I want to end with a life well lived. What about you?....

 I've had a life.   As time goes by I realize how lucky I have been.  Mainly because my childhood influences instilled in me the respect for hard work and the good things that come from it.  I had two great influences in my life. 

 My Dad, and my Grandfather.  

From my Grandfather my love of horses which took me far further than I ever imagined that it would.  Most of my adult life has been shaped by the relationships and the results of the hard work I put into the horse industry.  Most of my friends, the places Ive seen, the good times Ive had have come because of the horse industry.  Training horses showed me to never give up.  How much hard work and dedication pays off, and how to compete for what you want in life.  The old saying "to the victor go the spoils" is very appropriate here.  The Horse industry is failing right now.  Numbers are down.  Quality is sketchy in both horses and trainers to build the great ones, and our youth and amateur divisions are suffereing from lack of support at the grass roots level.  Not to mention the continued assault from the ignorance of animal rights groups and activists.  The way I see it, the path to saving the horse industry is in the education of the young.  Supporting the local horse clubs, state associations, and the 4-H and FFA programs.  Whatever money is being spend at this level is tragically not enough.  Ive seen the direct benefits of those programs in the lives of the youth that I have had the privilege to come in contact with.  Children are hungry for life at a young age, they are eager to learn and experience new things every day.  When guided by parents who are involved,  Schools, FFA, 4 H volunteer leaders and Industry professionals who take the time to Judge local horse shows and county fairs, put on seminars at the grass roots level, the kids absorb information like sponges.  It builds their character, teaches them how to win and lose, how to be responsible young adults that can grow up to be responsible productive Adults.  There are semi retired horse trainers and judges and industry executives all across this country that could volunteer time to steer young people and the horse industry in the right direction.  They have valueable life experience and equine knowledge to share.  

Which Brings me to My Dad,  My Dad never does anything half way.  He graduated from trade school as a machinest.  He has a wealth of knowlege from life and work experience that you dont find in your average individual.  I remember him working two jobs when I was a kid.  2nd shift  from 3 pm until midnight, then he would take on side work fixing electic hair dryers and such during the day and watching my sister and I.  I remember him buying snowmobiles in the summer that did not run and then repair what ever they needed and sell them.  Not to mention the basic automotive knowlege that he taught me while working on his own projects.  Rebuilding an old Willys Pickup, swapping in a chevy 6 cylinder, rebuilding bearings and drive shafts and changing axels.  We built pole barns and baled hay and built fence.  If my car broke down I had a repair manual and the tools and parts I needed and his guidance to help me when I needed it.  Which was more often that not and it was always obvious when I had gone rogue and screwed something up when I had gotten ahead of myself.  The money that I have saved working on cars throughout my life has probably kept me alive at some point.  

Probably the three most important things in life that I learned from Dad  have literally gotten me out of bed some days when I had no other choice.  One, you can have anything you want in life if you will work for it.  You hold that right in your hands from day one.  Two, never be afraid to try something new, If you want to build a barn, build a barn, learn how, there is no crime in hard work and some sweat and a little dirt, and three  Dont be a quitter, get up every day and do your job, The biggest reward you can have is knowing that you didnt quit and your reached your goals.  You'll never reach them if you dont try.  

Obviously I have some time on my hands waiting for my medical adventure to work its way out.  I'm also feeling very mortal at this date and time.  Most of the good horses that I have been lucky enough to enjoy are now running in greener pastures.  I've outlived all my dogs to this point, and every one steals my heart more than the last.  I have good friends who are no  longer with us and a great number of the influences from my childhood are now gone.  Getting old is a sobering experince if you are lucky enough to get there.  I just want to enjoy the time, friends, this country, and most of all my time with Brian until I get to the end.  Which I am going to gut out for another 20 years.  I'm not done pissing people off yet.  

Who Does Pride Month Celebrate

      I was asked recently by one of my friends how Brian and I celebrated pride month and how it became a month celebration when other important historic event celebrations were only honored by a day.  I wasnt going to comment on this but I came to the conclusion that with current state of affairs in the U.S. I would go ahead and state my opinion.

I dont have the foggiest idea how or who decided to celebrate Pride for an entire month.  Frankly I am too busy to even give it consideration.

  As to the question of how I celebrate Pride, the answer is I dont.  I grew up in a conservative household, I was slow to admit my homosexuality, not coming out of the closet until my late 20's though I am sure by then many of my friends had figured it out.  I remember sitting on a bench outside a gay bar in Kentucky when a bunch of rednecks drove by with shotguns and shot into the front of the bar.  Nobody wanted to call the police because they didnt want to call undue attention to the bar. I disagreed because I thought they were caving in to the opposition. My how things have changed. Today the media and the gay community and the far left dictate daily how others are to perceive and think about gays.  You never see a conservative masculine gay character on t.v.  The media has decided that all gays should be campy drag queens, living from one punchline to another and screaming gurl at each other like its some sort of stamp of approval.  That shits not for me.  Dont act that way, dont share my time with those individuals.   I never understood what it meant to be married until the moment when I said I do.  That is a personal relationship between my husband and I and frankly I dont need any Religion, Federal, or State law to make it legal.  When I was in my thirties the gay community was entirely different than what it has become today.  There may have been differences in preferences but we were all part of a group.  Today's gay community has become segmented into many different groups.  There is no longer a place for Adult, conservative, professional main stream gay men.  If you dont support transgender, which has nothing to do with Homosexuality, if you dont support the drag community or the leather community or feminine men, you become ostrasized.  I have never preferred any type of feminine behavior.  I like masculinity, I dont understand being gay and preferring female behavior.  Hell most of my women friends are as masculine as men most of the time.  The gay community labels my preference as "fake Masculinity"   Piss on them.  Marching half naked down the street wearing make up or painted up like some parrot, or wearing assless chaps and leather around my chest does not interest me nor does it represent who I am as a person.  Being gay is not an agenda for me.  I dont live my life going from one gay event to another, going to gay bars nightly or only supporting gay businesses.  I live my life as an individual, with my partner, with zero consideration of what others think of my "preferences".   I get up every day knowing that I am accepted by the people who I have surrounded myself with.  There are only two people in this world that I have to live up to.  Myself and My Husband.  

As to the argument of the legality of gay marriage or the far religious rights objection to same sex marriage, religion freedom is a right in America, EVERYONE has the right to worship in the way they see fit.  Those that say God will judge and God is against same sex marriage I have only one statement.  You preach that God is a loving and accepting, forgiving being.  The pure JOY that I felt when I married Brian in the presence of our friends and family cannot just be reserved for gods heterosexual followers.  A loving God wants everyone of his "children" to feel that joy.  Period.  

The Souls that influence our lives.

      I believe there are souls that enter our lives for various reasons when we need them shape the people we are.  My friend Diane Shannon was one such soul.  When I was in high school I was lucky enough to join her 4 H club.  She was an educated imposing human with a big personality, full bodied booming laugh and salty vocabulary.   She was the first adult who treated us like equals,  Tough and Demanding but never demanding anything from us that she could not do herself.  I hated being a kid, hated my childhood literally almost everything about it.  Our weekly club riding practices literally kept me sane, or my version.  She handled our practices much like a drill sergeant would elevating our riding and training skills far beyond those of other Clubs.  

