Anything Boys Can Do...

The following article was written by my good friend and former World of Outlaws PR guy, Richard Day. Richard is a gifted author who currently handles PR for Woodward Racing, Redi-Green Motorsports, Dirt, Inc. and Kathryne Minter. It's a great piece about women in racing that I think most of us can really appreciate. Thanks for sharing, Richard!

Richard Petty has never believed women should compete in auto racing. He reiterated that two days before the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600.

“I just don’t think it’s a sport for women,” Petty said, “and, so far, it’s proved out. It’s good for them to come in. It gives us a lot of publicity. It gives them publicity. But, as far as being a real true racer, making a living out of it, it's kind of tough.”

It was a thrill for me to meet “The King” at the 1994 Knoxville Nationals when Petty attended sprint car racing’s most prestigious event as then-fellow-STP-sponsored racer Andy Hillenburg’s special guest. I have tremendous respect for the man who won 200 NASCAR Nextel Cup races and has been a tireless ambassador for auto racing for many years, but I’m thinking he should have kept those comments under his signature cowboy hat.

I thought 2005 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Danica Patrick’s reply to Petty’s statements were classic when she said racing isn’t for all women, but it works for some. Two top-eight finishes in auto racing’s greatest spectacle prove she’s definitely competitive in the male-dominated sport.

There are other ladies proving they can compete with men at the track, too: Erin Crocker, Nicole Addison and Melanie Troxel.

Crocker, the only lady to win a World of Outlaws feature race, is progressing as a NASCAR Craftsman Truck driver for Ray Evernham. Evernham’s former Nextel Cup driver, Jeff Gordon, never won an Outlaws race. Nor has his current Cup driver, Kasey Kahne. Two-time Indy 500 champion Al Unser, Jr., whose crew installed phone books in his sprint car’s seat to allow him to see over the steering wheel, never won a “greatest show on dirt” feature either.

Crocker, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Management Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is the first woman to join the Evernham Motorsports driver development program. She has also competed in some USAC Silver Crown races for Kasey Kahne Motorsports.

Crocker won the 2006 Race Babe poll on http://www.OpenWheeler.blogspot.com, receiving 31% of the votes. Patrick received 7%.

“The guys don't seem to mind having a woman around the garage,” Erin wrote in a recent installment of her “On The Road With Erin Crocker” column on NASCAR.com. “I've always spent a lot of time around guys, playing street hockey and running quarter-midgets. There were some girls, but mostly there were guys.

“I've always been able to be one of the guys. It's a fine line. Sometimes people will say, ‘You're like one of the guys.’ I'll say, ‘But I don't really want to be one of the guys.’ Let's just say I'm not the average girl. I'm still feminine. I love shopping. I love buying shoes. I also love driving racecars. I love to be in the garage. I love to understand racecars and think about them.

“There are other women involved with the team, but not directly involved with the truck. There's not many involved that way in the entire sport. I know there are women engineers and there's a tire changer on one of the teams, but they're few and far between.”

Addison, the rear tire changer for Jack Sprague when he won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chex 400K race at Texas Motor Speedway last June, is that tire changer. In fact, she’s the only woman to work on the winner’s pit crew in NASCAR’s top three series.

“That’s probably the most memorable moment of my life,” Addison said recently. “I can’t wait to do it again.”

Addison, the only female over-the-wall pit crew worker in NASCAR, will get her chance again in this weekend’s Sam’s Town 400 at “The Great American Speedway” as a tire changer on the #10 Power Stroke Diesel Ford Terry Cook drives for ppc Racing.

“Now I know we’re going to win,” Cook said when he learned that Addison was a member of the pit crew on last year’s winning team at TMS. “Nicole’s our good-luck charm. Without a doubt, she’s proven she can handle the pressure.”

Addison participates in NASCAR’s Driver for Diversity program that attracts women and minorities to the sport.

“It’s a good thing – and NASCAR is pushing it – but it’s not why we hired Nicole,” Cook says. “We hired her because she was the best. We tried out five people. She was the only female, but she just flat whipped those guys. Being a tire changer isn’t just about speed. It’s also about being consistent and not having lug nuts come loose. Nicole had zero mistakes.”

Shawna Robinson, who ran seven Nextel Cup races in 2002, employed an all-female pit crew for a NASCAR Craftsman Truck race at Texas Motor Speedway the following year.

Troxel, one of eight women in NHRA history to win a pro elimination race, has led the Top Fuel point standings from the beginning of the 2006 NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series.

“I read a headline on an article that said something like we women in racing are following in Danica's footsteps,” Troxel said after winning a Top Fuel national event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in April. “Maybe the rest of the world hasn't been taking notice, but there have been women competing – and winning – in the NHRA for years. I think it's great for her and for promoting women in motor sports. She's done a lot of good things to draw attention to women, which is somewhat necessary when you're looking for the funding to run these teams.

“No matter how much you tell people that women can go out and be just as competitive (as men), it's an entirely different thing to go out and win and show them this isn't about the novelty of having a female in the car. I think we're definitely making progress in that side of it. I've really enjoyed having the bigger story be about our performance.”

NASCAR believes it will have a woman racing with the Nextel Cup series soon.

“I think there is a woman driver out there who will break through,” Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter said before the Coca-Cola 600. “There will be the emergence of a contending woman driver. When? I have no idea. But I do know there are a lot of women drivers in the pipeline today, running sprint cars or whatever, who want to make it to this level.”

Kyle Petty, who runs the two-car operation built by his grandfather (Lee) and father (Richard), says he would never rule out having a woman driver, saying that Petty Enterprises was one of the first teams in the garage to employ female engineers and mechanics.

He also said his father will never budge on his belief that women don’t belong behind the wheel, even if Kyle’s daughter decides she wants to be a racer some day.

“His position is not going to change because that is who he is, that is part of who he is,” Kyle said. “That's just a fact of life. That's how he was raised, when he was raised, the era he was raised in. And that's just the way it is.”

