home. We really enjoyed getting to meet so many fun people! We will have lots of photos up ASAP, and Spring is actually blogging at the same time I am so you'll get her perspective shortly.

Girls Go Karting

(Val) Yes, the weather is growing cooler and the Cards are one step away from another trip to the World Series but for my pal Spring and I, this weekend means one last chance to hit the road and go racing.

When we first came up with the concept for Girls Gone Racin’ one of our goals was to experience new kinds of racing, and we did that right out of the gate by checking out drag races at Gateway back in May. This weekend will be a different experience entirely as we head to the small town of Hartville, Missouri for the 4th Annual got milk? Outlaw Kart Fall Nationals at the Hartville Saddle Club Speedway.

Hartville is about 35 miles south of Lebanon and the other 51 weekends of the year when the Saddle Club is not being used as a Speedway, it is actually a horse arena. I stopped there on my way back from Springfield last month just to check out the place, and it was hard to picture cars racing there, but the more I hear about it, the more excited I am to see how this place transforms into an actual speedway. To say the least, I am intrigued.

I had never heard of the got milk? Fall Nationals before we met up with Dustin Arnall down at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri back in September. We were there doing some work for Weld Racing and Dustin told us about the event and invited us to come down to take some pictures. In the three years the Nationals have been in existence, they have never had a professional photographer in to shoot the races, so Spring will be the first.

So far, the weather looks good for Friday and our plan is to head out bright and early in the morning so we have time to set up shop when we get there. We will be printing some photos on site, which has proved to be a bit of a challenge to set up, but I think we finally have it figured out. Spring has done little league team pictures for years, and we thought it might also work well to offer this kind of service to race car drivers. Who wouldn’t want a nice shot of them with their car? We have no idea the kind of response we will get, but we figure it’s worth a shot and we really have nothing to lose, so why not?

Anyway, we’ll be out and about one last time for 2006, watching Outlaw Karts, meeting new people and just doing what we love to do. As for me, I’m just excited to see how this place transforms from a horse arena into a racing venue! There are drivers coming from as far away as California, and some full-sized Sprint Car guys will be in attendance too, so that ought to really liven things up.

However things turn out, I know we will have a good time. It’s been a while since Spring and I have hung out together, and we’ve both had a busy couple of weeks. It will be nice to get away for a while and see what kind of trouble we can get into.

Check back here on Saturday (or sooner if the hotel has wireless) and we will share all the details of this latest adventure.

Hartville or bust!

Rainy Days and Mondays

(Val) It's been a rainy Monday, so rainy, in fact that tonight's NLCS game between the Cards and the Mets has been postponed until tomorrow night. After last night's performance, maybe it's a good thing that the Cards get an extra day to rest up.

The countdown is on to our next (and my last) race of the season and so far, the weather for that looks perfect. I just hope nothing changes!

As it stands right now, Spring and I head down to Hartville, MO Friday morning for the got milk? Fall Nationals for Outlaw Karts. I am looking forward to the event, if not the drive. After last week, spending more time in the car is really not all that appealing!

Spring should be back in town now after her big wedding shoot over the weekend, but I haven't heard from her yet. More than likely, she's trying to catch up on calls, emails and everything else that got put on hold while she was gone. We'll get our schedules aligned soon enough, and then finalize our plans for the weekend. Stay tuned for updates and more!

There’s no place like home

(Val) My family has spent the last five days on the road, taking a little “vacation” of sorts. Of course, according to a former co-worker of mine, a trip is when you take the kids along, and a vacation is when you leave them at home! So in other words, we just got back from a mighty long trip!

About three years ago, our school district instituted a fall break, which is much like a spring break in that the kids get a week off from school, only it happens when the weather is changing over to the cool side and the leaves are starting to turn. For someone like me, who loves fall, it’s the perfect time of year to hit the road and visit new places.

Most (aka: normal) people would think, “Ah, fall break, let’s head to where it’s warm and soak up enough sun to get us through the winter.” Well, as you’ve probably figured out by now, our family is anything but normal. Did we head to the sunny south for this gift of time? No way! We did the exact opposite and headed due north, to the great state of Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes.

