CAT TALES
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Rosanna's Charlotte 2007
The day started out like any other Friday. I got up, had some coffee, and fed the cats. Then the phone rang: On the other end was a man with a Canadian accent cussing up a blue streak. There was something different about this call though; this time it was not the angry, bitter NC22. It was BZ/11 announcing that his flight from Buffalo was delayed. Then cancelled. Poor BZ was waylaid until Saturday morning. But I’ll get to that later.
An hour or so later, Cornelius, N.C. would be forever changed.
The first to arrive were Sherry and Brad followed by Licker and Merse. I invited them in, got them a beer, and we went out the deck. “Merse,” I said. “Have a seat.” What happened next made me realize that our Fearless Leader has an Achilles heel. “Eeeeek!!!!!!” squealed Merse. “I can’t sit there! There’s a spider on that chair!!” I looked and looked, then went inside to find a magnifying glass, and lo-and-behold he was right. On the chair was a spider. Or a microscopic piece of dirt. I was never really sure but I picked it up and moved it so that the big guy could sit down. And that, my friends, was my first introduction to Merse.
An hour or so later we made the first of many trips to the Harris Teeter for beer, ice, and other provisions. The construction crew is still repairing the damage from Hurricane Merse. Let me explain: Everything was fine in the Teeter as we meandered the aisles, loaded up our cart, and got into the checkout lane. While I hadn’t realized it before, it soon became very clear to me that this was Merse’s first trip to a grocery store…ever. He didn’t know where to stand to get rung up (no, Merse, not next to the checkout lady, across the counter from her), he had trouble getting his cigarette order (that poor, poor woman), and then to bring it all home, he broke the conveyor belt. Items were flying everywhere. It was sheer and utter chaos. I promised to never return to that store. I now have to drive 8 miles to get a quart of milk.
When we got back, it was too hot to sit on the deck so we moved camp to the shady side of the house. We sat in the driveway for hours, drinking beer and listening to the delightful selection of tunes that Merse brought. Gotta love that Toto!! Gotta love that motherf-in’ Toto.
Over the next few hours, the rest of the crew arrived: Earwax, NC22 and Canoeman, and Ztaxi and her hubby. We dined on meatloaf and mac & cheese. Ztaxi enjoyed her cosmos; NC22 rummaged through my cupboards to find the expensive vodka and subsequently drained it like a bottle of Gatorade; Merse explained the subtle difference between “fuck you” and “fuck off” (and used both quite often, especially to Moe).
Back in an airport hotel in Buffalo, BZ/11 entertained himself by watching a softball tournament on television. Poor pitiful BZ.
We got up early Saturday morning and Sherry, Merse, Earwax and I went to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport to pick up our friend. Sherry tried to convince me that the black fella with dreadlocks was BZ but I wasn’t buying it. When the real BZ came down the stairs, I shrieked like a girl at a Beatles concert. It was really that exciting.
Back at the house, Moe was busy preparing breakfast for the troops then everyone except Ztaxi, Merse, and BZ loaded up the boat and headed out for an adventurous day on the lake.
Captain Earwax took the helm and got us safely to our destination. We grilled some sausages, drank (lots of) beer, and then it was time to tube. First up: Earwax. First pair of smacked nuts: Earwax. He was doing great. Really. Then he hit a wake, a biggun, and skipped across the water like a stone. He crawled back onto the boat crumpled over in pain, groping his privates. Most everyone took a ride and showed some stuff but the most amazing was NC22. He proved to the crowd that even an old man can pull off something remarkable now and then. Moe tried to shake the wily NorthernCat but he wasn’t having any of it. He hung on, caught air, hung on, caught air – this went on for what seemed like eternity until finally he just had to let go. It truly was something for the highlight reel.
Before I go any further, I will answer the question that is probably on all of your minds: Did NC22 pee in the lake? He says he did. And since he didn’t reek of urine seeping through his pores like he did last year, I believe him.
Back in the water was a spectacular display of synchronized swimming by 2004 Summer Olympic silver medallists Windowlicker and Ross. Though he’s now retired from the sport, I learned that Licker hasn’t lost any finesse even after 19 or so Busch beers.
While we were gone, Ztaxi and her babies (Merse and BZ) made a trip to Gibbs’ shop to load up on Denny gear. Now, I can’t report on what happened there but something surely did. All I can say is that the woman in the gift shop felt sorry for Z but Z assured her that babysitting those two beat the hell out of taking care of the other nine of us. I’d have to agree even taking into account the Merse factor. Obviously they do not have conveyor belts at JGR.
