Devota.Org

Sunday at the track.
11/05/2007

The day started early, but thanks to the time change, it wasn’t that early.

I got up, got ready and met Brother in the lobby of the hotel. We headed over to breakfast and got an early start to the track. Gates were at 10 but we managed to get there by 9, we missed all the traffic. It was a good thing. I ditched brother at the car and headed towards the merchandise trailers. I was an hour early and there was a long line already for Robby Gordon signatures. I love that he is getting more attention, but I hate that it takes so long now to get an autograph. I snagged a spot in line, got my scanner out and started programming it for the Cup race. 11 slots for drivers, race control and media broadcast. Robby was already on my scanner, in the primary spot. It made it easy this weekend; he used the same frequency for the Cup and the Busch car.

I met a couple of nice brother in line: one for Texas and one from Alaska. It was neat looking at the snow filled photos he took before he left his house to head to the track. I was in a sweater and long sleeved shirt and he was in a T-shirt. I guess from -45 to the lower 50’s feels like the tropics! We had a nice chat, one of the brothers had a piece of information to share that I want to verify. He said he went to the Thursday night signing at the phone store and spoke with Robby directly. Hum, I don’t want to start rumors, but want to check my facts first. Something about Busch cars.....

I managed to get one of the hats signed I bought this weekend; it was limited to 1 item per person due to the number of folks in line. I happened to be the person before Robby hopped over the trailer counter to sign some autographs for a couple of people in wheel chairs. I was able to snap a photo of that and then my camera just went haywire. I don’t know if I got any good pictures of Robby for my screensaver or if I just got nothing. I tired with the card and with out…..I guess I will just have to wait and see when I get back to the house. I forgot the camera download lead in the rush to get out of the house the other morning. I will be short a Robby and Me photo for the off season this year unless someone posts one on his website.

I headed back to the car to drop off my extra gear and noticed that Brother had done a bit of shopping. There was a die cast car, a bag of goodies in the car. Hum, I guess he was fine being dumped at the car. I headed back to the seats to drop off my cooler and the pre race shows had started. I watched Robert Earl Keen and his band do a nice set on the front stretch and then headed off to see the SPEED TV pre race broadcast with Kenny Wallace, Jimmy Spencer and John Roberts with those pretty eyes. I managed to snag a Koozie for my collection and then headed back to the seats.

I like the group of ticket holders I sit with each year. It is interesting over the years how we have gotten to know each other. There are things to celebrate, things to be concerned over and it is just nice knowing them all. I like it much better when we are all at the races and the annoying gaggle of drunks don’t descend on the seats.

I watched as Robby started from the back of the pack due to an engine change. I watched as he made the right move for position staying out under the yellow flag. I just hated to hear on the radio: “something broke” in the front end of the car. It think it was the sway bar from the chit chat going back and forth.

Chad Knaus pulled off the win for Jimmy Johnson. He is so lucky to have such a talented crew chief. I love the talent Chad brings to the track, I just can’t cheer for his driver. I love Chad’s style: he is a rock under pressure, keeps pumping up his driver along the way and he is willing to take some risks for position. He chose 4 tires instead of 2 with 37 laps to go in the race. It allowed his driver to pass Matt Kenseth for the win. It was a hard fought battle to the end of the race. It made for an exciting finish.

I wonder sometimes if I would be a good spotter. I think I have the voice, the patience and the knowledge to do it. I would love to give it a shot. Perhaps at the local track this coming season I can give it a try. I just wish Robbie’s spotter did a bit more encouraging along the way. I can hear a huge difference with the different styles on the radios, I think it makes a huge difference with the driver’s attitudes when they are stuck in a no so well performing race car. The ability to communicate becomes huge getting information, keeping the driver calm and knowing when to pit for a problem.

