"Live" from the Western Swing - Page 25

Michael Pliska · 07-19-2010, 05:45 PM

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!

Larry Hill · 07-19-2010, 10:55 PM

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.

Larry Hill · 07-20-2010, 09:42 AM

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.

Mike Voth · 07-20-2010, 10:32 AM

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.

Larry Hill · 07-20-2010, 01:04 PM

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

Larry Hill · 07-20-2010, 01:11 PM

Here are a few pictures that I didn't get posted from Sonoma:

Rory McNeil M/S

Tom Watts C/S

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!

Larry Hill · 07-20-2010, 01:26 PM

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!

Larry Hill · 07-20-2010, 01:32 PM

A few pictures from the 1250 mile trip from Sonoma to Denver:

Up towards Sacramento

Donner Lake in CA

Donner Pass

Around Truckee, CA

Larry Hill · 07-20-2010, 01:38 PM

Truckee River

NEVADA

Linda Harper · 07-20-2010, 01:40 PM

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...

07-19-2010, 05:45 PM	#241
Michael Pliska Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Happy Valley, OR Posts: 260 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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! __________________ Michael Pliska 643 S/G

07-19-2010, 10:55 PM	#242
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,640 Likes: 1,940 Liked 10,714 Times in 2,230 Posts	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. __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

07-20-2010, 09:42 AM	#243
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,640 Likes: 1,940 Liked 10,714 Times in 2,230 Posts	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. __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

07-20-2010, 10:32 AM	#244
Mike Voth Live Reporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Buhler, KS Posts: 527 Likes: 5 Liked 57 Times in 14 Posts	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. __________________ Mike Voth 5189 GTN - 5188 GTO Voth Racing

07-20-2010, 01:04 PM	#245
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,640 Likes: 1,940 Liked 10,714 Times in 2,230 Posts	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. __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

07-20-2010, 01:11 PM	#246
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,640 Likes: 1,940 Liked 10,714 Times in 2,230 Posts	Re: "Live" from the Western Swing Here are a few pictures that I didn't get posted from Sonoma: Rory McNeil M/S Tom Watts C/S 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! __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

07-20-2010, 01:26 PM	#247
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,640 Likes: 1,940 Liked 10,714 Times in 2,230 Posts	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! __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

07-20-2010, 01:32 PM	#248
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,640 Likes: 1,940 Liked 10,714 Times in 2,230 Posts	Re: "Live" from the Western Swing A few pictures from the 1250 mile trip from Sonoma to Denver: Up towards Sacramento Donner Lake in CA Donner Pass Around Truckee, CA __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

07-20-2010, 01:38 PM	#249
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,640 Likes: 1,940 Liked 10,714 Times in 2,230 Posts	Re: "Live" from the Western Swing Truckee River NEVADA NEVADA __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

07-20-2010, 01:40 PM	#250
Linda Harper Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 1 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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...