Eagle Raceway's 2017 IMCA Sport Modified Champion

When I originally tried to arrange my interview with the 2017 Eagle Raceway IMCA Sport Modified points champion, I was advised that he was going to be busy getting ready for a science competition where he was going to be a moderator. That may not sound like your typical dirt track racer's down-time activity, but this young man isn't typical. 

The 20-year old from Columbus, Nebraska began racing go-karts at the age of 7. He stayed in them until he was 11. After a couple of years off, he started again in the IMCA Sport Modified class after reaching the minimum IMCA age of 14. In just his fifth year he managed a class championship; something many drivers with decades of experience have yet to achieve. 

I asked what he thought of his points victory. "I'm really enjoying it! There's a lot of heavy hitters at Eagle Raceway. They used to race other classes and they're kind of dropping down. They aren't ready to get out of the sport, and they're still really hard to beat. Then there's those other guys who are just getting into the sport. They're really fast as well". 

Trent comes from a racing family with a rich and deep background in the sport. "I'm a fourth generation racer. My great-grandpa Dale started racing, then grandpa Reggie ran Late Models until about 2000 or 2002. My Dad raced Late Models from the mid-90's until my brother Anthony who runs IMCA Modifieds and I started to race". 

Trent and his brother pretty much do all of the work on both of their cars. "Anthony and I do most of it. Dad will come and check up on us; making sure that the set-up sheet looks good and that's about all. I couldn't do this without my dad and my crew chief Kenny though. Kenny comes and checks all of the bolts and helps out throughout the week". 

Asked about competing at Eagle, Trent said "Eagle is a great atmosphere. The fans are fantastic! There's nowhere else that I've raced that is even comparable to the atmosphere at Eagle. The track is really racy; I've got to thank Roger for that, and everyone else at Eagle". 

"I want to thank my brother Anthony, my family, my friends, the fans and everyone else who helps to make it possible for me to do this. My sponsors of course. Race season is right around the corner and I can't wait to get 2018 going strong!!". 

Your 2017 Sprint Series of Nebraska Champion

By Greg Soukup 

This week, I spoke to your 2017 Sprint Series of Nebraska champion, Adam Gullion. The 32-year old pilot from Lincoln, Nebraska began racing at a very early age. 

"I started racing when I was 11. My Dad bought me a mini-sprint when I was 10, but it sat for a year because he owned a modified down at Beatrice. A family friend was going to buy it, but they couldn't get the deal done. So, my Dad ended up buying a Chevy dually pickup from him, and in the deal also got the mini-sprint with it. I began racing it at Greenwood Speedway, and then moved up to a 600 restricted for about 7 or 8 races. We were competitive, but we kind of struggled. After those races were over we'd take the restrictors out and go race. The increased horsepower and speed seemed to help me out. You had to be 14 at the time in order to race the open class, but we were able to get me grandfathered in. That let us run the rest of the year in the open class. We actually picked up a feature win at the end of the year. The following 2 years we won the championship both years, along with rookie of the year the first year. I kind of progressed through the ranks, from micros to 360 sprints and now the Racesaver sprints. It's been a fun time". 

When asked about his time in the Racesaver class, Adam said "I ran the first Racesaver Nationals held at Eagle Raceway. I had just gotten married that summer. My wife and I had pretty much put everything we had into my 360 operation, spending just an astronomical amount of money on it; but all it did was blow up!! We honestly got tired of it, and I was on the verge of selling out. But, my crew chief got together with a couple of people and rented an Assasin Racing Racesaver engine from Roger Hadan just to run that first Racesaver Nationals, and I think we finished third or fourth! We had a really, really good time that weekend. So, that winter they talked me into getting rid of my 360 stuff. I sold my 360 engine for a complete Racesaver sprint; motor and all. That's all I've been racing ever since for the past 4 years. Don't get me wrong, every class of racing has its own challenges. The Racesavers have their challenges with the lower horsepower and torque, but it's a level playing field. Honestly, this class makes me appreciate championships and feature wins even more. Because now it doesn't come down to the best motor, but it's about the set-up and the driver. It makes winning harder, but it also makes it more important. Now, if you can win a race or a championship, overall it means that you had the best team and best driver for that season".  