For the record, we all agreed to this, so I have no one to blame, and also for the record, we all had a good time. We (ok, my husband) drove over 1,200 miles and spent part of two days in the biggest shopping mall in the country, The Mall of America, adding a few dollars to the tax base of the local economy. The shopping was fun, and the mall was certainly impressive, but I have one thing to say about the first three days of our trip: Minnesota weather stinks! For three days we saw nothing but clouds, snow flurries and winds from 30-40 miles per hour. Ick.

The temperature did nothing but drop from the time we left home until the time we arrived, plus we drove through snow showers after we crossed the state line into Minnesota. It was a very long drive, and we did the trip up in one day. It took us 11 and a half hours with an hour stop for lunch at a microbrewery in Cedar Rapids. (Yum!)

Along the way, we passed towns with names that I see on a very regular basis because of the news and results they send in to WhoWon. Iowa towns like Donnellson, Vinton, Burlington and Cedar Rapids. We spent our first three nights in a hotel just down the street from Raceway Park in Shakopee, MN, drove by Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, MN and spent our last night just blocks away from Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, IA. From the looks of it, everything was closed down for the winter, which was a darned rotten shame. I’ve been known to plan vacations around race schedules. Heck, I arranged our trip to Disney World so that we could squeeze in a race at East Bay several years back. It must be in my genes because my Dad did it when we were kids and still does it today!

So the Mall of America was ok, but since I’m not a huge fan of malls, I could have seen all I wanted to see in about half the time. However, because my son is still a huge fan of Lego, and they have a Lego store in the mall, we spent an inordinate amount of time there. Ah well, it’s cheaper than a trip to Europe where they actually make the things!

No, my favorite part of the trip was not the Mall, but instead, it was Saturday, when we traveled south and east to Red Wing, Minnesota. I have long been a fan of antiques and anything country, and I am fortunate enough to have in my possession one of the older crocks made by the Red Wing Pottery Company.

This was the one and only day when the weather cooperated. The temperature went up to almost 50, the sun came out and the wind finally died down. We stopped at a store just outside of town that sold the pottery, and I took advantage of their “seconds,” which we dug through until we found some we liked. It was one of the times when I really appreciate the fact that my husband works in quality assurance! He’s a great inspector and has an eye for flaws that would have gotten past me with no problem.

After my buying binge at Red Wing, we drove across a bridge and into Hager, Wisconsin for lunch at the Harbor Bar, after it was recommended to us by one of the locals. It turned out to be one of the best meals we had on the entire vacation.

Once we finished lunch and stopped for a few photos, it was time to put some miles behind us. Our goal was Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which we made in time to check in, unload and watch most of the Cards game. And what a game it was! It was great to see the birds do so well, and I hope they continue on the same way in tonight’s battle.

As we drove along the open road Saturday, we were amazed by how beautiful it was. On both sides of the highway, for as far as we could see were fields being harvested. It was quite a site to see and I was once again awed by the hard work that goes into everything we consume. I didn’t grow up on a farm, but I was fortunate enough to visit one often. My Grandparents farmed in northwestern Missouri, and an uncle, as well as a few cousins, still do.

The farmers are the folks who hold this country together with the way they play the odds, fighting weather, the economy and every other kind of obstacle one can imagine, just trying to make a living and keep America fed. Seeing those fields under harvest makes me appreciate all the more what a privilege it is to live in the greatest country on the planet with all the luxuries we have.

Speaking of thankfulness, I’m very grateful we got to take this little trip. It was nice to get away from this computer and all the obligations we deal with on a daily basis, and just spend time together. It was a great break, and I’m sorry it’s over, but I am so glad to have a job to come back to that I really enjoy doing.

There are a couple of things I learned on this trip that I would like to share before I close this post:

First, the songs that were popular when we were teenagers aren’t necessarily songs that I want my own teenagers listening to. Were we that naïve, or did we understand what they were talking about and snicker because we figured our parents didn’t?

Second, there are a LOT of race tracks in Iowa and I think I know why. I think farmers get tired of having to drive slow vehicles like tractors and combines, and they need to get out and let out some steam by going fast!