    As I said she was the reason for my sanity.  Diane's knowledge of horses and training supplied me with the background and the foundation for what ended up being 35 years of a horse training career.  Later in my 20's I ran into Diane at the NRHA futurity in OKC and we went to dinner with some of my customers at what used to be Texanna Reds.  She regaled them with tales of my youth and growing up and once again provided me with some much needed self esteem and sanity at the time.  

    I was fortunate enough a few years back to get the opportunity to tell her how much she meant to me.  How much she shaped my personal and professional lives and how much I owed her for my success.  I am going to spend some time tonight reflecting on our conversations, her big infectious laugh and just how much she influenced so many of us.  

Fierce and Funny

 The World lost a little known ray of sunshine this week.  Reta was a horse customer of mine for a while.  Not nearly long enough and we lost touch until recently.  I only have great memories of her.  She was the first person that I talked openly about being gay.  She told me she knew nobody chose to be gay because "no sane person would choose that tough a life on purpose"  She was painfully honest.  Sometimes so that it put me in my place which I am sure was her intent.  I remember how serious she was about being a good horsewoman.  Never shied away from putting in the time to get her patterns correct, or being prepared to show.  What I remember most, and what I think her special gifts were are her big boisterous laugh, and how proud she was of her Son Clint and her Husband Terry.  I can't begin to imagine how sad they are, but I sincerely hope they know just how much they were loved.  

Sometimes Memories have to be shared.

     Years ago, when I trained horses in Oklahoma I had a horse friend Janet, who became a horse customer.  We had some great adventures for a while.  Some of my favorite memories are from when I travelled with her.  The good people, good horses, and good memories are what make the horse business worth it. 

    I had a two year old pleasure colt for Janet and I helped her with her driving horse from time to time and we decided to head to Omaha, NE to show at the fall futurities they had at Ak Sar Ben,  For one reason or another we left late and decided to drive up the turnpike go through Kansas City and on into Omaha.  On the way through Topeka there was road construction and we had to detour through town and traffic sucked and we came upon some people picketing.  Keep in mind this would have been in the early 90's and they were holding up signs with sayings on them like "aids is gods punishment for fags" and "death to gays" and such and you guessed.  It was the Westborough Baptist Church.  Well I was looking in my mirror at Janet behind me and I could actually see this incredulous look on her face her mouth was gapped open.   You see Janet was from California and Kansas was a little more far religious right than she had experienced before.  I saw her pick up her phone and I answered and she said where the hell are you taking me,  get me out of here before we get killed.  and we wandered on our way to Omaha.  We both were showing yearling lunge line, various pleasure classes and Pleasure Driving.

My grandparents had driven in to watch us show and we were showing the driving while they were there.  We were both driving stallions and I had a decent go and for some reason Bubba was not in the driving mood that day and Janet was not happy.  We headed out the arena and up the ramp and my grandparents were at the top waiting.  Janet said I'm going to drive and your coming with me.  Now this is where the story actually gets fun.  Instead of un hooking and putting Jess away.  I asked my grandfather if he wanted to ride along.  He climbed in and off we went.  I need to explain at this time that my Grandfather knew how to drive. He had driving working horses when he was younger and when we were growing up he had shetland ponies and they all knew how to drive.  4 in Hand he did parades and such and took us for rides all the time.  We headed out to the track where we werent supposed to be and proceded to drive around it for a good long time.  Grandpa and I in one buggy and Janet in her buggy with me giving her guidance trying to get Bubba to come to the party.  At some point she side to get in her buggy and just drive him so I did.  My grandpa had watched me drive numerous times at shows.  I had never asked him, or even thought to ask him to drive one for me or for any help.  He was just happy to go along.  I quite stupidly asked him if he could "handle" driving Jess and said to just jog around until we finished.  I climbed in with Janet and off we went.  We had driven for a good long while jogging and road gaiting and working on various things and I was absorbed in what I was doing trying to bring Bubba to the party and we started road gaiting around the track.  After a few minutes Janet said dont look now but your grandfather is right behind us.  I hadnt given him a thought after getting in Janets buggy.  When I looked back he was roadgaiting just to our left, leaning back and over the shaft like a pro.  Jess was taking these huge strides with his shoulders up by hes ears pointing his toes, his neck hung out perfect just singing along .  I was crying in seconds.  The person in the world I loved the most driving the horse I loved the most.  It was like a moment frozen in time.   We continued aroud the track at the roadgait a ways basically until I gathered up my composure and then slowed to a jog and watched my Grandfather trot some circles and pivot around on one wheel back in a circle and basically put an a short driving clinic.  Just as matter of fact as breathing.   We headed back to the stalls trying to get there before dark where we found my grandmother sitting on a tack truck waiting patiently like she always did. 

     I have many many great horse show memories but that one will always be my favorite.  I enjoyed showing with Janet very much and feel terrible that we havent kept in touch better.I've never had the chance or taken the time until now to thank her for that moment.  If Bubba handn't been a dick, and she hadn't been frustrated I never would have had the opportunity to share driving with my grandpa.    Time and life get in the way and keep us from taking the time to do and say some of the things that we should. 

The Soul of America.

The Soul of America

     Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Michael Bloomberg and the rest of the Democrats have all used the phrase they are fighting for the soul of America.  True words.  The problem is they seem to have forgotten  what the soul of America is. 

     They are quick to judge and say that Republicans and Trump supporter are Deplorable, less Educated, ignorant, dont have college educations.  Just their very statements should be example enough of why we should be afraid of electing them.  We elect them.  They work for us. They are not there to impose their ideas and beliefs on us.  They are their with the express responsibility to govern as we see fit.  They have forgotten what the soul of America is.

Republicans and Trump supporters may very well be less educated than their Democratic counterparts.  So be it.  If believing in the American Dream, that America supplies the opportunity for you to live your best life.  To Work hard enough to find your American dream.  To live in a country where you can own a gun, either for protection or to hunt or as a private collector.  To live in a country where we can earn enough money to pay a reasonable amount for health care and insurance and be able to purchase a home.  To live in a country where we can enjoy hobbies, camping, racing, horses, hiking, etc.  To live in a country where we can have Choices on how we live our lives. 

The American dream does not include making enough money to pay for others to recieve free health care. It does not include making enough money to pay for other people to attend college and make bad life choices.  It does not include letting the government take our hard earned money and give it to those who refuse to be responsible for their own bad decisions.  The American dream does allow for us to make enough money to donate to causes that are near and dear to our hearts.  Which will all come to an end when the government takes that money and makes those choices for us.  Free health care due to catastrophic illness due to cancer or disease is one thing.  Free health care due to ones bad life choices is something entiely different altogether.  I already have to pay a premium due to other peoples poor life choices while I was growing up, I dont intend to spend more money for others peoples poor life choices now. 

According to the World Giving Index the United States ranks Second in the most benevolent countries in the world.  Seems to me that we do a pretty good job of giving money to the less fortunate already. 

When the Democrats talk about being in a fight to save the soul of America they are most definitely correct.   The problem is they are the ones that are trying to steal the soul of America and turn us into a welfare country.  They would be perfectly happy iif the U.S. turned into one giant slum filled with happy yet ignorant individuals educated by a system with lower standards, giving no time to cover the history of this country so that we can continue to evolve by looking back on our past mistakes. 

