Texas - Day 4 - Sunday, April 15

Sunday was race day. We got up and got moving with excitement and anticipation.

Around 8am Dave came knocking at our hotel room door saying we had to get a move-on to beat the race day traffic. Dave had that Belt Sander on the fly - until we hit… that’s right, race day traffic. We could see the track, but couldn't move. Eventually we got in and found a parking spot.

We headed to the infield, and ended up at just the right place at the exactly right time. Talk about a God-ordained moment! I looked up and saw a group of men standing there talking. It was then I saw him - The King himself, Richard Petty. I said, “Susan!” and she turned and saw him too. I thought she was gonna have a coronary – after she realized she about walked into THEE Richard Petty! We asked for an autograph and picture. He was very gracious to oblige. What a blessing!

Susan realizes it's THEE Richard Petty!

I get my credential holder signed by Mr. Petty.

We went with Merri to the 38 pit and chatted with the guys there. Told them we missed them, they seemed to like that idea. I called my brother Gary from Dave’s cell, telling him the events of the weekend thus far, and that we got to see Richard Petty.

Big Ed

Then we headed down pit road to the 19 pit. We hung out there and took a few pics. Susan started chatting up one of the guys and asked him his name. He said, “Oh, I’m Ed.” We said, “Are you ‘Big Ed’?!” He said he was and we had a good laugh, explaining we had heard Josh talk about Big Ed on the scanner and wondered who he was.

Alnee poses for her traditional picture in the 19 pit area.

Susan had to take a picture of an "approved" deck lid bolt!

Me in the 19 Pit.

It was here we ran into Dean and Judy, another Texas couple who we knew from the SFC message board, and had met last September at the Barn Party in Emporia.

Robin, Dave, Alnee, Judy (with the sign), Dean, Mel & Susan

It was good to see them! After chit-chatting with them a bit we parted ways and went to the outside of the track where we did a little more shopping!

Michael Waltrip signing autographs at his souviner hauler.

It was along this trip down the shopping “mall” of merchandise trailers I was "abandoned" by my group. I thought we stopped to watch Hermie on Race Day at the Speed Stage, but I guess everyone else kept going long before I did! I bought a Speed t-shirt at the hauler next door and waited around thinking someone would come back for me. They didn’t! I had to pee so bad it hurt, had a headache and I was hot, hungry and thirsty. My stupid cell doesn’t work in the US. No payphones in site. What to do? I saw a rather brawny Ft. Worth Policeman standing by his cruiser near the entrance gate. He was talking on his cell phone and looked rather official. He got off the phone. I nervously approached him, and told him my predicament.

I’mfromCanadaandIgotseparatedfrommyfriendsIdon’tknowhowtofindthemcanIuseyourphone?

I was almost in tears. Well, it musta worked because he nodded and handed me the phone. I said, “It’s an Austin number, is that ok?” He said, “Sure”. I called Susan and praise God she answered! They were just getting down to the seats. She said she would come get me but I said no, I would just come in – I just didn’t know where everyone had gone. I thanked the man for letting me use his phone, asked God to bless him abundantly and headed on into the track.

I walked in the gate and there was a whole bank of payphones. GAH!!! The bathroom on my right, the concession on my left – all right there. First things first, gotta Truex! Then went and got a corn dawg and a couple cold drinks and headed down to our seats.

I found Robin and we got set up with the scanner. “Teyun-fowuh!” Since qualifying had been cancelled due to the “severe weather”, points determined the starting line-up. That meant Jeff Gordon was on the pole and Elliott was starting 15th.


Alnee took some great race photos with Robin’s swanky camera.


Pace car is off and the field comes around 4 to take the green flag.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had some problems.

Rookie David Ragan had a rough day.
There's a lotta duct tape on that car.

The track safety crew looking for debris after a wreck.

I'm sure I heard the guy in the back seat yell,
"Hey! Is that a WAFFLE?!?!"

Only in Texas...

My scanner buddy! Robin & me enjoying the day.

In the end Jeff Burton and the 31 team won the race.

We took our time leaving the grandstand, as post-race traffic is always crazy with 150,000+ people all trying to go home at the same time. We found we could exit out the end of the track without having to climb those dang stairs, thank you Merri for spying the way out!!!








We walked past the heli-pad and wondered who was on all those helichopters.





We finally got to the Belt Sander and hung out a while, chatting, resting… We talked to Phil as he was back at his RV but there was no way we could get through the traffic to go for one last visit.

Susan & Merri reviewed pictures. Robin rested. Later, Susan displayed a lug nut she scoffed from pit road while Alnee begged Susan not to abandon her!