Dateline: Cornelius, N.C.: Saturday night. The group reconvenes for pizza and the Busch race. And more drinking. Lots of drinking. Ugliness ensues. Some notable moments:
Licker pulls out his college ID card. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a better mullet. No really, I’m serious. Scary Mullet Boy.
Poor Merse. We all went to bed and left him with a sleeping bag and a thin camping mattress. BZ/11 (selfish bastard) took over the comfy air mattress that Merse had the night before thinking, “Hell, it’s Merse. He doesn’t sleep anyway.” It was a rough night for our Fearless Leader. I came out to get a glass of water to see him splayed out on the chair and ottoman. And if that weren’t bad enough, he had the Earwax/Moe Snore Symphony to listen to. I vowed to do better for him somehow.
Now it’s Sunday and we’re all fired up for the race. After breakfast, we leave Chez Ross to caravan to our favorite tailgate spot just north of the speedway. And we got our favorite spot under the tree!! That’s damn good karma. (A note: the guy on the other side of the tree recognized me from last year – “Yer the Robby Gordon fan!!!” That just gets me a bit weepy.)
It was a fun day. I couldn’t get Licker to skip with me (I’ve been trying for a couple of years) but somehow I got Merse to hold my hand and skip back from the porta-potty. It was sweet. Skipping is sweet.
The race was…well…the 600. Long but fun. Too long for Licker, apparently, as we looked back to see him “meditating” for much of the race.
We got home pretty fast and everyone was done, ready for bed. At my insistence, Canoeman brought in from the van the airbed he hauled down from Canada so I could set it up for Merse. We inflated it, Merse crashed on it, we all went to bed. About 45 minutes later, Merse was on the hard floor. The cheap Canadian airbed had a hole. I came out for water and saw Merse again splayed out on the chair and ottoman. And Earwax was breaking the noise ordinance for snoring. Poor Merse.
It was sad on Monday when everyone left. It was a fantastic time. I love you all and I hope we’ll do it again next year. The conveyor belt at the grocery store should be fixed by then.
Jodi's Vegas 2004
Well, after a little rest, I think I am ready to post my Vegas report. I know now why I do not drink too much. It takes me way too long to recuperate.
We left on Thursday late afternoon. I did not want to take the chance of NOT getting to Vegas in time to see Ward.
We got into Vegas around 4 PM on Friday. Plenty of time to relax with my brothers and have a couple of beers before going to see Ward. A few beers turned into me getting a pretty good buzz going. Remember I don’t drink too often. I am standing at the window in the motel, in pulls a BDR truck and trailer. Bob and I yelled out the window, asking if the was the snackie cake hauler????? When the man got out of the truck, I could see that he was clearly a nice man who just works for a SOB boss. I then yelled to get out of BDR while he could. I am pretty sure the nice man who works for the wrong company didn’t hear us, because he didn’t even look our way. Maybe he is so used to being yelled at that it doesn’t even matter?
My older brother brought his laptop, so that is when I posted the thread that “we were there”. I had a real long RAMBLING drunkin’ thread going and the computer disconnected, and it didn’t post. I felt just like Jeb. J I was thankful later, after my wait to see Ward, I sobered up. That disconnect saved myself a lot of embarrassment.
Off to see Ward, I was so nervous. I have met him once before. (The Famous Vegas Casino Cat Coat story, the night I became a TRUE Ward fan for life) When we pulled up to the RV place, there was some kind of car in front of us, Bob was ranting about how cool the car was, then we get in to find it was Ward that was in the car! If we only would have known. We waited for awhile to see Ward. He was in a trailer, so when you got your turn to see him you were all alone with no distractions. The blue ox people were really nice. If I had something to pull, I would buy some of their products. We told them how great of a person they chose to sponsor. Our turn to see Ward. I handed Ward a pack of Juicy Fruit gum and told him GOOD LUCK! He said, “THANKS, I needed that!” He then opens the pack and hands us all a piece! Ward then say’s “It’s kind of like handing out beers! “ LOL I told him the folks from 22fastforward say HI! He smiled. We had a great conversation. My husband Bob mentioned hunting and the elk being moved from Idaho to Virginia, and that is all it took. Ward’s eye’s lit up and the “guys” talked hunting and wildlife. I just stood there in awe. Bob asked if he remembered me “yelling” in his ear the night in the casino? He laughed and said something about “oh ya the “dive” casino? I assume he either didn’t remember it, or he thought that Bill Davis had bought him a room in a “dive”? I thought the casino was pretty darn nice, but I don’t get out much. We also told Ward that we were glad that he was with a team that appreciated him, and he said, “ I just stayed too long” meaning with BDR. I about cried. Bob asked Ward to sign his Daytona win shirt and Ward did, but then told us that he would be at the trailer tomorrow. I think he wanted Bob to go buy a new shirt. J The Blue Ox lady took some pictures of us all, and we said our good byes. Ward was still trying to talk about the “muley deer”, I think I know where his true passion is.
