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Something I found out about myself today

Georginna Polson — Mon, 12 May 2008 04:35:22 GMT

First, let me explain a little bit about myself. Like most people I pay attention to detail in things that matter most to me. One of those is horses, training horses, breeding horses, grooming horses, showing horses, teaching people how to ride, how to ride better and how the horse should feel under them when they are riding.

Another is my job, what I do at work� At the beginning of my tour with this company, I worked on perfecting myself at what I did. Talking with people on the phone, helping them with their accounts and doing it in a manner that kept them happy and still got the company paid. This meant paying attention to not only what I said, but also how I said it. Moving through several positions in the company I learned even more about how aspects of the company works and how to pay attention to the nuances of written and spoken word. Since I have written other things (not company related) for years this just fine-tuned the ear in my mind to the words on the screen. I learned how to apply things such as my Yoga training to something as simple as talking on the phone. (For instance, smiling raises your palate and makes your voice more approachable.) Now, after spending time just coaching my own team about their calls, I now coach other teams and help their managers to coach their teams.

I coach people on their use of simple words such as you, your, but, can�t. I coach people about using phrases such as �no problem� and �you did it.� I coach about how use of these words and phrases can have negative impact on the person hearing them and what they should say instead to explain things that may be inflammatory or irritating to a person that cannot see what we see in the information systems we use.

So what does all of this have to do with what I discovered today? A ton. Here it is; I hold my friends to a higher standard. I had not been aware of this until today when I jumped to the conclusion of a friend being rude about something they said. This person thinks that anything they say will make me feel like I am being slammed and that was the furthest thing from my mind. Of course, since this is a person that I consider a friend, I didn�t approach the issue gently, I jumped in with both feet. Was it fair? Not at all. Does my friend think I am psychotic now? Probably� I hope not. I am human though. Now that I am aware of what I do, will I be more careful of what I say? I don�t know, can�t answer that right now. Is it fair to my friends that I stop to think about how I am going to say something? Political correctness can only be taken so far and in fairness to my friend, I think I over stepped that one.

I am not perfect and I need to not expect everyone in my life to be so� and by the way, I use �no problem� all the time.

How do you define a hero?

Georginna Polson — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:12:12 GMT

I have a friend that would object to being called a hero. In fact, he recently said of himself that he is �no one special, just one of thousands of disabled Vets and sick folks.� He said this when I asked if I could write about him in my blog. He is not my oldest friend or even someone I have ever dated. He is special to me in many ways and not just because he has called me his angel and I want to tell you about him. He has given so much that I wish that more people understood and cared. I am not writing because I want sympathy or pity for him and he would hate that I am sure.

It seems that it was a long time ago that there was a Vietnam conflict, yet there are so many people alive today who do remember. That remember watching the news. Who were drafted and fought. My friend went into service, the way he tells it is humorous and involves a barn and hay of all things� well, there�s more of that, but only he can tell that story. He became a sniper and was good at what he did. He remembers, of course, the people he knew and lost and many things he doesn�t speak of anymore. I am sure he remembers things he hasn�t spoken of and would like to forget but can�t. When it was time for him to come home, he was reviled and spat upon. Personally, I am horrified at the treatment he and so many others received. But facts are there and they can�t be made to go away. Many Vietnam Vets were exposed to chemicals used in that war.

As if serving his country wasn�t enough, he chose a path to give back, something he felt had to be done. I am sure very few people know why he chose to become a firefighter and that is still his to share and I won�t betray his privacy in that. In addition to firefighting he became an EMT and rescue diver and built sniper rifles for SWAT teams. Among the things he told me was one fire that two children died in. They had searched for the children and if I remember correctly, he had even seen them, but the children were scared and ran away and hid. Continued searching couldn�t find them and the children ultimately died in the fire because they feared firefighters in their gear more than they feared fire. Because of this horrible sad thing, a program was started. They would go to the schools and while talking, gear would be put on, until the children could see that the big scary monsters were just people there to help. Firefighters are exposed to over 200 known chemical compounds in a house fire, and many unknown chemical compounds that are waiting to be identified.

