Drag Racing in the ESPY awards
I was reading the latest column over at Go2Geiger.com about Tony Schumacher's nomination for an ESPY award, and it made me really think about what is holding us back from being a mainstream sport among the masses.
I was reading the latest column over at Go2Geiger.com about Tony Schumacher's nomination for an ESPY award, and it made me really think about what is holding us back from being a mainstream sport among the masses.
This year at the NHRA Gateway race in St. Louis, a seasoned Fuel driver Melanie Troxel walked away from a crash in Raymond Commisso's 5.8-second Pro Modified entry, an incident she attributed to her "inexperience. I just didn't have enough laps." She went on to say "these cars are a handful," a sentiment that Rick Stivers would probably agree with given his own spectacular crash that same weekend in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge at the O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals.
While most kids dreamed of growing up to become veterinarians and doctors, I was awe-inspired at the tender age of 6 by what would be a classic 80's Hollywood movie... oh yes, wait for it.... Top Gun. [cue Danger Zone music]
I very clearly remember watching it with my family one night, and even though I was a restless 6 year old, was absolutely transfixed by what I saw. My dad was a career Air Force officer, and had retired from the Air Force before I was born. Perhaps my love of aircraft and speed came subconsciously from him, but I don't think they expected what came out of my 6 year old mouth after watching Maverick and the rest of the characters lighting up the sky in those F-14's.
Designed by the same people responsible for the new gen KITT car (Galpin Autosports), this car has been totally redone for the USAF. On the exterior a radical lowered stance and low profile tires make for the aggressive aircraft-inspired theme complete with carbon fiber body, aerodynamic air intakes, and gull-wing doors. The flight cockpit interior completely replaces the Mustang interior with flight-stick, a touch-screen interfaced control system, and a single driver ejection seat center-mounted setup. GPS and nightvision technology is also found on the high-tech console.
At first, I was rather curious how they were "driving" via a flight-stick, but I read on to discover that there is a hidden regular motorized steering wheel that pops out for the "pilot" to steer with (slight disappointment that its not stick-driven, but whatever). The stick is actually a very nifty shifter for the manual transmission. I was also surprised that the car is only hopped up to 500 hp with cams and exhaust, which by my hotrodder standards does it zero justice... I mean why not twin turbos or something cool!
Originally, I had planned to make a trip to Indy all weekend, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I had been added to the Dixie Derby All-Star team. We had a home bout on Saturday, which I played in and we ended up winning 154-41. Great night for sure. Thanks for everyone that came to watch, I had a great time!
I didn't get to celebrate long at the afterparty, because after that tiring day, it was up bright and early headed out to Indianapolis, IN. I had a few different reasons to be going to Indy, but one of them was to definitely catch part of the Indy 500 in person. I've never seen an Indy race live, especially not at the hallowed Brickyard, so I raced the 6 hours up there early Sunday morning to catch the race. (thank GOD for radar detectors.... and drafting... and fun travelers with the same idea in mind)
I arrived around lap 90, but by the time I got parked and hiked the 2 miles to the track, it was somewhere around lap 140 or so. To my luck, they weren't even checking tickets anymore, so I just walked in and grabbed an empty seat on Turn 2. I had a bunch of friends there that I hoped to meet and sit with, but unfortunately, you can't exactly hear a cell phone well from the track, so I just gave up and sat in the stands next to some *interesting* people.
Of course, I learned after I made it about 1.75 miles of my hike that I'd hauled my camera with me for NOTHING, being that I had conveniently left my only CF card in the USB reader at work back in Huntsville. Grrrr..... I can be thoroughly brain-dead sometimes. But I did catch some of the *BIG* Meira crash, as it happened right in front of me. They took awhile to get him out, I had a sick feeling as they don't make it a point to say anything about the driver's condition over the PA. I thought I saw him moving on the stretcher, so that was a hopeful sign. Thankfully, he's okay, just has some broken vertebrae and will have some therapy to go through for the rest of the season.
So, the best evidence of my 1st trip to an Indy car race comes from my negative 3.0 mega pixel camera phone. And let me tell you how hard it is to actually CATCH a 2oomph car whizzing by with that sucker too. ::Shakes head in disgust:: Labels: On the Road
One of the great things about racing, is that it has allowed me to travel the country, one racetrack at a time. I tried to sit down and think of all the tracks I've been to, which isn't an easy task. Sad part is, that although I've been all over the U.S., I couldn't tell you much about the cities I've visited BESIDES which track surfaces are good and how the pit parking was.