I believe everybody deserves the opportunity to give racing a try. I gained a whole new perspective – and respect – for sprint car racing when Charles “Smiley” Sitton gave me the opportunity to attend his Outlaw Driving School in 1996. Sitton, the first to drive a Top Fuel racecar 200 M.P.H., owned the car Norman Martin drove to victory in the World of Outlaws’ first preliminary feature race in March of 1978.Tom Motter, who co-owned the #71M EcoWater Systems Maxim with his brother Dan, and EcoWater marketing representative Jerry Johnson joined four other “wanna-be” racers and me at Boyd Raceway for my first taste of what driving a sprint car is all about. I also attended the driving school with several members of the sprint car media a few years later at 85 Speedway in Ennis, TX. The Outlaw Driving School now calls Grand Prairie Speedway – “a ¼-mile, medium-banked track formed from the best Texas cleachy” – home. I encourage every sprint car racing fan to attend the Outlaw Driving School (http://www.outlawdrivingschool). It’s awesome!

To Our Friends at Pike County Speedway

We have had several emails about the photos that were taken at Pike County Speedway, and I wanted to make sure that we let everyone know what is going on.

First, Spring and I both apologize for the delay. Usually we try to get photos up on our site within a week of any event. Unfortunately, we have been unable to do that this time because we ran into some unforeseen problems.

Without going into too many details, Spring was in a car accident about a year ago, and has had some issues ever since. In the past couple of months, things have gotten worse, and she has a pinched nerve in her neck that is causing terrible pain in her neck, shoulder and arm. She was actually in quite a bit of pain the night she took the pictures, but she’s a trooper, and since we had committed to doing this, and she loves to take pictures, she wasn’t about to stay home.

This past week has been very hard on her, and she has actually been restricted by her doctor from doing almost anything, including working on the computer. Because she took so many photos, and she wants to get as many of them online as possible, she planned to do this using her photography site instead of our Girls Gone Racin’ site. She is the only one who can get all of those hundreds of photos edited and loaded onto that site, so it’s something I can’t even help her with or I certainly would.

Please rest assured that as soon as she is physically capable, Spring will get the pictures up. Once she does, there will be a link on the Girls Gone Racin’ site that will allow you to access them, and order any that you choose to purchase.

We sincerely regret the delay, but there are some things that just can’t be helped. I know that Spring would really appreciate your prayers as she endures this painful time. We both enjoyed meeting so many nice people up at Pike and told our families all about the great time we had. We would love to come back again some time.

Thank you for you patience.

Blessings,
Val

Paintin' up our Lips Like an Angel, Kickin' up our Red High Heels, Thinkin' 'bout Tim McGraw & Checking for Ticks

Tickets won in a "Buy it Now or Make offer" bid on eBay: Below face Value
Parking: Free
Two ridiculously overpriced beers in plastic bottles: $14
Getting one of your Red High Heels signed by Kelli Pickler: Priceless

For weeks now Spring and I have bee talking about how much fun it would be to go to another concert. We're both big Brad Paisley fans, so that one was high on our list. Unfortunately, we missed the beginning of ticket sales, and figured we wouldn't be able to get anything as close as we would like.

Then the other night I decided to check out tickets on eBay, just on a whim. I bid on one set, but lost by five cents, which was really frustrating. I figured there wouldn't be too many others on there worth taking my chances on, but with Spring on the phone and my fingers on the keyboard, we came across another one that we figured was worth a shot. It was a "Buy it Now or Make Offer" deal, which I had never done before. We discussed it, agreed on the offer we would make, and the deed was done. A few hours later, we had our answer when the seller agreed to take our offer, and we were thrilled. Right side seats, ten rows back from the stage. It just doesn't get much better than that!

The biggest dilemma after that was whether or not we would be allowed to bring our cameras in. Unable to find a concrete answer anywhere, we figured it was worth a shot (pun intended) and the worst that could happen was that security would stop us at the gate. After loading up our gear, and trekking across what seemed like miles of parking lot, the moment of truth arrived. The security guard checked my bag, verified that I wasn't bringing in a video camera and let me through. Whew! Spring was next, and passed through just as easily. With only 15 minutes to spare, we were at the rain-soaked venue and ready to rock.

Our seats were spectacular, and after Spring made some adjustments to my camera for me (yes, I'm going to learn how to do it myself some day, really!) we were ready to enjoy the show and take lots of pictures.

Before Brad Paisley could take the stage, we were entertained by Jack Ingram, Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift, all of whom are very talented. I enjoyed all three of them, and found out that I knew more of their songs than I thought I did. Spring tried really hard to get a picture of Kelli's shoes, but just never could get it done. She did, however, get Kelli to sign the red high heels Spring wore to the show after the concert was over!

Brad Paisley burst onto the stage and was simply wonderful. The set-up was really cool with light up signs that had words scrolling across at some times, and bugs, mud and beer steins for various songs. A big screen behind the band showed close ups of the concert, and even a Speed Racer-type video during the instrumental set.

We sat by several really fun people who had back stage passes and told us all about getting to meet everyone and how nice they all were. Of course, we were jealous that they got to go back stage but we enjoyed hearing about it. We did ask them to give Brad one of our business cards with a note on the back. Spring really wants to shoot an cd cover one of these days, and we figure any chance we have to get that information into the hands of performers, we will take.

It really was a fun night, even though Spring was feeling pretty rough before it was over. We have a race to cover tomorrow night in Pittsfield, IL so I hope she's feeling better very soon.

We hope you enjoy the pictures. There are three pages on here, and lots more we didn't use. Spring still has some on her little camera that I know she still wants to get on the site too. We'll get there eventually, so please keep checking back.

The Grassroots Gospel: Eldora Speedway

The Grassroots Gospel is a Girls Gone Racin’ series celebrating the drivers, promoters, fans and others who contribute to the preservation of the grassroots Motorsports effort and its traditions. It is intended as a tribute to the people who believe in the importance of maintaining the foundation of American auto racing.

Eldora Speedway. The mere mention of the name sends shivers down the spines of dirt track fans all over America. It is the Mecca of the Midwest, this half-mile oval carved out of what was once a corn field.

This was the place I had wanted to see for many years. Every fan I know had been there at least once, most, numerous times. It is one of those places that is as famous for its storied history as it is for its racing. Having never been, I felt as if I were being excluded from some exclusive club, so when the opportunity finally came, there was no way I was going to pass it up.