We listened to the post race shows on the radio where we learned Dale Earnhardt Jr. had ran the last few laps of the race in the 5 car after both he and Kyle Busch had had problems and crashed out. Kyle had left the track. How monumental that would turn out to be, eh. What foreshadowing!

Dave listening to the radio.

In the distance, we saw smoke - a LOT of thick black smoke. It was a car fire. I don’t know how the fire truck got through the traffic but they got there and put it out. I said one for those people – what a horrible end to their race weekend that must have been.

We had parked at the corner of Victory and Burton. Who knew?!

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped for dinner at one of my most favourite saouthern places to eat - Cracker Barrel. Mmmmm mmmmmm. Raspberry iced tea, fried chicken, mac & cheese, hash brown casserole… As my Gran would say, “Nothin’ finer!”

Alnee rocks on the front porch at Cracker Barrel

It was back to the hotel to crash, as Monday Merri and Alnee would be heading home, and Robin & I would go back to Austin with Susan and Dave.

Texas - Day 3 - Saturday, April 14

Ok I know it’s been a while, but I’ve been working hard on this edition! Thanks for your patience!!

Saturday morning we went for breakfast at a place called Wreck’s. It was pretty yummy, and Susan again had her obligatory Waffle. lol We got to the track and met up with Mr. Phil to pick up our toy box (yes Susan had an abundance of craft supplies and what not - just in case)! He brought it to us in the parking lot on the "war wagon". LOVE that wagon, Mr. Phil!

Merri & Alnee trying to keep warm

We hit the TMS Store for a little shopping mainly because we were all freezing. The wind was pretty darn cold. Everyone was buying anything warm they could get their hands on. Even the Canadian had to buy another coat. Someone said, “Oh yeah that’s a nice winter jacket, it looks good on you!” I looked at them and said, “Winter jacket? Ummm… no. Not where I live!” I needed a new spring jacket and it worked great over the layers I already had on. I wasn’t cold the rest of the day inside the track. I can’t say much for anyone from Las Vegas though! Poor Merri had to bundle up like it was about 5 F (-15 C)!!

I know I know temperature is all relative and let me tell you it was warmer in Edmonton than it was in Fort Worth!

Edmonton, AB - Saturday, April 14:
Max: 15 C (59 F)
Min: 2.5 C (36.5 F)
Mean: 8.8 C (47.8 F)
Winds: 46 km/h (28.58 mph)
Weather data from Environment Canada www.weatheroffice.gc.ca

Fort Worth, TX - Saturday, April 14:
Max 55 F (12.7 C) (-21 F below normal average)
Min 43 F (6.1 C)
Average 49 (9.4 C)
Average Wind Speed 18.6 mph (29.93 Km/h)
Weather data from National Weather Service http://www.weather.gov/

Susan and Robin bundled up and headed to the pits.
That's Robin wearin' her new Doofus Huntin' jacket!

From the store we went down to the pit area, and watched cars going in and out of the garage for practice. Robin, Alnee and I found a great spot where they were headed out to the track. Susan & Merri left us unattended and took up position where the cars were coming back in to the garage while Dave floated in between. We got our “Go 19!” signs out and waved to Elliott each time he went by. He waved back, but I have to say that his EMS team-mate Scott Riggs was the only driver who waved every time he went by. Of course it didn’t hurt there were friends of his close by us waving too… lol We got some great car pictures here including the 29 for Christine’s man Dan!! Hee hee

We saw lots of cool stuff, interesting people, and watched as the teams set up their pits for the race.

Tony Stewart's Nascar Day Car

The #9 & #10 cars get fueled up

Elliott Sadler coming in for changes during practice

Hermie Sadler does his segment for Race Day in the Speed 1 Racer.

Due to race scanner issues (thanks to the helpful people at the Racing Electronics trailer near the Busch Garage for helping us out) we got a late start out of the infield to go to our seats for the Busch Series Race –The O’Reilly 300 - so we took the pedestrian tunnel from the infield to the grandstands. I won’t say anything about the use of any Sharpies or what may or may not have happened in that tunnel. What happens in the TMS Tunnel stays in the TMS Tunnel!

This tunnel is located more towards the north end of the mile-long grandstand, and of course our seats were near the south end. Track security would not allow us to walk down the front of the stands along the catch fence. The only way down to our seats was to climb up the grandstand stairs (NOT a pleasant option for me, me vs. stairs - stairs win) to the concourse to get down there. Thankfully Susan got me a cart ride along the catch fence to our seats.

