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July 30,��2008����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
One of the guys from the road show has his own parts business and deals with a lot of the race shops in the area.� He asked one day if� I wanted to go with him on a trip to Richard Childress racing.� I accepted because he offered the opportunity to go on a tour of the winery.� The winery and shop are located north of Mooresville in Welcome, NC.� The grounds of the winery are spectacular.� I never really had seen a vineyard.� It was very interesting.� The tour included the ground, the wine processing area, barrel and bottling areas.� We also saw Mr. Childress’s private wine library…and I just want you to know there are no books in his library.� After the wine tour we did a little wine tasting.� That was fun!� I then picked up a few bottles of wine and we were on our way.� Just as we were leaving a back Tahoe pulled up and who got out but Mr. Childress himself.� Apparently he like to spend as much time as possible at the winery.
July 28, 2008
After the Nashville the road show headed to Bristol.� It was great to only have a 4 hour trip to the race track.� Everyone was very excited about this trip as it was the first time the school had ever gone to Bristol.� It is also much different from the other tracks we go to.� It is only a .5 mile track (most others are 1.5 mile) and has some pretty severe banking.� The instructors were all looking forward to driving the track.� The day was pretty light so there would be plenty of time to get in some additional driving.� I had one of the guys take me out for a champ ride.� Usually a champ ride is 3 laps – we did 10.� It was pretty cool – a lot different then the other tracks I have been on.� At one point during the ride we had a little sliding action and went up towards the wall!� When we stop Lois asked if I was scared during the ride.� I said – “no”.� He said well I should have been – he was!� I guess the sliding up towards the wall was not part of the plan.
July 24, 2008
I'm not sure if I had mentioned this in an ealier journal entry but after my first traveling gig with JGRS I told one of the guys that I was going to have to give up on my dream to be a rock star!� Living out of hotels and the demanding work schedule (up before the crack of dawn and up late at night) was tough for me.� But now I am sure I have to give up on the dream.� The road crew purchased a video game called "rock band" and it is all the rage.� So we got together one night to play it.� Well as you can all guess I was horrible at singing, not so good at the guitar and the drums....well I had to have 2 others help me out with that!� Music just is not my bag.� I have played rock band again and have discovered that I am not to bad at the bass guitar...maybe there is hope.� For now though I will�keep my attempts at making music to kareoke in the privacy of my car.� When I told Chris I was giving up on the rock star dream he asked what I would do now...I told him I wanted to be a princess now.
July 22, 2008
As you can tell from my lack of journal writing I have been a busy gal.� After returning to Mooresville after my 4th of July break I headed to Texas again
for work.� When traveling you sometimes have to find joy in the simplest
things.� And the trip to Texas is hard to find exciting.� The days are long, we
are booked to capacity and it is hot, hot, hot.� But the excitement of the trip is
a shell gas station in Tyler, Texas.� It is the nicest gas station we have ever
stopped at.� It has the best restrooms I have ever seen.� They have marble
counter top and the whole is decorated in the neatest western d�cor.� They
have a little cafeteria there had the best food I have on the road in quit some
time.� The pulled pork was to die for.�
Friday night in Texas the whole traveling group went out to dinner.� We went
to a steak house called “Salt Grass”.� Apparently it is the best place in town
for steak.� I really was looking forward to having a great meal.� When it was
my turn to order I told the waiter I would like to have the rib eye.� He asked if
I wanted the rib eye that was the special of the night.� I had not really listened
to the specials but said “sure I’ll have that”.� Well when my dinner came I
almost fell over.� I had order a 20 ounce bone in rib eye.� All the guys were
laughing!!!!� They couldn’t wait to see my try and it.� I managed to get down
about 16 of the 20 ounces.� I then had to surrender what I had left to one of
the guys.�
July 10, 2008
I had a great time back in WI for the 4th of July weekend.� Thank you everyone who came to dinner at Jud’s on Wednesday, it was great to see everyone.� We had a super weekend up north at Braun’s Haven.� The weather was great and I think a good time was had� by all.� My trip to and from Charlotte was pretty uneventful.� Trying to leave the airport in Charlotte however was a different story.� I knew when I left for WI that I was potentially going to have some problems as I totally forgot to check what parking lot I parked in at the airport.� When I got on the shuttle bus to the parking lot the gentleman driving asked what lot I was in.� I literally did not know what to tell him.� I could tell by the look his face that he did not think this was a good situation.� He started to ask me some questions to try and narrow down the area of the lot I might have parked in.� He dropped me off in the area I “thought” I might be in.� He said he was going to drop of the other lady on the shuttle and he would be back to help me.� With suitcase in tow I started to walk the isle hitting the unlock button.� By the grace of God I found my car after only 3 isles.� I was incredible grateful for that.� It could have turned out to be a very long night.� When I was leaving the lot I asked if the parking attendant could radio the shuttle driver and tell him that the gray Chevy trailer blazer with Wisconsin plates had found her!!