We left the interstate and rolled along country roads that wound past farms and through small towns as we journeyed to our final destination. The closer we got, the more like I felt like a kid again, and I could barely contain those words every parent hears on any trip they take with their children: “Are we there yet?” Finally, we emerged from Rossburg, drove just a little further and at last, we arrived.

At first glance, my heart and mind went back to the first time I saw the entrance to Walt Disney World. All those months and miles of anticipation culminated in one exciting moment of high pitched adrenaline rush. In every photograph or television image I have ever seen of Eldora, the pits were packed, the grandstands and surrounding seating areas were filled to capacity, so the first thing that struck me was how empty it was. We arrived so early that the pit gates were not yet open, so it was like being the first ones at a party.

Haulers were lining up and waiting for the gates to open, and a few fans and crew members wandered around inside. We walked in where the seating area overlooks turns three and four, and stared the way a vacationing family might gawk at the majesty of the Grand Canyon. The track looks huge for a half-mile, and the banking is definitely high. It’s like a gigantic bowl carved out of the earth, big enough to turn out a huge batch of action, using centrifugal force to throw cars against the sides like cake batter in my Kitchen Aid mixer.

Along the front stretch is a covered grandstand filled with wooden bleachers and backed by restrooms and concessions, with the press box right in the middle. If you walk through, and out the other side, you find all of the souvenir trailers, filled with your favorite t-shirts, hats, diecast and the like. On this particular night, there was even an IndyCar simulator for those who wanted to get a taste of speed without the risk of accident or injury.

It was a beautiful day, and we enjoyed taking the grand tour of Eldora, pausing every now and then to look out over the place, take it all in, and simply sigh with the satisfaction of knowing we were there.

The pit gates opened, and one-by-one we watched the haulers do their dance in the infield, jockeying for position, rolling into just the right spot, then opening up those rear doors to reveal their amazing cargo. Watching those beautiful wingless Sprint Cars being released from captivity is a little like viewing fireworks on the fourth of July. One wants to gasp and shout with delight as each beautiful paint job is revealed.

We made our way around the track and through the tunnel so we could get up close to the cars and drivers that make up our favorite sport. There were 35 Sprint Cars on hand, each one being tweaked and race-readied by able-bodied crews and drivers. Fans and photographers wandered the pits, keeping an eye on the preparations, taking pictures and chatting with old friends and making new acquaintances.

It struck us how friendly everyone was, from the pit shack, to the concession stand, souvenir trailers to the back gate, every person we met was just as nice and welcoming as could be. Some of our time was spent chatting with drivers Jerry Coons, Jr. and Brady Bacon, who were great about answering our questions. It was interesting to listen to them talk about why they do what they do, how they got started, and the kind of support they get from their families. It would be impossible to be in this business alone, and the support of family and good friends is extremely important.

Moving down the front stretch and on into the first turn, we stopped and looked at the cars, talked with other photographers and checked out an autographed car that was sitting in the infield. Scoping out a spot to shoot was a little tough because there are some pretty high fences around the infield. To me, it just makes sense to do this, because you just never know when a car is going to become airborne and bounce into places it shouldn’t. The fences should prevent that. We worked a corner down by the safety crew, who were a lot of fun to visit with before things got underway. These guys take their jobs very seriously, and enter the track any time a car gets upside down. We enjoyed talking to them about their jobs and find it comforting to know that safety is at the top of the priority list at Eldora.

Hotlaps, followed by qualifying got underway, and we went back to work snapping away and working to get the best possible shots. As an amateur with the camera, I tend to keep hitting the button until I get something good. Sometimes that works pretty well, but I definitely end up with a lot of extra shots that I have to delete later. All I know is that it is a good thing I’ve gone digital because I would spend a fortune on film and developing.

We wrapped up our time in the pits and headed over to grab a late bite to eat and watch the rest of the action from the grandstands. Just as we sat down with our burgers and fries, the skies opened up for a brief shower. While people dashed in out of the rain, we wondered if this would be the end of what had started out to be a great evening. Fortunately, it didn’t last long, and racing got back underway in short order.

It was nice to just sit and watch the racing after having been on our feet all day and evening long. The track was rough from the rain, and a lot of cars got pretty torn up, but the racing was still very close. It was exciting, as Wingless Sprint Car racing usually is, and I would not have missed this trip for anything.

To Earl Baltes for building it, to Tony Stewart for buying it, keeping things going, and making improvements, and to everyone who makes events at Eldora Speedway more than just races, we salute you. It is through the efforts of people with vision and determination that grassroots racing survives and thrives in America. If not for them, fans like us would miss out on the experience of racing at its finest, and the big sanctioning bodies would have no “farm teams” from which to recruit drivers. Most importantly, the drivers who have a passion for driving on dirt would have no where to do it.

Eldora Speedway is definitely the image of what grassroots racing is all about. We can’t wait to visit again!

www.girlsgoneracin.com

Making Lemonade

Plainfield, IN (April 28, 2007) – Because the sunshine failed to show up on time to fulfill its contractual agreement, and we were rained out at Gas City I-69 Speedway, we have decided that disciplinary action is required. We are officially announcing that the sun has been fined $10,000 and put on probation for the rest of the season. We will no longer tolerate this type of behavior.

We did not find out about the rainout until 3pm Friday, and by then we were almost to Indianapolis, so it was time to make a decision. Should we waste the precious fuel that cost us almost $3 per gallon, turn around and head for home, or buck up, spend the night and wager a meteorological gamble that Eldora would not fall victim to the same fate? For four race-starved fans who have already been shorted, even this early in the season, it was a pretty simple choice to make.

Rolling on into Plainfield, we found a hotel, checked in and unloaded. Spring and I settled in pretty quickly, tuning in SPEED so we could watch some of the Busch qualifying coverage. We took a break to meet the guys for dinner, had some dessert, watched a bit of the Cardinals game, and then spent the rest of the evening watching the ARCA race and brainstorming our next big idea. We were really excited to see former USAC driver, Josh Wise do so well in the ARCA race. Way to go, Josh!


