Well Saturday dawns bright and early and well yeah, HOT. again.
This year decided to 'wing it', and drove out to the track in the Cobra, without the trailer. (last year, because of the storms I trailered it). The dragstrip is only 20+ minutes away, so not a long or too bad of a drive. Met Randy in the parking lot at 7:30, (ok, I was a couple of minutes late) and we headed to the track. After tech, zipped over for the driver's meeting, and was given all the regular info. One little detailed worried me though, and I decided to ignore it....!
Finally it was time for the time trials, and I prepared for my first one. All set, at the line, and the started saunters over and politely informs me I will not be able to run next time without long pants! Bummer!
Well I went ahead and did that run, and then popped around the end to get my ticket. wow! I won that trial.... hmmm. 13 point something.... Anyway, went to get back in line, and realized darn, I needed some pants! Backed out of the staging lanes, and pulled up next to a little yellow car. A guy walks up and smiling, asks if I'm going to be the next 'Katherine Legg'. Of course I'm ignorant and don't know who that is, and he goes on to explain she's tearing up the courses in Europe I believe he said. (I still had on my helmet, and couldn't hear really well) Anyway, I get out and start mumbling something about needing long pants to run again. He says he has some, and of course I just decline, and figured I'd get some from somebody I knew.... He sticks out his hand and says "Hi, I'm Dick Smith, what's your name?" Man alive, I know who Dick Smith is! Geez!!!! I said "I'm Kristen and I know exactly who you are!! You're a legend! Nice to meet you!!!!" Anyway, he INSISTS I borrow his EXTRA jeans that are in the trunk of the little yellow car, right next to me.
So, out they come, and well, let's just say they were a little roomy, and I was able to slide them right up over my shorts and voila! Problem solved! Ran the next two trials, in Dick Smith's pants.....
Well after those 3 runs, I thought I'd done enough, so went looking for my buddies. Matt just looked at me absolutely puzzled, and said 'what are you wearing' in the funniest way! I was doing the 'gangsta punk' look, with the jeans hanging low, and the belt not quite hooked but I'm sure the oddest thing was my own shorts sticking out over the top! Bizarre is the word.....
Anyway, I was off to find Brad, who offered the use of his jeans, as Dick was thinking he might ride with someone and would need his jeans back. So, I got Brad's jeans, and went back to my car, now parked a couple of spots down, next to a trailer with a cobra, and a nice 'older' couple sitting near it. Brad's a little bit slimmer than Dick, and well although I did get the jeans pulled up AND buttoned over my shorts, well it was a tighter fit.... hmmmmm need to lose those 15 lbs!!!! And did I mention hot??? two pair of denim jeans is just a bit too hot.... So, this nice guy next to me thinks I look ridiculous, I'm sure, and offers his driving pants. I decline, of course, I can make this work.... I'm not too fat for these jeans, am I???? It's not hot is it??? Anyway, he finally goes to get the pants, and pitifully hands them to me- please, take the pants, I don't need them, really! Yeah, ok, I get the message..... Gotta take my shoes back off to get the skinny jeans off, and slide on these wonderfully thin, cool, elastic waist, velcro closing pants. Wow. Now that is better.....
So, lo and behold, this kind gentleman offering me his pants is none other than the legend in transport, Rich Lacey! So off I go, ready to race the world- all cool and comfy!
I finally hear the call for the Powder Puff group to the staging lanes.
Hmmm. Let's go!
All 3 of my trial runs were in the mid to upper 13's, so went to the group for the 'under 14' dial in. I'm remembering last year. ugh. Ran my only time trial with the clutch half in. Dialed in for the 'final' a 15.51. (that now sounds ridiculously high!!!!) Broke out with a 14.55or something like that..... So, what in the world am I doing in the 'fast lane'???? Under 14??? Who am I kidding???? My trustworthy pit crew from last year abandoned me this year, heading off to some silly auction looking for some silly hot rod or something.... So this year I depended on Gary Patterson to be my pit crew.... Whadya think, Gary??? Under 14??? yeah, you can do it... all your trials were under 14, let's go 13.65. ok......
