Well, we are still here in Louisiana enjoying the Southern Hospitality and trying to catch up on our rest. It has taken me hours just to catch up on the posts in this section and my PM's. What can I say but WOW, what a race. I have never seen so many beautiful bikes in one place. Over 570 entries in all, it has taken us forever just to count. We were exhausted before the trip even started just finishing up bikes before we left. The drive took us about 24 hours, Charlie slept completely through New Mexico. Man Texas is big, I thought we were never going to get through it.
I would like to give a huge thanks to Jeff Guillot & family for all of your hard work. You all have truly taught me the meaning of Southern hospitality. Never have we seen anyone try to please everyone and be so accommodating. Jeff spent $12,000 dollars improving the track before the race (+Several Thousand During), and will improve it even more by next year. It rained 2" the night before (The Track was covered in Plastic) we pulled in and Jeff hauled in $3K more worth of granite so Packard, NFR and all of the big rigs could come in without getting in the mud. Jeff tried to please everyone, in fact after Mike Brock drove from Arizona to say that there was not enough shut down area for him, Jeff turned to his dad and said "Daddy get the chainsaw" and by the next morning a few huge trees were cut down and tons of dirt moved in. Jeff told me there was no way he way going to let a racer drive all the way from Arizona and not run the track. Another incident that had me impressed was in the middle of racing one night, a lady walks up to Jeff and says "excuse me, but your grass is on fire back there and it is starting to get close to some of the trailers". Jeff just smiled and said "yes mam, I have a tractor on the way to put it out".
Jeff and Kim have taken good care of us, fed us well (and Kim is a great cook) and even took care of Charlie and took him to the hospital.
The weather and scenery in LA was awesome. Lots of green grass and huge trees everywhere. A real pleasure to be in compared to our part of Arizona. It was nice be at a track and not having sand blowing in your eyes all day. Saw my first Armadillo, told Charlie we need to see a gator before we go home.
We had some bad luck on Wednesday. Started up my bike for the first time and the throttle stuck wide open. (At least I didn't have to worry about breaking it in, lol) Would not idle back down no matter how much Charlie attempted to click gears and let the clutch go. It just spun the tires and threw grass every time he clicked a gear. Eventually, he stopped the bike against a post, and reached down to pull of the plug wires. When he grabbed the plug wires, he pulled a fuel line at the same time and the bike caught on fire along with Charlie's leg and shoe. The bike burned for a long time, the first 2 fire extinguishers did nothing until Donnie (from A&S) came around with a big extinguisher and put it out. Thanks again to Donnie for saving my bike! I guess I have watched too many movies because after watching it burn for that long, all I could think of was that nitrous bottle going boom! I was getting the heck out of there. Charlie says thanks to all who helped him when he burned his leg, we had people everywhere offering us first aid kits and help.
I also wanted to say thanks to EVERYONE who helped us out. Dan Hull, Donnie, and K&T immediately took my bike and washed all of the fire extinguisher stuff of it and helped remove all of the burnt wires, filters, and parts. Everyone was so nice, not at all like it is back home. I had many people offering me any parts to rebuild the bike. As some of you may know, Charlie was sick most of the race and was sleeping in the trailer quiet a bit. We took him to the hospital yesterday to treat his burn and found out he has issues with his blood sugar, and he is feeling much better since we have changed his diet.
Also huge thanks to Dave Moore, he went above and beyond what any chassis builder should have. Dave helped me with anything I needed, at anytime on all of our bikes. - and how many chassis builders will make a girl her very own Dagger earrings with Bansheechick scribed in them? Thanks, Dave!
Dennis Packard and family, thanks for giving us all something to work to for. You impress me each and every year with your new combinations, and always have some impressive times. - I told Charlie that we were going to all be in trouble when the Packard crew was unseen on Friday. - Figured they were in the trailer making changes...I was right, and it showed on Saturday. NFR Craig and Rhonda, great to see you again as well, you are all such great people. Glad to see Treadheavy smoking a cigar celebrating with his win.
Craig Hammar the Ohton Racing Crew Chief, thanks for all your hard work and late nights leading up to the races and during the event! Get some rest because we have more work to do, lol <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> You are awesome Craig!
Dan & Wendy Hull, always a pleasure to see you guys, you are truly great friends and really went out of your way to help us after the bike caught fire. Donnie from A&S, still love ya, you little sh*t.
The K&T clan, you guys were referred to as the NASCAR of the ATV industries. - Never seen anyone split the cases and replace a tranny in that amount of time! You all are some awesome people, wish we could have got to spend more time with you. Thought we would all get to sit down and enjoy some drinks, maybe next year. Charlie calls Randy and Rayce his brothers and Kim his daddy.That means he loves you guys! And by the way Rayce, it's on next year in the Golf cart race!
SSR Buddy Deville never seizes to amaze us, from the internet you can't tell what he is like in person, I expected someone a bit different, but was a truly nice person and offered to help me with just about anything. Donnie from the South you are a riding mo fo'! Props to team SSR you guys ran hard all weekend long.
Jims Sand Toys, Sand Bomber, MP Racing, and many more, you guys were all cool as heck, glad to have met you all. Rotax Randy, we will have our drinkin goggles on next time.
Kernal, had a lot of fun hanging out with you and your crew. You all helped us out a lot with anything and everything we needed. Glad your bike ran so good, I smile everytime I think about you riding the bike and saying "friggin' awesome"! - Not sure but you may have one of the fastest Cheetah cubs around!
Twister, thanks for making the race, your group is awesome and hope to see you next year, thanks for trying to take care of Charlie. Dune Girl can ride.
We met so many people from Planet Sand and from all over, I am glad to be able to put a face with the names now.
I have never been treated so well as we were in Louisiana. Seems like everywhere we went someone was trying to feed us, and man can you guys cook! N2 Motorsports along with Lanny Lewis and Stan Ware and Family, you all were awesome people and make some great food.
We are on our way to the Texas Track, Charlie and I said we were not going home until all of our bikes were broke so we have some serious damage to do, lol. Charlie is feeling better and is out wrenching, we are either going to go faster than a 3.63 or we will break it trying. Don't worry SGT Pepper, I won't break yours....
From Charlie & Sherry:
There are many people I would like to thank, Sherry mentioned most of you above for us, It might take me days to say what I would like. For now, thanks to everyone for helping make history, we spent many hours already going over things to make next year better.
Jeff Guillot has stood right next to me on everything that has went on and I could not thank him more. He has done more for me then anyone on my list of best friends. I only want the best for everyone that participates in these events.
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