It would have been easy to feel that the weekend had turned sour because of the rainout, but we decided that it was a whole lot more fun to make the best of things and enjoy the little break from our usual family responsibilities. Spring and I stayed up until pretty early in the morning, working on the future plans of GGR. We are brimming with ideas, and the funny part is how often one of us says something, and the other just laughs because they were thinking the same thing. I guess that’s what it’s like to have a really great friend.


Saturday morning dawned blue and beautiful, and since we had plenty of time to kill before we needed to hit the road for Eldora, my Dad came up with the briliant idea of heading over to the Brickyard to visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Before walking through those hallowed halls, we took a bus tour of the grounds, which was narrated by our driver, Jim. We enjoyed talking and joking around with him. It is so great when you meet someone who is enthusiastic about racing, and is willing to open up a little.

The museum was wonderful. I have visited several times, but this was the first time I had seen Tony Stewart’s Home Depot Car on display. I had a great time taking pictures and walking around. The history that is housed inside that museum is astounding, and the cars are works of art. It is very interesting to me to see how they have evolved through the years.

Before leaving the grounds, the sound of formula cars practicing on the track lured us to a grassy hillside nearby where we stood watching and taking photographs. Those cars are a lot harder to catch on camera than anything else I’ve ever tried to shoot. Getting the timing down would definitely take a lot of practice. We were able to get right up next to the fence, and although I got a lot of wonderful shots of empty pavement, I know Spring managed to get some good ones.


It was finally time to head on down the highway, so we loaded up and rolled on down the road toward the evening's destination: Eldora Speedway.

Indiana/Ohio or bust!

Well, it's Friday morning of a weekend that I thought would never get here. In just a few short hours we will be hitting the highway for our first road trip of 2007!

Spring and I, along with my Dad and brother will be heading east to Gas City tonight, and then hopping over the Ohio state line for the famed Eldora Speedway tomorrow night. The USAC Sprint Border Wars are on the menu, and a tasty dual entree it is!

We can hardly wait to see these two great tracks, catch up with old friends, and make new ones. And of course, we are always excited about all the photos we are going to take.

This should be a great weekend of Sprint Car racing and we will share it all right here as soon as we return.

Green flag drops (finally!) at Tri-City Speedway

It's offical. Tri-City Speedway has ushered in a new era of racing in the St. Louis area.

After several weather delays, the gates opened on the 2007 racing season at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach and it looked as if every driver and fan in the area turned out to see what all the fuss was about.

With the pits filled to capacity, a tightly packed parking lot, and grand stands bursting with people, it was clear that all of the hard work the Gundakers have put into this facility was well worth it. The new 3/8 mile, high banked track has everyone standing up and taking notice. The show moved along very well, and the action was lightning-fast.

My Dad and I made the trip over by ourselves, and had a really good time. We got there about a half an hour after the gates opened, and haulers were backed up all the way to the road. It was clear that parking would be at a premium, but they managed to squeeze everyone in. The new pit area outside of turns three and four helped a lot.

I walked around and took a few shots of various things, which you can see on the web site. One of the more interesting vantage points was from inside the flagstand. I've been to most areas of the track before, but this was my first time to take in the best view in the house! It was fun being up there for the opening festivites, which included a parade of beautiful classic race cars.

There was a lot of excitement in the air, and I know folks will be talking about opening night for weeks to come. After watching Late Models boogie around that track, I can't wait to see how the Sprint Cars do on it. We'll find out on May 4th when the World of Outlaws come to town.

Before then, we are headed up to Gas City, Indiana and Eldora next weekend for the USAC Sprints. Our first road trip of the year should be a whole lot of fun.

Meanwhile, check out all of this week's photos. I got to use the new zoom for racing for the first time, and I love it! It's great to be able to get up close to the cars, and I look forward to getting better at it as the weeks go by.

Thanks for dropping in!

Random Notes

It never fails that after our racing season is delayed by two weeks, we finally get perfect weather...on a Monday. Oh well, who can complain when it's sunny and 70+ outside? Not me!

Despite all the delays, it looks like we will finally kick off the season the weekend of April 27-28, starting at Gas City I-69 Speedway in Gas City, Indiana, and winding up at the famous (or is it infamous?) Eldora Speedway. USAC Sprints will highlight the race card both nights.

Spring is gradually getting better, and as of right now, she will join my Dad, my brother and I as we make the journey to Indiana and Ohio. None of us have been to Gas City before, but I have heard a lot of great things about it. Neither Spring nor I have been to Eldora, so that will definitely be a treat. Now all we have to do is hope that the weather holds.

When we do head off to the races, we'll be easy to spot as we roll down the highways. Just this weekend, I installed the vinyl graphics that were made by our friend at 87 Designs on the back window of Ol' Blue. Hopefully, there will be time to get Spring's done sometime this week, but we'll have to see how it goes. The vinyl turned out great, and I hope Chris knows just how much we appreciate his hard work.

My van wasn't the only thing to get a little racing TLC this week either. On Saturday, my hubby installed a phone in my "office" which is just a little corner of the basement that I've taken over. The phone wouldn't be such a big deal except that it's a Lightning McQueen phone. How cool is that? Also new in my office is my fancy new barstool/desk chair. I bought the chair, minus the seat, for $5 and my Mom and step-Dad fashioned this awesome one-of-a-kind seat. I absolutely love it. Getting the chair so cheap was good, but having a custom-made seat is icing on the cake. Thanks guys!

The highlight of this day, besides getting the just-finished chair back from my Mom, was getting a postcard in the mail from the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. It seems they have selected one of my photos for display in their "Salute to the Shooters" tribute at the museum. The photo I submitted is a close-up shot of Tim Siner in his Silver Crown car last year at DuQuoin. It's one of my favorite shots from last year, and I feel truly honored that the photo has been chosen for the display.

So now we just sit back and count the days until we head out for our first race road trip of the year. Thanks for checking in!

Doing the Right Thing

Last weekend was supposed to be the start of our local racing season, but Old Man Winter just keeps hanging on and messing things up.

Tri-City postponed their Play Day to tonight and thier opener for Friday. It's still mighty breezy and looking a bit wet for tonight but I hope they get it in.