When I met my friend, he had already been diagnosed with a very rare and pretty much unknown disease caused by his exposure to chemicals. He had been given a very loose estimate of 7-20 years that he would live as this disease attacked his body. There was no known treatment for it and my friend agreed to be the human guinea pig for Doctors to study. It seems that every year I have been honored to know him that something he treasures is taken from him by this disease. He experiences uncontrollable vomiting, not for a few minutes at a time but for hours and days at a time as this disease continues to eat his body from the inside out. He has had to have several stents placed in his heart and has had many other health issues triggered by the disease while his body is slowing losing the ability to function as it should. Because of this disease he was forced to retire early from Firefighting, this was shortly after 9/11/2001. He had volunteered to go help and was turned down. He was understandably upset and frustrated (to put this nicely.)

After awhile, he found yet another path and became a Chaplain. As if he had not already given enough of himself, he found a new way to give to others. Then even more recently, his father was diagnosed with a stage 4 cancer. So to show his support while his dad deals with Chemo he has shaved his head and eyebrows�. Of course the beard & moustache had to stay, there is only so much a person can sacrifice. :)

Throughout all of this, we have swapped stories about work, family, fun and fishing. Shared pranks and jokes, recipes, hunting stories, hiking tales, thoughts, woes and joys. We have listened to each other in our darker moments and sometimes provided each other with the courage to keep moving forward. We have teased each other about who the better hunter is & who could have out hiked whom. We have bragged about our accomplishments. We have laughed so hard I thought my ribs would never stop hurting and we have cried. When I was going through some of the darkest days in my life he provided me with light and an outlet and I can only hope that I have done the same for him. There were times when I kept the faith for both of us and times when he has done the same. He has been my best friend even when he lived on the other side of the country and now, when he is half the country away my day is not complete if I don�t see a message flashing from him. Whatever my day held it is always better that he was there.

Throughout all this, I have wished I could take away his pain and make things better for him and he graciously tells me that I do make things better. When I selfishly worry about the time he passes he reminds me that all I have to do is touch my heart and remember. But I know that it will not be just my little corner of the world that will be poorer without him in it because he has helped and touched so many. Even those people who turn away from him now because of the way he looks because of the disease have no clue how much he has improved their lives by just being there. I know. He is a beautiful person I will always remember & he will always be my personal hero.

Rest in Peace

Karl Stalcup — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 14:51:00 GMT

A year ago this week we lost Eric. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him for a moment or two.

This week we lost Al Hofmann. To Celebrate Al, I have not posted yet another R.I.P. on the many threads around the net. I've been watching my Diamond P tapes, watching Al do what he loved. Oh, I've read the threads, smiled at some of the stories about Al.

But, unlike many others we've lost over the last couple of years, I never met Al. I have no cute or funny stories to tell about the man. Al raced during a period I was 'away' from the sport, so everything I know about the man was from TV or videos.

There are some post I'm dreading to see, yet I'm mentally ready for as I, and my Heros get older. I think that's what hurts the most, we've been loosing first generation racers to age, and now, second generation racers also.

Loosing John Mulligan right after my fifteenth birthday took my innocents. Jungle and Dickie before I was 25, made me grow up. Big John, Sush, Dyno, lil John B, passing has made me look at my own mortality.

We all said we were glad 2007 was over. Lets be honest with ourselves, we are going to loose more this years. Knowing that doesn't mean it's going to hurt less.

Rest in Peace Al.

I just wish that was the last time I have to say that this year. But, I know better.

d'kid

Time to Spring Forward..!

Tim Charlet — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:13:24 GMT

Time to SPRING FORWARD!
HAPPY DAYLIGHT SAVING'S DAY!!!

I'd like to start this Rant with a dumb question. Is Daylight savings day an Official Holiday or an EVENT? Is it world wide, or just an American "EVENT"? Either way, most of my friends don't really look forward to the "SPRING FORWARD" event! Who really likes to loose an hour's worth of sleep...ESPECIALLY ON A WEEKEND? When I was younger living in California, I actually used to make sure to stay home on the "SPRING FORWARD" day, because I'd be so grogy from loosing an hours worth of sleep, and I never want to be late for work. But I also would make sure to GO OUT on the "FALL BACK" weekend!

At 1:50pm, on March 8th, 2008 I received a text message from my friend, (AND PADAWAN LEARNER OF TIMMAH) Eric Howell! Eric is like me a Drag Racer who lives in the Chicago are. He is a buddy from the Nitro mater and he even has a my space page too! ERIC'S MYSPACE PAGE
Well, besides being my younger Brother (dude looks like me) he's a fellow driver! Yesterday he sent me a text that said..."JOHN SHOEMAKER WENT THRU THE LIGHTS THROTTLE STUCK NO CHUTE".

