Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Thanks for the posts and photos. It was great to read. 5 years ago I took a 5-week camper trip around the country with my daughter and then-wife, saw some of the same roads you have been on. Just this year I've been on a few racing trips to some of the same places and it's always fun. Just curious which Wal-Mart you got kicked out of in Portland, and which one you went to? I sometimes see RVs in the one in Clackamas/Happy Valley on 82nd Avenue. Have a safe trip to Denver and on to home!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

We're here! We pulled in about 9:45 tonight after driving another 1250 miles or so. Total so far 4434 miles total so far. Our last race before we have to go back to reality.

Sorry I haven't posted much the last couple of days, but internet kept coming and going. I took lots of pictures from the truck, so I am going to try to get everything caught up and posted tomorrow after a little rest.

Oh it sounded like they were not parking anybody else tonight. Are they the only track that doesn't park all night? There are lots of racers already here. Our # is 1342. I have no idea what their numbering system is!

More tomorrow.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Track prep has been good for us at all three tracks. The parking at Sonoma was a bit difficult on the road course. I had to push the car up hill to get it out of the trailer every morning.
I hope we get a good spot to pit at the Mopar race.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Patsy, are they pitting just behind the staging lanes, across the entry road in that gravel spot? We pit there during the divisional, but usually it's VIP parking for the national. Just hoping they changed their minds this year.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Mike, we are stacked down to the right when you first come in. They are not starting to park until Wed. at noon.

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Here are a few pictures that I didn't get posted from Sonoma:
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/018-14.jpg
Rory McNeil M/S

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/019-13.jpg
Tom Watts C/S

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/001-23.jpg
Two first round runner-ups watching the race from the back of their trailer. If someone walked over in their way, they just raised the lift so they could see over!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

A little recap of the Sonoma race: We had a great time as usual, but the atmosphere was a little different there. Our immediate neighbors were very friendly, but unless we already knew most of the people we talked with, they were not nearly as outgoing as the group we met in Seattle. Of course we were parked pretty spread out and you had to go uphill to get there. One thing I noticed, there was a sign saying the area where the sportsmen were parked was restricted, so there were not many spectators venturing up our way. The sign might have been meant for other races, but I think people weren't roaming the pits like normal.

It was a neat view from the top of the hill, but scary coming back down. I couldn't get used to no green grass at all. It looked like somebody had sprayed Round-up everywhere. And the little stickers in the brown grass were mean. One good thing: No bugs! And a breeze blowing most of the time. Of course that made it a little bad for dialing. It could be blowing one direction at the top of the hill and the opposite at the starting line!

All in all it was quite an experience!

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

A few pictures from the 1250 mile trip from Sonoma to Denver:
http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/004-23.jpg
Up towards Sacramento

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/005-21.jpg
Donner Lake in CA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/006-21.jpg
Donner Pass

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/015-18.jpg
Around Truckee, CA

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/018-16.jpg
Truckee River

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/020-13.jpg

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...ket/023-16.jpg
NEVADA

http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/o...cket/028-9.jpg
NEVADA

Re: "Live" from the Western Swing
 

Hey Patsy and Larry,

It looks like you are having a fantastic time...and...a couple of wins. How great...Thanks for taking a vacation so that your "old" friends can vicariously travel while we are on our staycations.

What about that youtube video? Pretty exciting!!

Love you, Be safe...