One Holiday Down!

After yesterday, I don't want to see another plate heaped high, or the desserts that were never ending!
NO CALORIES, NO CARBS, and NO SUGARS! Diet time!

We stuffed, bloated ourselves, crammed, tasted everything in site, had seconds, even desserts,
listened to stories, played card games, did dishes, dishes and more dishes...
And just think in less than 4 weeks....we do it all over again...

Prozac was a hit in the turkey! LOL (private joke)

Thanksgiving....Family that only sees each other all together a couple times a year!
Christmas.....Additional Family added that only sees each other all together a couple times a year!

Hmmm....

Catching Your Breathe!

With the last NHRA race in the history books, the last night at the track BIG party with Lucas Oil Gang, Sammy Eubank  Band ,In N' Out Burger Wagon, great friends, the awards ceremony done and the after party over...everyone now is counting the days for the 2011 NHRA season to begin...I guess the 2011 season began the night the World Finals were over. Now everyone has a clean plate. Here we go again!
Who's going where? How many teams will Schumacher have? Who's leaving? What will he have? What other teams are leaving our sport? What new sponsors are coming on? What NEW face even? January will tell all or a tongue will slip!
Whatever the case may be....one thing for sure, parts will be ordered, fuel will be purchased, fans be be back, and the "SMELL OF NITRO" will be there!
So, see you all the end of February with more and maybe some exciting news!
On to the next Chapter....

On the Road Again Part 2...

Made it to the track in time to watch the nitro cars...YEAH!  Thought the session was going to be a repeat of Vegas...Oildowns! The cars got down with only a few this time...thank God!
Made my appearance at the Lucas Oil Hospitality then off to Chino Hills to check in with the cousins .....now waiting on some friends to go to dinner which they said it was going to be surprise! Hmmm...Sushi? Steak? In N' Out...a Double Double?..LOL!
Tomorrow....sitting in on a few meetings...all is going well for my buddies...now for someone to sign on the ...........line!
Till tomorrow...'Smell the Nitro"...
B

On the Road Again.....

Have you ever watched the  people in an airport? Everyone in their own little world! Some like me, with computer on lap, some with their smart phones in hand (and can't put in down) not looking where they're going, the ones that are really in a hurry...like everyone else doesn't have a flight to catch! Everyone has an itinerary for their mission.....family, business, pleasure...with their baggage in hand..if it's bags or kids..their sites are set! 
Even the airport staff can't get away from the ipod or cell phones! Getting paid to be on the ipod, cell phone, FB??? Hmmmm......As you see I'm people watching..
From the teen groups...making remarks about their surroundings to the husband and wife who's not sure if they're in the right concourse. The next two hours will be amusing!
Watching the faces show pleasure knowing new grandparents  are on there way to see their new grandtwins, the solider that is getting shipped out for the first time leaving his new bride in a strange place, the woman going to stay with a sick friend, whatever it may be....faces here show it all! Pleasure, happiness, sorrow, stress, love, or loneliness. We are  a dead giveaway to the emotions when we don't think others are watching....writing on the wall!
Hopefully, my face is showing pleasure, happiness and excitement..lol! As, I'm headed to my familiar place, the drag strip in Pomona, CA, The NHRA World Finals! The smell of tires burning and the nitro during a warm-up...why I like those smells, I really don't know! The tires on a burn-out gets black stuff (traction compound, VHT) all over your clothes and your face, when you try to wash it off your face it smears from one side to the other... and the nitro burns your eyes and you CRY( and you can't help it), you can't breathe....COUGH, COUGH!
I guess, if it really matters I am sitting in Denver waiting, waiting, WAITING for my connection to LAX...which I'm to arrive at 12:30 pm. Then off to gather my ticket & PP  at the Wally Parks Museum, then hopefully catch the session this afternoon.
Of course there are places to hang out when you are around the track, the Sheraton Fairplex, the Mexican restaurant on Foothill, the sushi bar, the sports bar outside the back gate of the track...Cask & Clevers to name a few!
And by the way, when in LA, is the ONLY place I LOVE to drive CRAZY, cause everyone does! lol...
Back here soon with updates...and MORE!
B

How I Got "Hooked" !

Austin (my son) and I were on our way to California to a tradeshow...stopping in Laramine WY for fuel. There IT was....the most colorful tractor/trailer we had ever seen! Smokin' Joe! WOW, Austin said! He asked me if I thought they had shirts and hats..I said "go ask", you'll never know if you don't ask! Austin came back all in tears, said they didn't have any! "Bull" I said...got on the CB and asked where they were heading...answer came back.."Somona, CA"..!
I headed out when they did, stopping at the rest stops, diners, etc...when they did..Needless to say, by the time we all crossed the State of California  line, I had shirts and hats and "friends".

The tradeshow we were going to was outside Somona, CA...what was the luck of that? We were able to  go to the track on Thursday of the event...We both got hooked..Thank you Big Jim Coakley and Jeff Mackey...with Jim Head Racing. Have been friends with them ever since..and for the love of drag racing. That was 16 years ago!

After that trip, I started scheduling my tradeshows around the drag racing events. Eventually I had a
showcar program with Tom Martino PS..travelling to all the NHRA National Events.

It just shows if you are determined enough anything can happen!

Don't ever give up! If you want it bad enough, you'll get it!

Till later....I just may spill the beans!

B

P.S. For our tradeshows, I had a "Kodiak" truck and a 40' 5th wheel trailer! Travelling over 40,000 miles a year and doing up to 54 shows a year..Gary had a dually and a 24' tag trailer. We did the tradeshows for over 15 years for our living.

Vegas...Racing Style!

Vegas...Glitter, Lights, Gambling, Drinking, and the most Important Thing! NHRA Drag Racing!

We arrive at Las Vegas Motor Speedway just in time for the last session on Friday! While Gary goes off to the stands, I consume myself with all the familiar faces, smells, and touching base with my
"road friends"! What a feeling! Really making me want to  come back to this circus even more......
Dale Creasy Sr. sits with us..and if any of you know Dale, he has a lot to say! After about 30 minutes or so, we were laughing so hard that my face hurt! That man can make a bad day have humor!
After this session, we head to the hospitality area to enjoy the gracious company of the Lucas Oil Group, visiting with the other guests and making  new contacts. Then off to P.F. Chang's for a cocktail and a few appetizers....MY favorite chain restaurant. Lettuce wraps and seared tuna...Yum!
Thinking Saturday was going to be a normal race day...NOT! It was a very long day due to all the oil downs! Wow, the first run with the nitro cars ONLY lasted for 3 hrs. and 15 minutes...the crowd was getting restless and impatient..can't blame them, so were we! But we made the best of it making conservation with our bleacher friends.
Saturday ended up to be GREAT! Thank you fuel cars!
Scheduling a few meetings on Sunday for my friends, talking of the 2011 NHRA season with sponsors...everyone left happy! Going to be a great NHRA 2011 season for sure...You all will see soon!
You know Vegas just isn't about the casinos, lights, Halloween weekend...it's about the new friends and lasting contacts! Get it!

Love it! Betty "Boop"