Mason City Iowa

It's been a busy week in Mason City, working on the car each day and active racing every night (Tue/Wed/Thur), followed by "social time" into the wee hours of the morning.  A lot of fun, maybe a little hard on an OLD body!

RACING:  Each night we started and finished mid pack in the Heat Race, had to run the B-Main each night to qualify for the show, finished 14th in the Main event on Wednesday and Thursday having moved up nine and five positions respectively.

Did not finish the Main on Tuesday.  We had been running well when the right front of the car collapsed due to that one little nut on the ball joint shaft of the lower arm coming off. That ended our night, and gave us a little something to do the next day.

The Track:  We are at the Northern Iowa Events Center (fairgrounds) In the heart of Mason City.  Within walking distance of a Walmart, Target, Goodwill, Planet Fitness, Farm Store, etc.  The fairgrounds, I'm sure, predate these stores by a few decades.  

It's a nice smaller track that provides good competition for a few laps, then dries out, rubbers up, and is a one-laner for much of the race.  

One thing that is common out here (and not in the southwest) is the use of farm-type equipment to prep the track - particularly the watering.  It was fascinating at first to see these big things, but turns out to be commonplace.  Very effective at watering and rolling out the track!

 The Camping:  We camp right on the fairgrounds property maybe a hundred yards from the pits/track, among mature trees and various large agriculture and exhibition type buildings, and across from a bathroom complete with hot showers.

The last item being a real necessity as the air flow seems to be toward the grandstands and pits each night, and this is a nasty, dusty track by the end of the day.

The motorhome next to us turned out to be Kenny Schrader.  I think it was his car being driven by Lucas Schott that ran up front most of last night's main, only to be overtaken by Dereck Ramirez of Woodward OK in the closing laps.

We have decided to stay a couple of days right where we are, as this is excellent camping.  Thought we would have the place to ourselves, but horse trailers are moving in for a weekend event which, Lorna was told, could bring 200 to 300 riders, from as far away as Tennessee.  Turns out Iowa, being an open and receptive state, draws a lot of activity which may not be available elsewhere.

The Full Disclosure:  Lorna and I come into direct contact with numerous people every day.  We wear the obligatory mask in Walmart, wore masks to get from the front door to the table at the Crave/Hilton restaurant (but not when leaving - duh!!).  Maybe you're less susceptible on a full stomach!

 Otherwise we interact with race participants, administrators, fair employees, concession operators and many others in the same manner as we would have a year, or 5 years, ago.  People tend to be considerate of your personal space, particularly when queued in lines, and to some degree when sitting in the stands.

People approach us regularly on the street, curious about racing, our rig, our activities, etc.  No masks.  Strangers, but good people.  (OK, Lorna wore a mask last night during the Main, only because of the crazy dust off this track.)

Some races have several hundred spectators, others a few thousand. While food workers usually wear masks, and sometimes gloves, on average we see fewer than a half dozen masks in the stands at any race.  Why could major League Baseball not do the same?  Or with required masks and temp screening and seating distancing, maybe.

Anyway, be SAFE yourselves!  Do what you need to to stay Healthy.

Wear protective devices when needed.  Wash your hands regularly.  Brush your teeth.  Don't touch your face - or other people's faces.

And if you're feeling anxious, nervous, or afraid, turn off that damned TV and maybe take a little drive.

Thanks for putting up with us!       Lorna & Doug, on the road.