John was one of the men who started the Pro Comp Class. Pro Comp was a sportsman division that included Top Alcohol Funny Cars, Altereds, and Dragsters. Eventually this class became Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car, which are the premier catagories in the sportsman division. John was a chassis builder! He is best remembered as the driver of the "AMERICAN EAGLE" Top Alcohol Dragster. When he would finish his burnout, John would pull out his American Flag and wave it proudly to the fans! He retired from Drag Racing about 10 years ago, but came back to race in the NOSTALGIA TOP FUEL CLASS about 2 years ago.

Eric had witness this incident, which for any driver had to be very difficult. Eric knew as I did, that something must have happened to John Shoemaker to cause this to happen. In fact it did! According to Published report in the Kern County News.. http://www.bakersfield.com/136/story/384799.html John suffered a heart attack while on his run. This caused him to black out and keep his foot WOT..(wide open throttle) and not slow down. As he kept accelerating 3000' past the finish line, he finally impacted into the SAND TRAP at well over 230mph. The car flipped and eventually landed near the Orange Groves near AUTO CLUB RACEWAY at FAMOSO MOTORSPORTS PARK. John was pronounced Dead when he arrived by Life Flight at Kern County Hospital.

John was one of my racing hero's, and a good friend! He was one of the many people who told me to never loose faith, to continue to be honest to others and myself, and that my racing goals would come true!

Over the past few years, I have lost my friends Darrell Russell, and Eric Medlen, who were both about my same age, and we had a special bond. I was devistated when I heard of their passings. Maybe because of the age simularity, perhaps of the bond as fellow drivers? But, when Eric sent me that text yesterday, I was feeling something entirely different. 1st off, I wasn't entirely sure what the end result was, but when he said..."THRU THE LIGHTS THROTTLE STUCK AND NO CHUTES" I knew that something Medical happened to John. John was 65 but did not have serious medical issues, (if so, he would not be racing as all drivers are requireded to pass an FAA Physical, every 2 years, and those over 50 have to pass every year). He was such a good driver that he would have deployed the chutes and pulled the Fuel shutoff. But he did not. I am very sad for John, his wife Judee and son Jim, but am also glad that he died doing what he loved to do! As morbid as it may sound, I'd love to go the same way! He lived a great life and provided a hell of a service to many drag racers! He inspired me to do what I do! John was the 1st driver to pass away in the Nostalgia Top Fuel Division since it became a class in 1990. John will be missed! God Speed my friend and Mentor!

So, I woke up this morning and made breakfast!

When I woke up this morning..AT 1030am thanks to DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME! I started the Sunday Tradition here at the Charlet Household. SUNDAY MORNING BREAKFAST! Usually Andrew will wake up 1st. He was in a "CARS" mood this weekend as since 6pm on Friday has watched the Disney/Pixar movie 7 times! He's been running around the house saying.."I AM SPEED..I EAT LOOSERS FOR BREAKFAST!" (kinda like his daddy does before every time he races!) Kaylee will follow him about 45 minutes after Drew wakes up. Then Big sister will take over the TV...I'll hear Andrew "SQUEEL" like a little pig and then it's time for Dad to wake up. So, I'll start by firing up the stove and getting the bacon goin! We'll fry up a whole package of Bacon, and sometimes some Maple Sausage (Timmah Dig's on SWINE!). Once the bacon is goin, i'll pop open the Egg's and mix them up for SCRAMBLED EGGS FOR THE KIDS! THEY LOVE EGGS! Dad does not! So, I'll get their Egg's goin, finish the bacon then get their toast ready. I whip up the OJ for the kids, then whip up some Pancakes for Dad! KRUSTY'S BUTTERMILK PANCAKES ARE AWESOME! I smoother them with strawberry Jelly and a light layer of Syrup. When breakfast is done, we all sit down for a good old fashioned breakfast! Sometimes I'll also do fresh hash browns. But, today I just wasn't into hash browns, plus NO POTATO'S...Kind of makes it tough to do hashbrowns with out those SPUDS! So, we had a very good breakfast today and do every sunday morning!