Bob had spoke with Hamm on the phone a few times, and we knew he was on his way, so right when we were leaving, Hamm pulls up. It was so nice to meet someone that you kind of know already. We laughed and said it isn’t safe to “meet” people you meet on the internet. He was very nice and I wish we could have talked to him longer. But we didn’t want to waste all of “his” time with Ward. Maybe next year we can actually hang out some with Hamm. He did tell us his name, it’s Daryl. So we had my brother Bob, my other brother Bob and Daryl! LMOA I think that was another drunkin’ moment.
Saturday we went out to the track only to meet Ward again. He had no intentions of going until we found out he was going to be there. We bought some Ward gear, and got in the LONG line to have it signed. We met some Ward friends while waiting in line. I invited them all to come over to 22fastforward.com. I told them about how great the people over here were, and how we all decided to stay on the “dark side”. I went up to the trailer to take some pictures of Ward, and he looked up, saw me, smiled, and waved. I was on CLOUD NINE!!!! Right across from the NetZero trailer was the Cat trailer. I was sure that diecasts were going to start flying when Scott Wimmer showed up to sign at the same time. We asked Wimmer if he would like to join us for a beer after he was done. (JK) Ward signed our stuff, but it was a little more rushed than the night before. We didn’t get to stand and chat for too long. It was still worth the wait. When we were leaving, we saw Jamie McMurry at his trailer, and he bolted with out even acknowledging us. I know that Ward would never do that. I also saw Casey Mears. I think that is the place to hang out on Saturday. We went in and watched the Busch race for a while, but left to beat the traffic. The rest of Saturday, was pretty much a blurr. We hung out at Jimmie Buffet’s Margarittaville for way to long and then downtown to see the light show. More margarita’s, and a TON of fun, and then a taxi ride home. We decided that we didn’t want to be like Scott Wimmer.
The race was great. Anytime there is a race going on, it’s great! It was very hot, but I enjoyed every drop of warmth. We left Idaho in a snow storm. We all decided that racing in Vegas is really not that great, the field get’s spread out so fast, but we go just for the FUN, the tailgating and the company. Maybe some of the “dark side” from 22fastforward would like to join us next year???
Martinsville Cat Tales
Rob, Jeb, LilJeb and Wing Nut
All the same person.
On a surprisingly chilly, somewhat overcast, late Thursday night in FL, I sat alone in my apartment waiting for the arrival of Marty. I'd met him before so I knew what to expect. We had met one Sunday afternoon when I so graciously invited myself to his apartment in Orlando to watch the Richmond race earlier that year. He was a little guy but could drink enough beer to fill a small horse, so I was preparing myself for an interesting ride to Martinsville VA, to say the least. Alass!! My cell phone rings and I hear this squeaky little boys voice on the other end saying, "Where the fuck is your apartment dude?" I led him in the right direction and finally see his headlights approach. My gut told me that he would probably be drunk and since I had never seen him sober before anyway it was of no concern to me. As expected, after parking his car, Marty steps out of the vehicle, his hair much longer than before, but causing him to look more like a man. He's also holding a half drank Miller High Life which he seemed to have a death grip on!! My eyes slowly begin to roll into the back of my head as I think to myself, "this clown better not even think of drinking that in my car while I'm driving". Surprisingly, my wish is granted as Marty pours out the reminder of the beer on the ground, but I could sense that he felt as if he was losing his best friend. For a moment I thought I saw his eyes watering but it may have been the lighting. Finally, as the meeting session concluded we began to pack my car for the haul to VA to meet Merse and the gang.