Finally, the game of Auto Bingo loses a lot of its fast-paced intensity when all you see out your window is thousands of acres of corn. Although, it does make it easy to cover the tractor square.

Oh yeah, only 9,991 lakes to go!

So you think you are part of the media....

(Ash) So you think you are worthy of Media credentials? If you have 3 websites that supply news feeds to the likes of such: SPEED, Speedway Illustrated, KGKI radio- internet feed, and more- would you not think that you would be WANTED to cover a race, get the top of the time news, feed news that is still NEW (hence the name news) to the racing community and sports community in general. The companies that vest their interest in a company to do such expect it, but when you are denied, what can you do, most of all what can you do for your "customers?'
Let it be known that Atlanta Motor Speedway (October 27-29 racing) decided that "we don't assign credentials to just any websites..."
However, there are credentials given to those who are "affiliated" with vendors, friends of friends, and so on, just like anything else in life. The difference: The credentials we requested were for use of promoting every aspect of the weekend of racing-- more coverage for the track, more coverage for the sponsors, racing news. We were not, are not, and never have been, after the "freebie." Perhaps because some media representatives do abuse this opportunity, we all suffer. But to be denied because we are a "website" that is like saying that AMS is just a track!
Thank you TREY at AMS-- you will NOT be forgotten!

Girl Gone Racin' becomes Motor Mouth

(Ash) In the wake of 'Talladega Nights,' this past weekend at Talladega SuperSpeedway was inundated with Rick Bobby sayings and homemade logo wear reflecting slang from the movie. However, the appeal of the movie was not to just your “typical NASCAR fan,” but to anyone who has been around the south, racing, and ever turned on the TV to witness racing of any form. The same goes for the newly released bestseller by Janet Evanovich, "Motor Mouth." The book, released the Thursday before Talladega’s big weekend of racing, attracted attention from men, women, fans, and avid readers. Ms. Evanovich visited Books-A-Million for a whirlwind tour to end up at the Talladega Superspeedway.
Candidly the writer reflected on some of the things, both writing related and personal, that led her to such a topic for "Motor Mouth." A favorite among many women readers her titles are well known. The latest novel has a unique twist that “came when I fell in love with the sport” according to the author. However, being in the racing industry it makes me think; this is not so far fetched.
"Motor Mouth" crosses murder mystery with NASCAR. With the steamy elements that Evanovich is known for she did her homework on the NASCAR element. During her visit to the Talladega SuperSpeedway the award winning writer looked forward to a few treats. “A NASCAR friend is going to take me for a spin in the pace car” she beamed. Perhaps the appeal to many women about her writing is that she is a very down to earth person and her writing is pretty much reflective of her life and what she has experienced. When asked how she came about this interest in NASCAR the New Hampshire native shared storied of going to local tracks in the area and then a few years ago, agreed with her daughter Alex to attend her first NASCAR race.
“I was hooked.” As many fans realize, there is more than a redneck element to NASCAR. Ms. Evanovich was impressed with the family element and the fact that the fans knew no strangers at the races. “What I really loved is what I saw in the stands. They’re there with their families, coolers, having a great time and when the National Anthem is sung they are on their feet cheering with their hands over their hearts- full of pride.”
The award-winning writer admits that her books are a lot like life; you hope the good guys win but nothing ever comes to an end with out exciting adventure on the way.
To view a teaser of Evanovich’s Motor Mouth visit www.evanovich.com and enjoy. You will enjoy her book- NASCAR fan or not.

Good Grief Charlie Bradberry

(Ash) In the aftermath of all of the was not was of yesterday's NASCAR Nextel race (which ended with a mess on the last lap) and oddly enough, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race ending somewhat the same way- that is just racing at its best. Racing at its best is defined by each individual racer, fan, track owner, team member and so on- but knowing why you do what you do, say what you say, react the way you react and basically owning up to your actions are just part of life's lessons.
Candidly I wrote this weekend some of this and that about the "outside" of racing at Talladega, when I could have just as well written the facts from the inside (remember the HOT pass) --you can find those facts on many sites like our RaceFan.com or WhoWon.com or any general stats site for racing.
Reality check Sunday when I learned that a young, talented, on the rise driver from Birmingham, Alabama, had died as a result of a wreck in his truck, in a small town just south of Birmingham. Spending time at Birmingham International Raceway (BIR) that he called home, I have spent time with memebers of his family and the people that surrounded the driver from a young age.
Bradberry was enjoying a successful season, a tour with the PASS series, contention for great sponsorship, and more, he was just getting started on his career and his future.
Charlie and his bride Brandi were excited about their first child due in February. Charlie knew no strangers and the racing 'community' of the South will greatly miss his enthusiam at the tracks.