I titled this blog "TIME TO SPRING FORWARD" not only to ask the obvious question about Daylight Savings Time: Which I just found out some intersting facts:

1) The official spelling is Daylight Saving Time, not Daylight SavingS Time. Saving is used here as a verbal adjective (a participle). It modifies time and tells us more about its nature; namely, that it is characterized by the activity of saving daylight. It is a saving daylight kind of time. Because of this, it would be more accurate to refer to DST as daylight-saving time. Similar examples would be a mind-expanding book or a man-eating tiger. Saving is used in the same way as saving a ball game, rather than as a savings account. Adding to the confusion is that the phrase Daylight Saving Time is inaccurate, since no daylight is actually saved. Daylight Shifting Time would be better, and Daylight Time Shifting

2) In the U.S., restaurants and bars have various closing policies. In many states, liquor cannot be served after 2:00 a.m. But at 2:00 a.m. in the fall, the time switches back one hour. So, can they serve alcohol for that additional hour in October? The official answer is that the bars do not stop serving liquor at 2:00 a.m., but actually at 1:59 a.m. So, they have already stopped serving when the time changes from Daylight Saving Time into Standard Time. In practice, however, many establishments stay open an extra hour in the fall. Hence the reason I always go OUT when we FALL BACK!

3) more accurate, but neither are politically desirable.For the U.S. and its territories, Daylight Saving Time is NOT observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and Arizona. The Navajo Nation participates in the Daylight Saving Time policy, even in Arizona, due to its large size and location in three states.

4) Daylight Saving Time was not formally adopted in the U.S. until 1918. 'An Act to preserve daylight and provide standard time for the United States' was enacted on March 19, 1918. During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt instituted year-round Daylight Saving Time, called "War Time," from February 9, 1942 to September 30, 1945. On January 4, 1974, President Nixon signed into law the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act of 1973. Then, beginning on January 6, 1974, implementing the Daylight Saving Time Energy Act, clocks were set ahead. On October 5, 1974, Congress amended the Act, and Standard Time returned on October 27, 1974. Daylight Saving Time resumed on February 23, 1975 and ended on October 26, 1975. WHICH FINALLY ANSWERS MY ORIGINAL QUESTION...IS IT A LAW OR HOLIDAY?? IT'S A LAW!

I feel so much better now...I think I can sleep that extra Hour now!

By the way.....for those of you who didn't know, I like to make video tributes for some of my racing friends. You can view them on YOUTUBE.COM here : Charlet Motorsports Video's

I hope you like the video's! I am in the process of making video 7, which I am sad about adding a new driver onto that list! Hope all is well with you my friends! Remember to take things 1 day at a time, and live each day like it would be your last!

Timmah!

Someone special died.

Georginna Polson — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:04:24 GMT

It�s not often that I write about someone passing away. I rarely comment. Not because I don�t feel loss or grieve, but most of the time I am at a loss for words and so many of the words you hear just don�t seem to do a life justice. Rest in peace, my deepest sympathy, heart felt respect. Yes, I mean them when I say them and I am sure everyone else does too.

Then one day my grandfather died, my father�s dad. He was so much a part of my life and values that even today I cry because I miss him. As I grew older I didn�t see him as often as I did when young, but he was the foundation of the family. Until he died, I never imagined he would. My grandfather woke up each day and asked God what he wanted him to do today. I imagine that the morning my grandfather died that God told him it was time to come home.

I didn't want to hear about how he lived a good life. I wanted him back in my life. It took awhile to realize that by remembering him, what he stood for and how he lived each day, that he would continue to live on. Without people who care, the world would a be a sad, cold, lonely place.

Many people live day to day with no purpose other than just to live today. Some people live to make today the best today they can. Some people live each day to the fullest and doing something they love. I think that if we are lucky, we get to die doing what we love.

The Viking Prayer
Lo, there do I see my father
Lo, there do I see my mother and my sisters and my brothers
Lo, there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning
Lo, they do call to me
They bid me take my place among them in the Halls of Valhalla
Where the brave may live.
Forever.

Successful Relocation

Mike Minick — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 06:39:32 GMT

For those of you that didn't know.....i have left the coldness of the Windy City behind and moved down to the happiest place on Earth to do an internship to complete my degree from Western Illinois....DISNEY WORLD!! It's taking me awhile but i think i can get used to this 81 and sunny in the middle of January......ok i am used to it now lol. I left Tuesday morning and drove straight through in about 18 hours. Imoved into my apartment on Wednesday and met all 3 of my new roommates.....good guys all of them. I got on the payroll today and got my "I can go wherever the hell i want on Disney property cause i work here" card. I got my position in a cafe in the Magic Kingdom and i start my training and orientation tomorrow.....and for you fellow Floridians....I hope to make it up to the Gators in a couple of months!!!