Having created the Sprint Series of Nebraska to allow the local drivers more opportunities to race and accumulate points for the national IMCA championship pace, Roger Hadan has decided to not schedule races for the series this year due to 2 additional tracks in the area competing. This gives area competitors 2 additional nights to race. 

I asked Adam if he would miss the chase. "Yeah, I will. I'm older now and I have a little boy with another child on the way. Racing for my family is the same way it is for most families I would think. It's very family oriented! We've always made sure that the whole family is included. My mother-in-law goes, my parents go, and of course my wife and son. All of the people involved we spend a lot of time with; we do Christmases together. It's all family oriented. Travelling for me is a time that you get to set in the back of the toter home, watch movies, tell stories and laugh with each other. I really enjoyed that part of the Sprint Series of Nebraska. Racing at different venues gives you new challenges and chances to learn new things. That part was fun, but I'm going to miss travelling with my families and friends. I'd really like to see Roger bring the series back some time, but if not we'll try to do some travelling anyway. We'll still be at Eagle Raceway weekly, but we'll go somewhere when we're not at Eagle. My nephew is going to start racing a micro-sprint on Fridays. He's going to run in the restrictor class and I'm going to run in the non-winged class. My racing has always been family oriented, so if we're going to race it's going to be as a family; that's one of the biggest reasons that I enjoy racing". 

He concluded the interview by relating "I want to thank everyone for all of their help and support. Races are won in the shop, and championships are won because of the dedication of multiple people. The driver gets all of the accolades, but it shouldn't be that way. It's definitely the pit crew who makes it possible. I wouldn't be able to even race if it wasn't for them and all of my sponsors". 

Eagle Raceway IMCA Sport Compact and Hobby Stock Champions

Wow!! It's been over 2 years since I blogged!!!!!

My apologies to those who used to follow my blog, and I promise to do better from now on. Yes; I know that I've said that before (more than once), but I mean it this time!! If I don't follow up, you all can issue me 1 demerit per week that I don't post.

Over 4 months have gone by since the season's last competition at Eagle Raceway, so I've gotten back into the saddle of writing about my Saturday home during the warm months. Today, I'm passing along the interviews that I did with both the IMCA Sport Compact and IMCA Hobby Stock points champions from last year. I hope that you enjoy them, and as always feel free to comment.

First, the Sport Compact Champion; Tommy Etherton.

It's been 4 months since the season ended, and with nearly 10 weeks left before Eagle Raceway kicks off its 2018 season, I wanted to help fill that empty feeling we all get this time of year. So, this week kicks off a series of interviews with last year's champions, starting with your 2017 IMCA Sport Compact victor and winner of the Young Gun award at the Eagle Raceway banquet. 

Tommy Etherton, 18 from Lincoln is in just his 3rd year ever racing. "I actually got a ride in my sister's car (Melissa) when she had to sit out a couple of weeks due to injury. I had never raced anything before that; I started in the compact at Eagle Raceway. Then I just stayed with it ever since" related Etherton. 

When asked if he was enjoying the experience, he said "Oh! I'm loving it!! It's a lower class, and I wish that I could move up, but it's always competitive and always a lot of fun. It's affordable for sure, and a lot of the people in our class are a heck of a driver. But, it's easy to afford and I think that's why a lot of people race in the class". 

When asked what was different this season that allowed him to become the points champion he stated "We ran a lot more consistent this year. I don't think we ever even ran outside of the top 10 this year. We maybe didn't have a winning car each and every week, but we knew that if we were consistent and were there every week that we would be up there at the end. We didn't get even 1 win this year, and we didn't have any mechanical problems or anything. It ended up being a great season". 

