Wolff Pack 2010

*I stand corrected on a few things...I'll take it...I'm not above admitting when I make mistakes.

There is a handful of racing weekends I especially look forward to every summer; the Wolff Pack Run is one. It’s hard to explain to ‘non-racers’ what an amazing event this is, the purse of $40,000 is absolutely unheard of for a modified race. This year the feature winner took home $5000…to help put that in perspective, the prize for the Duel in the Desert I went to in Las Vegas was ~$7800. The Duel was attended by ~240 cars, the Wolff Pack draws about 35-40. The sponsor support alone sets this race aside from anything else remotely like it…my favourite part…its my best chance to watch some of the best Canadian modified racers compete against each other.

BCR has hosted this race for the past two years, however, this year Speedy Creek Raceway in Swift Current had the honour…so last weekend a few of us BCR die-hards packed up and headed to Saskatchewan for our long weekend.

The trip started out with a bang…literally! We barely got on the road and took the transmission out of the truck; fortunately we had access to a back-up truck, but it wasn’t the start to the weekend we were looking forward too, as you can tell by Kathy’s face lol!

I am always torn when I don’t have a ‘job’ at a race track…on one hand it is SUPER nice to actually watch some racing. On the other hand, I get fidgety any time I’m waiting for racing to start. By Saturday afternoon I was ready to climb walls, so my camera and I took a little stroll around the exhibition grounds. They have this little heritage village type deal called Doc’s Town, lots of neat museum type buildings.

And then of course I found this…and had to check it out…figured Grandpa would be proud of me:).

This made me smile to myself…I can’t think of better music for during a ‘you may kiss the bride’ moment than the sound of a modified engine in the background.

It was finally time for the ‘Big Event'...

I found myself a quiet place on Frenchie’s car hauler to watch the race.

Sometimes its just really nice not to worry who’s looking when you watch a race through your fingertips…or when you scream at the flagman for a call (I was so mad I wanted to spit when the starter threw the green with a tail car IN FRONT…*I'd like to apologize to the flagman for the 'stupid' comment, it was poor class on my part to cut down someone who volunteers their personal time to fuel my racing addiction.  Thanks for the reminder Jay.  That being said, in my personal opinion it was still a bad call.*  He gave a B car/driver a starting position in the A-main and a $1000). I got to do both that night without fear lol! Rain threatened most of Saturday (not Friday)…but it held off long enough to get through the first heats and the first B-main.

I had to laugh bitterly when I went through my photos on Monday. I caught a couple ESTEVAN cars going through TECH.

Racing is always full of drama, its part of the attraction for me in all honestly.  Sunday the 10A and 21 took 2nd and 3rd (not 1st and 2nd) at the checkered flag…#21 then proceeded to throw a temper tantrum that makes Paris Hilton look like an angel. In front of the entire crowd. What angers me the most…we sat beside these little people…and they picked these cars to win…they were CHEERING THEM ON!!!!! These drivers are someone’s hero…heck, I STILL get hero worship for drivers. And I’ll admit…a few laps into the race I picked the #21 to win the event.  If I'M disappointed, how do those kids feel?

The 21 was disqualified for his unsportsmanlike behavior, then to add to the disgust, the 10A (who is coincidentally the 21's father) refused to let his car be teched.  HE GAVE UP SECOND (not first) PLACE!!!!  These actions lead me to believe they are FREAKING CHEATERS! 

I STILL am confused about this...(non-race fan readers can skip over this next little rant!!!)...I think it was a well known fact any Estevan cars that showed would likely be top contenders.  Surely they knew that as well...and therefore would have known they had a good chance of being teched at the end of the night.  So that says to me they weren't racing for a 'title'.  10A said later in the pits they weren't racing for prize money either...however during the 21's tantrum he accused the flagman of costing him several thousand dollars...so I call BS on that.  I will further go on to say they had to KNOW if they were caught they would disappoint their fans.  So I just don't understand why.   WHY????

Finally, I'm annoyed because I came to watch some racing.  It would have been awesome to see the finish if all parties were running on a level playing field.  Taking that from me is the icing on the cake...and it tastes like crap.

So Team Turnbull...I hope you read this...and I hope you either have the man parts to explain yourself in a way that will be even remotely logical (which I highly doubt is possible), or I hope somehow you learn that winning really doesn't make you a champion.  Shame on you.  

Ok.  I think I'm done now.

Nope...wait...one more thing.  If you think no one caught you smirking as George Wowk left your car hauler...your wrong.  I thought that was really respectful...considering he's the person who made the
entire event possible in the first place.

So that's the people who acted like scum...now let me tell you about a racer who absolutely made me smile from the inside out this weekend. See the #22 leading in this photo?

That car belongs to/is driven by one Wild Wild Wes.  I've been on the fence about this fella for some time now...I can almost never tell if he's actually annoyed, or if he's just pulling my leg.  But I had it on good authority he has a heart of gold...so I've been watching.  This weekend...around a campfire...he started talking about his best friend...who just happens to be his wife.  And then there is his laugh...oh my gosh...but that's another story.

Sometimes I forget why I love this sport so much, and talking to Wes on the weekend triggered one of my 'ponderings'.  Of course I truly do enjoy the actual racing.  And I like helping put on a good show for the fans.  But a huge part is because of the people, usually drivers, I meet.  These guys are living their dream, and its NOT an easy dream to make come true.  I've seen men fund their racing out of an envelope...literally!  (sponsor money + payouts = repairs + entry fee's).  I've seen men juggle swim meets, weddings, and family reunions.  I've seen helmets passed to help a fellow racer in a time of need...sometimes for racing reasons, more often for personal.  I've seen drivers donate their winnings to charity.  I've seen enemies help change each other's tires.  And I've heard drivers talk about their wives in a way that tugs at my silly girl feelings.  Seeing the humanity...that's why I keep coming back for more.

Of course...I can't talk about this sport without mentioning my racing family!!!!  I had a great time with them on the weekend...I'm learning more all the time...its very interesting to hear the stories that make racing what it is in Southern Alberta today.  Ironically, my first racing family memory 13 years ago was of James yelling at me lol.  I had a stupid teenager moment and so totally deserved it.  Little did I know at the time where this racing deal would lead.  Sometimes life is crazy...and I kinda like it.

Was a great weekend!  Fantastic actually!  Only 361 days until Wolff Pack 2011, I can't wait!