Looking back on the Outlaws Spring Break tour, I can't help but think that those races out west will shape the championship battle. Look at Donny Schatz. The Fargo, ND. native found his groove to speak in the Golden State. A great string of podium finishes has positioned the STP driver to be right in the thick of the title fight. Joey Saldana continues to show why he is a serious championship contender year in and year out after strong runs all over in California. Finally, who can't help but smile when Jason Sides picks up a victory? The ponytail and white sunglasses are trademarks of a fierce competitor who could have a say in who brings home the title in November.
One thing to note is the fan support from this weekend. THANK YOU FANS!!!!! Tremendous turnouts both nights is further proof that racing is still alive and well.
It was great to talk to so many fans and to hear just how much they enjoyed the racing, the showmanship and the atmosphere at the races. Take a look at this crowd shot from Calistoga!
Aside from the track, Johnny and I were lucky enough to have a little more fun in San Francisco. With the postponement of the makeup date at Hanford, we used the day to tour one of the most infamous landmarks on the west coast, Alcatraz. The first thing that struck me was how popular the island itself was. We had tried quite a few times to find tickets but managed to talk our way in for a Thursday tour at 11:30. To tour the island, you have to ride a clipper ship over. It only takes about 15 minutes but provides a stunning view of the bay.
Once on the island, we made our way around took the Main Cell House tour. This was pretty cool because it was self guided through an audio headset. The mp3 file gave the tour through the eyes of the guards and inmates. Think of a History Channel special with all the different voices and you have a glimpse of this tour.
After getting through the cell house, we took in a few more exhibits before departing. A gorgeous day made the trip all the more enjoyable. It's amazing to think about all the history that happened there. The facility was built in the 1860's and was used as prison for thirty years before being shutdown in 1963. We learned all about the famous escapes and how important Alcatraz was in shaping the future of the prison system. I really do enjoy going to these historical places because you feel that connection with history and realize just how small your life and story is in the grand scheme of things.
We ended up spending the day in San Francisco on Sunday and toured Fisherman's Wharf one final time. Great food and fellowship was a fantastic way to end the California Swing. We take this coming weekend off before we begin 'The Gauntlet,' which is racing every weekend until October. I've heard from some folks that it appears that we have a lot of fun out on the road. This is a very true statement. Myself and the rest of the crew consider ourselves very lucky to be doing what we are doing. Some call it 'living the dream' and it really is that, a dream. However, the parts that everyone don't get to see balance out that fun. There's writing a race report at 4 am after a three hour car ride from the track. There's the 15 and 16 hour days at the race track; getting ready, racing and tearing it all down. There's the 6 am flight days that don't end until 6 pm and then a trip to the office for a few hours after that cap off the day. In the digital age, time off is a thing of the past since Blackberry's and more keep us connected 24/7. You don't usually find things like this cropping up in the blog because who wants to hear about the boring and mundane? It's there though, keeping all of us humble and thinking that we are extremely lucky to have the opportunity to pursue our passion in life. Someone asked me how I was liking my new job the other day. I told them that what I do isn't a job but a lifestyle with good and bad aspects to it. Fortunately for me, the good almost always outweighs the bad.
- Gump
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