Micros and Midgets and Sprints, Oh My!

(Val) All I can say about this weekend's racing is, if you missed, I feel sorry for you. (And that goes double for my pal Spring!)

What a great night of race action at Tri-City last night! After last year's down and dusty event, I was a little worried about how this one might go. Running those big 410 Winged Sprinters on the quarter mile can be truly destructive to even the most well-prepared surfaces. The worry was unfounded because even though the track got a little dusty by the 410 feature, it stayed darned good all night long.

We had a van load of folks with us for the races last night, two of which had never seen Sprints and Midgets before. They definitely got their money's worth! With 36 Sprints and 38 Midgets, along with oodles of Micros, the pits were filled to capacity. Arriving at the track with little time to spare before hot laps, I quickly made my way around to the drivers I needed to see. The driver's meeting was in full swing, so I hung around there for a little bit, then chatted with Jerry Coons, Jr. who was in need of a ride. He later piloted the number 11D that had been driven by Doug DeWitt at Belle Clair the night before, but only for part of one race, and then DeWitt was back behind the wheel. Not sure what happened there.

As I made my way around, an unfamiliar voice called out to me, and since I didn't know they were actually speaking to me at the time, I looked behind me to see who they were talking to, and then found out they really were talking to me after all! The man behind the voice was Tim Siner, who is the driver of the number 15 Midget and he wanted to talk to me about the Girls Gone Racin' site, plus introduce me to his wife, Melissa, and his Dad, Jim Sr. This all turned out pretty nicely, since I had actually been looking for them so I could drop of a couple of prints of two of my favorite photos. They had already seen the pictures on Girls Gone Racin' and the Fox 2 site, so I was pretty excited.

The Siners are really nice folks, and I loved getting to meet them. Later, in the infield, I met Jim Jr., who works for the POWERi Series and we had a nice chat too. Seems like they are really liking this October racing and I can't blame them! The car counts have been amazing, and the crowds weren't too shabby either.

Despite the fact that I was on my own in regard to photography for the evening, I had one of the best nights of the year because everyone made me feel so at home. There have been many times where I wonder what the heck I think I’m doing out there, and so often I just freeze up when I want to talk to someone. It has nothing to do with being star-struck or intimidated, and everything to do with just being a naturally shy person. Lucky for me, I get over that pretty quickly once I get to know someone.

Being at Tri-City is always like going home to me anyway because it’s been a part of my life since I was born, and going back is such a great opportunity to visit with old friends. Of course, part of the fun is meeting new folks too, and I got to do a lot of that over the weekend.

The pictures I took on Sunday night were not as good as the shots I got on Saturday. I think it had a lot to do with the lighting and just not having as many choices as to where I could stand. There were quite a few photographers in there, and I had to try and find a place where no one was in my way, and I wasn’t in theirs. There are some keepers, but over all, the ones I got on Saturday just turned out better. This photography thing is a learning experience, and I figure out something new every time I do it.

One of the highlights of Sunday night was finding out that Dale Blaney was there in a 410 Sprint. I hadn’t seen him at Tri-City in years, probably not since the last time the All Stars were there. We got to talk for a few minutes, mostly about the track his family owns, Sharon Speedway in Ohio. It was a challenging year for them, but I think that’s been the story at a lot of tracks around the country. Dale is a really nice guy, and didn’t seem to mind a bit when I asked for a photo. It made my night to see him take the feature win just a short time later.

Overall, this was a great way to end the racing season, but I wish Spring had been there to share it because I know she would have enjoyed it a lot. The bad part would have been the one big five-car pile-up in the Midget feature, but knowing everyone walked away would have made things ok.

