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BizB
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Ride Along
2005-09-18 |
Ride Along Update.
Sorry for the delay. The picture-message function on my phone doesn't seem to want to work from MIS. I should have known that was going to be the case. The same was true when we went to the race at MIS in August.
The story of the day:
We tried to leave early just in case the time listed on the pamphlet they sent us was wrong because the pamphlet didn't match the web-site. That worked, in theory. Unfortunately, we live much closer to reality in theory than we live to theory in reality. So we left the house early, but then we ate up that time at the grocery store and at the gas station. In the end, we did get to MIS a few minutes early. However, had the web-site been correct with the check in time, we would have been late. Luckily the pamphlet was correct, not the web-site.
It was kind of cool being given pit-access and parking in the in-field area where the drivers and crews are normally working before/during a race. After we parked, we walked to the check-in area which is a room off the back of one of the garage buildings. This is a picture looking back at BART from the doorway to the check-in area.
After checking in, we walked toward the pit intrance. In this picture,
it looks like the grandstand on the opposite side of the track is a structure on top of the pit area. The brown building is the building between the pits and the infield. The black structure on top is on the far side of the track above the grandstands.
See?Looking down pit-lane toward the track entrance, this is the view. The people gathered on the right are waiting for their turn to drive. They've been in the driving school already and next they'll get their own chance to drive a NASCAR car.
Talix was all decked out in her Bobbie Labonte garb including her big-old-racing-sun-glasses, and looking good, too!
Here's a picture just for our friend, Detta. Tal said that if she had the chance to pick which car she would ride in, she would pick the #2 for Detta. I snapped this picture of some random driver climbing into the #2 just in case.
These Dodge Magnums were lining the inside of pit-row in an area not being used by the Track-Time School. I have no idea why they were there.
Here are some more pics of the various cars they were using at the track that day.
     
Here's some pics of Talix preparing for the ride. They've already had her put on her fire-suit and given her a helmet. Now, we wait.
  
Each of the fire-suits had the Track-Time logo on the back
After a wait that seemed entirely too long even though we remained entertained most of the time, the ride-along guests got to meet Billy, the driver who would be in control for their ride.
More waiting... I took this shot from the top of the pit-area.
While we waited, there was some action on the track worth noting. The #2 car was poking around the bottom line on the track at a pace that was clearly way too slow (at least he/she stayed low on the track). The #60 car was running a bit faster than the #2. And, finally the #8 was running balls-out. All of the people behind the wheel were students at the school. None were professional drivers - as far as we know. It just so happened that all three cars came together in a row on the track right at the start/finish line. Yup, 3 wide! The school crew ended up scolding the driver of the #8 car for taking such a high-line, but I'm sure if you asked him, he would say it was worth it. Forever, this guy can say, "I drove 3 wide at 120 mph at MIS."
Almost time! I snapped off these 2 pics of Talix just before it was her turn to climb into the #8 car for her ride.
 
Here's the car they'd be riding in.
As each ride-along guest climbed in, they were buckled in and generally secured by a Track-Time employee. I must say it was a really well-run operation. Then, Talix was told to suit-up and put her helmet on. At this point, I'm sure she was a little bit scared.
When the previous rider was out of the car and having his picture taken next to the car, Talix was busy climbing into the car. They wasted no time.
All buckeled in and ready to go!
I managed to get up to the top of the pit area and take some video of the laps. You can find them here...
lap 1
lap 2
After she was done, she was invited to have her picture taken while the next rider climbed aboard.
 
I'll let Tal describe the ride. She was very happy when it was over. Not because it was over, but because she got to do it. |
 BizB Mon Sep 26 09:41:05 AM
BigBro asked me to post cool links that I find. Here's one that I sumbled into today: Instructables.
How I got there:
zeroprestige.org is a site that has kite-building info. The guy that runs the site is an MIT instructor (I think). From there, I clicked on "Saul's page". ON Saul's page is the list of links for the sites he runs. Instructables is one of them.
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 Betty Boop Sat Sep 24 04:49:30 PM
This must mean that you are still working on your back deck - the web site with no update!! Gosh, how will I survive?
Miss you all already.....ma 
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 BigBro Fri Sep 23 03:16:32 PM
I think the study must have gone well, because it seem that he's still asleep.
Zzzzzzzzzz......
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Betty Boop Fri Sep 23 12:28:26 PM
well - - - how was the sleep study? Did you get any answers yet?
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BigBro Thu Sep 22 09:29:35 AM
Frankenstien's monster lives...
IT LIVES!!!!!
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 Talix18 Thu Sep 22 07:02:46 AM
Aw, Schmoop! You look so pathetic in your electrodes! I kinda like the robe, though. Did you sleep okay?
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Betty Boop Wed Sep 21 09:37:47 AM
Home, safe & Sound! Our bed is the greatest but we had a great room in TN on the way home - king size bed, walk in shower, sofa & coffee table. Also, desk and chair - plus all the normal things like TV, etc. Really great price too. If we meet again in TN, I will request a room like this again.
Trip tiring for me but am doing okay. Pops knee seemed better after staying off it for 2 days. Swelling down in left but the replacement knee is a little ouchy.
Doing laundry, etc. trying to catch up.
Miss you all already....love & smooches - Ma
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BizB Wed Sep 21 08:07:09 AM
I have a story to tell about the Deck Blocks. On Monday, I went to Lowes and Home Depot to price out the various products that I'll need for the deck. Lowes was cheaper - by far - on all but one of them. The biggest stand out was the deck block. Home depot had them for $5.47. Lowes had them on display with a price of $0.96 each. The gentleman that showed me where they are was amazed when I told him of the price difference. He said, "That's crazy! Cement blocks are generally $1.00 each... everywhere."
Tuesday, I went and bought all of the blocks that Lowes had on hand; 35 of them. Turns out they were mis-marked on the display. They ended up honoring the price any way. I got $205 worth of deck block for $35.00.
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BizB Wed Sep 21 06:42:31 AM
w00t!!11!1 Playmates for Stupid!
I could stand to borrow a sledge hammer if you have one. I was planning on calling you today. I would appreciate any help you can give.
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BigBro Tue Sep 20 07:11:08 PM
must be a big deck. Call me if you want help. San is out of town this weekend. I'll come and help if I can bring the doggies...
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BizB Tue Sep 20 07:47:11 AM
Yeah, as if it wasn't bad enough that she had to ride in a car with Jr.'s number on the side, it was the anti-Best-Buy car.
It would have been so much easier if the #2 car had been the one to come in first.
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 'fer Mon Sep 19 11:24:01 PM
You rode in the circuit city car... you trader....  glad you had fun...
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