Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Being an old fart is fun

What can I say, I have the world in the palm of my hand ( I was going to say got it by the #%@&). I would talk to my wife an my kids about retiring, concerned about sitting on the porch , watching the world go bye. Wow If this is what getting old is ,everybody should do it.
As most of you know I have been driving a race car since 1967 ,I started with 1956 Fords went to 1963 farlaines in california and oregon , then back to connecticut to drive a 1957 ford next car was a fairlane again,that was all for stock cars . T hen came texas with mine mods first car was a 1974 mustang then a real modified which I stayed with till last year.
Well then the powers that be droped that class of cars so it was time to trhing about QUITTING!! When the word got out that I might think about a stock car again a friend in fort worth called me about this 1997 thunderbird so I called the man who had it, got a price, went to look at it, talked to people who knew the car an said to myself OK one more time .
When I took myself an the car to the track my confidence was low as I have watched the other guys (all much younger) flying around the track ,so i told most of them I would try to keep out of their way. Hah I won two features had many top five finishes and finished fifth in points. Hows that for a old fart.
Ok now comes the southern challange which is a big three day race you must try to get into the big show on sunday by qualifying on friday or saterday if you cannot make it on fri you try again on sat if you still cannot you get one more chance on sun to make the big B where two will move up to the big A well I knew that the big boys from all over the midwest as well as new mexico la Miss. so i said to myself at least i will get three days of racing in thru all these attempts to qualify Hah the old fart went out and started in last place on my first heat race finished fourth went out in the second heat race and won it by several car lenths. That but me in the big A qualifyer for sunday ,well i started in seventh place and finished in fifth, that did the trick I got into the biggest race of the year .I could not believe it, this old man who thought he was all done racing running with the biggest and fastest from as far away as wisconsin . I finished tenth ,I am very happy with this as i was the only car from abilene speedway to finish the race,oh ya only two of us from our home track made the big show.
While i was having all this fun my wife was selling racing fuel out of the big VP trailer an when i would come in off the track she would tell me which car needed a drum of fuel i would get in my pickup, take the fuel to them ,come back an help her with the fuel sales ,work on my car, walk around thinking how the hell am i going to race with all these big dogs.
As most of you know we had our RV set up at the track so we could take a brake an also not drive back an forth so we were at the track for five days, we both had fun and also a sence of accomplishment, not bad for a couple of old retired folk.

4 Comments:

At 3:08 PM, Blogger Angie said...

Thanks for being a fun old fart. Your the bestest Dad/Grandpa ever! :) Keep on doing what you do cause it makes you (& Mom) the youngest 60-something I know!

 
At 8:50 AM, Blogger wes said...

Congrats. Great to hear that you did so well. You've still got it. YOu're only as old as you feel and act and if your racing is any evidence to your age, your pretty damn young. Keep it up.

 
At 9:05 AM, Blogger Kim :) said...

Not to bad for an "old fart" Ha! You sure to heck don't act like an old fart!

We had the best time at the races. Gary the kids and I wouldn't leave Saturday night until we saw you race. I am so glad that we stayed to see it! You did one hell of a job. We were making so much noise in the stands if the car noises didn't hurt the ears of those around us our cheering sure did!

Keep on Keeping on! Your are doing awesome!

Barbra, it was great getting to talk to you for a bit on Saturday as well.

Love you guys!

 
At 8:21 AM, Blogger The Oldies said...

Glad you did so well in the races. aways love to see you race and when you win it is a bonus for me, too. And we just keep on rocking and rollin' love you Lu

 

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