For Your Viewing Pleasure

Just a couple of videos I came across yesterday ...

I think most of us would kill for a ride in a DP on the high banks of Daytona. In this video, Joao Barbosa's wife was ready to kill her husband after her ride.

Here's the first of many car commercials that will air during the Super Bowl. For those of us who grew up in the 80s, this is a great taste of nostalgia.

Our Racing Season Appetizer

Photo by Matthew Lowell Thompson

My father-in-law had a boss who insisted that you had to order dessert first. And the Rolex Series has done the same thing -- forced us to have dessert before our dinner. There is no better way to start the racing season than the Rolex 24. And if the race is usually a slice of cheesecake before our entree, this year it was cherries jubilee (or insert your favorite flaming dessert here).

For sportscar fans, it's always a great race because it brings out the Rolex regulars plus competitors from the ALMS series and other endurance car specialists. There are always a few drivers to strike the interest of NASCAR and IndyCar fans. This year we got action sports star Travis Pastrana and rock star Brian Johnson. And of course, there's always the McDreamy factor.

This 50th anniversary race seemed more intense than those of years past. Every driver said the speeds were fast. And the numbers proved it -- drivers were running laps faster than their qualifying times. What always amazes me is how close the races are after 24 hours of hard racing. In both classes, there were two cars on the lead lap at the very end. There were just seconds -- not laps -- between the first- and second-place cars. And we ended up with very popular winners in Michael Shank Racing and Magus Racing.

But here's the problem with the "appetizer" we call the Rolex 24. It leaves me wanting more. More Rolex Series racing. More racing in general. It's making me count down the days until I get to see some racing in person (the Rolex race at NJMP in May seems so far away).

So thanks to the Rolex Series and all of the drivers in the 50th Rolex 24. I may have to have dessert first more often.

How a Piece of Blue Guardrail Changed My Life

It was a simple case of Girl sees guardrail, meets Boy. Online dating is a series of hits and misses. After a series of misses, I got a big hit when I found this picture. When I saw it, all I could wonder was--who was this guy with the fancy camera standing in Turn 1 at Watkins Glen? Having spent plenty of time at the track, I knew that blue guardrail anywhere.

Without hesitation, I sent this message: "You are standing in Turn 1 at Watkins Glen. If you wonder why I know, send me a message back." He wondered. We emailed and then talked on the phone one afternoon. After talking for about two hours, we realized that we really should just meet in person. So he changed his plans, bailed on a friend's BBQ, and hung out with me. And Matt and I have been inseparable ever since.

About a week after we first met, I was headed up to Watkins Glen with my dad and uncle for a driver's education event (I drive Porsches fast on the track). Matt didn't hesitate when I asked if he wanted to come up for the weekend. Within a half hour of meeting my dad, Matt was strapped into my dad's Porsche GT3 Supercup car for a ride. Matt learned all about "the boot" that day.

Doing a little driver's education at the Glen.

Over the next couple of years, we found our way back to Watkins Glen for all kinds of events. We camped in the sole of the boot for the inaugural IndyCar race. Matt got involved in driver's education (because I really had to twist his arm to drive fast on the track). I experienced camping for NASCAR for the first time (what happens in the infield, stays in the infield, right?).

And then one July day in 2006, I came home from work to find a UPS package. Matt told me to open it, and inside was Speed Circuit, a 1970s board game that features Watkins Glen. I opened the game to check it out. It took me a second to realize that among the game pieces was an engagement ring. Next thing I know, he's on one knee. Spoiler alert - I said yes!

Underneath all those cupcakes is a piece of
guardrail from Watkins Glen.

As we were planning the wedding, I thought it would be neat to use a piece of the guardrail to make a cakestand. I sent an email to Watkins Glen, telling them our story. A couple days later, I got an email back, asking us how big a piece we wanted. When Matt picked it up, he was the buzz of the office. At the wedding, we laid the guardrail flat on the table and put a sheet of Plexiglas on top of it. Then we arranged chocolate and vanilla mini cupcakes in a checkerboard pattern on top. Most of the people at the wedding didn't even notice the cakestand or understood what it meant. But we knew what it meant.

At the start-finish line at Watkins Glen while on our honeymoon.

We spent part of our honeymoon at a driver's ed event at the Glen (and part of it at the inaugural Nationwide race at Montreal). We've been back to the Glen for NASCAR. Two years ago, we were guests of Holiday Inn and were on the grid for the opening ceremonies. This year, we spent four days (well, it was supposed to be three, but it rained) in the Crown Royal Club. Nice place to watch a race!

So needless to say, the Glen holds a special place in our hearts. We're always looking for something different to do up there. Next year, our fifth anniversary is the week before the Six Hours at the Glen. Maybe we need to renew our vows in Victory Lane.

New Year, New Photo

Photo by  Matthew Lowell Thompson

I thought this beautiful photo was a great choice to start the New Year. This is sunrise over NASCAR Bend at VIR on an early November morning in 2007. This was the calm before the cars took to the track at a PCA track event. Just like the first couple of weeks of the year are the calm before the racing season starts. Enjoy the calm. Because the roar is coming soon.