The list that I can remember is about 40+ right now, including a few over the ocean in Puerto Rico. I'm hoping to add to it as the years go by. (or as I can remember where else I've been!)
I don't even want to think how many road miles that adds up to!
My favorites are Bristol's Thunder Valley for the beautiful scenery and awesome atmosphere as the cars race through the mountain valley, and Norwalk's Summit Raceway Park because of the midway and great hospitality (and because it was my first 6 sec, 200mph pass there). The ultimate package has to be Ponce Int'l Raceway in Puerto Rico, its a drag racer's dream! More on that in another blog post though...
I'm hoping to add the rest of the NHRA tour onto my list at some point (in the not-so-distant future).
Labels: Lists
Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting my absolute favorite Professional Sports Photographer, Mark Rebilas. I've been a fan of his and have been following his work for quite awhile now, but I didn't realize how cool a guy he actually is until recently.
Angelle Sampey last year in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Now-retired Funny Car driver Gary Scelzi
The action shots are unlike anything I've ever seen. With drag racing being the fastest moving of all the motorsports, I imagine its quite difficult to catch all the action coming at you at 300mph. But these are just the most vivid and spectacular I've ever seen...
Robert Hight in Nitro Funny Car
Tony Schumacher in Top Fuel
Fuel Altered Engine Explosion at March Meet
Clearly, I don't have to do much talking. His work speaks rather breathlessly for itself. I couldn't possibly post all of my favorites, so you really need to head on over to his blog to check them all out.
Other than the fact he drives a Corvette (::groan::), Mark is one of the coolest people I've had a chance to hang out with in some time! I've already made him promise that if I strike the lotto and go Top Fuel racing, he's going to be the official Photographer with sole mission to make me look like a resident bad ass! Thanks, Mark!
Check out Mark's Blog: www.markjrebilas.com/blog
Or better yet, subscribe to it free here.
Next up, I headed out to Vegas for a work-related tradeshow. I handle marketing for a broadcast equipment manufacturing company, and the NAB Show is our largest tradeshow of the year. Its always a very long week, with 2 after-show events that I manage for our dealers/customers. I did get a few hours out by the hotel pool at the Sahara, as well as skating with the Sin City Roller Girls at one of their practices, dinner at Tao and dancing at Pure Nightclub in Ceasar's Palace one of the nights as well.
From Vegas, I hopped a plane over to Columbus, OH where I was playing my very first Roller Derby Bout against the Ohio Roller Girls. We lost, I broke my finger, dislocated a knuckle and pulled a tendon in my hand, and I was way tired, but it was still a good experience. My friend Chuck came out along with my cousin Ana and her boys, so it was great seeing family and friends as well.
Then, on top of all of the craziness, I had 2 days once I got home to move to a new house my roommate and I were renting. With a broken finger. NOT fun. One of my coworkers and his wife helped me move most of it Monday night. I had to be out by Wednesday, and after a trip to Atlanta on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning to pick up my badly missed little Chihuahua, handle some work, and meet a special new friend (more on that next blog), it has been an exhausting month.
Which brings me to this weekend: the St. Louis NHRA race. I went to this race last year, and was planning to go this year as well. The Stevens Family Top Fuel Dragster, which some may remember is the team I have been working with to get a top fuel ride once we find funding to license and run, had a one-race deal for St. Louis, and I had planned to go there and shoot some video of the team and me with the dragster to put together a promo reel for the sponsor chase. However, Friday afternoon when I was getting ready to pack up and leave, the weather sirens started going off, making the drive not look like such a great idea. That fact, combined with the radar outlook for Saturday showing rain all day long, made me decide to stay home after lots of back-and-forth. A decision I instantly regretted the next morning when Dave Stevens called me saying it was clear blue skies and sunny there. DOH! [photo Competition Plus, Roger Richards]
So the team ended up qualifying and getting into the show. They went out first round to Morgan Lucas. Of course, I missed all the action. I'm super sad. :( So much for luck... I gambled and lost in Vegas, Ohio, and St. Louis! DARN!
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