Saturday was supposed to be the World of Outlaws race at I-55 which was finally called late Friday night. I was really glad to hear it and I think it was the right decision for the fans and the promoter. It would have been a really lousy night for racing, and I think after seeing the effect of the cold on the crowd Friday night at Paducah, the World of Outlaws officials realized that.

So now it looks as if our first race will be at the end of the month. We are looking at the USAC Sprint events at Gas City and Eldora, and Spring is hoping to be in good enough shape to go. We had lunch together today, and she seemed to be doing pretty well. I hope that she continues to improve and is able to make the trip, because I know we would have a great time.

If the weather gets better, I will probably head over to Tri-City for their opener Friday night. I am really anxious to see how folks like all the changes over there. It's pretty exciting stuff!

A dash of optimism

Here in Missouri, we have a saying: "If you don't like the weather, wait a few minutes and it will change." Unfortunately, the saying is also true when you do like the weather, as evidenced by what has happened here in the last 24 hours!

For the past two weeks, our weather has been balmy, with a few bouts of rain thrown in. Perfect racing weather between storms. Yesterday, the temps were in the low seventies and we got a couple of rounds of thunderstorms. Overnight, the mercury began to fall and it is now 32 degrees outside. Great weather for building a snowman (if we had snow) but definitely not the best weather for racing. I'm still holding out hope that things warm up a bit before the weekend, but it's not looking good.

Right now, the meteorologists, both national and local are predicting highs in the forties for Friday and Saturday, which means dressing warm for Friday night's opener at Tri-City and Saturday night's World of Outlaws race at Pevely. It's been a number of years since I've had to dig out my gloves and warm winter coat to take in some racing action, but it looks like I don't have much choice in the matter!

My hubby and I are still planning on spending our 23rd wedding anniversary at I-55 Saturday night, but I don't know how I will shoot photos with frozen fingers! It should be very interesting, to say the least. As of right now, it is doubtful that Spring will make our kick-off weekend. She was still in a world of hurt when I took her to physcial therapy on Monday. Please keep her in your prayers!

Speaking of prayers, it is Easter weekend, and if you haven't figure out yet that it is about more than bunnies and chocolate eggs, I encourage you to check out your local church this Sunday. May God bless you on this, the greatest holiday of the year.

If you re-build it, they will come

It is the dream of race promoters everywhere to look up into the bleachers and see them filled to capacity with excited race fans. With all of the changes going on at Tri-City Speedway right now, it is not hard to imagine that dream becoming a reality on opening night.

Despite the challenge of wet weather, an extremely cold winter and other unexpected delays, progress is obvious at the 46-year-old Illinois speedplant. The newly configured three-eighths mile oval is banked and ready for racing. Concrete walls are going up all around the perimeter, many of the old lights have been taken down and new ones are delivered and ready to be lifted into place. Old bleachers by what once was turn one on the half-mile have been demolished and debris is being removed.

Clean up is also ongoing in concessions and all around the track. It is a big job, but things are coming together and this season will mark the beginning of a new era in racing at Tri-City.

Yes, the work has been tiring, and muscles have gotten a workout, but there are parts of it that have been emotionally taxing as well. Tearing down the old guardrails and cutting down the big half-mile meant taking a walk down memory lane. Ask any driver who has turned a significant number of laps at a track if there isn't some sense of nostalgia there. Most will tell you that there is.

Ripping apart the metal and earth where those memories were made is a bit like watching your childhood home being demolished. You know you will carry the images with you, but it's never quite the same when the physical structure is gone.

I snapped quite a few photos, and I will do my best to add more to the gallery tomorrow. Right now, there are eight up on the web site. Just follow this link:


http://www.girlsgoneracin.com/TCSConstruction07.htm

Once you've had a chance to look at those, check out the all new home page at www.girlsgoneracin.com. I hope you like it!


Here's a taste of the new Tri-City Speedway:

It's Springtime in St. Louis: Let the Racing Begin!

Trees are blooming, flowers are poking their heads up after their winter slumber, birds are chirping merrily outside my window and all of that points to only one thing: It's almost racing season!

There are a whole lot of great opportunities on the horizon for motorsports enthusiasts in St. Louis. It's time to get off the couch and head to your local race track to support the greatest sport on dirt. The Girls Gone Racin' dirt divas are more than ready for racing season to begin. We've already had our fill of televised NASCAR and are anxious to get out for the up close and personal thrill that is what makes grassroots racing so great. There is nothing to compare with the roar of the engines, the smell of spent fuel and the great people we meet each season.

Over the winter, I made some cosmetic changes to the blog and web site, since there wasn't a whole lot of actual racing to keep me busy. Today I added a slide show that uses several of the photos we shot last season and I think it turned out really well. I also found time to put together a web site for the all new Ozark Mountain Midget Series which kicks off their inaugural season in May.

Here is some of what is on the menu for the first week or so of the 2007 racing season in St. Louis:

Belle Clair Speedway will be one of the first tracks in the St. Louis are to open the gates for 2007 with their first weekly racing event scheduled to take place on March 30. Racing will include UMP Late Models, Modified and UMP Sportsman and Allied Pure Stock.

March 31 will be opening night for the Ken Schrader and Ray Marler owned I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri. The weekly racing there consists of Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions.

On Friday, April 6 the St. Louis racing season officially kicks off at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach with the first running of Late Models, Modifieds, C.A.R.S Late Models, Street Stocks and Factory Stocks. It's Kenny Wallace night, and Herman himself will be on had racing his dirt Modified. Rain caused a few problems before the season even began, delaying opening night at Tri-City by one week. They have been scurrying to get the final touches on the new track design, lighting, concrete wall and all the other loose ends that need to be knotted beforehand. Don't miss the opportunity to see history in the making on this first night of racing on the new track.

Morgan County Speedway in Jacksonville, Illinois also opens on April 6 with a $1,000-to-win 360 Sprint Invader race, as well as Late Models and Street Stocks. This will be the first year for the former Jacksonville Raceway to be under new promoters Bill West, Jr. and Kim West.

