Spacing Racing - or The Dog Ate My Homework

 OK.  It's been a long silence.  Our homework-consuming dog is named Verizon.  That's my excuse for the delay in posting, as we have been on data probation for (evidently) watching too many episodes of this or that on Netflix.  The punishment is reduced speed - which "you will barely notice" (Verizon quote).  Unless you want to do something.  Like move photos, etc.

Anyway, we are back in Colorado!

Day trip yesterday with neighbors Rian and Charissa, to Kennebec Pass at 11,683 foot elevation.  Fun fall trip with wonderful weather and temperatures.

So, we returned to Durango on Sept. 29 having been on the road for exactly 10 weeks, during which time we logged 9,470 miles on the truck, most of it pulling the camp trailer.

Our last post was mid-September, from Stillwater, having raced most recently at Crandall, Texas.  Relaxing and productive stay in OK before we moved on to the next race, originally scheduled for Thurs., Sept 24 in Minnesota.

This was our third time at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, MN, a favorite for many reasons - the campgrounds, facility design and management, and excellent track preparation.  This was to be a 3-day show, but suffered a Covid-Cancellation of the Thursday night race.  It was evidently a strategic move by the promoters, concerned that if they ran Thursday and someone from the Health Dept. gestapo visited and took exception to anything they observed, they might try to shut down the event for the next 2 nights.  Safe to race Friday night, though, and thus Saturday, as no risk when the County offices would be closed!

Many tracks out here use a machine similar to this to water and wheel-pack the track surface.  They're very handy, and you can pick up a new one for around $417,000.00.  And if you're low on cash, you might find one with about a thousand hours on it, for only $240,000 or so.   If you were looking.  

Wade, Casey and Doug at Deer Creek

With USMTS, while you must use a certain tire type and brand, you're allowed to cut (groove) the tires, and also to grind the tread surface.  A lot of time is spent in the pits doing just that.  Gets to be a little hard on a guy's back and arms after a while.

They registered 70 A-Modifieds for this race both nights, of which only 32 would qualify for the Main Event.  Less than 50% chance that you make the show.  On Friday Casey had to work his way thru the B-Main to reach the feature, then in it he started near the back and finished just a couple positions better.  On Saturday we started 31st and finished 24th in the Main.  Not a bad performance, in one of the fastest races we've seen.  

This is the only race so far that has started with a 3-wide line-up.  Very exciting, and a huge fan favorite.  Closely contested throughout, with Jake O'Neil of Tucson barely edging Jake Timm of Winona, WI for the win.

A trip to the Fuel vendor in the pits, for a barrel of methanol - 111 Octane,  54 gallons,  at around $4.50 per gallon.

A lot of times Lorna has a pit-pass which allows her to hang out with the team for the night, as well as help with various chores around the car.  It should be noted, however, that frequently she sits in the stands to watch the races, depending on the track and relative location of the pits.  And for most Main events, they "hot-pit" in the track infield (for quick-fix stuff like tires, minor body damage, etc.) which means that Wade and I have to watch from the center of the track.  That's a good view of the racing for us, and for Lorna, but on opposing sides of the front straightaway.

  I think I owe her a year where we sit together at every race and just watch!             2021??

When we drove to Spring Valley, we left the trailer behind in Stillwater.  Would have been a long tow for just 2 nights.  We stayed overnight at the track in the toter with Wade and Casey, then took our time returning to Durango at the conclusion of that race.

Stayed the first night (Saturday, after the races) about an hour away in Austin, MN, aka "SPAM Town USA".  No, not robo-calls or computer messages.  It's home to the corporate headquarters of Hormel Foods, and their factory that makes most of the country's SPAM.  And of course the SPAM Museum, which is apparently now re-opened after a brief covid break.  Stayed not far from this lovely little lake & park.  But left too early to hit the museum.    Next time(?!). 

Next night in the small but busy town of Fremont NE, population about 26,000.  Whose single largest employer is . . . . . Hormel Foods.    Whaaaat?  Gonna have to change the Blog to "chasin bacon".   And rumor is that Costco is building a poultry processing plant there also.  Do these midwest folks have somethin against animals??  Oh well,  found a good Mexican restaurant and spent the night at the Baymont Inn, then breakfast (with bacon) at the cute little diner next door.

Last stop - Colby, KS.   They don't have a Hormel Plant.  Or much else, for that matter.  Not even cheese.  But we slept there anyway, then headed West.

So What's Next??

Casey is talking like he'll skip the USRA races Oct. 29 thru Nov. 1 in Oklahoma and Kansas, but go directly to the last USMTS race of the year, at Crandall, TX, which runs Nov. 5, 6 & 7.  Then immediately on to Las Vegas Nov. 10-14th.

We have not yet decided if we'll go to any or all of the late October events (as spectators, only), but we will certainly get back in the swing for Crandall and L.V. The Lakeside KS race will pay $10,000 to win, so should draw some players.  Very tempting.  We shall see.

The trailer is anxiously waiting in Stillwater, and willing to do whatever!

We'll keep you up to date, as much as we know anyway.

Remember - no cardboard cutouts. No piped-in crowd noise.  Modified racing has real live fans, that sit in the stands and cheer,  stand with hands on hearts for the National Anthem, and sing along to "Proud to be an American" during the 4-wide "Salute to America" parade lap.  It's the real deal.

Catch a race if you can.

Be safe, be kind, and get out and have some fun!!

D & L