I usually fly back and forth to each race. This time I am staying with the team between races. I am working out of the makeshift office/lounge; however, because it’s the race transporter, the location changes from day to day. We left Indianapolis Sunday evening. Gary drove in the evening so we could get parked and stay stationary in the mornings, allowing me to work.

We pulled into the Carlisle truck wash, where it was a collection of NHRA transporters and race teams. We were lucky, and arrived before the rush. A fairly quick wash (as quick as you can get for a transporter) and we were on our way to Maple Grove.

We arrived there Monday night, again, so I could work from a stationary location on Tuesday. I woke up and took an early morning jog. Here is what the “Behind the Scenes” view is like; a row of patiently waiting transporters, freshly cleaned, and ready to find their appropriate location in the Maple Grove pit area.

At 9:00 a.m. Tuesday the motors were all warming up as the officials began their routine. A single-file convoy of trucks crawled there way around the facility until perfectly parked in their allotted space.

Debbie, looking to the sky said, “We better get the pit set up fast, it smells like rain is coming”. Sure enough, about two hours after we were set up, the rain began.

We woke Wednesday morning to grey skies. The temperature was nice enough that I was able to work outside. Here is a picture of me in my regular pose, in front of a computer, working.

It is the end of the quarter at work, which means I am constantly in meetings and analyzing data. While I was doing that, Debbie, went to the store. She loves this country and told me just this morning, that she loves coming to this race and this area. It is a unique contrast of simplicity coupled with technology.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to see a little more of Reading before I head back home. Oh yeah, that is coming along well, too! I will tell you about it in the next blog.