Heading on into next weekend, Saturday, April 7, will see the return of the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars to I-55 Raceway. This will be the first night out for Girls Gone Racin' and there is a good chance that my pal Spring won't make it to this one. She is laid up with some serious back problems and until she gets those straightened out, traipsing through the infield trying to catch racing action with her camera is out of the question. It will be up to me to get the best shots I can, take notes and get everything on our blog and web site the next day. With my new camera lens and way too much time since my last race, I think I'm up for the challenge. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate for racing and a little tailgating beforehand.

Get out and support your local racing!

New Track Passes Test Run at Tri-City Speedway

PONTOON BEACH, Ill. -- For the last few months, dirt has been moving and a new track has recently emerged from the gumbo clay at Tri-City Speedway. Gone is the half-mile circuit, and the quarter-mile is nowhere to be seen. In their place is a new high banked 3/8 mile track that has drivers anticipating the start of a new season like never before.

Last Friday, track owner Kevin Gundaker, along with his long-time friend Eric Jacobsen took the new track for a test drive. Eric had stopped off on his way to Kentucky Lake Speedway to check out the changes, and volunteered his #5 Late Model to be the first car on the new track.

Kevin and Eric both took turns, and, according to Kevin's wife, Tammy, it was "awsome and fast."

Below are a few photos from this momentous event, all taken by Tammie Easley of the Tri-City staff.

The Grassroots Gospel: The Gundaker Family

The Grassroots Gospel is a Girls Gone Racin’ series celebrating the drivers, promoters, fans and others who contribute to the preservation of the grassroots Motorsports effort and its traditions. It is intended as a tribute to the people who believe in the importance of maintaining the foundation of American auto racing.

Here in St. Louis, the Gundaker name is well known in two circles. One sees it everywhere from billboards, to yard signs to tractor trailers. If you have purchased real estate here, there’s a good chance that you have used their services.

To local race fans, the Gundaker name is less about down payments, equity and interest rates, and more about competition, excitement and the thrill of dirt track racing at its finest.

Three years ago, G&G Motorsports, which consists of Kevin Gundaker and his Dad, Gordon, purchased what some would consider an historic racing facility. Tri-City Speedway, in Pontoon Beach, Illinois is a dirt facility that opened in 1961 and consisted of a half-mile track surrounding a quarter-mile track.

At the time of purchase, the facility was in need of quite a bit of TLC. The Gundakers dove into the task and learned fast the true meaning of sweat equity. Instead of spending the winter bending sheet metal for his famous number 11 Late Model, Kevin spent hundreds of hours cleaning and painting, hauling off debris and old pieces of machinery.

The beat-up old trailers that used to be an office and a catch-all were replaced by new buildings to house the track’s hard-working staff. The pit gate was moved, making it easier for haulers to negotiate the pits. And everywhere you look, from shirts to building accents, you see patches of Kevin’s trademark color: Purple.

Kevin and his wife, Tammy attended promoters’ workshops, met with marketing people, and held drivers meetings. They hired staff members, discussed changes to the classes, nights of operation and a multitude of details that even they had not anticipated.

By opening night 2005, they were ready.

That first year was just the beginning of the learning process, and Tammy will be the first to admit that they made a lot of mistakes along the way. At times it was overwhelming and exhausting, but they survived and put what they had learned to good use.

Last year was better as they took what they had learned in their rookie season and began to apply it. Then they began to really work on the bigger improvements they wanted to make, ones that were more than paint brushes and brooms could fix.

This year the fruit of those labors is obvious to everyone, whether you walk through the gates, or fly overhead. Not only have they moved race night from Sunday to Friday, but the track has been completely re-configured. Gone are the half-mile and the quarter-mile circuits, and in their place is a wonderful 3/8 mile high-banked track that ought to challenge drivers and thrill fans. A new concrete wall is in the works, and to top it off, all new Musco lighting is going in this week and should be shining brightly by opening night, March 30.

Along with all of the changes at Tri-City comes a new addition to the G&G Motorsports family. Earlier this month, they became the proud new owners of Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo. Lake Ozark will run on Saturday nights and will certainly keep the Gundakers hopping, burning up the pavement between St. Charles and Eldon.

The Gundakers are committed to preserving the grassroots racing effort here in the Midwest, and for that we should all be thankful. Without the efforts and hard work of people like them, those of us who love racing would continue to see dirt tracks meet the fate of others, like St. Charles Speedway and 67 Raceway Park.

So now you have even more good reasons to get out and support your local racing. Do your part to keep the tradition alive. It’s great entertainment for the whole family!

Don't pimp my racin'!

It all started with the half-dressed girls in orange shorts with owls on their shirts. You know the ones I'm talking about. They don't need any more press and I'm not going to give it to them.

Then, about six years ago at the Belleville Midget Nationals, I saw some oiled up, bikini-clad pornstar-wannabe slithering all over the front of a Midget Car in victory lane while a photographer snapped away. Baby oil, Kansas dust, breezy summer day. Yeah, I can only imagine that chick having dirt in places she didn't know existed after that photo shoot!

Why is it that when it comes to marketing, whether it's shaving cream, cars, web hosting or hamburgers, the advertising industry thinks that using scantilly-clad women to promote their products is ok? Does it really increase sales or is it just an excuse to legally pornify the marketplace? It sure doesn't make me want to go out and plop my money down, I'll tell you that. And it doesn't work on the majority of the guys I know either. If they have even an ounce of respect for women, this kind of marketing should have just the opposite effect than is intended.

And why is it that as the female fan base for motorsports grows by leaps and bounds, the racing industry gets deeper into the sleaze pit? Do the brains behind these promotions really think they are going to attract more women fans, or are they intentionally trying to drive us away from an historically male sport?

Yes, it started many years ago with the girls who represent the place guys go to because they supposedly have great wings, (don't know, never been there) but unfortunately, it didn't end there.

Last year a Sprint Car driver signed a sponsorship agreement with a men's magazine so now when you take your kids to the track, and they see that billboard go buy, you get to explain to them that it's just a fancy apartment that rich people live in.

As if that wasn't enough, today another major player in motorsports announced a partnership with another men's magazine, and is even going to have their trademark girls with the big ears and the fuzzy tails walking around at an upcoming event. I can just hear that explanation now, "No sweetie, that's not the Easter Bunny."