Thanks for reading

Mike

Merry Christmas Maters!

John Rogers — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 03:19:07 GMT

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays those who celebrate in their own way. This is a time for family, and today I had the pleasure of spending some time at my Mother-in-Law's, my Sister-in-Law's, and at a drag racing internet junkies house. Sure family was cool...but I took my girls to see Zappy Clause! I had no idea he had this in the works, and on top of that...the Zappster and Lady Linda had stockings filled with goodies with the girls names on them. We shared a cup of coffee and had such a great time. It's just too bad I missed PJ by one day. It's amazing how many great folks I have had the pleasure to meet through this and other boards. Joe Sherwood called me yesterday, I spoke to Greg Rice on the phone today. Now it's time to go back to playing with my Hot Wheels that Santa brought me....

Here's Zappy Clause and my girls....

I got what I wanted

Karl Stalcup — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 14:23:20 GMT

Right now, Kat's sleeping, so I have the house to myself.

K'dub spent the night over at EJ and Tammy's, who are spending the day with her family. They stayed up all night playing Tetrice Mouse, Country and the grandsons are in Mo. So right now, All is Quite on the Eastern Front...

(K'dub just got home)

EJ and Tam gave me a couple of Tee's last night, "Sarcasm is just another FREE SERVICE I Offer", and Stu's "Spank Me, I've been a BAD BOY"

K'dub's best bud Daniel stopped by on his way to Church and gave me a leather bound...
"The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide"... all five novels and a short story, in 'large' print...

So, you all may wonder, why does a Pagan calibrate Christmas? The short version, I don't, but my kids do. 'Despite' their father's personal beliefs, they are all Christians, and I'm proud of each and every one of them, and all their friends call me dad.

So, To All, Again I Say

Blessed Be

d'kid

Happy Holidays "Kids"

Karl Stalcup — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:24:50 GMT

If ya'll have Read this blog long enuff, you know 'nuff about me that ya might think this is 'out of character'.

Happy Holidays to All, no matter what your personal beliefs are.

"For unto us a Child is Born, unto us, A Child is Given... And his name shall calleth, Wonderful, The Prince of Peace..."

The 25th of December is the day we celebrate the birth of the Child. It's not about things, it's about loved one, looking at ourselves and taking stock of our lives. And then strive to do better.

I don't care if you Believe in The Child, or if you are still waiting. If you Believe in 'The Lady and Lord', If you Believe in 'The All Father'... If you're Buddhist or Hindu.

Take these next Ten Days and reflect on your life, and no matter what you believe, RENEW Your Faith.

Blessed Be All

d'kid

I'm Too Old Skool

Karl Stalcup — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:04:26 GMT

It just dawned on me...

We all take our Nitro in different ways... heck, if I can't get a nitro fix, I'll go for alky.

Ya'll know I've said it before, I don't like crowds. Yeah, I'm still going to VMP for the Torco Race next October... crowd be damned... but I think it's time I get back to my roots.

Really think I'm going to try to catch a couple of Nitro Flopper races next year... Not POWERade stuff, but 'Real' funny cars... thing is, I'm sitting here at the end of I-64, miles from anywhere... guess Virginia's for Lovers, but it ain't the place to be if ya need a Nitro fix... there's got to be a place within 3 hours of here...

But for now, I'll keep my ears open... guess I thought with the grands kids moving to the mid-west, it wouldn't be hard to talk Kat into moving somewhere out in that area....

As If...

but for now, I guess I'll deal with what is...

d'kid
why do I do this to myself????

More things change

Karl Stalcup — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 21:31:55 GMT

Was going to post a blog tonight about my view on the "State of the Union" of drag racing this evening, but I'm going to delay it a few weeks.

Damn, I sound like an angry old man in what I've wrote, I've found myself being overcritical of everything that's come out of Glendora. I need to step back and rethink what I'm going to post.

Breath Karl

On the other hand, I did something nice for Myself this afternoon... it's Kathy's fault, she knows I love drag racing, but every year for the holidays, she gets me NASCAR related stuff...

