Jul 02 2008
WW - Fast Times at Norwalk Ohio
Last Saturday, Mr. Hot, Shortman and I went down to Norwalk for the NHRA races. We were scared about the weather - all week we’d been watching the chance of rain in northeastern Ohio increase. It started at 30% on Monday. By the morning of the race, it was up to 70%.
There’s a few problems if it rains:
- Mr. Hot hates to get wet. (He’ll melt… snort.)
- The cars can’t run in the rain, so there’s no actual, y’know, racing going on.
- The drivers are usually in their trailers taking naps so there’s nothing going on exciting in the pits.
- Mr. Hot hates to get wet.
It’s about an hour and forty-five minute drive (with gas at $4.09/gallon) - so of course, driving down there just to sit all day and then have to possibly drive back without seeing jack-shit would be no fun at all. We were not happy with The Weather Channel, but figured we had to chance it, so by 8 a.m. we were in the car headed for the Ohio Turnpike.
(Snorrrrxxxxxxx - is there anything at all exciting about the Ohio Turnpike?)
Around 10-ish (um, so I made one mistake in navigating us TO the actual, y’know, Turnpike) - we got to the track, parked, and made our way in. We took a walk through the pits first.
My camera does not do justice to the brightness of the Jegs yellow car.
The Go Army car. “The Sarge” drives this.
After we walked through the pits, we stopped for breakfast since we hadn’t really had time to eat before we left. Pepperoni pizza for the penis-bearing two, Cheese pizza for me.
Then to our seats. Close enough to the action so that at one point, Shortman said, “Mom, you’ve got rubber all over your glasses”. Uh huh. The rubber from their tires and the track was hitting me in the face.
These are Pro-Stock class. The winner on Sunday did 206 MPH in 6.704 seconds.
This is a Top Fuel car. Sunday’s winner? 311 MPH - end to end in 4.636 seconds. And when one of these babies go past you, you feel the fillings in your teeth rattle. I never know whether to put my fingers in my ears (I wear the best earplugs they make and I still add fingers) or cross my arms over my chest to cushion some of the soundwave impact. It’s an amazing, amazing thing to see.
Then there’s my favorite class - Funny Car. 306 MPH on Sunday - 4.882 seconds for that quarter-mile.
Here’s Ashley Force (far lane, the white car), headed down the track. Staging the car and waiting for the green light, takes much longer than the trip down the track.
See how much slower she looks than that other car? She went 270 in 5.27 seconds. The guy next to her? 304 in 4.91.
—- And why yes, that is Shortman’s hand that suddenly appears at the end of the video. I’m not sure what he was planning… —-
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Ha! First Comment! OK - 2 really:
#1 - I have the shoes in your July header. Fab, but painful by the end of the day.
#2 - I don’t “get” car racing. But it sounds like you had fun, so yay you!
Fannie’s last blog post..Beantown, part II
I never “got” car racing. That said, I have had a lot of fun in cars…
Solomon’s last blog post..The “Things I’m Grateful For” July contest - Starts July 1st!
I like getting where I’m going in a timely manner, so yeah. I like car “racing”. Glad it didn’t rain you out!
Krissa’s last blog post..Cavity search 2008 continued?and allergic reaction 2003
Great pics….must admit I’m not a fan of racing. However, let someone pull out in front of me and go 10….furious beyond words…road rage!
Happy WW!
sobeit’s last blog post..wordless wednesday
The Ohio Turnpike would be A LOT more exciting if these cars were on it. Almost like the Extreme Autobahn, no?
Dingo’s last blog post..I’ll Make My Own Lemonade
My Biz Partner loves this schnizz, I’ve never figured out why… but this post sheds a little light on the entertainment factor. I’m glad you two had a nice day together… with no children or dogs.
Jenny’s last blog post..Thursday
I’ve never been to see a car race! It sounds like you had a good time - and I had to grin about the turnpike….
I just read your comments over at HBM’s place.
I’m so glad to be a part of your community.
daysgoby’s last blog post..the date, the garden, the cat
1) is that YOUR feet in the header? I’ve never figured out if that’s you. I’m slow like that.
2) I’ve never been to a car race like these. I HAVE been to stock car races where you just wait ’til somebody gets hit and then the fun starts.
Hyphen Mama’s last blog post..Arte Y Pico….that just sounds pretty
[...] last post reminded me about this. Conversation number one occurred when I was out to lunch with a coworker on Monday [...]
