Bowling Green Journal
Part Two of Three
Posted: August 24, 06

WE MADE IT !

Friday was spent unloading cars, setting up the pit, cleaning and polishing and bench racing. Ron Johnson had brought Chris Karamasines' 'Chizler' car back from California, where it had received some tender loving care. Tonight, the Greek himself would be in the seat at the local host hotel, for an evening cackle highlight. All had to be perfect, and to that end, I was put in the seat of the 'Chizler' at the track for a warm up, while everything was checked and double checked.

Saturday brought the crowds, as expected, but also some unexpected developments. Afternoon thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday, complete with lightning, thunder and copius amounts of water, made for some tense moments with the cars ….. but entertaining people watching. Yes, I was one of the idiots playing out in the rain like a child. Even as the day's racing was cancelled for Saturday, our focus remained on the 'Cacklefest' event that we had brought these cars in for. Being racers, we of course are infinitely adaptable to last minute event changes and the afternoon was full of those. The fans waited through the showers until the time came to bring all these historic cars together on the track. After 'The Greek' and Don Garlits push started their cars down one lane of the strip, the rest of us all lined up and parked in the other lane, blower started our cars for the display of header flames and intoxicating cloud of Nitro fumes.

...and the crowd went wild...

- but then so did 'Pure Heaven.' The altered suddenly lept backwards a few feet into the retaining wall. It was later determined that parts in the clutch had failed, but in the ensuing confusion, three people ended leaving the event in ambulances. I was not one of them, but Dusty was. I spent 5 hours in the emergency room with him before he was cleared and released. In fact, all three people were cleared by the hospital and back at the track on Sunday morning. Like I said, this was an adventure !

Sunday was 'pack up' day and we just barely got everything loaded into the trailer when the skies opened up again and the event was finally called. Later that evening, we joined a crowd of about 25 for dinner at Smoky Bones. The stories that were told and the memories that were shared are a major part of why events like these are so special.

Check back next week for installment #3 - Bowling Green - the adventure home.