I then asked what it was like, being the Eagle Raceway champion. He replied "It still hasn't really sunk in yet. But, it means a lot to me for sure. A lot of those drivers out there have been doing it for so long, and it's everybody's ultimate goal to win at Eagle. I want to thank my parents, Kenny and Angie Johnson, and all of my friends for helping me be able to race and get this honor. They all do so much for me. I also want to thank the fans for all of the support they showed me throughout the year. Lastly, I want to thank Roger, Michelle and Racine for giving us such a great track to race at every weekend. We will definitely be back next year trying to make it 2 in a row!!". 

Then, the IMCA Hobby Stock Champion; Jeff Ware.

When I spoke to your 2017 Eagle Raceway IMCA Hobby Stock Champion, Jeff Ware, I inquired as to what he was doing. The 25-year old from Columbus, Nebraska told me he was wrapping race cars over in Iowa. It seems that he is always working with, racing or thinking about race cars. Jeff won not only the points at Eagle, but another track and to top it off grabbed the Nebraska State Championship to boot.  

"I started racing Hobby Stocks when I was 14, because that's when IMCA will let you start running, but technically I've been racing since I was 6. I started out in go-karts back in 1998 I believe. I've been racing every year since then" he said. 

This was Ware's first year racing a full season at Eagle Raceway. "I've raced there multiple times, but this was my first full year. I finished deep in a big special that Eagle had a few years back, a $1000 to win hobby stock show. Before this year I mainly raced at Columbus and Albion, but I've never run a track full time on Saturdays. Eagle Raceway is by far my favorite track! It's racy everywhere. You can run the bottom or the top. They have a great group of guys to run against, and always plenty of cars. You don't have to show up and worry about much. There's a big crowd, and the fans are really great" he continued. 

I then asked why he enjoyed competing at Eagle Raceway and he stated "Yeah! Absolutely!! Especially getting to race against Roy (Armstrong). He's won the track championship there multiple times, and to get the chance to go out there and race against him, night after night keeps you on edge for sure. I think I only won the points by 4 or 5 points; something like that, so he kept it a close battle all season. He definitely doesn't give up; he knows what he's doing". 

He then told me the secret to getting the points championship. "The key to the championship by far was all of the work and effort that we put in night after night. Luckily, on my car I have a great support system. When I'm at work my Dad works on the car. I also have a couple of buddies, Damon Richards and Austin Brauner, who work on the car and help me out. Charger Chassis makes a car that's second to none; it's the premier chassis out there. Also there is T & R Auto Repair, Hein Auto Body, Shane, Vince and Madison,  plus Demon Decals who make the car look extraordinary every week". 

He concluded the interview by stating "We appreciate everyone who supports local dirt track racing. We don't want to see any more tracks close like Butler Raceway did. Tell everybody to keep supporting Eagle Raceway so that we can keep racing and putting on a great show for the fans". 

Saturday night for a sickie!

Well, this upper respiratory infection that I've had since last year just won't let up. I missed all of last week from work because of it, and now.....tonight I had to miss the Eagle Raceway banquet!!! Yes, the second of those happenings upsets me greatly, and YES; the first does also, as hard as that may be to believe.

So, I thought I'd take this time to write my first blog in a couple of years.

I really, REALLY wish I was at that banquet tonight!! It's been 4 months since the last race at Eagle, and I haven't seen any of my racing family since. The first night at Eagle is exactly 3 months away!! Did I mention that I miss my racing family? We are in the dark times for racing around here in the Midwest, and the light at the end of the tunnel seems extremely far away right now.

As for the banquet, I love going each and every year. It's a time to get back together with your friends, give them a hard time and just bask in each other's company. You get to eat a big dinner, have a few drinks (adult or non-alcoholic in our cases), then see the smiles on the faces of all of the drivers as they go to collect their trophies for wherever they finished in the points. At the end of each class you get to watch as the points champion goes up onto the stage for their final moment of glory as they give their acceptance speech. These proceedings are handled by the incomparable Stan Cisar and his sidekick Tom Grasso.

