Hey, blog readers! LP here with the details from our HUGE open house and car show on Saturday. Mother Nature must have heard our pleas for good weather, because the day couldn’t have been more perfect - a nice mix of sun and clouds, warm but not too warm, and a nice breeze to boot. The day started awfully early. I pulled into the parking lot around 7:45 and several cars had already filled out their registration papers and gotten settled in their parking spot.

I spent a good portion of the day manning the BRAKES booth, handing out Teen and Parent/Guardian Driving Pledges, taking donations, and answering questions about the program. We set the BRAKES booth up right beside the merchandise trailer, and Allison and Heather stayed busy making sure people got their fill of Herbert and Snap-on merchandise.

Doug spent the day in a few various places, just as I suspected. He jumped behind the parts counter for a while, worked his way outside to the BRAKES booth and merchandise trailer, and then on to the car show. Lots of his friends came out to say hi and check everything out, including his buddy Jon Hondros, “Fatback” McSwain, and our friend Kevin Ellis from the Gaston Gazette. Before we knew it, noon had arrived and it was time to fire up the dragster.

This year, Doug put his buddy Click Baldwin in the cockpit. Click owns the Harley-Davidson store down in Gastonia, and he and Doug have gotten to know each other pretty well over the years. Click got in the car like a pro, and from the look I saw on his face, I am pretty sure he had never experienced anything quite like sitting in the drivers seat of a Top Fuel dragster. The crowd loved it, too, as what seemed like hundreds of people gathered around to get their nitro fix. Doug whacked the throttle three times, and I couldn’t help but giggle (as I always do) when people jumped. The same thing happens almost every time, they jump, then come right back for more.

By the time registration closed for the car show, about a hundred cars had officially entered, but I would put the number of cool cars on the lot around 150. Judging started around 11:00 a.m., with awards going for different categories like best interior, best paint, etc. I couldn’t put every photo of every winner on our blog, but I wanted to share the best in show winner, Chip Caldwell. His hot rod Ford was absolutely beautiful! You can check out all the cars and lots more photos on our website, www.dougherbertracing.com. Look for them to be posted by Monday afternoon.

To sum it up, a good time was had by all today at Doug Herbert Performance Parts, there are plans in the works for another big car show in September. Don’t worry, I will keep you posted.

Doug has had a really cool couple of days, but I am going to keep you guessing since he is going to tell you all about it in an upcoming blog. Okay, one little teaser – it involves a really cool TV show and graduation. That’s all. Now just check every day for the rest of the story.

Two more things before I wrap up: don’t forget to cast your vote for Doug for the upcoming NHRA Circle Track Challenge. To vote, click here.

I also want to wish every mother out there in blog land a Happy Mother’s Day. Thank you for all you do!!

Until next time,

LP