So I'm in the fast lane. Now I know what that really means.... Not just cruising down the highway, but the real FASTLANE!!! The girl parked in front of me comes over to chat, while I'm sitting in the cobra. She's done this a few times, not a lot, and this is her husband's car. After a few minutes she says, "well, good luck! Oh, guess I don't need to say that- we're both gonna win". What do you mean? I ask. She says "look behind you, nobody else is running in this group- we're guaranteed either first or second"....
I turn around, and yup, we're the only two cars for the fast lane.... uh oh......
Maybe I should've dialed in a wee bit higher.....
Ok. A few of the 'slow group' make their run, then we're signaled to proceed. Man, I'm a bit nervous.....
I get the right lane..... She's dialed in 13.10, me 13.65, so we leave the line pretty close together.
It had been suggested to me after the first two trials that I was shifting too soon, I should watch my tach, and shift later... oh so much to remember..... I don't wanna watch the tach, I just wanna look straight down the lane! Anyway, I pull away with a long pull in first, and oh no!!!!! Something happened! What's wrong??? Oh! I think I hit the limiter! ooops! Or did I actually miss 2nd gear??? No, surely it was the limiter! Gooooooo! I hesitate a second and she starts to pass by me... oh no! she's a little ahead! Go girl go! Long pull in second, long pull in third go baby go!! you got it gooooo! Pass her and don't look back! Slide it in fourth and whoooohooooooooooo that was GREAT!!!!!
Come around the pull out at the end... hmmmmmm We were pretty close there.... I wonder.....
Well come up to the little booth, and he hands me the white ticket! I won! I won!! I'm laughing the whole way back to my 'pit spot'. Next to Rich Lacey. A couple of cars away from Dick Smith. Wow. What a run. now THAT was fun!
Slid out of those driving pants, handed them back, thanking him for the kind use, and thinking I was glad I hadn't uh, ruined them or anything
Found my little group, they were all proud of me... Ran into Dick with his wife, and he had the best time introducing me to Heather as 'the girl that got into my pants!" It was a fun time for us all.
Saturday afternoon took another cold shower- it was hot at the strip- and got dressed for the 'banquet' that night. Ford puts on a really nice show, and there are always lots of door prizes, and cool video's of the newest projects.
Sunday was the big car show, with I bet around 1000 cars. All Ford powered. I decided not to 'enter' the show this year, but I did drive over to the cobra section to hang out.
So many cars.... so many pictures.....
The interior of Dick's car
I thought this pedal car on the back of the mustang was so fun! If my girls were younger.....
a lineup of some really nice original's
Rich and Me
Dick and Me
My prize for winning: a 427 side oiler
JUST KIDDING. haha. I just thought it was cool to see what my engine looks like, out of the bay.
Sunday afternoon, the awards, and I got a nice placque (sp?) for winning the drag strip. Pretty cool.
It was a terrific meet, and a fantastic trip for me. I loved meeting Dick and Heather, and also Rich and his wife. She was so sweet and probably surprised when I came around after the trials and the finals to hear me announce I'd won. She was really gracious about the pants.
Anyway, that's about it. Just over 5 hours home, and arrived just before dark. Just as hot in good ol Dallas, as Tulsa, that's for sure! Pepe's still in the trailer, had too many 'mom' duties today, but tomorrow hopefully he can pull right back in to his rightful place in the garage.
my best buddy, Joanne, and me. She is definitely an honorary member of the group, as she goes with me everywhere!
thanks for the fun, everybody! Seeya next year!
oh, and I was soooooo glad to finally meet Dean and Buzz. I've enjoyed chatting with you here, and look forward to next year.
that's all, folks!
Kristen
(*- I know there is no such word as 'funner'- it just fit!)
ps. oh, you wanna know what my time was on the final run????
not quite as good, but 'good nuff', I guess. 14.11. I think. hmmm. I'll have to look.
Guess hitting the limiter slowed me down half a second.
oh, and guess who's helmet I borrowed??? yup, lucky me... it belongs to a guy with an original cobra.... Mark, who owns the competition #11. I truly felt like a 'COBRA GODDESS"