by 65skylark » Sun Nov 18, 2007 3:53 pm
Part Ten: The Race
It is now Sunday November, 4th. The NHRA Auto Cub Finals. I told myself going into this race that I was really going to try and relax and just take everything in. The hard part was actually winning my division for the chance to race here. This was just a three round race and I was going to enjoy every bit of it because I may very likely never make it back.
Now most of you by now obviously know that along with theme parks and roller coasters, drag racing is another major hobby of mine. In fact, it would be the most important hobby that I have, for a number of reasons that I won't bother to bore you with. Well, I had the opportunity to actually put the two together, so to speak. Every good race car needs a major sponsor. Something that gives the vehicle (and the driver) a little more personality. Every major race car driver - I don't car if it is NHRA, NASCAR, Champ Car - fans associate all of them with their cars and there sponsor. Dale Earnhardt Jr = Budweiser. John Force = Castrol GTX. So I thought it would be a lot of fun to have a "primary sponsor" for my car that would put some identity to it that would reflect me and that I would be happy to have on my car. So what better sponsor than Theme Park Review!
First we'll go back to a picture taken of my car at the division finals.
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- Looks nice. But, it almost looks more like a daily driver that a race car. In truth, that is one of the things I really like about my car, but this was not only the biggest race I had ever been in, it was litterally the biggest race on the NHRA Powerade circuit. So, I thought I'd make it look a little more like a race car. Fast forward to Pomona........
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- That's a little better.
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- From behind. Notice the rear window.
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- There goes any respect I may have had right down the toilet.
Time to get ready for the pre-race ceremonies.
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- They had a stage set up on the starting line.
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- Back stage all the racers are hanging out taking pictures and giving autographs before getting introduced to the crowd.
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- They even let the family come with me.
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- Chad got his picture taken with some famous racers. Here he is with Tony Schumaker, who ended up the NHRA Top Fuel Champion for 2007 after taking first place later in the day here.
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- Chad with Kenny Bernstein.
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- And Hillary Will, who was the one that presented me with my check at the Summit banquet a few days earlier.
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- Looking out into the crowd just a few minutes before I get introduced on stage.
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- Let's do it!
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- Up on stage in front of about 20,000 people or so. There would be over 30,000 more people still to arrive before my first pass.
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- The guy on my left was another Portland racer who won the motorcycle class. It made it that much more exciting that two of us from the same track ended up making it to this event. I'm pretty sure that had never happended before, at least in our division.
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- OK, time to exit stage left. Our five minutes of fame is up.
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- One last picture me with my dad and my son before heading back to the pits and waiting for my first run.
These next few pictures are brought to by Robb. Him and Jahan came down to watch the race. I beleive they got to the track around 11am.
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- Robb and Jahan waiting to park. Have I mentioned yet that this is a really popular race?
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- Almost there!
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- Jahan has his ticket. He is very excited!
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- Nice friendly disclaimer. You never know when a car might explode and kill a few spectators with flying debris.
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- I really need to get me one of these!
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- Screamin Eagle! Drag racing and theme parks really do have a lot in common.
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- Both have funnel cake.
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- Both have Dippin Dots.
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- And both have some great food.
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- "Should I take it in one bite?"
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- They found us! NO!
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- Time for round one in the TPR car.
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- Back in the staging lanes.
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- Apparently they have started a new class that I did not know about.
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- Taking off in front of over 40,000 people.
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- While Robb and Jahan watch from the stands.
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- Pulling up on my opponent.
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- Just about to the finish line.
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- My car on the big screen after winning the first round!
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- Back in the pits, I actually got asked for my autograph!
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- Two more rounds to go!
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- Back in the staging lanes again with my dad. Starting to get a little nervous now.
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- Round two against that beautiful '55 Chevy would unfortunately be my last. I had the better reaction time and we both broke-out, but he broke-out by less. So, it was a very close race and while I was a little dissapointed, I really did have a LOT of fun.
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- Finally the race had come to a close. A short fireworks display to signal the end of the 2007 NHRA drag racing season.
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- With the car loaded up my three weeks of insanity comes to a close. Just the 18 hour drive home left.
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- I'll end with this completely random picture of Mount Shasta that I took on the drive home.
Now, I'm afraid, I am going to be taking a break from coaster trips, so this may be the last Photo TR you see from me for a while. I hope you enjoyed it and thanks to everyone who made it that much more fun!
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