skibigsky's Diaryland Diary
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Nationals
We're in Topeka. Solo Nationals. More fun (haven't raced yet, so that might play a factor!) than you could know. Here's the update.
It’s funny. I think it’s just because I am such a new driver (in EVERY sense), but while I fundamentally understand that the Nationals is a big deal, I didn’t quite actually internalize that it was A BIG DEAL. And all across Wyoming, Nebraska, and into Kansas, it seemed like a bit of a road trip concocted by some fool who had friend his brain cells a bit too much in the 60’s. (This sense was enhanced by the mapquest directions for the last 50 miles that threw us into ‘Deliverance’-country. Eeesh. Seriously. We were in some mighty remote territory, dragging the 5th wheel behind us. Thanks, Charles!)
And that (after directions from a non-Deliverance local) we got here. And had managed to miss registration by about 30 minutes. Eh. No harm, no foul. We are here for the rest of the week, so registration is not a big deal. Instead, we pulled into our RV spot. Clearly I didn’t understand the RV site description, as there was electrical hookups (good) but no water (not so good; luckily we were mostly filled before we pulled in). Still, not awful. But we are a bit check-by-jowl, and ended up having to pull straight in (so we could unload the car, and so we could actually reach the hookups). And we had to pull all the way in, making it so we couldn’t unhook the truck.
Which was a bit of a bummer, especially for Charles, as he was staying in a hotel down the street, and was planning on using the track to get from the hotel to the track and back.
Yeah. So. A bit of a problem. And while Mr. V. and Charles unloaded the trailer, I was on the phone, trying to solve the car problem. Because it was a bit of a trek from the track to the hotel (and not one that you’d like to make after dark, under any circumstances) Would you believe that it is impossible to get a rental car in Topeka, KS, after 4pm on a Saturday? I didn’t either, but that would show you how completely wrong I can be.
So. No rental car. I finally called a cab company, so Charles could get to his hotel.
In hindsight, Charles probably wasn’t as grateful for this effort as he might have been. Because the hotel that we had put him up in was rated as a ‘half-star’ hotel. And let’s just say the only reason this place even got a half star was to differentiate it from the place right next door. As Charles so delicately put it, “I guess compared to what you can find
in Bombay, [this] might be pretty good...”. And that was the most generous part of his description (the rest can’t be repeated in a family forum!).
Exhausted from all the excitement, I took the poods on an evening walk, and scoped out the toys.
And the toys. Oh. Man. Tomorrow is a day off; basically it is a course walk, and working on the DP to make it all run the way the boys want it to run. Which will give me LOTS of time to get some pictures of all of the STUFF here. You would NOT believe it. There’s a couple a few doors down from us with a 450 hp (1600 fpt) semi-based RV (complete with pop-up out sleeping quarters, kitchen, etc.), with a stacker trailer that they pull 3 cars in (2 race cars and the ‘pit’ car). I’ll get pictures of this (we got the tour today, but I had the dogs, and didn’t get a chance to grab the camera). This is AMAZING. And the number of LONG enclosed trailers (2 cars + living quarters). And regulars trailer, and haulers. Wow. It is amazing.
(And yeah. I’m in total tourist-mode. I walk around the paddock area with my mouth gaping, and the camera snapping (except for when I’ve got the poods – and then Ben, the standard, is a star – a handsome guy even in his most unkempt state – people LOVE him; I’ve met probably a dozen (if not more) people who came up wanting to meet Ben.)
Anyway.
We got to bed, and woke up somewhat early today, so that the boys could get the Franken-Miata teched, we could get registered (and yes, there was a lot of handbook-passing, but we weren’t the only ones, so it was all ok!). After all of that, the boys got themselves registered for the test-n-tune, while I went about trying to find a rental car. A quick call to AAA, and I found a place that would come pick me up at the track to get the rental car while the boys were doing their course work (in Charles’ case), or sleeping (in Mr. V.’s case – poor guy is STILL sick).
I went with the Hertz people, and passed by Charles’ hotel. (Eesh. I actually gasped when we went by. That’ll teach Charles to let ME make hotel reservations again, eh? Anyway. Ugh. I can honestly verify that his statement about Bombay is not an exaggeration. Now I know what a half-star hotel is like. It was actually so bad that I felt guilty about putting him there.)
I picked up a Ford ‘Five Hundred’. With multiple dents, dings, and gashes in it (yes, I did do the ‘walk around’ before I signed for the sucker). And did a little shopping, before heading back to the track to wake up Mr. V. for his test runs.
I didn’t have the camera out at this point, but there was this huge line to get into the ‘pre-grid’. Which meant that he was in the car (getting pushed along by Charles and myself) for about an hour before he actually got into the course. By the time I got the camera there, the grid was still huge (test runs went 9-4 today, and the grid was PACKED the entire time).
After my work assignment (Mr. V. has been really sick – the pneumonia he had is still kicking him, and I want him healthy to race, so I filled in for him today), I came back with the camera and got some shots.
Bottom line?
In my next life, I want (like COVET) a CP car. These things rumble like the world is coming to an end, and they’ve got tires that make you think you’re on the drag strip. There is NO WAY I could handle a car like this now, but in a few years? I want some HEAVY METAL!!!! *big grin!!!! I see my future, kids.
Heh.
And yeah. There are cars of all shapes and sorts here. I love this picture, because we’ve got the guy in front pulling his battery out through his windshield, and the guy behind him in the Lincoln Town Car (with serious rubber on his wheels, I might add). A study in contrasts (ya think?!?)
And since my ATT card is being a bit cranky (it’s good, and for basically being smoke and mirrors, in my mind, I can’t complain, but still….) I’ve got one more shot and then I’m done for tonight.
Finally, for those of you who REALLY want an A-mod…
Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy and icky, so while the boys (or at least Charles, as I’m hoping to get Mr. V. to stay in bed for another day so he can kick this bug that’s got him by the jugular…).
And I have to admit, this is A KICK. The dogs are a huge hit, and an introduction to basically everyone out here, and it is So Cool to see all the different cars, different transport vehicles, and people out here. It is just A BALL.
10:14 p.m. - 23 September 2007
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