Jun
11
2009
1

Val’s First Race

This past weekend was Val’s first Pocono Race Weekend experience and as always, a good time had by all.  We headed up to my folks place late Saturday afternoon after making sure the kids were squared away.  Joe & Nat and the boys were up there as well as my parents and Doug, soon to be joined by our friends from Ohio, Ray & Shana. After a good dinner of dogs, burgers, roast pork, salad, fruit and pretty much anything else you can think of we settled into the basement to catch up and BS.  The Nationwide race had started so that served as early evening background noise.

Lou joined us not long after we’d settled in and added those evil Virginia peanuts to the mix, along with his sterling conversation of course.  He really let his hair down and had a personal best of FOUR beers! Kyle Busch won the Nationwide race but we missed his now-controversial guitar smashing celebration by turning over to the IRL Texas race. We had dragged along an Xbox and the Rock Band instruments, but nobody ever seemed to have motivation enough to move off the sofas so we never did play.

Sunday dawned an hour later than Val & I thought it did as the clock in the bedroom we were using was an hour behind. We headed over to the track around 11:30 with Ray& Shana, Joe & Lou were waiting on Billy & Bono to arrive in Billy’s truck, as well as for Mike Martin. Billy had a delivery to make Monday early AM at the NY state border so our dad did some calling around and was able to wrangle him a spot to park his rig behind the small shopping center just up the road from the house. We all wound up getting to the track at the same time as using the “back way” proved worthless this year.  We have always parked in the big grass lots just across the street from the track but they weren’t in use this year and so we had to slug our way sitting in traffic to get into one of the lots at the front of the track.  I called Joe and was able to spare him that.

Unfortunately the delay didn’t leave us any time to head over to pit road, but we did head into the fan zone area and Val got herself her first NASCAR swag, a #20 visor and a matchbox-size (1/64) #20 car.  She thinks Joey is so CUTE!

Vals First NASCAR Swag

Val's First NASCAR Swag

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Written by geek in: Misc Car Crap |
Jun
01
2009
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Vette Generations Lesson for Melissa & Robert

aka the Corvette Forum “Ridley Park Crew” annual BBQ

Saturday 5/30/2009 we packed up the convertible and the Mazda and headed to Ridley Creek State Park with Melissa, Robert and Sport (Michael was on a school trip) for the annual BBQ organized by a couple of guys via the Corvette Forum.  There’s a regular group of Vette owners that meets nearly every Sunday for breakfast and hanging out at the park and often a cruise afterwards.  I’ve attended quite  a few times but hadn’t made it to one this year, though Val & I did cruise with some of the guys to the Simeone Museum a few weeks back.

There was a very nice group of folks and cars there on Saturday, with quite a few hot-rodded old Fords, a couple of Mustangs, a Viper GTS and a Ford Model A in addition to the usual collection of Vettes.  All but the first generation (C1) of Corvette was represented, though with only 1 each of the 2nd & 3rd generations (C2 & C3).  Melissa & Robert seemed to both enjoy checking out all the cars and Val & I spent some time pointing out the differences in the generations and they’re both fairly proficient in not only spotting Vettes now but in identifying the generation.

The Ford Model A is owned by a guy I know through LMC.  He is a technician for Lance Co, the Haas Machine Tool sales & service arm in this part of the country.  Kevin has been in our shop more than a few times over the years servicing the many Haas machine we have in service.  He has a C4 as well, an 86 or 87 I think, but this was the first time I’d had a chance to see his Model A.  Apparently it was his dad’s car and they did a lot of work on it together, very cool that he still has it and continues to keep it running.  Aside from 30 year old paint showing the inevitable signs of age it’s in great shape.  Melissa had to be coaxed a bit, but she finally got up into the rumble seat and Kevin snapped this picture.

Melissa's Ready to Rumble

Melissa's Ready to Rumble

Kevin had to snap that pic for us because we had of course managed to yet again forget the camera!  So thanks Kevin, for the pic and for showing us your very cool old car.

The BBQ was quite good too, with a whole pig having been cooked up as well as burgers & dogs. I won’t post a bunch of pictures from somebody else’s gallery, so if you want to check out some pics of the folks & cars, click here.

Added:  Pics from James of County Corvette (just page 1)

Written by geek in: Family Stuff,Misc Car Crap |

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