I know she collects Fairies, Dragons, and all sorts of knickknacks... so, instead of screwing up again myself, and sitting at the 'puter trying to find stuff she doesn't have, I asked if she wanted to pick out stuff she wants from the sites she has book marked... she smiled, kissed me and said "thank you, I was hoping you'd say that"... She ordered want she want, so I have Happy Wife...

Me, I did something I've never done... I went to a 'Racing Collectibles' store today... I got myself a few Die cast cars.... Eric's preseason test car, John's Elvis car, John's '90 olds, Tony P's X-men car, Tony's Q/Santana car, and Teach's AAA car. First 1/24th Die cast's I've ever bought. Kathy thinks I'm nuts spending a couple of hundred on 'Toys'.... as if... the detail on those things is unreal, they're not toys...

So, no blog tonight at 10... Got to chill, and do a major rewrite...

More Later
D'kid

Top Tens... why I love this sport

Karl Stalcup — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:40:44 GMT

Okay, this is going to be more of a list of names than anything else, sorry to all about misspelling of names... it's always has been about the people and the racing... I said top ten, some may be more, some may be less, some namesmay be in more than one list, and it may surprise some of the names that don't make the lists, these are my favs, nothing more...

very old skool; old skool; today

floppers

Frank Pisano ; Danny Ongias; Robert Hight
Jungle; Dave Beebe; Phil Burkart
Dyno Don; Kelly Brown; Ashley Force
Doug Thorley; ... ***Gary Densham***
Doug Cooke; Mike VanSant; Eric(always)
........Ray Alley;..... Del Worsham
........Gaspar Ronda; Wildthing
Lew Arlington; Pat Foster; Mike Ashley
Jack Chrisman; Rich Siroonian; Tony P.
Hayden Proffit; ****Pat Minick****; TJ jr
.......... Ron O'Donnell; Capps
.......... Larry Reyes
.......... Big Jim Dunn
.......... Jake Johnston

Long Cars Fuel

James Warren ......... Hillary Will
John Mulligan ......... Melanie Troxell
Larry Dixon sr ........ Larry Dixon jr
Mike Snivley ......... JR Todd
Conrad ................... Doug K
John Weibe .............. Grubby
Tom McEwen ........... Cory Mac
Big Jim Dunn;.... Lil' Mike Dunn; .......TJZ
Dick & Kim ................Clay
.......................... Doug Foley
......................... The Prince

as you can see, four names did not make the list
Papa John, KB, Snake, Little Shoe....
The First three have done a lot for the sport and I'll always root for them and cars they own or field...

The fourth? Never have, never will, you see his father didn't make the list also... I like the people at DSR, I respect Tony's crew and crew chief... I glad what Don's done for the sport... but root for him??? Nope, never happen.

now... hurry up 2008... there'll be changes to the list....

d'kid

Some more of our little girl....

Alan Loder — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:41:53 GMT

Here's a few more pics of our girl from Halloween. She is quickly packing on some weight, and getting to be a little muscle head. When she eats, her little hind end goes up in the air with her rear legs off the ground. She is definitely a lot of fun!!!

Mile High Memories...

Tim Charlet — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 04:21:22 GMT

For my 1st blog entry here on the Mater, I figured I'd post this one from my Weekend at the mile high nationals this past year. Just to give ya'll a taste of who I am, and what I do!

Enjoy!

Timmah!

Mile High Memories!!!!

Last weekend the National Hot Rod Association's 23 race PowerAde Drag Racing Series came to Bandimere Speedway for the Mopar Mile High Nationals. For me, mile high week is by far, the best week of the year. I usually take the entire week off, to catch up with some errands, spend some time with my kids during the week, and then head out to bandimere for a couple days of Drag Racing Excitement. This week, was nothing short of extraordinary!

Monday-Wednesday:

I decided that I was going to work a few AM shifts Monday thru Wednesday, to make a little extra money, after I took my kids to their summer camp. I ran the DIA route on Monday, and about 20 people were asking me for tickets for the mile high's! As much as I wish I could accommodate everyone, I only had (1) extra ticket and it was spoken for! I gave my extra ticket to Bob, my buddy at work, who has had a hell of a year. He had some personal problems this past year that I wouldn't wish for anybody and seeing a friend go thru this was difficult for us all. Bob is a very educated motorsports fan. Being from Indy, I wouldn't expect anything else. But, Drag Racing has a special place in his heart. So, I chose to give up the "DUCKETS" to Bob. Unfortunately, bob's "HOG" was stolen from his place on Saturday Morning and was unable to go to the races. Just one more thing for him to deal with�When it rains it pours!

