Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Pinks All Out video

Hey guys,

The Embry-Riddle jet dragster was featured on Pinks All Out on Speed TV. Here is a clip.

Enjoy,
e

Monday, August 25, 2008

World Series and NMRA

Hey guys, well it has been a couple of races since I have written anything. Lets go back to an amazing race, the 55th annual World Series of Drag racing held at Cordova Raceway. We were fortunate enough to be invited to run my jet dragster for this amazing piece of history. We started the weekend with some 80 year old grandmas racing golf carts, yes I said grandma's racing golf carts. Four racing grandma's battled it out for the Grandma Grand Prix. I was lucky enough to be a part of their fun and hand off the trophies to the winners.

Then it was time to get back to the track as we were making a pass later that evening. We were joined by KC Jones and the trains, Diamond Jim Crownheart's two jet funny cars and Miss Fran Peppler in her Rock N Roll Thunder jet funny car. That sounds like an amazing line-up but that is not all. Del Worham, Tony Pedragon, Tim Wilkerson and Jack Wyatt. The TOP NHRA Top fuel funny car drivers out there. That is not all, nostalgia cars, wheel standers and the list just went on and on. This is now a stop for us every year. I have been to a lot of drag races, and this was right up thee on top offering so much for everyone.

It was a privilage for the Embry-Riddle team to be a part of this racing history and hopefully the crowd enjoyed our show. We made one pass on Friday and two on Saturday to end the show. At the end of the night we hung out with Del Worsham's crew enjoying the evening. The next morning bright and early we were back at the track breaking things down to head to the next show.

NMRA in Columbus, OH was our next stop. This is our fourth year back at National Trail Raceway and I have made some amazing friends in the past and it is always great to come back and see them every year. There was this little guy Jordan Nash that is going to take my job in about 10 years.

Andrew and I flew home Sunday evening and Chris went on to the US Nationals to enjoy more Drag Racing. My thoughts and prayers are with all of my friends in the path of Hurricane Gustav. I have heard from some of you and am happy to report that all seems well at this point. We are looking forward to our trip back to Gulfport Dragway in October, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that the dragstrip didn't sustain too much damage.

Well I guess that is all I have for now. I will try and post photos soon. We just purchased a new camera and I need to figure out how to download the files. Thanks for checking in.

luv ya,
e

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Wait and see!!!!

Okay, so this is the first weekend that we have not had a race in a very long time and what do we do........well Chris drives all over the state of Florida getting this lined up for the days to come and I clean house. Fun fun.

We are also starting a new project.....I am sooooo excited about this, I have waited for this for 22 years......I am getting are you ready.........a laundry room!!!!! Whoooooooo Hooooooooooooo. I have wanted this for a very long time and Mr. Don is here to put it in for me. Now as excited as I am, I am watching the weather. If you have been paying attention Tropical Storm Fay is trying to head our way. New construction and a Tropical Storm not a great combination. But we are going to wait and see. YIKES!!!!

So in other news, another big landmark is happening tomorrow..........Andrew starts the 6th grade. Yes my little guy is starting Middle School. Wow how time flys. It seems like yesterday he was starting Kindergarten. Now things are all about to change.

Well that is all I have for now. I will leave you with a photo that was sent to me. It was taken right before I was going to run at Oshkosh Airshow. Pretty cool.

I will keep you posted on the first day at school, laundry room and Fay. This week is going to be fun!!!

luv ya,

e

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Finally

Okay, sorry it has taken me so long to check in with everyone, but it has been a very busy summer. We left home heading for Route 66 for the Super Bowl of Drag racing with the NMRA vs the NMCA. We had never been to Route 66 before and I had heard great things, well it is amazing. The facility is just breath taking.




We pulled into town on Friday morning as we had extra set-up for this event. The Embry-Riddle team has an addition to our display, a brand new awning, and boy oh boy were we ever happy to have it that weekend. Rainy weather on Saturday morning put a damper on the morning, but sunny skies later that day and into Sunday, made for some of the best drag racing in the country. Andrew never missed a second and kept us up to date, but in the end NMCA came out victorious over the NMRA. It was a great weekend. Chris from Vedalo HD came out to bring the racing action into HIGH DEFINITION!!! Check out the sponsor page to get a set of your own Vedalo HD sunglasses!!!


Next we headed for Oshkosh, WI but had a couple of days to spare so we hit the Wisconsin Dells first. The Dells has the worlds largest water parks as well as the famous ducks and the now famous Lake Dalton. Now why would the lake be famous, we it is no longer there. After severe rain in June, the lake overflowed into the Wisconsin River and disappeared in 2 hours. When we arrived we could walk across the lake. Spooky!!! We stayed in a cabin for a couple of days and enjoyed the town. It was very nice to sit back and relax. If you ever get a chance, this is definitely a place to stop.
Well it was time to get back to work and head for Oshkosh, WI for the EAA airshow. We set up on Saturday with the help of Embry-Riddle. Monday morning and it is time to go to work. During the week over three quarters of a million people will come though the gates. It is amazing and so much fun to see old friends. We we busy everyday trying to do our best to represent drag racing. Now every year we get a lot of the same questions and one question is "Are you going to run out here this week?" Well guess what.......this year I was happy to be able to say YES!!!!! Thursday at 2:57 the Embry-Riddle jet racing team rocketed down the runway at the World's Largest Airshow in front of people from all over the world. It was amazing to see the reaction. I was so proud of my team for giving me the tool to blast down the runway. What a rush!!!! I can't wait until next year. Thanks for all of my friends that took the time to stop and say HI. I have a new theme song and can't wait to do something with it. All in all what a great week.

But that was the airshow. Larsen Motorsports held their first annual sponsor appreciation party and the local bowling alley. Sorry to say NO photos will be posted : 0 ) We finished up the week and Sunday was the mark of another successful airshow. We packed everything up and it was time to head back to New Jersey for the NMRA race.

On the way to New Jersey we made a pit stop in Akron, OH. Now a lot of people may say "what is in Ohio?" But to a jet racer it is where a lot of history began. We went to the late Art Arfons shop and got to take a look at some amazing pieces of jet racing history. It was a honor to meet Tim Arfons and see photos and hear some of the old stories. We spent a couple of hours in the shop and then it was back on the road. No rest.

Curt Eierdam was in the area so he made the trip over to help crew for the Embry-Riddle team. We made a pass on Friday evening to light up the New Jersey skies and then 2 passes on Saturday. We were supposed to make an additional pass Sunday but rainy weather put a stop to the race and sent us on our way early. We said goodbye to Curt and started for our good friends house in Indianapolis. We spent the night and then flew home on Tuesday morning. We have been on the road for almost 5 weeks and I can't wait to sleep in my own bed tonight.

Well home sweet home. We are going to get caught up on work back at the shop and in the office before we hit the road again for August 23rd. We have been invited to perform at the World Series of Drag Racing in Cordova Dragway. I can't wait. Check out the schedule page for more information. I hope to see you all at the races.