Why has it come to the point where the motorsports marketing gurus have decided that it's not bad enough we are bombarded with sleaze on tv, radio, internet and highway signs, but they now have to trash live racing as well? Aren't there enough reputable sponsors out there that they don't have to stoop to this?
If they want to make racing an adults-only sport, which appears to be the direction they are headed, then they are shooting themselves in the proverbial bank account. Where do they think future race fans will come from if their parents keep them away from the tracks when they are young? We already have to shield them from the violent and sleazy commercials during televised racing. At live events, our biggest challenge before was always trying to find a "family friendly" area to sit in order to avoid the one foul-mouthed, chain-smoking, drunken redneck who, without fail, would always end up sitting behind us. What's next? Mud-wrestling on the front stretch?

The only thing worse than the companies, sanctions and tracks that parade slutty women around in order to sell products, make money and finance their racing are the women who allow themselves to be bought. Yes, every now and then there is a commercial that uses half-naked guys, but I'm guessing it will be a freezing cold July day in Daytona before the Chippendale Dancers show up in victory lane!

One month to go!

With just one month to go until the official kick off of the 2007 GGR season, all I can say is, "Bring it on!"

Like most race fans, I have watched the oh-so-slow revolution of seasons changing from those mild October evenings, to the ice storms of November and January, all the way around to violent thunderstorms of pre-spring. It's an ongoing circle that will finally make the turn to spring in the very near future.

As we gear up for the season, Spring and I have been working on confirming dates for races, getting credentials, organizing our paperwork and brainstorming over what to do differently and better this year.

We've had some fun lunches with other race girls, mainly Tammy and Tina from Tri-City, where we have learned more about how things work when it comes to promoting a dirt track. The girls have also been great at giving us tips as to things we can do to make sure we maintain good relationships with track and sanction owners. With all of that in mind, I like to think that last year was our rookie/learning season and this, our sophomore season, means we will apply much of what we have learned. Of course, it's an ongoing process, and I would also hope that we will never stop learning.

These past few months have meant basketball season at our house, and since I can't be outside shooting race cars, I've been honing my skills inside, taking photographs at high school varsity games, as well as junior high feeder league and Upward basketball games. It's been a lot of fun, and I managed to contribute hundreds of photos to our high school coach for use at the end of the season awards dinner, which is always a lot of fun.


Besides taking pictures, I've been trying to learn more about how my camera works, and how to process and manipulate photos in Paint Shop Pro Photo. I still have a whole lot to learn about all aspects of photography, and I doubt I will ever come close to making the kind of magic that Spring creates, but I sure have a good time trying. I'm posting one of my manipulations here just to give you an idea of the kind of playing I've been doing. I like the effects, and I'm going to play around some more when I have the time. Maybe one of these days Spring will even have time to give me a few tips.

While learning about the camera, and really pushing my current lenses to their limits, it became apparent that I just couldn't get as close to my subjects as I would have liked. With that in mind, I broke down and ordered a new zoom lens that should be here by the end of the week. My current lens goes out to 200, and the new one goes to 300, so I am anxious to see how much that helps with shooting cars. I will still have the problem of not having a decent flash, so any night time photography is still going to be left up to Spring.

It's funny, as the days are crossed off the calendar, I look forward to the racing season, yet I want to hang on to each precious hour. My daughter graduates from high school this year, and will be attending school in Springfield, Missouri, in the fall. We took a fast trip down there this weekend so she could interview for a scholarship, and had a great time. Of course, it would be a whole lot better if I didn't get all weepy at the thought of packing her up and saying good-bye! She's quite a kid though, and I know she will do well.

While in Springfield last weekend, we had about 90 minutes to kill, so we did what most women would do in our situation, we went shopping! Finding our way to Battlefield Mall was easy, and as luck would have it, two local tracks, Lebanon I-44 Speedway and Monett Speedway, were holding their pre-season race car show at the mall! All lined up in one wing of the mall were beautiful shiny Late Models and Modifieds polished up and ready to roll. It's fun to see them looking all clean and new and then think about how they are all going to look in about a month's time!

Speaking of new, things are coming together over at Tri-City. My Dad and I are hoping to make a run over there on Thursday to see it firsthand. The new Musco lighting is on its way and the weather is looking good so far for the pouring of the new concrete wall. That place is sure going to look different from the track I grew up with, but I think that all of the changes will be great. The Gundakers have sure put a lot into it, and I know they are excited about unveiling it to the world.

As it stands right now, Spring and I are hoping to get over there for a couple of hours on Play Day, March 25. We'll head back over on April 6 when Kenny Wallace is supposed to be in attendance.

Saturday, April 7, we head down to Pevely, Missouri for the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars. I haven't been to a WoO show in a few years, and I'm really looking forward to it. Our plan right now is to go down early and do some tailgating before the race. We're hoping that a few of our friends will stop by and say hello. I'm planning to bring a few Girls Gone Racin' stickers to give away, so if you stop by, be sure and ask for one!

Yes, the weather is warming up, and all over the midwest engines are being tuned up in preparation for another run at a track championship, or a rookie season. I don't know about everyone else, but I can't wait to get the party started!

New Series, New Track, New Season!

Last evening I put together a web site for a friend of mine who has created a brand new racing series. The Ozark Mountain Midget Series will be coming soon to a track in the midwest. This is a Sportsman Midget Series and is a spin-off of the Illini Racing Series. Check out the site, which is bare-bones at the moment, and watch for updates and changes. This should be a very exciting and groundbreaking series.

While working on line, I saw an email come in from our buddy Rich Edwards in Arnold, Mo. He got the chance to go for a plane ride and do some practice shooting with his new Pentax K100D of the construction going on at Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, IL. Nice guy that he is, Rich shared the photos with us and gave permission for us to share them with you. Enjoy!

Of all the lamb excuses...

We've all done it, right? We've been invited to do something or go somewhere, and we don't really want to go, so we make up some silly excuse to get out of it. No harm, no foul, nobody's feelings get hurt.

Well last Friday I called up Spring to see if I could take her out to lunch for her birthday. I couldn't get her at home or on her cell, so I left a message. A few minutes later, I got a text messaging asking, "What's up?"