Here in St. Louis, I know that the Cards putting away the Padres was the big sports news this weekend, (Yay Cards!) but for us diehard race fans, the real action was just across the river. Although only a fraction of people saw the racing compared to those who watched the ballgame, but I think if you asked any of them, they would agree that we were the real winners this weekend.

(Ash) Well, now that 'Dega has come and gone, I am lost. I got home tonight and wondered around my house trying to remeber what I was going to do about something...... Oh, sleep may be a good suggestion at this point but not until this Girl GONE Racin' (and came back) puts a cap on the Talladega experience. I have never seen, ok well, since April, traffic on I-20 at 6:15 a.m. This morning I just had pity on the truckers and any other unsuspecting motorist that happened to be headed west from that point until maybe 2:00pm. Of course by then THE race would have started and everyone would be "hollaring" at the track.
As I was sitting in the Media line to go to my "pink" space in the gravel, I was shocked out of my daydream by a roaring, really loud noise, above my car. I looked up through the sun roof and at tree top level there was a small private jet descending into the "mini port" at the track. Well, that was only the first of several-- I could almost see the people on the plane-- I am almost sure on of them was TONY the TIGER waving at me!
On that note, back at home my neighbor's husband works for the FAA and she told me they issued more citations to those "private pilots" this weekend than they were able to keep up with. Scarry--- but, the airport (and I use the term losely) is no more that what most large airports refer to as a hangar: A big metal building.
But that was just some of my entertainment while sitting, waiting, this time anyway-- There was more waiting, of course, you would think that someone would walk along the lines selling things like FOOD while we sat-- at 6 something in the moring. Several times I considered offering (you can do a lot with a hat or shirt, remember) whatever, anything I still had in the back, for some of whatever someone was cooking and I was inhaling. I kid you not, this village and expanded again since Saturday afternoon. Now, believe it or not, there were still people dancing around in the re-directed traffic with tickets to sell. Now, if they could have put two and two or something together they would have walked a half of a mile and been right smack in the middle of people holding hand written signs for "NEED TICKET." Now do you not see marketing potential there?
Onto Speedway Boulevard now; another mecca of people, cars, bikes, trash barrels, port-a-john cleaning trucks, and various other servies and personnel driving around on golf carts. After I parked I tried to figure out where I was (so I could find my car later) and then headed toward the Media Center. How about that, I got there in time to actually use the space that had been designated for me-- watch out BIG news guy that only comesin to mull around, eat bad food, and "be seen."

NOTE: Please help me with turing in info for your tracks if it is not already being done.

Get Your Motor Runnin'

(Val)If you call yourself a race fan and live anywhere within 200 miles of the St. Louis metropolitan area, yet failed to attend last night's POWERi Midget races at Belle Clair Speedway, you committed a class A felony. Fortunately, there's still a chance to redeem yourself tonight, but just remember, it's the only chance you're going to get.

Our original plan was that Spring, my Dad, my son and I would attend the night's races together, but that fell apart when my son got a "better" offer (he's 13 and not a huge race fan) and Spring came down with some nasty bug. So then there were two.

Dad and I have been to many races together over the years, traveling all over the midwest and we have a great time with just us two, so it didn't break my heart to get some one-on-one time with him. I did, however, feel bad that Spring felt so lousy and had to miss out on catching up with folks and missing the action. Hopefully, the pictures I took will help ease that just a little.

We got to the track in Belleville, Illinois, which is part of the old Fairgrounds, during the ninth inning of the Cardinals game, which was tough to abandon because we thought they might stage a comeback. Turns out we didn't miss anything and the final score was just where we left it.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day, and promised to be a cool evening, so we were ready for it with jackets and warm clothes. We wouldn't need any of that until much later in the evening. Trucks towing haulers were already in the pits and unloaded, and more kept coming while we walked around. Even more arrived as we talked to POWERi promoter Kenny Brown about the Series, which started about five years ago. He's very pleased with the growth of the organization and really has a heart for every facet of the sport. Kenny was a busy man last night, and a big part of that was just trying to find space in the pits for all the cars! All-in-all, there were over 100 open wheel cars in the pits. They were everywhere we turned, and I commented to my Dad that it was like going on an Easter egg hunt trying to find them all.