July 9, 2008
Last week we traveled to Kentucky Speedway for the weekend.� It was a long weekend, Thursday – Sunday.� Friday afternoon we had rain at the Speedway so our sessions were canceled.� We actually left the track about 4pm which is unheard of on a normal day.� Some of the gang went out for dinner at a great Italian restaurant and then went to Cincinnati which is about � hour from the track.� They have a beautiful river walk area downtown – it’s about 4 miles long.� It was nice to get out and see some of the area we were in.� I think of all the places we have gone Kentucky is my favorite.� It is a beautiful drive thru the mountains.� Some day I am going to make that drive, on my own time, and stop at all the wineries in the area.� And believe me, there are a lot.� I swear I saw a sign about every 20 minutes.��
June 25, 2008
No worries folks I have not disappeared – I’m still alive and kicking here in Mooresville.� Funny how things work.� When I got down here I had no work and had to try hard to fill my days.� Now I am working everyday and find it hard to sometimes to go to the bathroom.� Well, today we are off to Kentucky.� Last week I was in Chicago and the week before that in Texas.� Life on the road is pretty fun.� I think having to drive is a little lame but it gives you a chance to get to know your co workers.� Some of the people I work with I have spent so much time traveling with them I think I’ve know them for years.� I only takes (1) 16 hour trip to Texas for you to get to know a lot about someone.
Last week I worked a special event we were doing for Jimmy Johnson, a fund raiser for his foundation.� They call it a “ride event”.� We have done them before and it is usually hosted by a company and they send out anywhere from 50 to 300 people to take a “champ ride”.� I thought this was what we were doing for Jimmy’s event.� But after getting set up I talked with the lady from Jimmy’s Foundation and she said that only 10 people were coming – how much money were they going to raise with 10 people.� Silly me!!!� Each person paid $ 10,000.00, yes I said $ 10,000.00 to take 10 laps around Lowe’s Motor Speedway with him driving.� Later in the morning when I went to the restroom and walked by the car of the people who were at the event I noticed this was not our normal clientele.� There were to 2 Porsches, a Mercedes and an Aston Martin.�
June 10, 2008
I took my computer on the road with me to Atlanta with the thought that I would keep up with my journal as I was on the road.� Well, that did not happen, I did not even have time to take it out of the bag.� Let me give you a glimpse of the on the road schedule.
Thursday 4 pm leave for Atlanta.� Stop for dinner about 9 pm.� Arrive at the Red Roof Inn in Hampton, GA about 10:30.� Check into hotel, into bed about 11:15.
Friday, up at 4 am.� Meet group in lobby of hotel to travel to the track.� Arrive at the track about 6:00 am.� Get out trailer set up and first guests arrive about 7:30.� Today we have a 8 am, 11 am and 2 pm class.� We finish with the last guest about pm.� Straightened up trailer, pack up everything for the day.� Head down to the garage to see what other work has to be done.� Cars need to be cleaned, serviced and filled with gas and ready for the next day.� We leave the track at 7:30 pm.� Get back to hotel @ 8 pm.� Get cleaned up to go for dinner.� Go to dinner about 8:45.� Arrive back at the hotel at 10:00.� In bed at 10:30.�
Saturday, up again at 4 am.� Same day at the track.� At end of day we pack of to head back to Charlotte.� We are on the road at 8 pm.� Have dinner at the gas station we stop at to fuel up.� Arrive back at JGSR shop at 1:45.� Get home and 2:15 and go straight to bed.�
Yes, it’s a hectic schedule.