I picked up my kids Monday and Tuesday nights. Spending a week day with my kids is very special, and I very much cherish those days. We watched some movies, played some games, and just enjoyed the time together. Wednesday night was spent packing and preparing for the weekend up at Thunder Mountain!

Thursday:

I woke up Thursday Morning at about 10am! It was awesome to sleep in until I was READY to wake up. I felt like a lazy ass, since I'm usually up and ready to head to work at 5am every morning. I took a shower then headed up to bandimere to check out the track prep, catch up with some old friends and just hang out at the track. I also had to check in with NHRA to update my Credentials for the weekend, and apply for my "Hard Card" for germinate Restricted Access to all NHRA tracks. This will permit me to travel to a race and not worry about getting credentials any time I want to "talk" with any current owners about a future with their team as a driver. It would also allow me to fly out to any race to work for the NHRA if "CALLED IN". Anyways, once I got my credentials and parking pass for the weekend, I drove up to the track and met John and Robin Crosby, with the NHRA Safety Safari. I have been working with them for many years and their great people who really love what they do for a living. I called them a week ago and asked if I could observe how they prepare a track for NHRA competition. They agreed. So, it was pretty cool and I learned a lot about that. Afterwards, I headed home to take another shower and get "Prettied Up" for the Mopar Block Party. This party is held in Downtown Golden, Colorado every Thursday prior to the race. It's always a good time. This year was especially important for me to attend, as a few potential sponsors were going to be there and asked me to "SHOW UP". Plus, my mentor and friend, Fast Jack Beckman, his wife Jenna and their 4 month old son Jason were going to be up there. We had planned to have dinner prior to the party starting, but Jack had a sponsor commitment to attend to. So, since Jack was unable to have dinner, I decided to go on the Coors Brewery tour. I was supposed to meet (NHRA TRACK ANNOUNCER) Alan Reinhart up there, but he wimped out, so I had to fly solo. But, just when I thought it was going to be a boring tour, I met two really "HOT" and cool chics from Boston. Melissa and Julie are two Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers from Boston. They were on a Cross country road trip, and decided they had to go to a brewery tour. We hung out during the tour, and then headed to the best part of the tour�.THE TASTING ROOM! While we were there, we met John O. and the entire Kalitta Motorsports team. The Girls have never been to a drag race and called them "HOT WHEELS". After the tour, they asked if there was anything going on in town�"HA�You just follow Timmah Ladies!" We had a great time! We hung out at the Table Mountain Inn's Bar and Grill, and then walked down the street to a "DIVE" bar to have a few drinks. In between, I met with some buddy's and sponsors, and finally hooked up with Jack and Jenna! Well, as soon as I knew it, it was 10:30pm and I had to get home to get some sleep. The girls headed back to their hotel, and I headed to my house, (I'm a gentleman folks!). It was really cool to meet the girls and Julie is on My Space and one of my new friends!

Friday:

Friday at bandimere is the busiest of days at the track. We started racing at 9:30am and did not get finished until 10:00pm. As much as I love the racing, the best part of my day on Friday is actually when I get home and take my shower. Working on the starting line and in the burnout box is a lot of fun, but a very DIRTY Job! I am covered by burnt rubber, oil and other STUFF. It's usually a 20 minute shower that includes a Bar of Soap and an ice cold beer! On Friday Night, Jack ran a solid 4.900 to qualify 6th on Friday night. By the way�he was in MY Lane on that pass!

Saturday:

I met some of my fellow co-workers at the track in the morning. James Beckham and Art Gobenski, who are couriers at Fed Ex Express, and both huge Drag Racing fans. It was a long, hot day, with hardly a cloud in sight. I took a break at about noon, and while I was sitting down having a glass of water, I looked up in the stands, and there was my old friend Curtis! Curtis and I have been best friends for about 9 years. We had a huge disagreement back in January to begin this year, and have not spoken since. He waved to me, and I told him to come down to the back of the tower. We just looked at each other, and both said "SORRY". It was a very emotional moment for me, as Curtis is a great guy, who has been a great friend of mine for so many years. It was great to reconnect with my old friend! Right after I met up with Curtis, I saw something that I was very happy to see�CLOUDS! We had about a 90 minute Rain delay. Once the clouds lifted and the track was dried, the track got "REAL FAST". Jack, and the entire MTS team were licking their chops, looking to get on that track. It was worth the wait. In their Last Qualifying effort, Jack and the MTS Dodge Charger ran 4.862 seconds @ 312.88 MPH, which was good for the 2 spot. They missed the 1 Spot by .20 MPH! Not 20 mph� two Tenths of a Mile per hour! But, that was a great baseline run for Sunday!