At 6:00 the cars took the field for hot laps, and we headed to the infield to take advantage of the last rays of sunlight. Although I like this speedway a lot, as do the drivers we talked to, it’s not an easy one to shoot at when the sun is going down. Finding the few areas that didn’t have shadows was tough, but with the last batch of hotlaps (figures!) my Dad pointed out what turned out to be the sweetest spot there.

I managed to get some really decent shots with just my Pentax K100D set to “sport” mode and the zoom lens that came with it. Taking pictures of race cars in motion is an acquired knowledge, and as I’ve said many times, I’m just an amateur so that’s not the only thing I have to learn. I did manage to get a lot more good shots on this night than I have all season, so I think something must finally be sinking in.

Once Midget hotlaps were done, we dashed on out of there, and since the sun was fully behind the grandstands, there wasn’t much more I could do anyway. We wandered the pits a little more, then went on in and found a place to sit and enjoy the action.

Because of a rain out back in June, the first races of the night were a make up semi-feature and feature, followed by the regular night of racing. It was definitely an action-packed evening and there were no dull moments to be found. The track was in good shape and didn’t get dusty until late in the program.

Dad and I made an interesting observation last night too. Between races, it was really comfortable out, and there was no wind, but when those cars got going it cooled off in a hurry, and the flags were standing straight out. It was almost as if the races generated their own cold front.

There were a couple of tangles during the night, and want pretty nasty crash that actually happened because of a yellow. One car checked up in a hurry, and the car behind it, driven by Randy Bateman, caught a tire and did several barrel rolls through turn one. We checked on Randy, and he was ok, but still had a bit of fuzzy vision in one eye. The car didn’t really look all that bad to the casual observer, but in the pits, we found that the frame was bent, and a front axle was being replaced in order to be able to get it in the hauler. Bateman was supposed to be bringing his 410 Sprint to Tri-City tonight, but it seemed pretty doubtful after that.

The evening was a lot of fun and we found ourselves ready for more. Fortunately, tonight’s menu ought to help in that area. I just talked to Tammy Gundaker at Tri-City, and at 11:30 this morning there were already some thirty haulers lined up to get into the pits. I warned her to park them in tight because if they get the cars from Belleville, plus the guys who raced at Terre Haute and Farmington last night, they will be packed like sardines in Tri-City’s pits.

Like I said in the beginning of this post, if you missed it last night, you still have one shot left. There’s a lot of competition for sports viewing on TV today, but days like this will be few and far between so take advantage of this great weather and get out to the track. If you’re really afraid of missing something, bring along a radio and listen to the football, baseball game or NASCAR race, but get out and enjoy this while you can.

Infatuated with Midgets

(Val)It's 12:40 am and I've been home from Belle Clair Speedway for about a half an hour. So far, I've managed to get all the photos off my SD card and into my computer, re-size a few and get them ready for uploading. I am hoping to get a few on here, some on the local Fox web site and maybe even get some on GGR. It all depends on how quickly the adrenaline buzz wears off.

What a great night at BC! 42 Midgets, over 60 Micros, and a very full night of racing. The weather was perfect, even with the breeze the cars stirred up, and the on-track action was outstanding!

My Dad and I went all by ourselves tonight becuase Spring came down with some nasty bug and had to stay home. We're hoping she gets rested up and feeling better before tomorrow night, which will be the final night of the POWERi Midget Series at Tri-City. Along with the Midgets will be the 410 Winged Sprints, and Micros. With the big show at Terre Haute wrapping up tonight, I expect to see a lot of those guys make the 3 hour drive west and bring that car count up even higher.

Thanks to Ash for keeping us posted on Talladega! I will be back bright and early tomorrow...errr... later today, to bring you more notes from the quarter-mile and highlights of the evening's action. Until then, sleep tight everyone!

