Bristol ~ Eliminations

Try as she may she could not get that newly supersported GSXR 1000 to qualify any faster than a 9.3 in the quarter mile.

Out of frustration one of her Brock Performance teammates took her bike down the quarter mile to see if he could give her some pointers. His runs were in the 9.4 second range which is exactly what Jen had managed to do on it while practicing.

Still frustrated, yet at the same time relieved to know that it was not her, she will do the best she can in Bristol and take it to JOHNNY CHEESE for tuning before going to Indy.

So, live-timing still not working, we are relying on the old fashion telephone for updates. So far:

• Street Fighter - lost in the first round by .0026 second!
• Street ET - winner! Sorry don't have any details.
• Pro ET - winner! Again no details.
• Super Sport - no info yet.

Final results...

She was not so lucky in the rest of the weekend’s racing. Her newly super-sported GSXR continued to be ‘cantankerous’ and the Busa was just as cranky! She was able to make it only to the 2nd round in all four of her races – a big disappointment. After Johnny Cheese adds his magic touch to it, Jen will practice in San Antonio as much as possible until Indy. Looking back won't change anything - fix it, test it, race it!

bRiStOl ~ AMA Dragbike Races ~ Day 2, cont'd.

What a frustrating day - we have been unable to get race updates online due to what I suppose is technical difficulty. I guess we will just have to go to all the rest of the races if we want to know what's happening!

Anyway, Jen finally called - totally unaware that we did not have a clue how she was doing. She was a bit frustrated with her times, but we did our job of offering encouragement and suggestions. (It is nice to feel needed :-)) So, bottom line is, I am not sure where she actually qualified in any of the 4 classes she is running in. I know she has her work cut out for her tomorrow during eliminations.

In the mean time, Cousin Wayne is making sure she and her entire crew are well fed. Let's see, I believe they had wonderful hamburgers Thursday evening, delicous chicken wings and hot dogs on Friday evening and tonight it is spaghetti (a personal favorite). THANK YOU Cousin Wayne :)

The Interceptor!

If we push the riding mover forward about three feet, a small space becomes available in the shop. A space just about the right size to be INTERCEPTED by ANOTHER MOTORCYCLE! Not just any bike, but a special anniversary edition - a 2007 Honda VFR 800.

It is a very special bike. The previous owner, a man in his 60's with a long white beard, had put only 225 miles on it. His family said every mile had made him happy. (He died peacefully in his sleep soon after purchasing it.) We have a big responsibility now, making certain this bike has a good home.

Our salesman was insistant that we carry this gardian angel bell on the bike. He said it would protect the bike and rider from evil spirts and keep them safe! That said, and considering the bikes history, we thought it could not hurt to follow through. So before the bike even left the shop in El Campo, TX the little bell was securely attached to the bike. Believe in evil spirits or not, the little bell did its job warding off trouble - the bike was run off the road by an evil little white car on the way home. Fortunately there was a good shoulder on that road, and as I watched helplessly from my little Mazda, I could clearly see that the guardian bell was doing its job.

Following behind in the Mazda as Roger piloted the bike toward Corpus Christi, I could see streaks of lightening in the sky - sometimes 4 at once, the bright flashes lit up the sky over Victoria. We pulled into a Texas Department of Transportation parking lot to sit it out. (Protected once again.) Soon we were back on our way. We pulled into the driveway at around 5:30 p.m., road grime covered the new red, white and blue bike and the odometer now read well over 300 miles.

Now all shinny and clean, this special bike has found a new home - a small space in the shop where I am quite certain its guardian bell will keep it safe.

bRiStOl ~ AMA Dragbike Races ~ Day 2

June 21, 2008

Still waiting for information...no live timing...no phone calls. Maybe it is raining....and they shut the place down...and the phones aren't working...MAYBE the entire place decided to sleep in late...z-z-z-z-z-z.

Maybe they are taking advantage of the rain (if it is raining) and are getting the bikes re-tuned...

Sheesh! This is waiting stuff is just plain tough.

UPDATED ~ Bristol AMA Dragracing!

Today's events include eliminations from the rained out portion of the Atlanta race back in April - since Jen is still alive in one of the classes, she will be competing this afternoon. She is fighting to adjust to her newly supersported GSXR 1000, so we will see what she can do this weekend!


UPDATE - this just in from Bristol, TN...She made it to the quarter finals in the Pro ET class. This is fabulous - that little GSXR up against those big wheelie bar bikes. What a sight that must have been! You can see the beautiful mountains in the background at this track as Jen prepares to compete (I have no clue who the fellow in the blue & white shirt is).


More updates coming soon.

All Alone and Left Behind...

Well, they're off to Bristol. Jen, Michael, and their friends Byrd and Sarah. Roger and I have been 'left behind.' The old mom and dad...sitting at home...waiting for news from the Texas Woman Drag Racer and her pit crew. **Sigh**

We were going to Bristol - we really were. Already had hotel reservations and everything. Then reality got in the way - work and the cost of fuel - and we reconsidered, thinking it would be best to save all that for the Indy race in August.

Not only were we left behind by our daughter and her crew, but we have also been left behind by her older brother, his wife and family. They have gone to the Hills of Texas for a couple of days.

Alone...all alone...totally and completely alone.... Oh, except for Chance! We do have grandpup Chance :)

Jelly Belly Collection and other Stuff

Aha! Look what Roger found!

A Jelly Belly Collection! He thinks it is all his, but he is mistaken because I have laid claim to the Fiery Cinnamon flavor and various other flavors that he doesn't know about...at least not until he reads this...

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We have this tree that I just love - you must understand that trees and I have an unusual connection. I know that they can feel, and think, and are considerably more intelligent than any human. On one of our trips to Hawaii :) Roger found an ugly stick looking thing sealed up in a package. It was no bigger than the palm of my hand and was supposed to be some sort of flowering plant called a Plumeria. We brought it home and promptly forgot about it. Then one day he decided to stick it in some dirt. We watched as it seemed to grow by the minute! Next thing we know it looks like this ~

And has beautiful, fragrant flowers blooming everywhere...

Oh, and there are these little digging lizards that appeared one day when the grandboys came to visit...it may have been on my birthday. These guys help keep the tree happy and entertained!

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We are fighting some very dry weather right now. The cracks in the yard are so big that I am afraid to let the cat out for fear he may fall into one of the deep crevices. We water a few times a week, not to save the grass - that is a lost cause, but to protect the house's foundation!

World's Fastest?

At last March's Texas Mile Jen did an interview with StreetFire.net while making her attempt at the world record for fastest female on two wheels. Although she didn't quite make the world record then, she will try again in October. We are hopeful and know she can do it. Click here (or on fastest female above) to see the interview. In the mean time she will be competing this month at Bristol, TN in the AMA Dragbike competition - report to follow.

It is always nice to know that your daughter is tough and can take care of herself! But it is also nice to know that she has a softer side.