When I responded, letting her know what I had in mind, she replied that she would love to, but the only way she could do lunch was if I brought it to her because she couldn't leave the house. Finally, we caught up with each other long enough to verbally communicate what was going on.

As it turns out, one of Spring's sheep had given birth to triplets Monday night. Of the two boys and one girl, the Momma really only wanted to take care of one, so the other two were getting shoved aside. One was bad enough that it had to be brought into the house to get warmed up and so they could attempt bottle feeding.

City girl that I am, this was something I just had to see, so I stopped at the Bread Company (where else would I go?), picked up soup and salads, and headed up the highway to Spring's house. When I got there, sweet Sadie greeted me at the door with lots of excitement, jumping up on me and passing out licks.

We had lunch and visited for a bit and then it was time to go see this little miracle of miracles.


I grew up in the suburbs, but I've been to Grant's Farm and fed the goats, ridden horses, seen cows up close and personal, but never before had I seen a less-than-a-week-old lamb. My goodness, how adorable he was! Little Cisco looked like a stuffed animal all curled up in his wicker laundry basket. He was laying on a heating pad in front of a space heater to try and get warm and didn't respond to us much when we stroked him or said his name. Even Sadie tried to help by licking the top of his head and nuzzling his ears.

It was feeding time for the little lamby-pie, so Spring went and heated up a special formula and put it in a small glass Coke bottle with a rubber nipple. She showed me how to hold it and get Cisco interested. He was interested all right! That little guy almost polished off the whole bottle in no time, and once he did, it was amazing how fast he got energized!

Before long, there was no keeping him in the basket or even in a big cardboard box. Instead, he followed me around the dining room (the song "Mary had a little lamb" kept going through my head the whole time) and exploring the house and the cat. His tiny hooves made the cutest little clopping sound on the hardwood floor! It was really something to see and I just couldn't stop taking pictures of the little guy. He finally settle down after quite a bit of wandering, and just nodded off in a corner of the room.

What a fun day it was for me as I got to make friends with Cisco!

Dirt Track Divas Dare to Dream

Things are starting to look up around here now that we've broken out of our Arctic freeze and shaken the ice off the thermometer. I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to get warm anywhere but under my electric blanket.

We spent last Sunday at Spring and Randy's watching the Daytona 500 and pigging out on all kinds of down home comfort food. Spring cooked up some fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and slaw which we washed down with some kind of fabulous punch. We topped the whole calorie-fest off with hunks of a specialty cake that my daughter made to look like the finish line with Junior crossing in front. (Hence the "dream" part of this title.) That was for Spring, who is a Junior fan. I was, of course, cheering for Tony, who made a great showing and should have won the darned thing. Once he was out, I took to cheering for Mark Martin, and we all know how that turned out. Oh well, don't ever take me to Vegas!

So now I'm starting to think that racing season will eventually get here, and I'm really excited. We already have credentials in place for several events, and I am working on getting them for a few more. It will be a busy summer, which is fine with me. The more time I spend chasin' racin', the less time I will spend mourning the fact that my oldest will head off to college in the fall. Yikes!

For now, I am working on a web site for the newly formed Ozark Mountain Midget Series which is a Midget racing series for low-budget racers. Our buddy Dustin has been working his tail off for ages to put this thing together and it's looking really good. He also let me know that he will be racing a Sprint Car on Friday nights this season, and I know he is excited. Congrats, Dustin!

Girls Gone Racin' is the official photographer of the OMMS, and we look forward to this new venture.

In other news, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. who drives Brent's Midget won two USAC events, both Sprint and Silver Crown, while out west. Way to go, Ricky! We have asked Brent if we can ride along sometime this season to see just what goes into a race weekend, and we're going to try and figure out when we can do it.


Saturday is Spring's birthday so drop her a note when you get the chance. We'll be going out with a bunch of other gals for a true "girls's night out" which should be a lot of fun. I'll be sure to bring my camera...

Wake me up when the engines start!

Yes, I know it must seem as if this blog has been in hibernation mode, and I guess maybe it has, but that does not mean that I've been sleeping for the past two weeks. Not by a long shot!

In all actuality, work has been keeping me busy. Usually this time of year, we can kind of kick back and coast for a while, but there has actually been a lot going on in the racing world. Of course, none of it is anywhere near me, so I've had to settle for watching some of the NASCAR hype and wondering why in the world anyone still gets caught up in it. Maybe this time of year it's a bit more understandable because there is no real racing going on, but in two months, NASCAR will definitely be on the back burner as we head into dirt track season.

With that in mind, you just never know where you might find interesting motorsports stuff this time of year. Thanks to my friend Ron, I learned about the Shifting Gears exhibit at the Missouri History Museum. Yestereday my Dad and I headed off to see it, and we had a good time.

The exhibit features cars that were manufactured in St. Louis. It is amazing how many automobile manufacturers were here over the years and how diverse the styles of cars. We saw cars made by Dorris, Moon and many others on display. Most of the cars had been painstakingly restored and were absolutely beautiful. I was surprised by how big some of them were too. The 1924 Dorris (pictured above) on display had to be at least as long as the modern Suburban! The front bumper on this car reminded me of Lizzie's smile in the move Cars.

There was also an area devoted to auto racing, which I found to be particularly intriguing. The trophy on display was intricately detailed and I can only imagine the pride of the driver to whom it was presented. One of the descriptions of a race, which started at night, described the track as being lit by hundreds of gas-powered torches. Can you imagine? No Musco lighting in those days, that's for sure!

I also enjoyed the display of "motoring togs" that were popular in the early 1900s. The first photo in the blog is an example of one of those styles. Her goggles are lined in purple fur! I think she is quite elegant, but I can't imagine having to get into all that gear just to run to the mall.

There was another section with information about motoring safety and how new laws had to be enacted as automobiles evolved. At one point, the speed limit in St. Louis was 8 mph. This left us with an intriguing question: How did the cops know if someone was speeding? They certainly didn't have radar guns, in the driver's defense, there were no speedometers! Sounds like a slick way of padding the coffers of city government to me.

All in all, this is a small but interesting display. There are only about a dozen or so cars on display, but the exhibit is open to the public, and free, so the price is right. It runs through March 31, 2007.