I will survive

(Ash) In the words of Glroia Gaynor: I will survive! I did, have, and will survive Talladega Days and NIghts (thanks Val) Day 3: On the road again, again, again, yet it is never the never the day twice. Proven, once again, on the way to, and from Talladega. Not to mention the racing has been spectacular, rookies shocking vets, amazing times turned in during qualifying, and then the restrictor plate "debate" that surfaced this morning.
Just when you think the "mini city" is at full capacity -- scoot over and squeeze in a few more- and they did, they do. However, surprisingly enough, this is a clean, and pretty tame place all things considered. When you consider that people from all over the country, and even a small percent from other countries, alcohol, a dry county, a 'sporting contest' and then toss in; this is the south: A FOOTBALL weekend- for the law officials this was a slow 24 hours. and no out of control fires was even more impressive. I asked one of the security men some generic questions but hey, he was a "hire out" from about 260 miles away and was "just thrilled to be here!" Bad choice and he wasn't even cute!
At this point the first race, won by Frank Kimmel, a personal friend of those of us at RaceFan, gave him a second victory at Talladega. Kimmel qualified in the top 5 but among those in that 5 he was the only one to come out on top- so to speak. I guess the saying "practice makes perfect" holds true. Kimmel and his team recently spent some track time on the newly surfaced Talladega track.
As I write this the Craftsman Truck Series is running the 250 miles of the 1000 total for the weekend and making history for being the first time for that series to run at Talladega.
The interesting thing at this point is that the fans love it all: Racing is racing. Yes, there are certain levels of a "Fan" such as there are many different levels and types of racing. But considering that we are where we are in our War Against Terrorism, maybe someone should look at the simple rules of the ____ (name the track) community during race weekend. Translation: Why can't we all just get along?
1) What is my space is mine, I have been here for years and, who are you?
2) If you need a port-a-potty, we have one-- just clean up after yourself.
3) If you cook, please share. When we cook you are welcomed to "come on by" but do so atyour
own risk,
4) Share your ride (in this case it may be a golf cart or pit bike)
5) Beer is an excuse to make friends and wheel and deal, just have a good attorney with you or
make it a signed deal. All deals under the "gentlemen's handshake" are blown like a bad engine!

Remember the Gremlins?

(Ash) I may be dating myself in this diatribe but remember the movie Gremlins? I do, not real well, don't own the DVD or anything, but I remember there was something about the furry little creatures not having water and/or seeing sunlight. If memory serves, there was a reason for that. With this in mind: Welcome RaceFans to Talladega, Aluhbama, USA, day 2!
Back on I-20 again, a much more congested I-20, I am almost to the temporary metropolis. The thing about the slow traffic headed toward the Speedway (note: the State seems to be doing roadwork every time there is a major race) is that with all the RVs, trucks pulling trucks, cars pulling trailers with PortaJohns strapped in, etc., the slow moving traffic becomes a source of entertainment! If I had been writing this, say 8 years ago, I would have bought stock in KIWI shoe polish. Anyway, passing the time I enjoyed reading the various, um, phrases, driver numbers, 'Dega or BUST!, Gitter Dun, and an assortment of other "polished" phrases adorning the convoy. Looking at some of the car tags, from as far away as Canada, I am just amazed. (I shouldn't be, football in the south is very similar.) Several "vehicles," and I use that term loosely, hailing tags from mostly the mid-west and north, bearing a great deal of rust, bondo, and bald tires- also 'Dega bound, are of special interest. I have to wonder how the 10 individuals packed into the El Camino could 1) know about this place (nevermind) 2) how did that car make it 800 miles 3) the cost of gas alone was enough money for new tires 4) how can/did they afford these outrageously priced tickets, and finally 5) where the *** are these pleople staying/sleeping? (That is the ones without motor homes.)
Kinda makes you think, huh!
Wow, I got off the Gremlins subject- just a "smidge" as we say in the South. Anyway, finally I am back on Speedway Blvd. and of course the place is just as I left it yesterday, with one exception: The people, tents, vendors, campers, fires and all have multiplied-- just like those Gremlin creatures did in the movie. Not stopping to "enjoy," there is more than enought time left for that, I quickly head off to my little cocoon; The Media Center. I need time to think!
Happy Motoring.