June 04, 2008
THE HEAT IS ON!� I am getting my first experience with the hot weather here in the south.� Yesterday is was 88, today 94 and tomorrow it is going to be 97.� Thank God I’m leaving town to head to Atlanta, it’s only a high 93 for the weekend.� Yesterday I had to work outside all day.� We are getting our merchandise trailer ready to go on the road.� We had to inventory existing stock and then load it up with new merchandise, reorganize, and get it all cleaned up.� What I found working in the heat is that if you just move at a steady pace it’s not so bad.� Once you get over the creepy feeling of having sweaty underwear it’s all right.� I just reminisce about the days at Hartman’s and frying chicken in the heat.� Now, I only have to stand on an asphalt track with only adds about 20 degrees, the chicken fryer�was much hotter than that.
It is hard to fail, but it is worse
never to have tried to succeed.
June 3, 2008
Sunday night while working at JGSR I had the opportunity to take a “champ ride”.� I rode with one of the instructors in his car after we were done with all of our clients.� The first thing I told him when we were done was that I think he was speeding on pit road.� He took off so fast out of the pit and as you near the track all you see is the track banking up and the big white wall!!� I was a little nervous, but he just whipped that car up on the track and we were on our way.� Lap speeds at Lowe’s are about 170 miles per hour (that’s for trained professionals).� It was really fun!� It was hard for me to stay focused just sitting in the seat; I can’t imagine right now how it is driving!!� Most people who do the driving experience comment that they can’t imagine doing that for 400 laps.� They are usually exhausted after 8 laps.�
May 29, 2008
Completed my first day of work with JGSR.� We were “on track” here at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.� It was an absolutely fantastic day for racing.� I was basically getting trained in all the different jobs we have to do at the “check in center”.� When the guests arrive they get check in make sure they have all their paper worked signed.� They get their race gear and so forth.� Then they are off to have their pictures taken with the show cars.� All the clients then have to be entered into the computer systems so we can keep track of their lap times and print out their certificates at the end of their drive.� All the pictures that are taken then put into the different framing options that are available.� When they are done with their ride they return to turn in their gear and pick up there stats and pictures.� That’s lots of fun…the people are excited to see how they did while they were driving.��� I attended the drivers meeting to learn more about the process�and what the drivers learn.� They take all the students out in a passenger van to get them orientated to the track and give them driving tips.� The instructors really want to teach the guests some driving skills so they can maximize their experience (go as fast as possible).�
May 27, 2008
Today, I had my orientation at Jeff Gordon.� After covering some of the basic info we got into putting together the schedule for the month of June.� I start work Sunday June 1 working at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.� I also work June 4 at Lowes.� Then I go on my first road trip.� June 5th we leave for Atlanta, the crew heads out at 5 am in the morning!!!� Holy Smokes - I am thinking that I need to start getting up earlier to be prepared for that.� When we are on the road the day starts at 6 am.� We have to be up and ready to leave the hotel at 6 am.� Then the following weekend I go to Texas Motor Speedway, home at Lowe’s a weekend and then the last weekend in June I go to Kentucky.�
TMZ update:
Ken Squires���� http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Squier
-��������� Ken was very funny.� He would come into the suite each night after his broadcast.� Most of the people would already be gone and the bar was technically closed but he would come to get a little scotch and water.� He like to call me the “little cheese head” from Wisconsin.� He told me that he and Humpy would love to sit in the suite (with cocktail in hand of course) after everyone had left and watch what he called “the dance.”� The dance was the tightly choreographed exit of all the haulers from the infield.� It is amazing to see them leave, particularly the ones that are first to head out.�
Junior Johnson ���������� http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_Johnson
Jim Martin������������������ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_G._Martin
����������� - Jim came to the suite with his grandson Carter. He was about 8 years old and was a huge Jeff Gordon Fan.� Later in the evening Kevin LaPaige (former NASCAR driver) came to the suite and offered to take some people on a personal tour of the pits on his golf cart.� I asked Jim and Carter if they wanted to go…the little guy could hardly believe it.� When they came they were so excited!!!� He got (4) lug nuts from Jeff Gordon.