Then, it's on to the other awards. Hard charger, most popular, best appearing car, Slick Chick, Most Improved, and a whole lot more. Plus, a huge amount of contingency prizes that go with the awards.

Of course, we have Roger Hadan's yearly state of the track speech; which is always highly entertaining. It is usually not exactly politically correct, but then again; if you know Roger, you wouldn't expect that from him. That is one of the things that I enjoy most about Roger. He'll tell you like it is!

I remember the first couple of times that I saw Roger. He promoted a couple of shows at Eagle Raceway when Craig Cormack still owned the track. I was in the Pit Shack, and honestly, my first impression of Roger was "What a dweeb!!!". What do they say about judging a book by it's cover? Was I ever wrong!!! Well, kind of anyway.

Roger may be a dweeb (I've heard him called a whole lot worse, and I'm sure he has also), but as far as being a business man, track promoter, etc. I'd say he is one of the best!! That is just my opinion of course, and we all know about opinions. But, since I've been around this dirt track racing thing for 62 years now, and rapidly approaching 63, I would say that he definitely has the respect of almost all of the people he deals with.

Then you have Michelle, who keeps Roger in line; or tries her hardest to anyway. Roger is the "Idea Man" and Michelle is the one who minds the facts and figures. Between them and Racine who handles most of the day-to-day things, they have things down to a T!! Are there glitches from time to time? Of course there are; but when you deal with human beings, and rely on them, that will happen.

Thanks go out to the 3 of them from the bottom of my heart. Roger most of all, because he saved Eagle Raceway when it was up for sale. Then another thanks to Roger for keeping me on in the pit shack and then allowing me to write up the stories of the racing every week for the website. Thanks to Michelle for all that she does; most of which nobody ever sees, and definitely no one ever thanks her for. And a big thank you to Racine for running the place and keeping all of us employees in line!!

My wife Linda and I can't thank you three enough for allowing us to work at Eagle Raceway all of these years. You have become more than just employers to us, you've become friends!

Speaking of next year at the track, here is the tentative schedule for 2016 at "America's Home Track":

“Keep Calm, Race On” 2016 Eagle Raceway Tentative Schedule

Sat Apr 9  Open House Practice -All Classes Welcome

Fri Apr 15   Ice Breaker Challenge* -Mod Mania & twICE is nICE Challenge -M,B,H, T
Sat Apr 16  Ice Breaker Challenge* -Mod Mania & twICE is nICE Challenge  -M,SSN Sprints,B, Stock Cars

Sat Apr 23  RACE ON! -Season Opener -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat April 30  RACE ON! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat  May 7  Keep Calm, it’s a Mother’s Day Tribute  -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat May 14  RACE ON! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sun May 15  Kenny Wallace Racing Experience*

Sat May 21  Keep Calm, it’s Armed Forces Night… Military Salute! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat May 28  Keep Calm it’s a Memorial Day Extravaganza! -Driver Appreciation Night  -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Jun 4  Eagle Nationals* –ASCS National Sprints,M,T

Sat Jun 11  RACE ON! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat  Jun 18  Keep Calm it’s a Father’s Day Tribute  -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Fri Jun 24  Rumble in the Bullring* –USAC 410 Wingless Sprints, SSN Sprints

Sat Jun 25  RACE ON! -Kid’s Color Run –Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Jul 2  Keep Calm, It’s Freedom Fest* -Fireworks Extravaganza –Weekly Racing     -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Jul 9  RACE ON! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Jul 16  Keep Calm, It’s Fan Appreciation Night -$5 admission -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Jul 23  Keep Calm, It’s Kid’s Night -Bike Giveaway -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Jul 30  RACE ON! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Aug 6  RACE ON! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Aug 13  RACE ON! -Kid’s Car Rides -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Aug 20  RACE ON! -Weekly Racing -S,M,B,H,T

