Hello again, Race Fans!  I found myself with another opportunity to highjack the Geezer’s column.  Since my first introduction into drag racing at the 2007 IHRA World Finals in Rockingham, NC, I’ve been able to attend a few other IHRA and NHRA events.  However, I haven’t been able to get my schedule to jibe with that of the ADRL.  With big thanks to the McDonald family, that streak ended and I was able to hitch a ride with them to the Hardee’s Independence Drags in Topeka, KS where I was able to attend my first ADRL race, witness Bennie Mac’s return after his stroke, and take part in the racing weekend alongside a true racing family.

Pushing the Geezer Out of the Way ...

Hello again, Race Fans!  I found myself with another opportunity to highjack the Geezer’s column.  Since my first introduction into drag racing at the 2007 IHRA World Finals in Rockingham, NC, I’ve been able to attend a few other IHRA and NHRA events.  However, I haven’t been able to get my schedule to jibe with that of the ADRL.  With big thanks to the McDonald family, that streak ended and I was able to hitch a ride with them to the Hardee’s Independence Drags in Topeka, KS where I was able to attend my first ADRL race, witness Bennie Mac’s return after his stroke, and take part in the racing weekend alongside a true racing family.

Now I’m not going to try to entertain any of you with a play by play of the entire weekend.  You know the basics: the team makes the long haul to the track, the guys mess with the car to make it go fast and straight, and then they make the long haul back home.  There are some finer details in between, but that’s the basic idea.  But I can tell you about some of the many moments that I was fortunate enough to experience this weekend.

When you travel in a toterhome with a big trailer that has the racing team name on the side, you tend to draw some attention when you pull into gas stations and restaurant parking lots.  While refueling the rig at one of our stops, I saw one of the guys passing out photo cards to some of the station workers.  I climbed out of the cab to stretch my legs and the fans waved me down.  They didn’t realize that I was just a guest and was as happy to be hanging out with the team as they would have been.

All of you are aware of the unfortunate health obstacle that Bennie McDonald has been facing.  I was able to join my dad when he visited Bennie in the hospital and took him an oversized Get Well card/photo.  After that introduction to the family, I was given this great opportunity to travel with them to my first ADRL race.  Once we arrived at the track, I joined Vandy and Benjamin as we visited other racing families who wanted to sign that Get Well card.  It was great to see that outpouring of love for their fellow racer.  I’ve always heard ADRL events described as a big family affair.  I really saw that familial concern as each person asked about Bennie’s progress and expressed their relief that he was making forward progress.

I really enjoyed hanging out in the pit and watching the crew work on the car.  It’s interesting to see all of the things that need to be checked and replaced and adjusted, knowing that the slightest tweak could make a big difference on the line.  Even though I didn’t participate in any of that work, I felt an attachment to the car after watching all the work that is involved.  And if I had that sort of attachment, I can only imagine how Bennie feels and can see why he needed to be at this race.  There was one point when the guys were ready to fire up the engine but Bennie was resting inside the rig.  Brian went to ask him if he wanted to come out, but Bennie just told him to open the window so he could hear the engine.  That’s all he needed to assess their work.  I guess it’s like a parent that can hear the slightest difference in their child’s cries to understand what it needs.  Then to extend that moment even further, it was great to be alongside Bennie when he traveled to the line.  I could feel the pride emanating from him.

On Saturday, Ben made a couple of great passes that gave him a solid placement in the bracket.  I was riding back to the pit on the golf cart with 4-year old Benjamin as he was reviewing the qualifying sheet and he was reading through all of the names.  Being a former teacher, I was impressed with his ability to recognize the names.  Most kids I know learn to read with Dr. Seuss but I guess if you are raised at the tracks, you learn to read with qualifying sheets.  And Benjamin’s knowledge of racing doesn’t stop with the racers’ names.  Al Tucci and Brian Olson better look out. I watched Benjamin give play by plays as he raced each of his toy cars.  The boy can talk racing.

Throughout the entire day, there is always something for the team to do.  If the crew is not upside down or elbow-deep in engines, they are transporting the car to and from the track or trying to grab a quick meal before heading to the line.  I was even able to assist Debbie and Vandy a bit with making sandwiches, running errands, or taking Benjamin for a cruise around the pits.  But some of my favorite moments were the times that the action slowed down enough to have some interesting conversations with those around me.  Once we were waiting in the staging lanes near Quain Stott and he told the story of how Lee Boy got its name.  It’s one of those stories that just sounds better when someone like Quain tells it.  And thanks to Friday night’s thunderstorm, I had the opportunity to sit inside the rig with Ben, Tommy, and Brian and share some drinks and tell stories.  Somehow the conversation turned to all the weird things we’ve eaten.  I now know that if I ever get into an “I dare ya” food eating competition, I’ll choose Ben as my partner.  I think he and I can go to work.  There were several other candid conversations that took place throughout the weekend, but it’s so easy to do with this crowd because everyone is so friendly.

I had a great time at the track, as always, and I’m looking forward to my next event.  I think I’ll make it to Dinwiddie, VA., so come find me and let’s have some fun!

 

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