May 25,� 2008
Sunday – the big day is finally here.� Today it will be very busy in the suite as we have about 85 people on our guest list.� Most of the same people from yesterday return plus more.� Most notable NASCAR figure was Junior Johnson….I actually had the opportunity to talk with him and listen to him tell stories about his infamous boot legging days.� We also had (2) state Representatives, (2) Mayors, former governor of NC and a general from the army.� I befriended State Representative Jeff Barnhart and his wife Jody and they introduced me to a woman named DeSales Wagster.� She is the CEO of the Cabarrus County Visitors Bureau.� The bureau does lots of work within the Race Industry promoting tourism.� She was very interested in talking to me about an opportunity she might have coming up.� In one of my chats with Jeff and Jody I told them that is none of the things I have lined up pan out that I think I am going to pitch to Lowe’s Motor Speedway that their mascot “Lug Nut” needs a girlfriend.� Don’t you think I would make a great mascot?� Jody thought we should call her “Spark Plug”.� Later in the evening they returned from a tour in the pit area and told me that they ran into Lug Nut…and they had Lug Nut’s shoe.� I not really sure how they got it but they told me they chased him down pit lane trying to tell him about my idea and he lost his shoe!!!� I could hardly stop laughing.
After the race started Humpy came up to the suite.� It was a very touching moment.� When he entered the room some yelled out “Ladies and Gentlemen, Humpy Wheeler is in the house” and everyone stood up and clapped and clapped and clapped.� He then gave a little speech.� There were many tears in the room.� There was a camera crew with him that apparently had been following him around all day to document his final day at Lowes.� I tried really hard to always to always be behind him!� It was a very bitter sweet day for day lots of people there.� Some of Humpy’s friend had been coming to his suite since he started at Speedway over 30 years ago and this would probably be the last time they would be there.
It was an incredible long day…I left home at 9:00am and got back home a little a 1 am.� But what a great weekend.� I loved the worked and had a great time interacting with all the people I meet this weekend. ��I am truly grateful for all the wonderful experiences I have had these last two weeks.
The world is round and the place which may seem like the end
�may also be the beginning.
May 24, 2008
It’s Saturday and I am headed back to Lowe’s.� I’m excited to check out my new gig for this weekend!� I get to ditch the standard uniform and have been told to wear a black and white outfit – right up my alley.� So basically my assignment was to be the suite hostess.� I had a list of guest that would be attending the suite and would greet them and get them check in.� Then basically I chatted the afternoon and evening away.� Served a few drinks here and there.� This assignment was much better than that in the speedway club.� One of the best things was the food.� We were allowed to take a break and fix a plate from the buffet they were serving in our suite, which by the way had it’s own chef.� The food was just fantastic!� But the best part was our dinning accommodations.� We would fix a plate and go up to the roof of the building.� This is where all the TV camera and photographers are set up.� The view is absolutely phenomenal.� Dinner does not get much better when you are perched on the 8th floor (roof) of the speedway over looking the race track, wind in your, sun on your face and the fresh smell of burning rubber!� Today most of the guests in Mr. Wheelers suite were friends and political figures.� Most of the people had been coming to the speedway and his suite for many many years.� They were all so kind and really interested in the move I had made to Charlotte.
Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.
