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More About the Festival of Speed

Posted on October 12, 2008 by Ching under Family, Life, Travel.

The volunteers controlling the flow of traffic were a little bit confused about where people belonged so we got to drive around the parking lot inside the race track. I guess that worked to our advantage. It was really cool seeing all of the race cars on display. After driving around once, we proceeded to ask where the handicapped parking was. David and Donna remembered to bring their tag and it worked out great. Instead of making us go back out to the disabled parking section with shuttle pick up and drop off, we got park in the special reserved section just by turn 10 and next to the beer garden. We were right there where everything was and didn’t have to walk far at all.

What I found funny was that the beer garden was located right next to the family fair area. They also had a gigantic display screen that showed the races as they went on. I suppose this way dad can enjoy a beer while watching the races, as mom and the kids play in the amusement rides nearby. LOL. I wanted to do some rides, but I was denied. Brian said they are for kids only. I bet if I had a kid I’d be able to do it. =P They always let mommies and daddies ride with their little children. Mental note: rent a child next time. [I’m kidding!]

We had a lot of fun walking around the lot, checking out parked race cars, taking pictures, and talking to various racing teams. We also drooled over the Ferrari tent. It was more like a palace, actually, because they had large tent rooms extending from either side of the rig. It looked to me like they had an open bar and expensive catering with real china, utensils, and glassware. Only VIPs were allowed in so we just looked from a distance.

It was funny because these four scantily clad girls dressed in “Booble” camisoles drove by in their golf cart a couple of times as we were walking by the Ferrari section. We were thinking that they were probably trying to figure out how to get invited in. LOL. By the way, I didn’t know this until today (but I promised Brian and David that I would find out), “Booble” is a porn search engine. I guess you could say it’s like Google except for adult web sites. Pretty catchy, huh? I bet they’re making a killing.

While we were there we got to watch several races: F500 (which was in progress when we arrive), T1 (this was probably the most exciting one; it had two Ferrari entries), HP, and FF. I’m not sure what of these mean, but it was sure fun watching the cars go round and round the race track. I told Brian I would look them up because it helps to know what you’re watching. I did find a really good informational page about the various car classifications on the SCCA web site. Feel free to check it out if you’d like to learn more about these cars.

We got to watch the races from a couple of vantage points. Work had a tent by turn 12 and it was a great place to watch the cars go by while remaining in the shade. The flyer they handed out at Heartland Park mentioned berms, but I’m not sure what those are. Supposedly, they’re right by the grandstand. Speaking of the grandstand, watching from the top-most level is the best. You get to see almost the entire race track that way. It was awesome. The only downside is that you’re in the sun the entire time, so be sure to wear sunblock. I would have liked to have walked over to turn 8 and watched from there. According to the article in the flyer, that’s probably the most exciting place to watch because you are closest to the cars. It was a long walk, though, so we didn’t get a chance to check it out. I guess we could have driven the car down there. We didn’t think of that, though.

Anyway, we left right as the FF race was winding down. I think Brian wanted to stay for the last two races of the day, the GTL and the S2, but Donna was pooped so we all agreed to head back home. It worked out, though, because then we didn’t have to drive home in the dark.

When we got back into town, we stopped by The Diner. David and Donna bought us dinner. Thank you, guys! That was the perfect end to a fun-filled day at the races.

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2008 Festival of Speed

Posted on October 11, 2008 by Ching under Family, Flickr, Life, Travel.

We had a great time at the Festival of Speed, watching the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, today. It was the first time I had ever been to Heartland Park in Topeka. It was Brian’s first time there, too. We had been to nearby Forbes Field a few years ago, but never in Heartland Park.

Here are some photos we took today…

While we had a blast watching the cars race, our adventure today was somewhat bittersweet. Our first time watching the SCCA National Championship Runoffs might very well be our last.

I found out that this year is the final year that the event will be held at Heartland Park. The SCCA’s Board of Directors have chosen Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin as host for the event in 2009-2011. I doubt we will ever go to Wisconsin just to watch the races, but Brian could see himself occasionally driving up to Topeka. It’s sad that the SCCA National Championship Runoffs won’t be back next year.

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Team Ponderosa Strikes Again

Posted on September 15, 2008 by Ching under Family, Life.

The Ponderosa Poker Posse (what’s left of the old group, anyway) poses for a picture outside Cracker Barrel.

This is the post-dinner huddle where we agreed that we’d rather eat donuts for three hours than pay $50 bucks to see a football game. Well, most of us anyway. Cory wants to go. Brian is the exact opposite. You couldn’t pay him to go. LOL.

A good time was had by all. Although, Dill totally massacred me at checkers. Ugh.

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My Cousin Gladys

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Ching under Family, Life.

I received a letter from my cousin Gladys last month. She included some photos. One of her and I taken ten years ago, a recent photo of her, and also a photo of her brother Justin (below).

My! How time flies!

The above photo is of me at age thirteen, which is around the same age Gladys is now. She’s twelve in this photo, I think.

We kinda sorta look alike, don’t we? Everyone tells me that she is smart, too. Just like Ate Ching. =)

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Dinner at the Brubakers

Posted on June 21, 2008 by Ching under Family, Flickr, Travel.

We were supposed to have dinner with Brian’s parents on Friday night, but I found out on Tuesday that we had a phone system upgrade that same evening. I had volunteered to stay through the whole thing a couple of weeks ago, but had forgotten all about it.

Pam Joni and I stayed. It was supposed to finish at 11:00 PM on Friday night, if all went well. Things never go perfectly so we were there until almost 2:00 AM the next day. It still wasn’t finished so they all went back this morning. I couldn’t because I had a full Saturday with my waxing, April’s bridal shower, and poker. I had originally planned to work out in the morning, but I nixed that idea so I could get some sleep.

Anyway, dinner got moved to Thursday night. We brought the bottle of Malbec that we won at Carrabba’s. It didn’t go that great with chili dogs, but we drank some anyway. LOL. Here are post-dinner some pictures of Brian and Dave goofing off.