Sat Aug 27  RACE ON! -Season Finale -Weekly Racing -Banner Contest -S,M,B,H,T

Precise Racing Products presents RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Nationals Weekend
Thu Sep 1  Open House Practice & Tech -All Classes Welcome
Fri Sep 2  RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Nationals* -S, Lightning Sprints
Sat Sep 3  RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Nationals* –S,B, Lightning Sprints
Sun Sep 4  RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Nationals* –S,H,T (Rain Date: Monday, Sep 5th)

Fri Sep 9  Nebraska Cup* –SLMR Late Models, SSN Sprints, NE 360 Sprints

Sun Sep 11  Kenny Wallace Racing Experience* 
*Special Events Schedule is tentative and subject to change S-RaceSaver IMCA Sprints, M– IMCA Modifieds, B- IMCA Sport Modifieds,  H- IMCA Hobby Stocks, T- IMCA Sport Compacts

The first night is April 9th, which is an Open House Practice for all classes. The first actual racing will be April 15th and 16th when the Ice Breaker Challenge is on the slate.

The biggest nights will be the Ice Breaker Challenge, then the Eagle Nationals on June 4th when the ASCS National 360 Sprints come to run against our local area racers.

Friday June 24 is the Rumble in the Bullring, featuring the wingless 410 sprinters of the USAC National Tour.

Next the Racesaver IMCA Sprint Nationals Weekend is September 1st through the 4th. Will this be the year that the entry list tops 110?? Come out and see Racesaver teams from all over the country and even outside of the US!!

The final event will be the Nebraska Cup on September 9th, featuring the SLMR Late Models, Sprint Series of Nebraska Racesaver Sprints and the Nebraska 360 Sprint Series.

The Kenny Wallace Racing Experience will be on site twice this year for those who would like to actually experience racing around the high banks in a real race car!!

If you've never had the pleasure of visiting Eagle Raceway, do yourself a favor and put it on your racing calendar as soon as you can!! You won't be disappointed. And, if you make it out, stop by the Pit Shack and say hello; let me know what you think.

I will try to do better about keeping this blog updated regularly. I apologize again for being so lax in my duties, but lately it seems that real life has had other plans.

Keep checking back!!

Okay, is this really happening again??

I know that we all get frustrated, and feel like there's no hope at times, but today is a new high for me personally. When your child calls and you can hear the hurt and frustration in his voice, it tears you up!!!

Let me start by stating unequivocally that if you are easily offended by talk about minorities, Obama's presidency, or any other touchy subject that no one is supposed to address in these Politically Correct times, close this window right now. Do NOT continue reading this blog. I have at no time said what I REALLY wanted to say, but the meaning is clear nonetheless.

Secondly; this blog reflects my opinions and feelings. Mine and mine alone! None of my family, friends, employers, co-workers or anyone else had any input into this in any way shape or form and most likely will be ashamed of even knowing me after reading it!! If, after reading it you are offended despite my clear and uncomplicated warning, TOUGH!!!! You were warned.

As a few of you already know, several weeks ago my youngest son's vehicle was hit by a male person of Mexican heritage. This caused my son's every day driver to be totaled! As I understand it, the driver could not even speak enough English to communicate with the officer that responded. And the person translating for him was slightly more fluent in our language, but only slightly.

Claiming to have insurance, he was given a ticket and let go. Of course, he had either let the insurance lapse or cancelled it shortly after obtaining his drivers license. Again, this is supposition on my part, but judging from past happenings, it is an educated guess.

The previous happenings I speak of include the first time that my youngest had a car totaled by another male of Mexican heritage who had done exactly that; got insurance, got his drivers license and then cancelled the insurance immediately. That time the car that got totaled was a 1970 Impala 2-door hardtop that we were working on restoring slowly as money came available. Right before the accident I had gotten a couple of thousand dollars work done on the steering of the vehicle to ensure it was safe for him to drive daily. Well, that went out of the window in a flash. He had only liability on the vehicle and all his insurance paid for were his medical bills.