May 23, 2008
Friday I had the day off from working at Lowe’s.� Today I stared doing some volunteer work at the American Red Cross.� I’m trying to fill my days with productive activity until I really get to work.� I had applied for work about a week ago but had to go thru a security check (since 911) so I had to wait for that to come back.� I guess I was acceptable!� I am doing� basic administrative work.� They have a program called Whales Tales that teaches children water safety.� Each child that participates in the program has to be put into a data base.� About 3500 children will take the course in the next month – so that’s lots of names to enter.� On Friday night I went to a seminar “how to get into NASCAR.”� It’s put on by a husband wife team that is both in the industry.� It was very informative.� Many of the people who attended were in town for the race this weekend.� I was one of the few people that actually lived here.� I will follow up with them again this week to see what leads they might have for me.
May 21, 2008
So, I think I am going to have my own version of TMZ, not sure what I will call it but I will tell you when I have a “famous person sighting.”� I will try to include pictures whenever possible.� So I have to go back to last Saturday at the race track I saw Kevin Harvick and Bruton Smith.� Sunday at church I was Larry McRenolds.� Today working at Lowe’s, I talked, yes I said talked, with Daryl Waltrip.� Very chatty fellow, imagine that.� I also say Bobby Hamiltion Jr. and his wife.� They were waiting to get on the elevator I was working at.� Now, I thought that he looked short on TV but in real life he is really short.� I tried to make chit chat with him but he was not a real talkative person.� I think the fact that he had to look up to talk to me probably made him nervous.� I also meet and shook hands with Marcus Smith (son of Bruton Smith today).� Working the elevators at Lowe’s you get the opportunity to talk with lots of people.� You know, they have no where to go until the elevator comes so they are forced to talk with you for at least 30 seconds.
May 20, 2008
Very Exciting News.� I just got call from Lindsey, my contact over at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.� She asked if on Saturday and Sunday I would be willing to take another assignment.� Who am I to say no, works works.� She then tells me that the Suite Attendant for Humpy Wheeler just called and is not able to make it and asked if I could replace her.� Now this does may not seem that exciting to many of you but is because you do not know “Mr. Humpy” as they refer to him at the track.� He is the General Manager/President of Lowe’s Motor Speedway and a well know person in the NASCAR world.� This is a great opportunity for me!!! �
Day two of work at Lowe’s.� Today the traffic is not as good as yesterday.� From the time I left home until I arrived in the parking area I Lowe’s I was in my car almost 1 � hours.� I did not realize that the “All Star” race was this popular.� When I got to the track about 1:30 tailgating was in full swing and the race was not starting until 7 pm.� These people are as enthusiastic as about there tailgating as Packer Fans.� Today I was assigned work the main entrance of the Speedway Club.� My assignment was to greet the guest and to check their bags.� We were to look for weapons, glass bottles, food and beverage.� No coolers are allowed in the Speedway Club.� If someone came with a cooler I would tell that we had a “cooler check” area so they could leave their cooler and pick up after the race.� Many were too lazy and would just leave it under our table.� We accumulated quite a few coolers by the end of the day!� Today I only had to work until about 8:30.��After being released I thought I needed to hurry home to watch race.� Then�I said to myself�– rush home, you are at the race track – watch the race here.�� So I made my way up to the grandstand area and watched the race.� It was great to take in the race but then had to deal with the crazy traffic after the event.� Another 2 hours in my car!!!!
So, I think I am going to have my own version of TMZ, not sure what I will call it but I will tell you when I have a “famous person sighting.”� I will try to include pictures whenever possible.� So I have to go back to last Saturday at the race track I saw Kevin Harvick and Bruton Smith.� Sunday at church I�saw Larry McRenolds.� Today working at Lowe’s, I talked, yes, I said talked, with Daryl Waltrip.� Very chatty fellow, imagine that.� I also saw Bobby Hamiltion Jr. and his wife.� They were waiting to get on the elevator I was working at.� Now, I thought that he looked short on TV but in real life he is really short.� I tried to make chit chat with him but he was not a real talkative person.� I think the fact that he had to look up to talk to me probably made him nervous.� I also meet and shook hands with Marcus Smith (son of Bruton Smith today).� Working the elevators at Lowe’s you get the opportunity to talk with lots of people.� You know, they have no where to go until the elevator comes so they are forced to talk with you for at least 30 seconds.
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