Las Vegas 2009 Blurb Book

In October Mom and I went on away on our annual scrapbooking trip.  I was (am) struggling with calculus at the time, and my brain was too fried to do much actual scrapbooking.  Instead I put together this Blurb book from my Vegas trip last year, its a slightly edited version of the blog posts.  I've been struggling with the cover ever since and finally finished tonight.  I'm pretty excited to see it, if I like it I can see myself making more books like this in the future! 

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!

Dancing in Corner 2

Well...this Southern Alberta weather has really not been cooperating with my racing addiction.  Its JUNE...and I just finally got to watch my first modified race of the year!  I'm sure I had a huge grin on my face the first time someone fired their engine near me.  And again when I felt the vibrations from the cars as they headed out for their main event.  Normally I sit in the pit stands for the mains...Saturday I watched the race from corner 2...it was a good idea lol...

Anyways, we all knew the track was 'under water' from all the rain...but driving out and seeing it for real was a little jaw dropping.  

The track...well, the infield has been dubbed on the racing forum as "Lake Hadnagy".

These little guys are enjoying the water though!  It is a funny coincidence they hatched on race day!   

Just like the trucks, lots of the mods had make-overs in the off season...

John Barber was one of the drivers I watched race in Vegas last November.  And now I've done it...played favorites...he gets 2 pics...betcha I hear about it my 'gun-shy to comment' reader too!

Ok I lied...he gets three...but this one has a rainbow!  LOL!

I always mean to get more pictures, but then I get busy or I get side-tracked and before I know it the light is gone!  These are a few of my funner (but sometimes still a little fuzzy...sigh) 'random' shots...

P.S.  I didn't forget!  I've got plans for Lime Green's Big Reveal ;)

Las Vegas - Day 6

Hmmm...I'm thinking I might have my Harley Davidson day mixed up...I mighta gone this day? Darn it...this is why you should keep a DETAILED trip log lol.

Anyways, what I remember FOR SURE is that we made sure to make it to the track a little early today so that I could try to get some better pictures before the light went away.

The 'Pits'

Las Vegas

Lined up for track pack

I just happened to catch these guys as they were lining up for track packKatie & Garry!'Dad' Barber getting those tires buffed up!The race day format was a little different today...just 12 last chance qualifier races and then the feature event! Unfortunately after 3 days, and approximately 17 hours of racing...the only Canadian to make the feature was Steve Arpin...and it was cold. Alberta wind, bone chilling cold...I borrowed a sleeping bag from Frenchie and I am certain its the only reason I survived to tell this story!

HOWEVER...let me tell you, watching the very best of the best take that green flag is something I don't think I'll ever forget! A 50 lap main and I think there were only 4 cautions...that is applause worthy on its own. Lots of folk won't understand...fellow racers will...there is something about the rumble of a modified engine...times 28...lap after lap...it rumbles and vibrates through your whole body. In fact on the way home that night I came up with an 'Ode to Modified Engines'...it went something like this:

I could eat to that sound
I could sleep to it
I could work to it
I could wake up to it
I could fall asleep to it
I could...

well...I think you get the picture...

I really can not begin to describe how incredible the Duel in the Desert was...I don't have enough words! And its highly probably I'm just a racing junky who got her fix and 98% of the population won't understand. Meh...LOL!

Las Vegas - Day 5

This morning I tagged along with the #69 team for a trip to Harley Davidson...them boys are brave taking a girl to a Harley store lol!

The second day of the Duel in the Desert was definitely the Canadians day to shine! The starting position for the heats is determined by a pill draw, unfortunately (or fortunately...for some!) it seemed very difficult for anyone to really shine from the rear of the field...so the better the starting position the better chances of finishing top two...for most racers anyways!

#27EH...or Hollywood as folk around here like to call him, had a good pill draw and a good finish in his heat. This put him in a good starting position for the B-main where he finished 2nd...and a spot in the A-main!

#69...Jason 'Frenchie' Lacelle ...is not only the 2009 BCR track champion, but ALSO the 2009 Canadian IMCA Champion. Frenchie and his engine builder Garry have made quite the team, both on and off the track lol! Over the season I've gotten to know them quite well and I am very proud to call them friends.

Frenchie was in the second heat and the track was exactly how he likes it...tacky! Remember how in my Swift Current blog I posted how racing on 3 wheels probably isn't always the fasted...he proved me VERY wrong! I can't even begin to tell you how many times I heard Katie say 'that Crazy Frenchman's got his car all jacked up'...it was wild!

Anyways, on the first lap that crazy Frenchman made a big move and passed a handful of cars on the outside of corner 4...it was a very aggressive but successful move! A few laps later he took the lead, what a adrenaline rush...I literally started shaking I was so excited! Unfortunately a mistake cost him the lead but he was still in second until his engine blew...crap! Still an AWESOME race to watch...wow!

#44A - Steve Arpin is another Canadian driver, he raced in the NASCAR ARCA series this year (think 2 levels below the 'popular' NASCAR cars) so that might give you a idea about his success. He placed 2nd in his heat also guaranteeing him a place in the A-main.

#90 - Jason Beaulieu is a top contender in the NPP Late Model series, they race across Alberta and into Washington, however he also competes in a handful of modified races each year. The best way I can describe his heat was that he was on a mission. He started near the back, and he worked his way to the front...he drove a heck of a race and became the third Canadian to qualify for the A-main that day.

#59 - John Barber...I've mentioned it before but I'm a huge fan of John Barber...his quality of racing first caught my attention, and then over the last few years his attitude both on and off the track has gained him my respect...he is a Champion in every sense of the word! He started his heat mid-pack but had some snakey idiots ahead of him and while he was avoiding getting caught in THEIR messes he was shuffled back. It was the one time over the whole weekend I remember wanting to smack some drivers! HOWEVER he managed to pick his way back to 6th by passing on the outside of corner 4...his car was working AWESOME there...it was a cool line and not one many other cars/drivers could handle...very neat to watch! Its hard to tell but his is the purple/blue car in the center of this picture.

Finally, #9 - Roger Bonneville finished 2nd in his heat becoming the 4th Canadian to qualify for the A-mains. This is a record for us! Until that day the only Canadian to ever qualify for an A-main at the Duel was Steve Arpin...I was VERY excited for our guys!

We started off with a bang, and while Arpin finished 2nd in his main, the remaining Canadians fell short. #90 was off to a great start, slowly picking cars off, and then something seemed 'off' and a few laps later he was off the pace. Found out later he had a tire go down, unfortunately on his way off the track he was literally run over...in my opinion it was the worst wreck of the entire weekend. I was super disappointed for him and to make matters worse his car was essentially totalled.

Again...hard to see in this picture...but the inside 3rd car from the front is the #44A...and about the 7th car from the end is the #90...you can just see the maple leaf on his nose. Kathy, Terry & Katie enjoying the show!

This is almost the entire pits from the spectator stands...trust me...its way more impressive in real life!

You can see the Strip from the track...pretty cool huh!

So another great day of racing...and a history making one for the Canadians! Did I mention we were at the track from 5pm until midnight...and that the desert gets REALLY cold!