As I was riding along with this nice gentleman, some cars decided to wreck down in turn 4 on about lap 68. It was a five-car wreck, and one car slid down the front stretch along the outside wall, about 5 feet from me riding on the cart. I watched it come toward me in what seemed like slow motion, and had to assume the plane crash position and shield my face from the dust, smoke and debris that followed. I was smack dab in the middle of a Busch Series wreck! I couldn’t have been any closer, yet I can’t really tell you who was involved in the wreck (I believe it was the #66 car of Steven “Shake’n’Bake” Wallace connecting with the #36 Big Lots car driven by Brent Sherman). My cart driver stopped the cart and we looked back to make sure none of the fans or workers were hurt from flying debris. Everyone seemed ok, so we continued on.

Steven Wallace returns to the race with some
patch up work after lap 68 wreck.

I found my seat and Robin arrived. She got her new scanner set up. She has two headsets, complete with the microphone/intercom feature. We listened to the #90 team’s radio as Stephen Leicht is the Busch driver she cheers for. They were entertaining, but I think we had more fun playing with the headset intercom than watching the race! “Teyun-fowuh!” Thanks, Robin for letting me use your scanner! It was certainly a highlight of the weekend!

Me looking rather official with that headset! Thanks Robin!

Stephen Leicht started 16th in the #90 RYR CitiFinancial Ford and finished 20th. Matt Kenseth would overcome spinning out on about lap 55 and later going a lap down to hold off Denny Hamlin to win in the closest Busch Series finish ever at Texas Motor Speedway. I don’t know how he kept it off the wall and avoided getting hit during that spinout but he did it driving the Arby’s #17 Ford (I thought of Robin W. and the many meals enjoyed at the Lloydminster Arby’s. LOL). Carl Edwards came away still on top of the Busch Series point standings, with Kevin Harvick still a fairly distant 433 points back in second.

Matt Kenseth takes the checkered flag & celebrates the win

Official Race Results here:

http://www.nascar.com/races/bg/2007/8/data/results_official.html

I was looking for some stuff on the race to share with you and, lo, I found this. It’s a video that nicely sums up the April 2007 Busch Race at TMS. Incredibly, it features a fantastic song by Austin, Texas artist Ray Wylie Hubbard that even before I was invited to Texas had become somewhat of a theme song for a sensational group of kooky friends!
(Watch for the #36 Big Lots car to go sliding with about 3:24 remaining in the video. The car slides to the grass then back to the outside wall near the start/finish line - that was the wreck I was in the midst of!)

Before I left Edmonton, I knew we had been invited to dinner Saturday night at Phil & Jenell’s RV. I was looking forward to this for weeks, and they did not disappoint! We were treated to an excellent steak grilled to perfection with salad and spaghetti (and *cough * shameless EMS sponsor plug * cough* yes the salad was accompanied by one of Hellmann’s delicious new Salad Spritzers). Despite the cold cold wind, we were kept warm with blankets by the fire. Being Canadian, I’m not too proud about what I wear when it’s cold (looks are not important at –40 when the wind is blowing). Therefore I was not above wrapping up in a Sooners blanket in the middle of the largest campground in Texas! How should I know how dangerous that could be?! LOL

The location of Phil’s campsite was on the corner of one of the busiest intersection in the campground, where everyone cruised & strolled Mardi-gras style, just havin’ a good time. Susan realized our toy box still contained some Eggos that were now defrosted.

Susan and Alnee decided to go make friends with the passers-by, tossing and handing out waffles, sharing the Sadler Doofus-ness with anyone and everyone - men, women, children riding in the backs of trucks!

Alnee even managed to exchange a waffle for beads! LOL

Not to be outdone, on a dare, Mr. Phil approached a friendly Fort Worth Deputy Sheriff and got him to do the line, “A waffle maker?!” And no, that is not a halo over Mr. Phil's head no matter what he tries to tell you! LOL

Rutledge had no idea the heights to which his All-Star Challenge "Wawfuhl Maykuh" Promo would reach, now did he?!

After a great dinner and a lot of laughs, once again Jenell gave us a ride back to the Belt Sander. We piled in, and headed back to the hotel. After a long cold day, we were ready to crash.

Finally in bed with the lights out, we began recalling the events of the day and inevitably, the giggles hit. My roommates and I laughed about everything you can imagine, from common friends to common enemies! At that hour, and in that state of mind, not a lot made sense. But then again, most of the circumstances that brought the three of us together for that moment hadn’t ever made a lot of sense either!