This is probably the most important election of my lifetime.  Win or lose I do not intend to let the government and racist, bigoted, single minded individuals take my civil rights away from me. 

America's Racism Problem

     I have been trying to avoid stating my opinion about this race problem we are having, but after the last two mass shootings, I think its time.  

     America didnt have a problem with racism until Barack Obama was elected and declared things are going to be different in America now.  That was true, and he saw to it.  The media chimed right in and for 8 years we became a nation manipulated by ones mans anger.  Anger that his black father abandoned him with his white mother.  To be raised by a very affluent and influential family.  He started his presidency against gay marriage and then changed his mind seeking votes.  You fell for it.  He said " if I had a son, he could be Trayvon"  That is a lie,  he would never have allowed his son to be walking home after 9pm through the projects.  His daughters have had a private education their whole lives.  He made the police out to villians every time they shot a suspect.  No matter how bad the crime, how bad the non compliance of the suspect the police we at fault.  He came from a city with the highest crime rate in the country.  So bad that they choose not to disclose black on black violence in there published crime figures.  In every speech he gave he decried the plight of the black American and how white people are oppressing them.  The country and the rest of us were made to feel that if we disagreed with the media and Obama we were racist.  He spent 8 years trying to convince mainstream America that White People owed Black People.  The gay community upon finally achieving equal rights laws has continued to push and push their own agenda.  Using litigation to try and force acceptance on anybody who refuses to bow to their beliefs.  

    Enter Donald Trump.  The man the media said has a less than 2% chance of getting elected.  He is brash, rude, crude socially unacceptable by 100% of the left.  Totally not politically correct.  He also doesn't give one shit if anybody likes him or not.  He is an unabashed Nationalist.  The lefts open repugnance of Trump leads them to systematically block every move he makes.  They use every shooting, every foreign conflict, every drop in the stop market, every military action as an opportunity to wail about what a racist White supremacist his is.  The left is pushing so hard against equality and declaring any white American a racist.  

     This is not the country I grew up in.  I love this country.  I love Memorial day, Labor day, the Fourth of July.  Columbus day, southern History, etc.  Where I grew up we used to have a huge 4th of July parade.  Fireworks.  a Water cannon contest between two fire crews from different fire stations.  People used to wave American flags and follow the parade and be proud to be an American.  I grew up seeing bumper stickers on cars that declared.  "America, Love it or Leave it"  Normal everyday Americans of every color are under attack daily by the media, Hollywood, the Democrats, Illegal Aliens, Universities, the Millennial. and Foreign countries who are unhappy with our new Nationalism.  Everyone not a Democrat is labeled a racist, a bigot, a white supremacist, a Nazi.  

     I believe some of the latest mass shootings are because of fear.  Fear that our very way of life here in America is going to be taken from us.  Fear that jobs, health care, food, cars, everything that we enjoy as Americans will disappear.  Simple people who have trouble expressing themselves feel they have to way to cope except to cope with violence.  Ive said it before.  Be careful how hard you push because the push back is usually much worse.  

The Gentleman Racer

     I have been thinking about writing this particular piece for a long time.  Since last November actually.  At first I thought it wasn't my place.  Then I thought maybe if I discussed some of my thoughts someone in a more prominent position in the racing community would take up the cause, but I finally realized that nobody was going to say anything and it was time I took the time to express my thoughts. 

    I have been involved in racing for over 10 years now with two clubs. This is an opinion piece and in no way includes the views or opinions of the management of the clubs that I race with I have not consulted with either of them before writing this.  When I say racing, I mean  actual door to door racing.  This piece deals specifically with door to door racing.  I don't participate in Hot Laps, or HPDE enough to entertain having an opinion.   Each club has its own particular attributes.  Some good some bad.  Each approach racing their own way.  In the last 10 years I have seen a marked decline in the Gentleman part of Gentleman racer. 

     That's what we are supposed to be.  Amateur Gentleman racers.  Lets be honest.  Nobody is graduating to the ranks of professional making enough of an income to live on, nobody gets tires, gas, repairs, or sponsorship at the local club level to even entertain the thought that you're a professional.  When I first started there were respected racers with years of experience and a wealth of talent that guided the race group.  Not from an actual position of group management, but from more of a position of mentorship or fatherly advice.  Chad Nelson, Don Uhler, and Mark Alger  seemed to be the guiding hand that kept the race group under control.  They were fast, respected, consistent, safe and when they took the time to talk during a race group meeting or in the paddock during a race weekend people listened. 

     When I first started racing I was getting my ass kicked at the starts of the race.  To the point where I was frustrated and complained to one of the officials that one talented racer was jumping the start every race.  Basically video was used to make me look like an ass and I deserved it.  The other thing that happened was Chad told me how to start a race.  What to look for, what to do in the car and how not to make a mistake.  Those three gentlemen also took the time to see that I learned to make good racing decisions, to be humble and to work on my race craft always. 

     What I have witnessed this last 12 months and specifically since November both on track and watching multiple videos of our races and racing incidents  has made me realize that its time that somebody, I chose myself, should speak up.  I have had contact with 1 car in 10 years due to me running into the back of a car that was running out of gas in front of me.  When one individual has been involved in three racing incidents since November, and another has mechanical breakdowns every-time on track its time to take notice.  You see,  we all pay to race together.  The same amount.  We are spending the same on gas, tires, entry fees, travel to the track, food etc.  When some individuals  through their own negligence don't maintain their cars, they cost us track time.  When some individuals are involved in on track incidents three times in 6 months, they are causing damage to cars other than their own, and putting other racers in danger. 

     The other issue that has become a glaring problem is blatant cheating at the start of a race, or passing late going into a corner going two or four wheels off to make a pass.  When the car being passed needs to take evasive action to keep from being hit, That might as well be blatant cheating as well.  Consistent erratic driving, failing to drive a racing line, changing lines drastically throughout corners, swerving towards other cars while being passed and continually blocking faster cars is not only disrespectful, its talent-less racing, and above all its dangerous to other racers and yourself.

     At the start of a race drivers are required to stay two by two in line until the green flag waves.  Slightly moving one way or another to see the starter is totally different than getting completely out of line and getting a jump on everyone else.  Blaming your make and model of race car on your inability to run fast lap times and maintain the racing line is nothing more that an excuse for your lack of driving talent and total lack of respect for the very people, and the club you are racing with.  Not racing cleanly does not make you a winner.  It makes you a bad driver. 

     There are racing rules written or unwritten that need to be followed.  On track contact REQUIRES  that you report it to the race director.   EVERY racer needs to have at least one camera in the car during the race.  It can clear you if you honestly believe you are not at fault, and more than anything else is allows you to study your racing when the weekend is over.

     Please don't think that I believe that I am the best racer out there.  I certainly am not.  I have competed in one form or another my entire life and pride myself on knowing just exactly where I rank.  Being a Gentleman racer comes with some responsibility, to your fellow racers, to the club you are racing with, and to yourself.  I intend to marshal other respected individuals into helping me in guiding the race group into the future.  You see I have a choice to make.  Keep quiet and keep  my opinions to myself, or work to make sure that the hobby that I have grown to love so much continues to grow and be available for myself and others in the future. 