Sunday:

Sunday began with breakfast at the Blue Cow, in Morrison, Colorado. It's a great little place that I have breakfast every Sunday Morning of the Race. After breakfast, I headed up to the track to attend the RFC (Racers For Christ) church service. Racing began at 9:45am. The eliminations for the Pro Cars started at 11:30. After a great national anthem and tribute to my friend Eric Medlen, who passed away in a testing accident earlier this season, I was teared up even before the 1st drop of Nitro! Anyways, Jack and his team had a great day. They advanced to their 1st final round of the year, and raced team mate and one of my old racing friends Ron Capps, in the BRUT Don Schumacher Racing Dodge Charger. My other friend "Hot" Rod Fuller was in the final round vs. the biggest Dick in drag racing..And his name is not Richard! Whit Bazemore, Rod's team mate on David Powers Top Fuel Team is a fairly good driver. But, his attitude is really substandard for a professional Drag racer. It was great to see "HOT ROD" beat Whit in the Finals, but the best part of my day was when "Fast Jack" beat Ron Capps to win the Mopar Mile High Nationals.

I was standing with the crew on that final round pass. In my drag racing career, I have won races with teams, as a driver, a crew chief, and as a friend. But seeing Jack win MY race, at MY track, in MY home town, was the best experience I have ever had in Drag Racing! I called my Dad as soon as he crossed the finish line because I knew he'd appreciate it as much as I did. I met Jack and his team in Victory Lane and then the party began. My Dad celebrated his 60th birthday on Friday. As Jack and I were packing up his Coach for his trip to Seattle, he grabbed my phone and said�"what's your Dad's phone number". After I gave him the number, he called my Dad and wished him a happy birthday! On the Day where Jack won his 2nd professional Race, the 1st with his son Jason in attendance, in the middle of celebrating his win, HE THOUGHT OF CALLING MY DAD!

If nothing tells all my "My Space" Friends, why Fast Jack is one of my best friends�I think that story tells it all! It was great week. Time with my family, time with my friends, time getting to know people, time at the drag strip, and basically one of the best times of my life!

Timmah!

BTW: As much fun as I had working the mile high's this year�Next Year�I GOTTA RACE THERE!

Guilty Pleasures

Karl Stalcup — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 15:06:43 GMT

I ramble a lot, think you all have noticed that by now. Fragmented ideas, incomplete sentences, mind running through the lights at 330. Thank you Shannon for Spell Check.

So what do I do, away from work, to kill time?

Let's start by saying I don't watch TV. Cotton Candy for the masses, commercials dumbed down to the least common denominator, Castrol, I'm really tired of watching oil sludge fall from the sky, Q, my problem on the street is keeping all my horse under control, Mobile, using electric slot cars for an oil ad makes less than any sense, Powerade, the 50/10 ads are just dumb... ads for drugs that never tell what they are for... Guess I'm not the Target Audience... Even MTV and VH1 aren't about the music anymore, at least every time I click pass them, it's some game show or 'reality' thing... 300 channels and not a dang thing I really want to watch...

What do I do? I READ. Dale Brown, Tom Clancy, Harold Coyle, for Military Fiction... Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Nancy A. Collins, Rachel Caine for Sci/Fi & Horror...

Frank Herbert, Jack L. Chalker, Robert A. Heinlein, Edger Casey, Piers Anthony, Mary Baker Eddy, The Book of Mormon, The Bible, Erich von Daniken, and too many others to name... not counting the 'Eastern' and 'Nordic' teachings...

I love Art, everything from 'The Old Masters' to Boris Vallejo, Julie Bell, Luis Royo, Brett Booth and Al Rio...

But my real Guilty Pleasures? Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ghost in the Shell, Resident Evil, Tomb Raider, Bubblegum Crisis...

and, ahhhh, Drag Racing

d'kid