"Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 2012
 

Well we are on our way. We were going to leave yesterday, but it looked like we were just going to be sitting in the rain there. So we decided to take our 7 year old granddaughter out to supper for her birthday since we missed it while we were in Charlotte. So we left this morning in the rain about 9 for the 3 hour drive to Madison, IL. It has now quit raining and we are looking forward to a beautiful weekend. It looks like highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. Just a perfect fall weekend.

More when we get there!

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

The signage coming in sucks and is wrong! more later!

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Best of luck this weekend! Wish I could be there but that's not happening till next spring. Go Mopar!

Dennis Breeden

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

It looks like most everyone is already here, but if you are still on your way, the exit from I-64 West to I-55 North is closed. We ended up downtown! You should be able to take I-255 North and then get on I-55 South to get here. Also you need to go 203 South to Collinsville Road and come in the track on the opposite side and come all the way around the track to get to the round track pits. More later.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

I am rollin out of northern Ky about 6 . See you guys there.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Good Luck Phil... Hopefully next year I'll be rolling out with ya.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

New directions; turn at Madison Bayou, go past Gateway Bay, follow the crab traps till you get to the pink crab trap markers, go through the Narrow Trinaous (stay on plane), turn up Big Muddy Bayou and you will see the entrance. Nothin to it.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Follow the couple with the proper stemware.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Jeff, I think that was exactly how we got here!

I just uploaded some pictures I took today and I also have some from last weekend coming home from Columbus. Here is downtown Cincinnati:

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/003-4.jpg

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/004-4.jpg

These are from driving here to St. Louis today. The colors are changing a little now.

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/011-3.jpg

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/014-3.jpg
And here is the Gateway Arch after we had to detour thru downtown.

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/015-3.jpg
This was taken about noon today and it was still foggy!

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/016-3.jpg
Our neighbors here at the track from KY also.
Ed and Mike Stokes SS/CM

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/017-3.jpg
Adam Mesenbring D/SA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/018-2.jpg
Gerald Nivans W/SA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/019-2.jpg
Wayne teching in Doug Duell

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/020-1.jpg
Nick Siebert I/SA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/021-1.jpg
Doug Duell A/SA

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

It is a nice cool evening here. Oh they are doing drug testing here again. I know Chuck Belanger and Brandon Wilkinson both got picked. I was sitting outside the motorhome this afternoon and had just poured my first glass of wine when this guy drove up and said are you Pat. I said I am Patsy. So he said I had to go for the drug test! I said you mean you are testing crew members? He said aren't you the driver? I said NO! He was looking for # 39 Super Comp, I think. Pat Fitzpatrick. They only gave him names and numbers, but no classes. Whew, that was close!! Anyway!!

Thanks to Doug and Jan Auxier!! They came by with a couple of bottles of very nice wine this afternoon. I am sure they will be put to good use!! Thanks again!

Well we start out with Stock at 8 in the morning. We get 3 runs tomorrow, then 3 rounds first thing Saturday morning.

Well it is about time for the new Grey's Anatomy, so more tomorrow!

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

WOW Patsy! You almost got busted! Close one!:eek:Jim

.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Rain:(

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

It has been raining overnight and this morning. We left all our chairs out last night, so they probably won't be dry til Sunday! Just heard a vaccum or jet dryer, so I guess it won't be too long til they get everything ready. More later.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

We are still on hold for track drying. It is still overcast so no help from the sun on drying.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Well stock just ran their first run. 56 cars made a run. The sun has come out now, so it looks good for the rest of the day. Since we lost more than 2 hours this morning, I wonder if we all lost one of our runs for the day. Bo Butner was # 1 at -1.01, I think. More later.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCSt...59723#indextop

Patterson #1 in the COPO....

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Sorry I had it wrong. They just called us up for #2 which is all for us for today. Then Larry has to go take the pee test again. At least he isn't sweating today like he was in Chicago when he had to take it. He had to drink 4 bottles of water to get enough to go!

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

They checking for Metamucil?

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Chris, wait till you get older, you'll appreciate that Metamucil.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

I have always thought Metamucil would be a great sponsor for a race car.

"Metamucil...we help you go faster"

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

I think to have that sponsor you would have to be at least 60.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

I think everyone should go and have a few livations with Ron Roddel tonight to celebrate his new tow rig!