Joe Biden is Exactly Right

     Joe Biden announced his run for Presidency.  When making the announcement he made the statement that this election is about the soul of America.  He is exactly correct.  While making his announcement he took the opportunity to incite racial discourse right from the start.  Blaming the Trump administration for current events instead of taking responsibility for his own previous administration for shaping the events to come in the future. 

     The 2020 election is most definitely about the soul of America and her future stature in the world.  Americans are going to have to choose between fighting for the constitution and all the beliefs that our forefathers fought so hard for.  We have to choose to fight for our economy, our wages, our homes and our industry or giving our very way of life to be dictated by popular views from failing countries.  An intelligent search of the web will bring you news of economies failing in Britain, and Norway, and France.  Socialist Democracies with skyrocketing health care costs on top of Nurse and Doctor shortages.  We only have to look to our own state of California to see how devastating those policies are.  Exceedingly high taxes, a shrinking population, shrinking industry, skyrocketing fuel and health care prices. An education system that is completely broken.  A farming industry slowly being chocked to death by government intervention.  Industry and Economic policies that are slowly shrinking the tax base and income.  The largest percentage of homeless people in the country.  Cities that were once flourishing economies now filing for bankruptcy. 

     We have an  education system that is not only woefully behind, but also disgustingly expensive and partisan.  We have government intervention in raising our children.  We have a Congress that wants to give themselves a raise and fund it by increasing the estate tax.  Parents work hard to build those estates with the very belief that they will be left to their heirs.  They have already payed exorbitant taxes while building their estates and taxing and taking them from their heirs is wrong. 

    We have the chance to stand up to big government and stop the assault on business and industry.  We need to promote higher education with emphasis on technical skills, and vocational education.  A population with an emphasis on Liberal Arts degrees is partly what has gotten us into this situation in the first place.  Not everyone can be in an industry with a white collar job. 

    And Finally, We are fighting to keep our very American way of life.  Our failed immigration policies are literally going to destroy this country by lowering our standard of living to that of third world countries.  We are allowing an entire population into our country with no place to live, no job, no English language skills, no health care, and no education.

    Joe Biden is right we are in a fight for the very soul of America.  We are in jeopardy of losing the very country that our forefathers fought so hard to build.  Donald Trump is not the big joke in America, our elected Congress, and Senate is.  Our media is. 

     We have allowed a past president to breed discourse and hate and segregation and racism in this country do to his own inadequacies about his heritage, and his childhood.  We have allowed a past president to run amok with racist comments and false guilt.  We allowed a past president to bring shame on the American public. 

    Joe Biden is exactly correct when he says the very sole of America is at stake.  Its time to vote.  To speak, to defend ourselves, to fight for the very way of life that we have struggled for.  The fight is just beginning.  We need to be diligent, and vocal and literate and never stop making our voices be heard.  If we don't we will find ourselves with no voices at all. 

An Unlikely Brand Ambassador

     This weekend was a new experience for me.  It started as a typical race weekend with ProAutoSports, but turned into a 4.5 hour 13 session marathon.  I never gave that a thought when the weekend started.  I just slogged through and frankly had a great time doing it.  Sometimes, very often life is everything about who the people you are surrounded by. 

      You all know that I had back surgery exactly two months ago.  The photo above\ starting from the right.  My Neurosurgeon Dr. Abdulhamid,  His office manager Lina, from Royal Spine Surgery, of course the Shrek is me, Her oldest son, her youngest son and his friend, and The office manager from his other surgery office.  They were there because Doc has been on track before with various rent a ride experiences.  Lina's sons are interested in racing and I offered to entertain them if they came to the track.  Not pictured is a gentleman who works in the front office for the Miami Dolphins.  Ex College football player and we were quite a site both of us big carcasses stuffed into the Vette.  Doc and the rest of the group had no idea that we actually raced door to door before the weekend.  They just assumed we did laps for fun and time. 

      With this surgery being my second, I have attempted to obey all the rules this time.  Not lifting too much weight, no twisting, exercise, and I have been going to physical therapy.  The first time I thought I was active enough that I didn't need physical therapy.  This time by going I have learned just exactly how wrong I was.  Currently I have some stiffness.  No pain.  Even after climbing in and out of the car all day long for two days.  The bone jarring that goes on pounding the curbs and the tight back and forth of the ProAutoSports Configuration on Wild Horse Pass main track.  I still am pain free.  I think part of the reason that they came to watch was to see if club road racing was really all I said it would be.  Basically I spent the weekend being a brand ambassador for ProAutoSports and I thank them very much for allowing me to race, and drive all those sessions giving joy rides. 

     I don't know how to just give a track ride.  My lap times were basically the same during the ride along as they were while in race group.  I hope that every one feels the exhilaration that I do while on track.  I love driving the main track.  It was the place where I had my first on track experience and Pete Creek was my instructor.  He has a way of making every lap more fun that the last.  Confident and relaxing and amazing fun all at the same time.  I try very much to do the same for my students and those that I give a ride to.  This was the first time for Brian to drive the main track without including the Bondurant track.  Its so much faster at the end of the main straight and the carousel is so fast.  Brian did his usual awesome job.  He learned the track quickly and while he didn't feel comfortable enough to race because it was his first time there, those walls on the drag strip can be quite intimidating when lined up door to door for the start of a race. 

     It was fun showing Doc how successful that my surgery was.  He has a Porsche Cayman S and while he will be in Europe for the next event.  I am pretty sure he will be on track before the end of the year.  Time for the shameless plug.  If you are having back pain.  The kind that is keeping you from living a full life.  Give the staff at Royal Spine Surgery a call and see if they can give you your life back like they did me. 

From the worst day to the best

     This weekend we raced at Arizona Motorsports Park,  normally one of my favorite tracks.  Its big, wide, safe,  and fast.  There was no reason for me to not have a good time.  Except one.  No Hannibal.  I know it's been a month, and I know I am supposed to be an adult, but everything is different about my life now.  Everyday and every routine has changed.  Specifically on race day we had a routine.  Out the garage door while I would put the last of my stuff in the truck and the Hannibal would try and piss on as many tires on the truck as possible before he would growl at me while I picked him up and put him on the back seat.  I always put him on the back seat because I knew it pissed him off and before I even got out of the drive way he would be whining at me to jump up to the center console.  When I finally let him up there, which usually only took a few minutes.  He would lay down and snuggle against me as I rubbed him on the back of his head.  He would go with me to the drivers meeting and to go and get lunch.  He had his own set of buddies where ever we went.  Some people like the Hannibal considerably better than me.  I spent the whole day in a funk and frankly the only reason that I did not just go back home is because I said I would instruct.  

Truthfully for me it was my worst day at the track.  

   Thankfully Sunday started bright and sunny from the moment the alarm went off because Brian was excited to go and get on track.  The plan was for him to practice and qualify and I would do the qualifying race and the main Cup race.  I have wanted him to move up to race group, and we have been talking about it for some time so I decided if he was getting along with the car after his two sessions I would ask him if he wanted to do the qualifying race as well.  I am a stickler for using my tires up before we put new ones on so I raced on Saturday using a completely WORTHLESS set of Toyo R888R's  they still had some tread on them, but they were like driving a dump truck on ice.  