We had thought that possibly he could go after the company whose van the male was driving. Guess again!! It's just a group of Mexican males who hire out to do carpeting. Subcontractors as it were. My son's attorney told him he would be getting nothing. Even if he got a judgement it would do no good as he would never collect a dime.

So, this time it was deja vu all over again, as Yogi Berra said. Another vehicle totaled and no recourse to recoup anything, other than by scrapping his vehicle and getting a couple of hundred dollars out of it. Anyone out there know of a good, reliable vehicle that can be gotten for a couple of hundred dollars??? I feel like some damned body owes us something for all we've given out!! I have a friend who keeps preaching to me about karma. Okay Gary, where the F*^# is the karma now??

I am so sick and tired of good, hard-working Americans doing the right thing and shelling out more and more every year so that the people who sneak across the borders or do nothing but sit home and collect Welfare, WIC, Food Stamps, free health care, free housing, etc. can just do whatever they want at our expense. Yeah, yeah...I know...they just want a better life. Well damnit, so do I!!!

Hey, Obama, where the hell is my hand-out? How about something from all of the dollars that I've donated to the federal coffers over the past 48 years?? How about giving my son a new car, or paying his mortgage? What about free daycare for the daughter that they are expecting in November? Where is the break for the people who do everything right and just get crapped on by life??

When is enough enough??

50th season opener at Eagle is in the books

I apologize for not getting this up last Sunday when I wrote it. I SWORE that I hit publish, but evidently not.

Well, the wife and I are back working at Eagle Raceway. We worked a practice night Thursday and then the first actual racing Saturday night.

I was really pleased and surprised at the size of the crowd; it was REALLY good, considering that the temps got down to the mid-40's by the time the racing ended a little after 11. Yes, I know that's late, but when you have 164 cars in the pits, it's going to take some time to get all of the races run. I guess that's the price that Roger pays for being a good promoter.

I'll be honest here and say that it was TOUGH getting back into the swing of things, even after having a bit of a free trial Thursday. Thank God Michelle had someone come up to handle the IMCA licenses and a lot of the minor registrations!! I was really worried about being able to keep track of the racing, get it down in a manageable format to allow me to write the story for the website, but it looks like I made it through with only minor hitches along the way. The story is up on the website and e-mailed to those who requested it and the media outlets as well.

As for the evening's events, I'd say that it was a great night. The track started out a little dusty, but the moisture ended up coming up and the track went dry-slick. I personally prefer a dry-slick track, because as the sprint winner Jeff Edgerington said "you have to drive on a dry-slick track". You can't just stomp and steer. Yes, there were ruts in the track, but that comes from the wet weather we've had lately. Most of the drivers I interviewed agreed; the ones who actually knew about such things did anyway.

Of course, one of the big stories of the night was the new sprint car class having it's first races at Eagle. We only got 16 cars, which is about the same as we were getting in the 360's last year, but I thought the racing was pretty damned good! In the feature defending 360 sprint car champion Mike Boston got in a car for someone else because his motor wasn't ready yet. He won his heat and got DQéd for being too light at the scales, so he started at the back of the feature. He ran up to second before losing the nose wing from his car and being sent to the back. Well, as you would expect from Mike, he ran that thing back to second and actually took the lead for a short time right at the end. His banzai move put him out front, but he slid up and Jeff took the lead back and held on for the win.

I'd say that the 305 Racesaver class has a real future at Eagle; at least I sure hope so. Rumor has it that we lost 1 of the new drivers who decided to give the class a shot because he can't handle the sprint (he hit the wall both Thursday and Saturday). I surely hope not, because we need all of the cars we can get to be sure this class goes over. Then there's the case of the young ladies in the class. They both did VERY well!!! Given that neither of them has ever raced a sprint car before (at least not a full-sized one), I'd say that they did very well. Shayle Bade ran 5th and Lacey Tuttle grabbed 6th in their inaugural feature.