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Well everyone got their 2 runs in today and then we have enjoyed the afternoon. Rick an Roz Gresens came by to visit. They are not running this weekend, but just here visiting friends. There has been some carnage this weekend resulting in some singles tomorrow. Amy and Kenny Faulk had some extra stuff in their oil filter, so their car is tied down ready to go back to Memphis. Mike Stokes is broke also. Anthony Bertozzi never made a good run today, but I understand that his is fixed now.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Here are a few pictures from today:

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/001-9.jpg
Brandon Wilkinson SS/A

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/002-7.jpg
Kenny Schindler SS/BA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/003-5.jpg
Justin Jenkins GT

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/004-5.jpg
Larry relaxing!

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/005-4.jpg
Doug Duell relaxing, too.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/006-6.jpg
Chad Mahlosky G/SA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/007-6.jpg
Brian Rogers D/S

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/008-6.jpg
Here is why Adam Mesenbring never made up to qualify today!

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/009-5.jpg
Eric Pearson and his little Rumbler

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/010-4.jpg
Jerry Bennett E/SA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/011-4.jpg
Me and Kevin Stubbs and his fast B/S

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/012-3.jpg
SS/JA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/013-4.jpg
Jamey Picht D/SA after he got it fixed!

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/014-4.jpg
Chris Knudsen B/SA (and "Hi" to Gina, Luke, and Katelyn)

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/015-4.jpg
Deb Fickler U/SA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/016-4.jpg
Here is Deb working on the car. Kyle was up watching the pros run!

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/017-4.jpg
Jack and Peggy Larsen O/SA

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/019-3.jpg
Allan and Mrs. Kastle and Henry J/SA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/020-2.jpg
What a Motley Crew!!!

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...20on/021-2.jpg
Tim Tosto C/S

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...y%20on/023.jpg
Ellis Buth W/S

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Well it is a beautiful morning here in St. Louis. The stockers are up and rolling! They should be calling us up shortly. It is about 50 now, going up to 74 later in the day. Sportsmen all run 3 rounds this morning. Oh I haven't heard of anyone who failed the pee test, but I did hear that Danny Wilson was here on Thursday and when approached about doing the test, he left. Rumor has it that he said he had been tested 5 times. I think that refusing gives you a year off???

More later.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

We lost in a double breakout race this morning. Lots of breakouts today. I guess the air was even better than it looked like. I think we need a new weather station. What do ya'll suggest?? Well I am going to start loading up to head home. More later.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Anybody know what the DA and Barometer was yesterday and today on the morning run?

Ron

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Patsy, I suggest the Kestrel 4500 unit that the Spec Ops guys use, it is very accurate, it does everything you need for weather, and it even logs the readings. That's one of my next purchases, as the Tag unit is getting old, and they're out of business. We don't use an ET prediction program, Kevin does that in his head (scary, isn't it?). However, Larry Meaux http://maxracesoftware.com/ has a nice ET program in beta, he's a racer, and real good to work with.


http://www.kestrelmeters.com/collect...-weather-meter

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

I second the kestrel unit. It's so simple, my technology challenged dad has no problems with it whatsoever.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Hopefully, your dad can get out soon and do some racing. He's past due, and he's more than earned some fun time.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Amen to that. We're goin to look at facilities for my grandmother next week. Unfortunately that time has come.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Mrs. Patsy,

Who's car is Jeff Taylor driving in Stock?

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

I'm pretty sure it's a 96 LT1 Corvette owned by John Meaney (I think he owns it), the same one Tommy Mattingly drove some last year.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

Thanks Andrew,

That sounds right I was unsure if John still owned the car because I haven't seen it out in a while.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

DA was 1100 feet, AA was 711 feet. Vapor Pressure was .395 and grains were 52. Baro was 29.67.

All from the Altalab trailer station.

Outstanding air, very fast, track was excellent.

Re: "Live" from St. Louis AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals 20
 

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...r/photo-41.jpg

Here is a picture of Tim Weinzapful (killer R Stick 283 wagon!) and his beautiful wife.
My Drag Dogs Shooey and Roxy climbed onto every Golf Cart they saw last weekend! I think they are trying to tell me something.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...r/photo-51.jpg

I had an early exit. The car tried to save me and ran right on, but I was late so tnat didn't happen!
My crew chief and I changed to a different clutch and went to Cordova Dragway to test.