My best lap time was a 1.58 and some change.  I put on an old set of Nitto's for Brian to practice.  He hated them and wanted to put a different set on but he was still faster than I was the day before.  For Qualifying and the Qualifying race we put on a set of Continental slicks.  They were new when we bought them, they were not very sticky but they stayed consistent until they were completely corded.  They were probably not the most optimum tire for the car but they got the job done for three weekends.  

 Brian qualified 2nd in class and 6th overall.  Which was good for the tires and he was again faster than before.  He ran within a half second of his fastest time at AMP.  When qualifying was over is sprung my idea on him that he should drive the car in the qualifying race.  I told the guys racing around him that it would be his first time and he and I discussed how things might go.  He did awesome.  He got a little too big a gap between himself and the car in front of him, but Tom Hutchins stayed even with him and he got a good side by side start when they waved the green flag.  The Silver supercharged brick passed them both by going two off when they waved the green flag but after that t was just a matter of running fast consistent laps.  He gained a spot when one car went off track and he lost it back when he went wide and went off track.  I knew it was coming because he was starting to catch the car in front of him and I knew the tires were at their limit.  He finished with a huge smile on his face and proclaimed the tires were done.  Yes in fact all of them were corded in some spot.  We changed tires for the third time to a slightly used set of Nitto Nt01's for me to run the cup race on.  

 I had the best race that I'd had in a while.  The car was fast, and solid as it can get.  I had great fun Chasing the supercharged silver brick and made a bad choice working through lapped traffic and got passed by a BMW.  Everything is different now that Brian is racing the car as well.  It was the best day for me. I also ran my fastest time ever at AMP.  I dont know when I have been this happy and it gives me the added incentive I needed to get fast again.  When you are part of a team you have to hold up your end of the bargain.  As I said before I never imagined that I would have a partner that I would be able to share my passions with.  

It was an awesome day.  There is nothing like close racing and having your peers come over and shake hands and talk about how close and how much fun the racing was.  Learning race craft and growing into somebody that is competent is a really great feeling.  

I cannot wait for him to get some more seat time and we cant wait until next month when we get to race at WHP main track.  

The Hannibal.

     I bought The Hannibal while at a horse show in Medford Oregon when he was 8 weeks old.  This young girl was carrying him around and I asked her if he was for sale.  She said yes.  I said how much, $750.00, I went to the local Wells Fargo and got the cash.  I have always wanted a black Tri color Corgi and he was just about the handsomest one I had ever seen.  He had too much white on one ear and that made him different enough that I liked him even more.  I had no idea just how different he would turn out to be. 

     He was quiet and kind of aloof but seemed not to concerned that he had a new person.  The breeder said they showed horses as well and they would be at the show all week if I had any questions.  His original name was going to be Gunner.  I already had a Shooter and I thought Gunner would be fitting name for his brother.  A few hours into this new partnership the Hannibal went through a dramatic personality change.  He was unquestionably an Alpha male.  He would throw a tantrum if he didnt get what he wanted or get to do what he wanted to do, and he literally tried to bite anyone who tried to pick him up.  On the way back to the motel he actually bit a hole in my nose when I leaned over to put my face up to his.  That was just the beginning of our battle for supremacy.  In the motel room I put him on the bed and he jumped off.  I put him back on and he jumped off.  Keep in mind every time I picked him up he would bite me and get in trouble for it.  Eventually he got angry enough when I put him back on the bed he ran to one of the pillowcases and literally attacked it trying to tear it apart.  I picked him up said no and swatted his butt.  He jumped off the bed ran into the bathroom grabbed the trash bag hanging over the edge of the trashcan and pulled it over and tried to shred it.  I spanked him again and he spent the rest of the night laying between the toilet and the wall. 

      Needless to say the next day I started a search for the breeder which turned out to be fruitless as they were no where to be found.  They were not entered in the horse show and they were not answering their phone.  I was stuck with the little shit.  He was so bad at biting that Kellie Hinley suggested naming him Hannibal.  Somebody else said to hold him upside down until he submitted to it and he would get over his aggression.  I tried several times while at the stall and every time I went to hold him on his back and rub his belly he would scream and growl and howl like holy hell and I would eventually give up.  I ended up taking him to the horse trailer and holding him that way for over 20 minutes until he finally pissed all over both of us and stopped struggling.  He may have gotten over me holding him that way, he may have stopped biting and growling about it, but he never liked it for the rest of his life. 

     I was on a 6 week horse show trip so he went from Medford Oregon to Watsonville CA, to Temecula CA, back to Watsonville CA and then home to Phoenix.  He turned out to be very brilliant and dramatic.  He would panic and get hysterical if his water bowl was empty.  He stayed that way until the end.  He continued to bite everyone, and if he wanted in the tack room and the door was closed he would paw and bite and pull on it trying to get it open.  Until the end if you closed a door and he wanted through it he would bite and attack the door.  He traveled with me everywhere.  Biting people until he got tired of me spanking him for it.  The only person he continued to bite and growl at was Dave.  He never liked Dave.  Bit him and ignored him and tried to keep me away from him until that ended.  It was a battle of will until one day when he was about 8 months old.  I had several people suggest that I should put him down but by then he was just biting me and it became a challenge that I couldnt back down from.  I thought if I loved him enough that he would give in.  Eventually he did.  He went everywhere I did.  The barn, the store, the horse show, the race track, even riding shotgun with me sometimes.  He had done enough laps at Inde Motorsports Ranch that when I would get on the brakes at the end of the main straight he would lean to the left into the seat for balance even before we made the corner.

     He has ridden with me in the buggy, gotten cold and would sleep with me under the covers in the living quarters trailer, and he love to play fetch and to swim.  If I was in the pool, the Hannibal was in the pool.  He would even swim by himself.  When I was sick he was right on the bed by my side.  As time went on there was never any question how much I loved him and that I was his person.  He loved going to the track and to go camping.  If I hooked up the diesel to the toyhauler he would follow me until we loaded to leave, unless he had to stay home then he would piss on the floor.  He hated staying in the toyhauler at the track, he wanted to be outside.  I didnt understand what the big deal was until I was working the grid one day and I could watch him at the trailer.  Gene Greenley, made a point to stop and love on him.  Adrian Little, Pete Creek, it seemed he had his own little fan club.  Those that didnt know him often asked why I called him The Hannibal.  Its because he was The Hannibal.  He was like his own entity.  Everything he did was in overdrive. 

    I didnt love the Hannibal more on purpose.  He just kind of demanded it.  He was proud and stoic and Brave and tough and demanded that you put him first, and he put me first as well.  I never questioned which dog I belonged to.  I have had dogs my whole life.  I never imagined I would love one so much more than the others.  The Hannibal was going to be 11 in April.  He had ACL surgery a little over a year ago and was doing fine until he wasnt.  I had to make the choice that responsible pet owners have to make sometimes.  It is our duty to see they never have to suffer. 

     Being the Hannibal's person was one of the greatest gifts of my life.  I wish everyone could know the love that I felt for him.  I am grateful for the companionship and the love that he gave to me.  I truly hope there is such a thing as the Rainbow Bridge because being together with the Hannibal again will be one of the biggest joys in my life.  Until then I have his memories, and pictures to keep him alive in my heart. 

