Before we depart on our 1000 mile drove to Topeka, we were asked to give a sign of our enthusiasm.
Ooops. We REALLY ARE excited about driving to Topeka. Really. We are. (Although when we got back and were out to dinner, and the waitress wanted to know if we were in Topeka for a vacation, none of us could aswer - we just bust out laughing...)
After a 2 days (including 5 days spent driving across Nebraska) and some wrong turns (thanks, MapQuest...), we made it and got set up.
The way the RV sites were, we had to pull in nose-first, and leave the truck hooked up. Which meant that Charles ended up with a rental car.
And while we had a pretty nice set-up, there were rigs of all shapes and sizes out.
We arrived for the test and tune, and I took the opportunity to scope out classes that we don't see much of in Utah.
And there was a lot of 'catching up' going on in the pre-grid area.
This was where the boys (Charles and Gary) discovered that their car was just barely making the weight.
As this car rumbled by, I decided that I REALLY want to have a C Prepared car when I grow up. *grin.
Got wing?
More pre-gridding. The test and tune lines, pre-grid and grid were busy all day.
I love the 'Thanks Mom!' sponsor sticker on the back of this CSP car!
We've almost made it from the pre-grid into the actual grid!
It took me a bunch of tries to get a picture of this A Mod.
I love the contrast here - the rented Lincoln (ran in CP - the guy's real car wasn't ready, so he rented this and ran it) and the guy with the battery on his hood. Heh.
The DP on one of its test runs.
More cars and 'conveyances'
Being a bit of an unknown quantity, the Miata was a hit and a curiosity, especially since the boys had laid down very respectable times at the test and tune.
The start of the course walks. It's amazing how many times you can walk a course when you've got three days before you race,
And then, finally, the cars were ready to race (note the clear skies, the warm weather, and the complete absence of coats. *ahem.)
The spectators
The additional ballast to ensure the DP met the weight requirements.
And then, the class that I SO aspire to become a member of. The C Prepareds (aka, the Heavy Metal Class). Heh. These guys are running (in the words of Mark Knopfler) Heavy Fuel. **grin.
Ohhh.. I COVET. (Now I just have to learn how to drive! *grin.)
And then there was the 'CP' rental car. Heh. Gotta love the attitude!!! (Yes, that is a Lincoln.)
And then Matt arrived, in plenty of time to get the Mini to tech and to get signed in.
The Mini, Rarin' to go.
Moon Over Parador. (Or Topeka, and the TeamDranow compound, if you will..)
TeamDranow. ;-D
And then it came time for us to run. (That would be Charles the Energized rolling the DP out to grid.)
And I got ready for the Mini Melee
(Getting the hair pulled back to prevent the worst of all possibilities: helmet hair.... EEEEEK.)
I'm actually very excited to be here. But the first runs (and I was #3) were at 8am, and I can only look SO excited at 7:30am...
Oh yeah. I'm ready NOW!!!
Into the start. *gulp. This IS the Nationals, after all. *gulp.
On the track, in the morning haze. Check out that rear tire. Heh.
Ooops! Hitting the chalk line is never a good thing. Should have been on the OTHER side of those cones. Gah. Starting off with a DNF is not what I had intended.
(And I quote:) "On the OTHER side of those cones, Dumb*ss." Let's just say that those words came back to bit him... ;-D
Matt also suggesting that actually getting on the gates, and not just freestyling the course is a better technique.... (Thanks, guys!)
"Lessee. Right, then left, then BIG right, gas, gas, gas, left, more gas, BREAK!!!" (Note the covers on the tires. It took all three runs for the tires to actually warm up.)
Looks like the lot at a MINI dealership, if you ask me...
Back again, for another attempt.
Caught a cone early on, but it was a better run, and I did get A time on the books.
(Heh. Is this too cool, or what?!?)
Yep. Look at the inside rear tire again. Gotta love that rear sway bar!!!
Last run of the day was my fastest, and clean. A good way to end the day. And WAY too much fun.
And then the boys got ready to run.
Note all the umbrellas in the DP cars. (No roofs, just roll cages!)
DU-UDE!!!
The Bakers (with their matching umbrella!)
"Go fast. And don't hit any of those orange cone thingys."
And they're off.... Gary as the 'tire warmer' took the first run in the car.
And is quickly checking his time!
Charles, ready for his run.
Gary's second run.
And then an X prepared car. An Elise that has undergone some, uh, surgery. Too cool!
And then the DPs are back.
(Just watch those cones in the finish! *grin.)
And then it was time for the MattMan to smoke it. Other than SuperStock, I think G Stock was arguably one of the tightest classes out there.
Nice 3-wheeling!!!
The bys getting ready for the west course on Friday.