The Rednecks are Coming...the Rednecks are Coming....

(Ash) NOPE, there are already here! Live from the heart of Alabama: Welcome to Talladega Superspeedway... lets go racin' ! For me a 20 mile trip down I-20 is no big deal, except for a certain six days out of the year: NASCAR race weekend Spring, NASCAR race weekend Fall! Thurday's trip is unaviodable- getting my media credentials. Actually it is one of the times during the 4-day weekend that I actually enjoy. Imagine, lil ole me just zipping through security, snatching up all my passes, and this time even a HOT (garage) pass!! It has to be fate; there is a full moon, and I am going to march up to the Home Depot Tiger (aka Tony) my secret crush (not anymore) while he is reving up his orange ride to run his qualifying laps, and plant one right on his......... HELMET, SILLY!
Back to the idea of actually enjoying being a witness to the population explosion in this tiny town (new pop. around175,000) for a few days. It is nothing short of amusing to see the small community, if you will, under construction. For five miles on Speedway Boulevard, both sides of the road, there are just people (I use that term loosely) more people, junk being sold, (knock offs), piles of wood stacked 10 feet high and shower houses- that incidently I don't think some people realize are there- if you get my drift or whiff maybe.
Then there are the people all shapes, sizes, and stages of dental distruction, milling about aimlessly and in various stages of intoxication. Like the saying goes: It's five o'clock somewhere! The smell(s) at this point are something like a fair or carnival-- funky, greasy food and as you move further awary from the Speedway entrance, grilling. OK, I admit, early on I partake in some of that food knowing darn well what the Media Centre has instore for my intestines.
This past Spring I was adpoted by a "ban" of about 15 Army Special Forces Men that get together every April in Talladega as a reunion. Actually I was wondering aimlessly as I do anywhere I go without my OnStar or GPS- so I eagerly joined their group. Hey, you would too- 15 fit men, the majority my age, and not a dog ugly one in the group. (And that is a true statement without my "beer goggles") Anyway, for the remainder of the weekend they invited me to eat and hang out when I wasn't working-- if I could find their little spot again. (Thank goodness for cell phones!) Wait, make that big camp, same location every year, a very structured set up with all the amenities of a home away from home, if you can imagine. They had 4 RVs between all of them, cots, chairs, generators and a plethora of food and beverages, ok I promised I would never tell: They had a menu!
Well getting off the subject a bit but this is just the first installment of GirlGONERacin' (girl better return) from the heart of NASCAR- the newly resurfaced (TIGER even drove the paver back in June) 2.66 mile Talladega SuperSpeedway.
Time to pit!

Choices, Choices!

(Val) What's that old saying? So many races, so little time!

This next weekend there are so many opportunities for great racing that it is really tough to decide where to go and what to sacrifice. Close to home, we have racing Saturday night at Saint Francois County Raceway with the annual Queen's Royal, and at Belle Clair Speedway with the Gateway Midgets and Mini Sprints. Both events are about the same distance from us and either is worth the time.

Of course, there's also some great action going on both Friday and Saturday nights in Terre Haute, Indiana, which is only about four hours away. USAC Sprints and UMP Modifieds are on tap to put the action into the "Action Track" Friday, with the annual Tony Hulman classic slated for Saturday night.

The only night that leaves no room for choices is next Sunday night at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, IL. Winged Sprints, Midgets and Micros are on the menu and we won't miss this one. It will be the last Sprint show in our area for the 2006 season.

So now the debate is on in our family. My Dad wants to go to Terre Haute, my husband wants to go to Farmington, and Spring wants to go to Belle Clair. It's time to look at all the options, see what the kids have on their schedules, and work out the details. Of course, my Dad came up with the idea that we all go to different ones and stay in touch by cell phone. Now THAT could prove interesting! It doesn't look like the weather is going to make the decision any easier, at least not yet. We'll see how that plays into things as the week goes on. Stay tuned and we'll let you know here when we make our destinations are finalized.

And with the mention of tuning in, be sure to check out Dave Despain's Wind Tunnel on SPEED tonight where a big announcement regarding television coverage for the World of Outlaws is on the agenda. Sounds exciting!