    I need to thank Chris and Cara Wynn for answering the call and holding my hand during an impossible situation.  VetMed emergency hospital for having more care, respect and compassion than I thought was possible. And Brian for keeping me sane and being my rock.  There would be no tomorrow without him. 

Why the Wall

Someone replied to my comment on building the wall, "what do you think its going to do, people are going to see it and say well I cant get in and go home".

I realize that person, like most others today have no idea what the wall stands for. The wall is so much more that just border security. It stands as a deterrent before people leave their country and try to come to America illegally. It says, living in America is a privilege, and a right to those who follow our law's, it says security to our citizens. It says we are serious about preserving our Democracy, our way of life, the right to vote, and we take our constitution seriously and will fight to preserve it. It tells those that immigrated here legally that they fought so hard for a reason, that America is serious about fulfilling her promise of allowing them the chance to build a better life than where they came from. The wall stands as a symbol to those who's relatives have been robbed, raped, and killed that America is serious about her security and their loved ones did not die in vain. Lastly it says that those millions who voted for Trump, and voted for that wall, have an opinion that counts. That one group of society gets to arbitrarily impose their will over others. The wall is so much than just a wall and if you can't see that clearly than our education system, our elected officials, and our parents failed to do their jobs.

A Simply Great Man

I first met Carl years ago while I still lived in Nebraska and Leon Olsen introduced me to  him and another great man John Hoyt.  We didn't become friends but when I would see him again at big shows he would always say "hi" and ask how things were going.  Some time later when I landed in Oklahoma and was training horses on my own I again ran into Carl at one of the shows in Duncan.  I had lived there all of three weeks and didn't know hardly anybody else.  At the end of the day I wandered to one of Duncan's finer motels and there was John and Carl sitting on the 2nd floor balcony drinking beer.  The air conditioning wasn't working and there weren't any more rooms and they were outside trying to keep cool.  Carl invited me up for a beer and we sat and talked until the sun went down.  It was probably the first time that I ever felt like I "belonged" being a horse trainer. 

Years went by and I would see Carl and then Karen at shows and we became horse show friends.  I was always showing too many horses and doing too many events and from time to time I would volunteer to show in the cow horse to make the numbers work.  Slowly while showing Carl would give me pointers and I learned to show a cow horse and later reiners without being embarrassed.  From time to time if I had a good one Carl would be kind or professional enough to tell me so.  No matter what event I was showing in. 

Many years and moves and horses later I was showing in Paso Robles to Karen and when the driving class was over she said my husband would love that tie.  I frequently wore a very colorful tie that Kathy Pettit had given me of the cartoon Tasmanian devil shredding a bunch of balloons.  It was one of my favorite ties.  At the end of the day, when the show was over I gave that tie to Karen to give to Carl.  Sometimes especially in the horse business its fun to pass the fun things along.  Knowing Carl how I did, I could see him liking that tie.  Two years later while showing in Bakersfield CA I saw Carl walk in to the arena to judge wearing that tie.  It made me smile.  For me some things bring back great memories and that was one of them.  I wore that tie, and another colorful tie exclusively the year I showed The Wild West Show to the High Point Driving title.  Interestingly at a show earlier in the year another judge, Alan Mitchell's had criticized the very tie I gave Carl for being inappropriate. 

Since I've stopped training I've only seen Carl one other time at the world show.  I had been waiting in line for about an hour at the check station leading to the main drive to load up and go home.  The line of trucks and trailers was around the corner and down the drive towards the street.  In typical Carl fashion he took control of the situation, closed the cattle panels and let us all down the drive to load up to go home. 

Rarely do you get to go through life and have the privilege to say that you knew someone who always treated you as and equal, with respect and as a friend.  The horse industry, humanity and mainly Karen have lost a simply great man. That hollow feeling inside is going to last a long time. 

An Open Letter.

An Open letter to anyone who has the guts to print it

The day after Christmas the most tragic example of how out immigration policy, and our government is a glaring failure.

On December 26th Newman California Corporal   Ronil Singh, was on duty  working in Stanislaus County CA.  While conducting a routine suspicion of drunk driving stop.  He was allegedly shot and killed by  Gustavo Perez Arriaga.  An Illegal immigrant who was living in the Sanctuary state of California.  Arriaga has previous DUI arrests, 

Ironically what makes this such a glaring example of Immigration policy failure.  Deputy Ronil Singh was also an immigrant.  He came here legally, did the work, studied citizenship and English language passed the tests, paid the fees and became a naturalized citizen.  His life long dream was to be a police officer  He is survived by a his wife and 5 month old son.  

Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Shumer, and every single person who believes in open borders owes this young mother an apology.  They need to explain to this woman, just exactly why this man was allowed, and protected under California's sanctuary immigration laws was allowed to stay here.  

Since I became of legal voting age in 1982, we have been promised by every single presidential candidate that they would fix our broken immigration system.  A wall isn't going to fix it.  Just giving dreamers citizenship isn't going to fix it.  Relaxing the laws and giving every one who comes here political Asylum is not going to fix our immigration system.  

Our government has failed.  They failed Ronil Singh, and they have failed everyone citizen who immigrated here legally, and they have fail the rest of the American public as well.  

Its time that we held our elected official accountable for their lack of action on this issue.  Its time we held them accountable for their lack of action for the last two years.  The very people who have been elected to run this country have let us down.  We need to write our Congress and Senate, We need to write our local news papers, We need to write our local news stations, we need to march in the streets until our elected officials get back to work doing the jobs we elected them to do.  

Everyday Is Christmas for me.

I used to hate Christmas.  I have since I was a kid.  I can count on one hand how many were ever a good time.  My only good memories all revolve around spending the holiday with my grandparents.  My Grandfather would dress up like Santa Claus and deliver presents and hang around with all of us for a while.  I was an all in believer in Santa Claus until I was told to go and get groceries out of the car one time and I Opened the truck and there were as all the presents from Santa Claus.  I secretly suspect that my mother did that on purpose.  Why else put the groceries in the trunk and then hand your kid the key and tell him to go and get them.  We lived in Northern Indiana at the time and it was snowy and cold as hell.  It could have been an honest mistake, but that's  highly unlikely.  When we would get together with our Grandparents the cousins would all be there and the Aunts and Uncles and I liked those Christmas's the best.  

As Ive gotten older I've come to realize that a for me, Christmas has nothing to do with presents.  For many years when I trained horses the holiday was spent on the road.  Hauling horses to some show circuit trying to finish out the year end points race. Usually alone.  I don't miss that one bit.  

At this point in my life everyday is like Christmas for me.  I've had a pretty good life.  In spite of trying to screw it up most of the time. I really have enjoyed most of it.  I fell extremely fortunate to have been born in America.  For all its faults, no matter what you hear on the news.  The rest of the world wants to be us.  I am healthy.  Sure right now I am struggling with my back, but I've been through that before and basically I'm a tough bastard and I will trudge along until I get it fixed this time as well.  I have a great dad and sister that love me I don't get to see them enough, but they too are healthy and getting along well.  Over the years I have collected a group of friends that without question I am fortunate to have.  Some of them I don't see often enough, but I always feel their connection and love.  I've been privileged to made a living what I loved to do.  While I trained horses I loved it.  I had good stock, good customers and it allowed me to show all over the United States and see the country that we live in.  There is diversity and beauty everywhere here.  Ive been lucky enough to have the loyalty and love of many good dogs.  At one point I traveled by myself with 4 or 5 of them.  It was like a never ending circus of canine entertainment and love.  Living in America has allowed me to have hobbies that I never thought I would and I need to remind myself not to take for granted.  Camping, Traveling, a stint trying to fly R/C planes, FAILURE, Snowmobiles, fishing, and now sports car racing, as well as owning a large and fantastic group of cars along the way.  

