Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I've uploaded the few pictures I have taken so far. They aren't very interesting, just of the pit area. This time tomorrow all that open space will be filled with trucks, trailors, race cars and race nuts. <a href="http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/autopia_deb/album?.dir=/236fscd" target="_blank">http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ autopia_deb/album?.dir=/236fscd</a>
Originally Posted By peeaanuut so very cool. Wish I could be there this weekend but I have another engagement. Keep posting the photos.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling Sweet! Nothing like big open spaces and baby blue skies! Have a blast, Deb! Can't wait to hear all about it.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I tell you guys, it's almost like comming home. I get the biggest warmest hugs from other race vollunteers. And of course, the salt flats are so beautiful. It's really special here (not that Disneyland isn't special, it's just different special ).
Originally Posted By 4Disnee Wow Autopia Deb, That is so cool. That is going to be so much fun. I loved the photos. I have never seen a 6 door Dually Pickup Truck thats cool. Have a wonderful time!
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Today was the inspection day, the day most of the racers show up to set up their pits. I spent the day getting the entries into the computer, taking pictures and catching up (or meeting) race friends. I've uploaded my photos to my Yahoo account, but haven't gotten them to the web master for www.scta-bni.org as of yet. <a href="http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/autopia_deb/album?.dir=/f27cscd" target="_blank">http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ autopia_deb/album?.dir=/f27cscd</a> The extra long truck belongs to some friends of ours and is called the Texas Limo. It sure comes in handy for the crew, they can all get in without any lap sitting, lol.
Originally Posted By smedley Thanks for sharing the piccies with us Deb, DH and I are really enjoying them, you're our evening entertainment for the week
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Thanks for the kind comments everyone, I'm having a good time sharing this amazing event with everyone. Here's today's photos: <a href="http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/autopia_deb/album?.dir=/6b24scd" target="_blank">http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ autopia_deb/album?.dir=/6b24scd</a>
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Today was the first day of racing. We didn't get to the salt until about 9:00 this morning, but since neither my mom or I had any work in the morning we took it easy. I went to the 11:00AM drivers meeting, mostly to observe and take a couple pix here and there of the crowd. I believe it was the largest drivers meeting EVER. Then I spent 2 uneventful hours of data entry and lunch and picking up lunch for others before taking my camera to the long course start line. Which although enjoyable was rather uneventful until Andy Green's car got up to the start line. Andy Green was the driver of the first and only car to OFFICIALLY be timed at the speed of sound. (Another car had done it years earlier, but it wasn't officially timed and so it doesn't count) This car is an experimental deisel streamliner and the crew runs about 30 strong (no exageration) and I would say close to 20 of them were at the line. They won't be hard to miss in my pictures as they are all wearing yellow shirts. The push truck was a large farm tractor, we were afraid it would tear up the track, but it didn't look like it did too much damage. When this car got to the line, not only were there 20 crew members in the area, but we had a large crowd of spectators. It was a bit of a circus, I even ended up helping a little with crowd control and I was only there to take pictures. Fortunately most of the crowd dissipated after the car ran. I never did catch the time, I didn't have a radio and it's difficult to hear with all the race cars getting ready to run. On the long course all cars must either have run over 200 MPH or be streamliners with the potential for a 200+ MPH run so these puppies are loud. Near the end of the day our car was up, but according to the driver he couldn't get the RPMs up in first or second gear so he turned out and they will try again later. After leaving the salt my mom and I went to dinner at a near by casino, and all I have to say is competition in the market place is a good thing. There are 4 major casinos in town 3 are owned by one very well known casino chain. We ate at one of the 3, and I haven't had a meal that bad in I can't remember how long. Last night we'd eaten at the little truck stop near the salt. The meals cost half as much and were so much better. We will probably have most of our meals at the truck stop in spite of it being quite tiny, and will not be returning to the place we ate today. btw So far none of my pix have made it on the official web site yet. I'm hoping today's will.
Originally Posted By 4Disnee It sounds like you are having a good time. That would be so much fun to do. I love doing stuff like that. We love to go to the drag races and car shows. Your pictures have been wonderful thank you so much for sharing them. I love the Texas Limo that is wonderful. We call our Dually the cowboys cadillac. LOL Enjoy the rest of your trip and please keep the pictures coming DH and I love them.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Not much to report (the good stuff would just get admined, lol). We got to the salt a little late, went on a T-Shirt quest for my BIL, stopped by the grocery store, dropped Mom off at the sales trailer, took pictures on the short course for a couple hours then went to the timing stand and worked there for a few hours. I finally got to spend a few hours in our pit talking to old friends and meeting new friends. We finally left the salt around 7:15. For a day that wasn't particularly eventful for me personally it sure flew by and I'm having a great time (even if I'm turning to leather). <a href="http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/autopia_deb/album?.dir=/9fd0scd" target="_blank">http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ autopia_deb/album?.dir=/9fd0scd</a>
Originally Posted By chickendumpling I just think this is the coolest Deb!!! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. Your pics are great!
Originally Posted By alexbook I'm wondering what the top speed for this particular vehicle is: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/gnts3" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/gnts3</a>
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb lol That's the grand daughter of the SCTA president (a family friend) my sister requested I get a photo of her. Here's today's pix. <a href="http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/autopia_deb/album?.dir=/26f1scd" target="_blank">http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ autopia_deb/album?.dir=/26f1scd</a> Today was more of the same, but we did have a pretty good crash on the long course about the time we were finishing breakfast. My dad is on the incedent team so I get to hear a little more than most. First: the driver is fine! It was a GM sponsored car (a Saturn I think) a big money deal which isn't too common for this sport. They were worried it didn't speak too well for their car, but the car did a few "endos" at 240 MPH and the driver got out of the car on his own with nothing more than a sore knee. My dad said the first major hit was right above the drivers head and the inside of the car is perfect, even though the car is totalled. I don't think that speaks ill of their vehicle at all. On a totally different subject.... Pirates of the Carribean 3 minor spoiler alert. We were talking to the hotel staff and a week before the crews got here to set up the meet, a film crew was here filming scences on the salt flats for the 3rd movie. Johnnie Depp was in town for the scenes, so expect part of the movie to take place away from the Carribean. According to the lady we were talking to, they were very hush hush and taking many steps to keep people away. The locals thought it was a big joke, because in this small town everyone works and no one has time to go out to the flats for such fripperies as movies (unless they are paid for it). They were moving Dep from hotel to hotel the whole time he was here and none of the locals cared one little bit, they all thought the whole thing was a laugh. Can you believe I was able to tie my Bonneville trip to Disney?! How cool is that? My pix are starting to show up on the SCTA site, they are the same as the ones you've already seen, but it's still worth going to www.scta-bni.org for information on the race.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling <<Can you believe I was able to tie my Bonneville trip to Disney?! How cool is that?>> COOL! You are my hero! I am *all* about the tie-in (even though knightnfrees thinks its my OCD, LOL).
Originally Posted By 4Disnee I cant imangine crashing at 240 MPH that is just way scary. Thank goodness the person is ok. I just love all of your photos. I love the older cars that race cause we have older show cars. They are all such nice cars and what a blast it must be. How loud is it? Is it like being at the drag races on the street tracks? Thanks for keeping us updated.
Originally Posted By alexbook Are you sure this is actually a car and not a low-flying UFO? What's the story on this one? <a href="http://tinyurl.com/zclyf" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/zclyf</a>