All in all, a good night. A long night, and a tiring night, but a good one.

Here is the link to my write-up of the events and the full results: http://www.eagleraceway.com/EagleRaceway/?p=4383

My apologies

I have to apologize to those of you who read my blog. I haven't posted in nearly 9 months.

Between Mom living with us, Linda's health problems and then Mom passing away, I haven't felt at all like writing anything. No articles for Flat Out, no blogs, NOTHING!! More on that a little later on.

Then, to top it all off, the pissing match between Eagle Raceway's owners and a few of the 360 sprint car people last season ended up getting me wet. I don't know if it was the stress of everything already going on or what, but I ended up leaving Eagle Raceway. Quite unceremoniously I might add. I posted on Dirt Drivers, and that was that.

The owner called me the next week saying "You can't do this to me!". I told him "Yes, I can and I did". Oh, I told him how sorry I was, but that I needed to be with my mother since she had a short time to live. I know that he understood, but it really hurt me to have done it. It still hurts to this day that I did it. I hope that Roger and Michelle can forgive me.

Thankfully, they were silly enough to want me to come back this season. After a long talk with Linda, we decided to both go back. We miss all of the folks at Eagle, more than I can tell you in fact. I suppose we owe going back, partly at least, to Kevin Anderson. Kevin bought us tickets to the Eagle Raceway banquet with the express intent of making me want to go back. Well, it worked Kevin; and thank you!

Going back to my last blog before this; Linda ended up not having heart problems. It ended up that one of the medications that she was taking was messing her up very badly. So, she stopped taking the medications and VOILA!! no more heart problem symptoms.

Mom passed away September 16, 2012. We went to bed the night before and when Linda got up the next morning Mom was gone. 89 1/2 years of vibrant life ended quietly in her sleep. Hard work all of her life, tempered with lots of fun left a legacy that all of those who knew her will treasure.

That brings us to today. As I mentioned above, I haven't written diddly squat since....well, it seems like forever but has really only been less than a year. It's been a LONG time since I contributed to Flat Out, but I'm changing that. Today I got around to working on an article for them. No, I won't divulge who it is. You're going to have to wait to find that out.

I'm also working on something for Eagle Raceway. This is the 50th Anniversary of Eagle's opening season, and I was commissioned to do something about the first 50 years.

That made me think about an idea that I had 2 years ago. I had the idea that a book about Eagle would be a great idea. As I told Dave Argabright "I've lost 2 home tracks already; Capitol Beach and Midwest Speedway with no evidence to preserve their memories and I don't want that happening to Eagle". Yes, Ryan Tunks has the Midwest Preservation Website, but you all know what I mean.

So, that little thought that rattled around in my head for 2 years has bounced back to the front again. I posted about it on Facebook, and the responses were all positive. The people think I should do it. But!! I'm pretty sure that they have no idea what all is involved; both monetarily and time wise. I figure about a year (or more) of research, followed by probably 6 months of writing. Then, I need to find a publisher willing to put the thing out. There it has to be proof-read, I need to make changes, then re-read. After that it has to go to an editor who will tear it apart as they see fit, send it back to me for more changes, then I send it back. Wash, rinse, repeat.

All of that costs quite a bit of moolah, and that's just the beginning. Next comes the price of the actual publishing. I did get a price from one company who said that for an 8 1/2 X 11" book with 50 pictures would be around $4000 for the first 250 copies!! Guess I need to find a third job; but, if I do that, I won't have time to write the book. Heck, between my "Real Job"and working at Eagle, plus making sure that Linda is taken care of, I'm not sure where I'll find the time now!!

Anyway, that catches you all up on what's been happening with me.

As always, please feel free to comment on this (or any other) blog.