Most of all, I now have  married into an extended family that brings joy to my heart everyday, and a husband that literally fills my heart with love. When my nephew was married my dad stood up before everyone and gave a little speech on how special marriage was.  It was totally unlike him to do something like that, but you could tell without a doubt how he felt about my mother and how serious the institution of marriage was for him. Until I was married, I had no idea what he was talking about.

 Waking up to Brian's smiling  eyes every morning is like being born again.  If I was able to, my gift to the world would be for everyone to get to experience the same thing.  So today when we sit down to dinner and I look across the table at the man I love I will know that I have everything in life that is important.  So Everyday is Christmas for me.  

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

The Gentleman racer.

When I first started racing.  almost a whole ten years ago.  I was lucky to become track friends with an accomplished racer.  Sadly we lost him a few years ago, and  like many things you don't realize how someone has affected your life, or how much influence they had until they are no longer around.  This friend had great cars and great skill, and always took the time after a race to stop by my trailer and spend 15 minutes of his time discussing how my race went.  He almost always was in the top two cars and would usually put a lap on me during the race.  Initially when he would come to talk I would be horrified that he might be coming by to tell me how I had screwed up.  Which may have been the case, but he never made it seem like that.  It was always about passing, or using the accelerator pedal or when and how much to brake.  Always a positive 15 minutes or so about race craft.  I hope some how he knows just how much those talks meant to me and how much I think back on them now. 

We are all just Amateur racing enthusiasts at our level.  Driving many types of cars that we are passionate about.  Various income levels and racing budgets and skill levels.  Competitive to a fault sometimes.  Passionate and Emotional sometimes, always wanting to be the best.  I actually had some skills when I started.  I was fast, and usually made the right moves at the right time.  Over the last few years, time, budget, and life has taken its toll and I have lost my edge.  I still loved to race, but had lost the direction that I needed to be good at it. A year ago at the ProAutoSports Thanksgiving weekend.  We were building a new car, going through some teething pains and not getting along so well.   A fellow racer and good friend came up to me after the qualifying race and said he needed me to bring the car by for him to look at because he knew I was not that bad a racer and I was making moves that weren't good.  A not so subtle, much needed reminder to get my shit together.  It was a reminder of how this sport should be and was meant to be.  Road racing at the amateur level is not NASCAR.  There are no sponsors or T.V. contracts. Just a bunch of local car nuts paying the bill to race whatever make and model car they are passionate about.  It was a reminder to me, to keep your car in good working order.  You're not the only one that is out there competing and if your car breaks at the wrong time there are consequences.  It was a reminder that this is a small community and you dont want to be that guy that the rest of the racer mother fuck because your on track behavior is one sided and reckless.  It was a reminder that we are all responsible for racing with integrity and honesty, we class our cars, we have an opportunity during every race to act responsibly and be an example of how good amateur racing should be.  Don't get me wrong, he is the fiercest competitor there is as we all should be, but it was a reminder to me of what acceptable track behavior is. 

I would like to think that I have spent the last year re-learning most of those traits and becoming the gentleman racer I should be and that the sport deserves.  Maintain your car because your safety and the safety of people you call your friends depends on it.  Nobody wants to be that guy what causes a wreck and ruins it for everybody else.  If you do, be humble and accept the responsibility.  If you re on the front row at the start remember that everybody behind you is relying on you to be smart and play fair.  Jumping the start is cheating.  You may get away with it, but there are subtle ways and not so subtle ways you can be brought to see the error of your ways.  Most of all be a smart racer.  We are racing for a club trophy.  Your tires cost more.  We are out there to win, but we are also out there to hone our craft and become the best we can be. 

I LOVE THIS SPORT,  more than I ever thought I would.  I love the cars I love the people, I love the camaraderie and the competition but most of all I love learning how to race and be a better racer. 

Oh and that gentleman who called me out a year ago, has most definitely evolved in the Gentleman racer that we all look up to and will lead us into the future for a time as an example of where the bar is. 

My Obsession with this election

     Much to Brian's consternation I have become obsessed with this years mid term election.
Basically because of all the elections that I have been privileged to have voted in, I think this one is the most important.  We have a divided country here.  Divided by individuals who have vastly points of view.  This did not happen overnight.  It has been a long slow process of indoctrination for some members of society.   For the first time during this election I feel like our way of life is being threatened.  The very fabric of what makes America great is going away.  Down an un sustainable path.

    On the one side, there are factions of the population who basically live irresponsibly and prefer to make the government pay for their mistakes.  The believe in open borders, but not open doors. They want free health care to pay for their poor life choices.  They want free meds to combat their various conditions.  They have no clue how to raise a child and they want free day care, and free higher education.  They have no dreams or sense of real commitment.  They feel they are entitled to live the benefits of other peoples struggles.  Their lives revolve around mid level employment, that have few hobbies beyond parties and travelling overseas, and frankly for all the complaining about charity and humanity basically they have none. They believe that you can erase history from the country and the history books and hide the discretions of the past and all will be right.  God forbid you disagree with their beliefs because if you are different than their status quo then you are labelled a racist, bigot, facist, to list just a few of the nicer things.  Some of the farther ones to the left even make death threats on your Facebook page.  I just chalked that up to a drunken  rage reaction to failing mental health do to a body destroyed by years of alcoholism and meds.  Those same people who scream we need open borders and like to travel to Europe where immigration laws are far stricter than ours citing how progressive Europe is, are completely blind to the cost of living there and the compete lack of civil freedoms. Sure our families immigrated here, but they came to build an country and not work and send money home.

    On the other side is me.  I believe in the chance for a good education, a good job and a good life.  I dont want the government or big insurance companies making medical decisions for me.  I believe in manufacturing products here at home.  I believe the higher education system is a colossal failure.  Not everyone who graduates can be in a white collar job.  We used to be a nation of builders and not just a nation of consumers.  I believe that our history should be preserved and studied and used as an example of how not to make the same mistakes again.  I refuse to let my income and my taxes go to pay for other people irresponsible lifestyle.  I fear that higher taxes fueled by more and more social programs will decrease my income so I will no longer be able to enjoy the life that I have worked so hard to attain in the first place.  You see my summer doesnt revolve around going to one pool party after another.  I rarely socialize at bars and while I may not have enough friends to fill a basketball court, the ones I do have I have had for a long time and they are strong solid friendships.  I dont socialize with individuals who believe their opinion is the only one who counts and I should follow their beliefs.  I believe in honoring our country, our constitution, and our flag.  I believe fiercely in the 1st amendment and the right to free speech.  I fear and dislike hate speech as much as anybody else but I believe in ones right to say what he believes.  I think it is your parents responsibility to raise you as a confident enough member of society to recognize not to believe hate speech.