Car races are fun. I enjoyed the one time I went to the Molson Indy here.
And really, I’m sure Mr. Hot will melt in the rain because he’s so sweet.
Nicole’s last blog post..Overheard - Two Conversations
My car expertise starts and ends with McQueen.
bretthead’s last blog post..Politically Very Incorrect
Hmmm…I like the races, but I’m not certain that I like that particular brand of racing. LOL
I am, however, glad that you found something enjoyable to do outside of the house over the weekend.
wooooooooooooooow - we go to Santapod Raceway in Northampton (England) a lot and it’s fan-fucking-tastic. I LOVE sitting and watching the strip.
Like, you said, it’s not so good if the weather is crap because they spend half the day drying the track.
At Santapod you can either sit in the stands or over on the banking. It’s awesome when it’s really hot because everyone sits on the grass banking with a beer and it’s never a day at Pod without watching/feeling “Fireforce 1, 2 or 3″ flying past you… taking a little of your breath and clothing with it.
I LOVE you > < this much more after reading this post. Cars aren’t JUST for men.
That looks like so much fun! We are F1 fans here and are thoroughly enjoying the season. Such a shame the F1 bombed in the USA.
(I’m planning on getting Husband a race day pass where he’ll get to drive a Ferrari around the Knockhill track. Only thing - I’ll be SO JEALOUS! I don’t have a license for the UK *wah*)
Lyvvie’s last blog post..Vegan Fairy Cakes
Have you seen the movie “Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby?”
There’s a part that always makes me laugh where the wife of the team owner (can’t remember the actress’ name right now) says she loves when the cars go by because of the VIBRATION… except she’s toasted when she says it. I love it… and now I think of that whenever racing is involved. heh.
The Cubicle’s Backporch’s last blog post..Inappropriate written all over it.
I totally dig drag racing. One of my favorite movies of all time is Heart Like a Wheel.
flutterby’s last blog post..Random Yammering and Other Tidbits
When I show Dear Hubby this post, he is going to be SO jealous - - he is so into NHRA it is unbelievable. In fact, the weekend I had my wreck (June 14th) he was up at Joliet raceway helping out a racing buddy of his, as part of his pit crew.
I just don’t “get” racing either, but if he has fun with it, that’s fine with me!
Liz J in Central Illinois’s last blog post..Dad Update - Good News!
We have a track but we don’t go very often..we should, that’s fun. I also like the horse track..they don’t quite go as fast but it’s not as lound.
mp’s last blog post..Law & Order STL
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of attending the spring nationals outside of Columbus, Ohio. Pit passes, the whole shot. 3 FREE tickets. Did I mention FREE? So I grabbed my boys, grabbed ear muffs for them, and headed out of town.
We got to the track, parked, and went looking for food. My boys were always hungry back then. After food, we headed to the stands because THEY DIDN’T WANT TO GO INTO THE PITS. And then they were ready to go after about an hour of being there. I was not happy.
Namaste.
Phil’s last blog post..Poison. As in Ivy
I confess I feel pretty dumb knowing you live in Michigan but never figuring you were a gearhead;)
melissa’s last blog post..More Mountain Adventures
My husband says he will melt in the rain too. How weird:)
Angel’s last blog post..Real problems suck. My manufactured ones are much better.
That’s a whole lotta car(s).
That Jegs yellow car is freaking orgasmic!!!!!!
Mom on the Rise’s last blog post..TOFUking Awesome Meal
Nice drag racing:) If it doesn’t burn petrol it’s not a sport
Obi-son’s last blog post..Pool 1 Me 0
It’s good you all enjoy it together. I would have been whining my ass off the entire time about how bored I was, save for the people watching. How was that? Any photos to share?
Claire B’s last blog post..I’m On Mrs. G’s Open House Tour!
WOW!
Veronica’s last blog post..Dummies are the Spawn of Satan.
Hang on a minute Ree I will go and get Dave…
that was kickass ‘wicked quick’ is my fav 522kph on the quarter mile
Now back to me.
As soon as I saw the dragsters I knew that Dave would be rapt. We only get to see the drags on Telly here *sigh* I like the top door slammers myself..
cheers kim xxx
frogpondsrock’s last blog post..Mystery revealed..
You know I have never got into the car racing thing.. It is something I have heard is real big in Indiana so I am opening my mind to it all. Looked loud and possibly entertaining… Hmm
Talina’s last blog post..Finding rental houses (not apartments) online…