Staying Home or Riding Along

The first time I saw Jack run at Hot Rod Drag Week 2006, Cordova, IL

Last night was Back to School Night for our three oldest grandchildren. My daughter-in-law, Andrea, asked me if I could take Scott's place so that we could divide and conquer in meeting all the kid's teachers, hear the overview of their classes, and ask questions if we had any. Since Drag Week is scheduled for these days in September, most wives and children cannot experience the plethora of activities in this event with their husbands or fathers.  Neither are the fathers able to be present at school functions, games, birthday parties, anniversaries, or other special occasions that may be scheduled while they are at Drag Week.

The school's program was over at 8:30 pm. I got in my car, brought up the Hot Rod website on my iPhone, played it thru my bluetooth function in my car, and started listening to the replay of Day One  at National Trail Dragway. While driving back from the grandkid's school, which is an hour away from our house, I had deja vu of nights driving on unfamiliar roads, in different states, by myself, heading to a hotel room and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting for Jack and the others to arrive. I didn't have texting back then; calling wasn't an option because the noise inside Jack's Mustang was like being near a jet engine, so I was in communication silence for 6-8 hours--and that was on the good evenings and nights of the street driving portion of the race. Add rain, break downs, and getting lost to that mix for Jack and the guys and you get a couple of really late nights/early mornings arriving at the hotels.

Last night brought back into focus the "not so fun" side of riding along during drag week. Actually, I've never ridden with Jack in the Mustang as navigator, I've been along more as a spectator. As well having someone who can drive the guys back to the "home" track if they break down, to get the trailer and return to pick up the sick pony. Thankfully, my guys have never broken down, other than at the "home" track. Fortunately, they have always made the entire tour. As a spectator who was by herself, those late night driving adventures weren't fun. When the guys did arrive, they were so tired that talking wasn't an option, the pillow had much more allure!

Keith Turk was so kind my first year at Drag Week. I was following the drivers on their route to the next track and I would get out and snap pictures of the guys and other drivers at their checkpoints. "Someone" didn't like me following because they thought I was Jack's support team!  REALLY!!! Check the truck, bub...the only tool you'd find in my truck was my nail file and tweezers!  And the only parts I carried were the different rods for my curling iron! Keith took me aside and said that he didn't think I'd want the "impression" of support for Jack, and he was right. I didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize the intregity of my family or that of Drag Week. So from the second day on, I followed Mapquest's closest route to our hotel. I was disappointed. But rules are rules. Even if none were being violated; impressions do matter. (Philosophical discussion or lesson there somewhere!)

This was the only disappointing part of Drag Week for me, under the circumstances. I know I could enter my car and be part of the race and drive, but would that be fair to "true" drag racer who perhaps didn't get the chance to get into the event because I took a spot that they rightly deserved? My conscience wouldn't let me do that. But at the end of the day, with all said and done, I thoroughly enjoyed my experiences at the couple of the Drag Weeks, and, definitely want to come to the event again to watch my guys with their 'pony' and 'cat' do their thing.  I'm bringing a girlfriend next time!!!

PS:  Momma's Bragging Moment!
Video from YouTube site of one of Scott's runs, Day Three at 131 Motorsport Park:  skip the ad and then it'll play!        https://youtu.be/nFad-_rqYRo?t=2h4m16s

Drag Week from a Wife's Angle

Official Hot Rod Drag Week 2016 Announcement of Dates and Tracks

It is Day Three of Drag Week 2016. I tuned in today to watch the Live Stream on the Hot Rod.com site. I already knew that my hubby, Jack Miller (or as he is known to the world of FE enthusiast, 68 Mustang with the FE engine and blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, dinosaur, tank red & black beauty!) was out on his first run on the First Day at National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio. The good news:   our son, Scott, was still in the race. His 68 Red Cougar is the car that all three of our children drove to high school. But not as it is now; now it is another one of those cars with a FE engine and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah-blah!  Our youngest son, Shawn Miller, has not gotten the bug to participate behind the wheel, but he has been involved in some of the wrench twisting as well as being the navigator at several of the drag week and pump gas events. Our daughter Shelly grew up with car talk around the dinner table, yet she has no desire to drag race even though she has gotten more speeding tickets than her brothers!

Emotional Ending to Day Three
Tribute and Memorial to Jake Brenner

 As the car broke the laser light at the end of the track,
and the parachute opened, 
Jake's ashes were released.

Jake crossed The Finish Line.
Well done! 

My goal in writing this blog is first and foremost to say that I am extremely proud of Jack and our sons, Scott & Shawn. Their love of cars has been times of relationship building between father and sons. I am also thankful for Hot Rod Magazine for starting and continuing these events that pay homage to the men AND women who love the rumble, ear-holding noise, jet-fuel smell, and heart throbbing thrill of watching a 5.98 or 15.98 run down the drag strip at 189 mph or 89 mph run...the culmination of weeks and months of love affairs with their machines. 

My second goal for writing this blog is my desire to document not only my guy's continual tweaking and tuning on their cars with the goal of Drag Week, but my point of view in this process.

As wife, and mother, to these gear-heads, I have run the gamut of thoughts and feelings toward the car hobby that my guys have participated in since 1971, the year Jack acquired his first gas guzzling mistress! Scott was a one year old toddler. I hope I represent well, other wives, significant others, and car-widows who are along for the ride--whether they like it or not!!!!!!

My first time at drag week:
Hubby Jack and that's me, Juanita!

Listening to the live feed today. I found myself smiling as I remembered the couple of years that I tagged along and experienced Drag Week. My first time was at Cordova, IL in 2006. It wasn't anything I was expecting. The camaraderie by the end of the first day was tangible. There was an immediate connection when meeting other wives and girlfriends. I vividly remember meeting Keith and Tonya Turk. They could not have been nicer and an extremely interesting couple. Their own experiences and stories with their personal cars and speed at the Bonneville Salt Flats were fascinating.

David Freiberger wore many hats
in the early years of Drag Week.

I laughed and rolled my eyes today as I listened to Brian Lohnes and David Freiberger do commentary on the races. I am again in awe of the immense knowledge and trivia that these two have. They are just as entertaining as the races. My first memories of Dave Freiberger are of him standing by the lanes with his mac-daddy of a camera snapping away at the cars as they bulleted down the track. As much flack as Dave has taken thru the years during these events, I think he is the reason why Drag Week is where it is today. Kudos to you David Freiberger. 

It was thrilling the first day of drag week in 2007. This was no regular drag race experience. This was watching ingenuity, sweat, even blood at times, energy, frustrations, and expectations all culminate during one week in September. Jack's first pull up to the tree and stage was heart pounding. I don't know what he was feeling but I was one heart beat closer to needing blood pressure medicine!!!! I felt such pride in seeing that 'horse' prance into lane and hold back till that green light flashed on. And that baby leaped and galloped to the finish line before any realized someone left the barn door open! Being only one of just a few Mustangs in the event, alongside Jay Brown who has won this event, this day, Jack's red and black pony grabbed the attention of those who underestimated the old gal with the FE engine!

Cordova will always be my favorite track. Not only was that my first, it was where my appreciation and respect for all those who miss their supper, have lights burning very late into the night or wee hours of the morning, forgetting to eat, and suffering the irritations at times from a wife who wants a bit of that attention herself!!! But on this day, this wife, understood the need for speed in a whole different light. So to my hubby Jack Miller, I say well done and I want to go to Drag Week again.

The Mississippi River from our hotel room in LeClaire, Iowa, not far from Cordova, IL