Melanie was going to write this blog entry, but I am going to fill in for her. She has been really busy last week and this one so I volunteered to write for her. I’ll fill you in on what’s been going on since my last entry.

Melanie and I flew out to Phoenix a couple weeks ago for the pre-season testing. Our neighbors, Kevin and Gretchen, were going to Phoenix for the weekend so we decided to join them. Melanie and I went to the track for awhile on Friday before they arrived and caught up with everyone we hadn’t seen for awhile. I even though I might get to drive at one point because Jim Head had hurt his finger so I was standing by with my helmet and suit just in case he couldn’t do it. Jim, like all good racers, didn’t let it bother him and went out and ran low e.t. for the day on Friday so I knew I wasn’t going to be needed. I’ve left my helmet and suit in a friend’s trailer for the season just in case though.

On Saturday I went to the track in the morning while the rest of the group went hiking on South Mountain in Phoenix. I caught back up with them later in the day and we enjoyed a relaxing time visiting Scottsdale. When you are racing it seems like you never have the time to go and relax in some of the areas we visit so it was kind of neat to see more of Phoenix than just the airport and the racetrack. Besides it was killing me having to sit and watch everyone make passes during testing. I just don’t make a very good spectator.

Sunday morning they talked me into going hiking with them on the mountain. It was fun and all, but I was happy too when we were finished. It was kind of cool to hear cars making runs out at the track while you were hiking on the mountain. After hiking we all loaded up and went out to the track for awhile. Some friends of the Knocks were in Phoenix for the weekend with us and they had never seen drag racing so we did our best to give them drag racing 101 Sunday afternoon.

Sunday night we drove to a little wine bar called The Down Under Wine Bar in Chandler. We got to talking to a few people in there and to our surprise we ran into a drag racer, Ed, who doesn’t work at the wine bar, but it sure looked like it to us is involved in drag racing. He and a few buddies have a drag bike that they race and it is sponsored by Down Under Wine Bar. We talked racing and had a great time so if you go to the Phoenix race be sure and stop by Down Under Wine Bar and visit Ed. After that we went to dinner at Valle Luna Mexican restaurant. One of Melanie and my first dates was at this restaurant so I guess it has a special place for us.

We flew back to Indy on Monday and left the beautiful weather behind. It started snowing here on Tuesday and didn’t stop until 12 inches later. The weather in Indy this winter hasn’t been too bad but that soon came to an end. Wednesday morning I was out trying to shovel the dogs an area to go to the bathroom (six-inch tall dogs don’t deal well with 12 inches of snow) when Jimmy Prock yelled across the street to come borrow his snow blower. Thankfully he did because it still took me a couple of hours to dig out. I ended up helping dig out our next door neighbor too so I spent several hours outside enjoying nature that day.

On Sunday we had a few of the neighbors over for the Super Bowl. I was rooting for the Cardinals since Kurt Warner is an Iowa boy. It was a good game and I thought the Cards were going to win but it didn’t work out. I think the refs might have played a little too big of factor in this year’s game though. Congratulations to Michelle, I mean the Steelers. Chad Head and Michelle (who is a huge Steelers fan) were at the game so we kept looking for them on TV but never saw them. We went to the game last year and it was a great time. Hopefully the Colts will make it to the Super Bowl in2011 when it is hosted here in Indy and we can all go.

It has been cold and wintery here ever since and we got another four inches of snow this morning. I read Bob Wilber’s blog and now I can relate to him with all of his snow. We fly out tomorrow for Pomona and I can’t wait to get in the warmer weather again even if it does look like it is going to rain. I just can’t seem to get too excited about Pomona this year. It will be the first one I haven’t race in several years now and I’m torn about the season getting started, I miss drag racing, but I hate not competing too.

It looks like the clock has struck 12 and the fat lady is getting ready to sing for me right now. I’ve not been able to come up with a driving job for '09 but that doesn’t mean I’m quitting either. I will continue to work on things and hopefully be able to join the tour sometime during the season. Melanie has been busy for the past week at her shop. They are in the process of moving her race team to Atlanta so they have been inventorying all their parts and organizing everything for the move. She is still employed at R2B2 Racing and they are in the middle of restructuring the team. They are continuing full speed ahead on securing sponsorship and are hoping to be back on the track sometime this season.

So In the meantime we will head out to Pomona to watch the start of '09 Full Throttle Drag Racing season. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled while sitting in the stands this season. With so many drivers and crew chiefs out of jobs you never know who you might be sitting next to.