WOW is right. Boy did we have a heck of a time with the full range of
emotions over the last two weeks. Races in Homestead and Iowa….and
we survived. Homestead was HOT! My poor boys lost a lot of water in Homestead…you’ve got to love humidity. But every one of you worked your hearts out. Thanks guys..all of you.
We had 3 new drivers at Homestead, Eric Powell from Orland, FL, Sean Israel from Suwanee, GA, and Kevin Molloy (without an A) from West Palm Beach, Fl. Thanks men, you were all fun and hope to race with you again. Car 98 fell
into the clutches of some mean machines on the track and had to retire early. Car 48 was the first finishing Cobalt and first finishing GM car. Way to go!!!
As usual our crew was fearless! The giant man-eating bugs of Florida did not scare them one little bit. We girls, however, decided that Florida is not the place to move to…if its big enough to throw a saddle on..its too darn big. I really think the Mini on the track was a Florida sized waterbug. Sorry native Floridians.
We packed up just in time to almost get everyone home before the storms raged into range. Sy and Doreen got an extra night in Fort Lauderdale. They were 2 of the 200+ plane loads of people that did not make it back to NYC.
The totorhome left for Iowa and the rest of the crew hurried home just in time to repack and leave again. Another day..another track! Iowa here we come. This is Iowa’s first year….they put on a great race! We had a newbie as crew, Jeff Sorge from Ohio. Jeff was a trooper and jumped right into the fire. We hope to have him back.
Car 48 crashed in the 3rd lap of the first practice. Oy! Ah…but wait a minute..super crew comes to the rescue. The boys worked all day, at the track and at a local bodyshop and wham, bang….the car’s back on the track Saturday morning. End of excitement…..but of course not!
Our head mechanic, Jeff Mishtawy wanted to see if he could fly off the upper level of the transport and landed with a “bang”…nope..still can’t fly! Dislocated shoulder anyone?!?! Yep, off we go to Medical, where they give
Jeff some Happy Juice and send him off to the local hospital where he gets more Happy Juice. When Jeff’s shoulder decides to be stubborn (image that) and we are sent to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Mercy, Mercy, I have to
say that you start to worry when the orthopedist limps into the your ER room…but this man knews all the tricks, gives Jeff a lollipop that knocks him out and quicker than you can say….”The corn is as high as an elephants eye” (Yes, I know that’s Oklahoma, but believe me, it also fits Iowa), Jeff’s shoulder ‘popped’ back into its home..and off we go..back to the track. Ah..what troopers we were!!! Luckily the race was late starting so we caught the last hour+ of it. Tom Lepper ran car 48 with new comer Steve Parddee, of Des Moines, and Phil Malgren of Pinole, CA ran 98 with Eric Powell. We did ok thanks to our wonderful crew and an amazing finish for car 48 that took the green flag battered and torn but finished with pride. Way to go!!!
One thing, I hope I was not the only one to notice how absolutely wonderful the people in Iowa treated us. Everyone one we came into contact with was kind, thoughtful, and very eager to help. The people that I met at the track, the Care Center, the local hospital, and Mercy hospital in Des Moines were extraordinary. I will not soon forget them. Everyone was wonderful, but above all, the volunteer Pastors at the track were amazing. Tim, one of the track pastors drove me to the local hospital, waited for me until I said “go home, Tim”, He arranged transport from Des Moines back to the track. “Here’s my cell number, call me at any time” and I did. Tim arranged for one of the other pastor’s wife to meet us at the emergency entrance and drive us back to Newton. She even had boxed lunches in the car! Wow!!! What a great place….thanks Iowa!
Again, to all my crew at Homestead and Iowa…thank you..thank you! You are our strength; we would not survive without you.
Well, almost time to get ready for California and Connecticut. When I meet the people who made this schedule I will give them a big thank you…not what I was going to say but it’s cleaner!
See you all in our backyard …Laguna Seca here we come!!!!
Team Mom