    The arguments by the left in this country and unilateral.  If you dont conform then you do not deserve to be here.  True ignorance and bigotry at its best.  I am voting early and encouraging all those conservatives to get out there and vote this time.  Vote as if your way of life depends on it because this time it does.  If we follow along the with the vision that the left has created we will become a third world country in no time.

Old dogs do learn new tricks.

    I have be driving on track for 10 years now.  I have been in race group and driving door to door for the last 7 of those years.  Time flies when you are having fun.  In that time I've driven Three different cars that I have owned.  All Corvettes and each one dramatically different than the others.  Personally I see no reason to go to the track and spend money for gas, tires, car repairs, entry fees, hauling fees etc unless I am actually in Race Group.  For me, I never thought I would ever get the opportunity to drive a race car and frankly I am sure that every time I get to, its one more time than I deserve. 

Driving on track seemed to come fairly easy for me.  I can drive fast, not always consistently any more, but I could when I first started.  I havent had the seat time recently that I did when I first started racing, and I thought that was the biggest contributor to my inconsistency. 

This weekend I had a revelation.  In the last year I have spend countless hours watching road racing.  On the T.V.  the internet.  Mainly sports cars each one in their own spec series.  IMSA, Continental Tire, DTM, British Touring Car, WEC Endurance Series, Porsche Cup, Lamborghini Trofeo Cup, if there was a road racing series run some where I have been watching.  While I certainly did not run two days full of perfect laps this weekend.  For the first time EVER, I used my brain to make moves that were important to the outcome of the race.  I still missed the apex on a few corners, braked too early some times, and stood on the gas too soon and too hard some times, But I also recognized when and where I was going to be able to pass some of my competition. 

I made three great passes this weekend.  Each one required thought, planning and patience and quick decision making.  There are three major things that I figured out.  First.  When an opportunity to pass arises, take it.  Be in position so that you can cleanly and safely make the pass.  Even though you may be able to run faster laps, you may not get the chance again. Second.  Plan when you are going to pass the car in front of you.  All three of my great passes started with recognizing on the previous lap that if I was in the right position the door would open and I could make the right moves.  Third. Stop worrying about the car behind me and drive my line.  As long as I am not driving like an idiot, its their job to make the pass the right way.  I know of two occasions where the car didnt have the room to make a good pass and when I shut the door driving my line, they lost enough momentum so that they could not recover and catch me.  I myself have done that several times. 

We raced this weekend with ProAutoSports at Inde Motorsports Ranch.  We were going to go to NASA Nationals and frankly the cost to go was just to much after fixing the car when I backed it into the wall.  It was Brians first time to go to Inde.  Its a very special place for me.  It a difficult track to learn and drive correctly, and I've made some great friends there.  I have wanted to take him there since we started dating.  The ProAutoSports family as usual made it a great experience and he cant wait until we go back next year. 

Those of you who know the track will understand why I think my three passes were great.  All three of them were while running counter clockwise.  Personally I dont like that direction, but it does require you to think.  The first pass was during the Qualifying race.  I was chasing Bill Pfeiffer in his M3 and James Cantrel in his 64 Corvette,  both have more power.  Bills car has a bigger top speed and Jims 327 leave a corner likes a rocket ship.  I was able to close on them in the curves around the house and we would all enter the straight where they would outrun me.  About three laps from the end I realized that if I would lay back a little and get a better run coming on to the straight I could keep up with them.  Two laps from the end I had a huge run just as we entered the straight and I caught them and went to the outside of Bill to the right and ran right up to Jims bumper.  I never lifted and his 327 launched like a rocket and I motored right past Bill.  Planning and opportunity.  I was so excited that I thought this out and made it happen. 

In the feature race Bill skated past me at the start and there ended up with 4 cars in a pack racing for position.  An RX7 GTU car and Jim Cantrells Corvette again were ahead of me after the start.  It took me about 5 laps to realize the guy driving the RX7 would lay back driving the section past the pits.  Its a REALLY fast and fun downhill with a left and right at the end.  I got a big run coming off the carousel turn and passed him going between his car and the pit wall.  I almost wet my pants it worked so well.  Two passes where I used my brain.  Then all that was left was to pass Jim in his Corvette.  I cannot express how much I respect this man.  Racing with him is practically a dream come true.  He can drive anything.  He has competed everywhere at some of the country's best tracks.  I hope some day I am as competent in a car as he is.  I spent several laps trying to keep up with him down the straight, hugging him close during the curves and he would just outrun me down the straight and I could not get close enough to pass him.  There was no way I could out run him so I decided as a last ditch effort to try and stay close enough and out brake him at the end.   Again I had to lay back and get a really good run on him coming on to the straight.  I had a full head of steam, flat in 4th coming on to the straight and got to his inside flank.  He pulled away as before and I tucked in behind him.  I stayed flat until we approached the end of the straight and when he went to the brakes I popped out to his left and then braked after he did.  Pass made and I basically parked in the corner and stayed ahead of him.  Without exception it was the biggest moment I've had racing.  All this with out antilock brakes.  I have to say I'm starting to love not having them.  Its making me a much better driver.

 I realize unless your a racer this is boring as hell to read.  But if you've made it this far I hope it has encouraged you to do something you've always wanted to do.  If I can learn to be a better driver you can learn to do what you desire as well.  Life is too short not to try and do the things we aspire to. 

Thanks to ProAutoSports, Jim, Diane, Bob, Jan, Hurley, Naomi, Jeff, Adrian, Dan, Brian, Richard, Kevin, Leroy and Shirette, Craig, Tracy, Junior, Matt, and Jim Cantrell for a perfect racing weekend.  It takes the sting out of not going to COTA,

Another Black Eye.

So yesterday some of you may have noticed an interesting exchange between me and a liberal on my Facebook page.  He apparently doesn't have the same views as I do and felt the need to say some pretty disparaging things about me, my mother, my life, and was so kind as to actually threaten to kill me twice.  All in all it was just pretty interesting and I've waited until today to respond to some of his issues. 

I really don't care what you have to say about my mother.  I am sure that we have said worse about each other to each other,  but its just tacky to say something about someones mother. 

You can say whatever you like about me.  I've been picked on my whole life,  I'm a big guy I'm used to it and I can take it. 

Threatening to kill me is hysterically funny.  I'm probably the only Fag you know who has been arrested twice for assault.  Bring it on you diseased heap of pus.  I'm pretty easy to find and I have a great deal of pent up aggression.  A little extra exercise is a good thing. 

The worst part about the whole thing is that you have succeeded in validating the main reason straight people are afraid of the gay agenda.  You see, straight people don't care who your having sex with, when or how or any thing about it.  They don't care if you want to get married they don't care if you want to march naked in a parade.  They do however care when you insist in pushing your values, morality, and opinions on them.  Your Hitler like insistence that everyone must follow your beliefs is why the straight and christian communities are afraid of you and why the gay community is experiencing a push back from them. 

I don't know why you chose to have such an impassioned reaction to my post,  alcohol abuse, being on your meds so long that it has started to affect your brain function, or some serious emotional issue that you are experiencing right now.  I just hope that you find the help you need to come to terms with your issues.