I am headed back to Austin shortly. I will be dropping brother at the airport and heading back home. I just talked to T who has been babysitting Saba, he is fine, but I sure miss him when he can’t make a trip with me.


	back \| up \| next Sunday at the track. 11/05/2007 The day started early, but thanks to the time change, it wasn’t that early. I got up, got ready and met Brother in the lobby of the hotel. We headed over to breakfast and got an early start to the track. Gates were at 10 but we managed to get there by 9, we missed all the traffic. It was a good thing. I ditched brother at the car and headed towards the merchandise trailers. I was an hour early and there was a long line already for Robby Gordon signatures. I love that he is getting more attention, but I hate that it takes so long now to get an autograph. I snagged a spot in line, got my scanner out and started programming it for the Cup race. 11 slots for drivers, race control and media broadcast. Robby was already on my scanner, in the primary spot. It made it easy this weekend; he used the same frequency for the Cup and the Busch car. I met a couple of nice brother in line: one for Texas and one from Alaska. It was neat looking at the snow filled photos he took before he left his house to head to the track. I was in a sweater and long sleeved shirt and he was in a T-shirt. I guess from -45 to the lower 50’s feels like the tropics! We had a nice chat, one of the brothers had a piece of information to share that I want to verify. He said he went to the Thursday night signing at the phone store and spoke with Robby directly. Hum, I don’t want to start rumors, but want to check my facts first. Something about Busch cars..... I managed to get one of the hats signed I bought this weekend; it was limited to 1 item per person due to the number of folks in line. I happened to be the person before Robby hopped over the trailer counter to sign some autographs for a couple of people in wheel chairs. I was able to snap a photo of that and then my camera just went haywire. I don’t know if I got any good pictures of Robby for my screensaver or if I just got nothing. I tired with the card and with out…..I guess I will just have to wait and see when I get back to the house. I forgot the camera download lead in the rush to get out of the house the other morning. I will be short a Robby and Me photo for the off season this year unless someone posts one on his website. I headed back to the car to drop off my extra gear and noticed that Brother had done a bit of shopping. There was a die cast car, a bag of goodies in the car. Hum, I guess he was fine being dumped at the car. I headed back to the seats to drop off my cooler and the pre race shows had started. I watched Robert Earl Keen and his band do a nice set on the front stretch and then headed off to see the SPEED TV pre race broadcast with Kenny Wallace, Jimmy Spencer and John Roberts with those pretty eyes. I managed to snag a Koozie for my collection and then headed back to the seats. I like the group of ticket holders I sit with each year. It is interesting over the years how we have gotten to know each other. There are things to celebrate, things to be concerned over and it is just nice knowing them all. I like it much better when we are all at the races and the annoying gaggle of drunks don’t descend on the seats. I watched as Robby started from the back of the pack due to an engine change. I watched as he made the right move for position staying out under the yellow flag. I just hated to hear on the radio: “something broke” in the front end of the car. It think it was the sway bar from the chit chat going back and forth. Chad Knaus pulled off the win for Jimmy Johnson. He is so lucky to have such a talented crew chief. I love the talent Chad brings to the track, I just can’t cheer for his driver. I love Chad’s style: he is a rock under pressure, keeps pumping up his driver along the way and he is willing to take some risks for position. He chose 4 tires instead of 2 with 37 laps to go in the race. It allowed his driver to pass Matt Kenseth for the win. It was a hard fought battle to the end of the race. It made for an exciting finish. I wonder sometimes if I would be a good spotter. I think I have the voice, the patience and the knowledge to do it. I would love to give it a shot. Perhaps at the local track this coming season I can give it a try. I just wish Robbie’s spotter did a bit more encouraging along the way. I can hear a huge difference with the different styles on the radios, I think it makes a huge difference with the driver’s attitudes when they are stuck in a no so well performing race car. The ability to communicate becomes huge getting information, keeping the driver calm and knowing when to pit for a problem. I am headed back to Austin shortly. I will be dropping brother at the airport and heading back home. I just talked to T who has been babysitting Saba, he is fine, but I sure miss him when he can’t make a trip with me.