To close this edition of the TMS Diary, I would like to say in my opinion, Phil & Jenell are two of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. Our group was treated with superb hospitality, and I would highly recommend not passing up the invitation to drop by their RV at the track if you are lucky enough to receive such an invite! I’m sure it won’t take long for you to have a beverage in your hand, a chair under your butt and a plate of great food in front of you if you should so desire. You will be treated to a ton of laughs (thanks Steve!), a lively discussion (“Wabbit? Doofus? Wabbit? Doofus?”) and maybe even learn something about racing, business, and the business of racing from a fan’s perspective.

Texas - Day 2 - Friday, April 13

Yes Friday the 13th. I don't believe in all that superstition crap however I do sometimes find it amusing to watch those who do. One that is not so amusing though is I have a co-worker who is afraid to go out of her house on Friday the 13th. Seriously afraid. I feel bad for her - I can't imagine living in that kind of fear. I pray you can overcome that fear L, and it will no longer have such a hold on you.

Anyway, back to

Friday morning we were off to the track around 8am or so. Of course, there was the need for breakfast… And where else would a team of Waffle Hunters eat but at… that’s right!
And how much mayhem can 6 people wreak on one Waffle House? I guarantee you there are race fans who will remember that Friday morning breakfast well, especially the waitresses!

We proceeded to the track and picked up our tickets and passes. Then we made our way down to the garage area. It is always neat coming to a track you've never been to before and coming up to the infield out of the tunnel. The dryers were on the track as Nascar was fighting the weather to get some practice in.

Down in the garage area, we saw a few racing personalities. I spied Dr. Dick Berggren and got my picture with him. It was a pretty cool moment for me since I’ve been a fan of Dr. Dick since I began watching racing in the early '90's.

We hung out by the Nascar Hauler. The boss, Ray Evernham, was there chatting with the whomsoevers, and Susan called him over. He obliged, taking pictures and signing autographs before heading back to work. Susan mentioned something about a faster goat but I didn't catch it all...

Susan and Merri got their pictures with Robert Yates (how about them hugs, ladies)!

Mel & Speed's John Roberts

Later I got my picture with Speed’s John Roberts and Bob Dillner (Baaaawb!) That’s one I wanted for a long time – don’t ask – but I can tell you Suzi he’s much taller than I thought! My eyes don’t even come up to the Speed logo on his shirt, and he’s leaning over! LOL

We checked out the stacks of Goodyear tires, and found those waiting for the 19 team. Thanks to Wayne (they call me Junior) the Tire Guy, we were able to hold the appropriate Tire Prayer Ceremonies and take photos. LOL

The weather was windy and rainy all day. Before qualifying, we decided to head to the RV Campground. Eventually, we found our destination - the RV & campsite of Mr. & Mrs. Phil Oakla21fan & their entourage. We were greeted like old friends, and treated with wonderful hospitality. And Mr. Kitty & Boomber & Sooner were inside the RV too! We visited and watched as the Three Wide folks sorted out a couple of their differences.

We had planned to meet other SFC’ers at Trackside, but it soon became apparent both Cup Qualifying and Trackside would be scrapped due to weather. The decision to head back to the hotel was made just before the tornado sirens started wailing. Robin and I hung out inside the RV with the cats and the knitting while everyone else stood outside under the RV awning and watched the tv for weather warnings. Phil tried his best to re-assure everyone everything was going to be ok. I wondered just who he was trying to reassure the most. LOL I wasn't even a little scared, I knew the storm would go around us!! We only experienced about 5 minutes of fairly heavy rain and some gusting winds. The storm hit hardest in Haltom City and Bedford, about 10 or so miles from the racetrack killing one man in a lumber yard. The winds and baseball sized hail damaged trees, homes, businesses, and knocked out power to thousands of electrical customers.
Though we have had some quite damaging tornadoes here in Alberta, I have never been where there are tornado sirens. Even the huge TMS Sign warned "Severe Weather Imminent" and to "Take Shelter Immediately". And we just thought all the crazy weather was due to the Doofus Skwad getting together again & Three Wide members finally meeting!! It was an interesting experience to be sure.

Once it was clear the storm had gone around us, we got a ride back to the Belt Sander and headed back to town. Thanks Jenell for the ride, it was greatly appreciated!! As we arrived at the Cantina again for dinner, we were treated to a huge double rainbow, a reminder of God's promises. We went in to chow down on more great food. Wow those burritos were good eh, Robin?! I'd go back to Texas just for the TexMex! After dinner it was back to the hotel to crash as Saturday was Busch Series race day - and more fun to come!!

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the
everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."
~Genesis 9:16 NIV~