The trip begins normally with a stop to get some smokes and sodas for the long drive. However, I make the mistake of mentioning that we stop at a bar first to grab a quick beer before we get on the highway. Marty seems hesitant at first which caused my heart to palpatate momentarily. "Does he not want a beer?", I think to myself. "Can I be hearing him correctly?" I ask again, "Marty, would you like to get a beer before we head up there?" Slowly, but surely, he comes around and responds with "Sure, that will work". So, we head on over to 'Nice and Easy' bar and grill. It's a hickish little joint that try’s to pass itself off as a sports pub but the bartender's have great asses so I figure Marty will like it just fine. We enter, we sit, and we order a beer each. "I'll have an Amberbock draft," I say to the sexy little brunette behind the bar. Marty gets a Miller Lite. The bartenders' ass was quite fine, and I think Marty agreed, but I could sense that he was not overly impressed with the bar. Five minutes pass and I finally hear, "no wonder why you only meet trailer trash. Look at this place." I laugh, but slightly, because I know that we are there on a bad night. You see, the bar really is a good place to hook up with chicks if the timing is right. However, I look around again and re-asses the place that I've learned to love and think to myself, "well, he could be right." Regardless, I shift the conversation in another direction and we continue to chat just to pass the time. Whether about sports or women I can't recall but it was stimulating none-the-less. We finally finish our beers, decide to leave, and begin the journey of a lifetime. It would be a long journey, to say the least, but one that would be remembered for quite some time.
The drive began a bit rocky at best. Marty, already drunk, fell asleep no more than 30 minutes into the ride. I was barely on I-95 and he was already hunched over in his seat, his arms folded across his so-called chest, as he attempted to keep his frail little body warm. I giggled slightly but not enough for him to hear. As Marty rested peacefully I considered playing the 'heat game' but I opted against that, as I was beginning to feel the affects of my one beer. Getting very sleepy already, the excess heat created from the game would surely have knocked me out. So, to avoid slamming into a tree head-first and having to possibly clean Marty off the road I took a sip of my MT. Dew code red and mustered on, straight ahead into the seemingly endless night.
Somewhere in GA I suddenly became startled as Marty’s lifeless body twitched. He awoke, dazed and confused. "Where the hell are we" he says, with a puzzled look on his face. He almost seemed to be craving another brewski. Oddly, I could actually see a can of Miller High Life reflecting from within his right eye. "We’re almost leaving GA" I say. Marty, somewhat stuttering at this point mentioned stopping for breakfast. "Good Idea" I say. "As soon as we get into SC we’ll stop." So, we got into SC around 5am or so, I think, and stopped at a Waffle House but, unfortunately, as our luck would have it, they only accepted cash. WTF!! Were they kidding? Marty, obviously going into Miller High Life withdrawl began to show a bit of frustration. "Don’t worry" I say. "We’ll find something biatch." The rest of the ride went pretty smoothly as I continued to bond with myself while Marty slept away his drunken stuper. The only real time delay during the journey up North was due to my having to ‘drop a bomb’ which I did at some hick gas station somewhere in NC. It wasn’t pretty. I have never been fond of using public restrooms but this was most certainly an emergency. "Was it the apple juice?" I thought to myself. Perhaps it was due to the anxiety of knowing that I was going to be meeting new people, thus, having to live up to a reputation that I don’t really have. Well, only time could tell. Immediately after leaving my ‘bomb’ Marty and I, once again, were on our way. I began to drive again, Marty went back to sleep, and I found my rabbit to follow on the road. We continued our treck to meet ‘the crew’.
"Marty, wake up biatch" I screamed. "We are finally here." Not surprisingly, Marty’s first request was that we stop for a beer but I was way to tired and just wanted to get to the track. Somewhat clumsily, Marty managed to dial Dave’s (Earwax’s) number and he informed Dave that we were in the parking lot awaiting his presence. We parked my car and waited for Dave to come and pick us up. Marty stood on the roof of my car so that Dave could spot us more easily but it was no use. Marty just couldn’t be seen. So, rather than continue to allow him to humiliate himself I decided to take charge. Standing on the grass I raised my arms and Dave spotted us immediately. Driving his "Hulk Mobile" he bullied his way though some minor traffic, screamed a few times at some girls to lift their shirts, and finally arrived unscathed. I must admit that his Jeep was getting quite the ovation. The flag’s on his jeep were a definite chick magnet and had he not been so obsessed with fixing his hair he probably would have gotten some action. My first thought of Dave was that he looked like a pretty cool guy. I had already spoken to him on the phone and he fit my mental image quite well. He was a good guy in my book and I was looking forward to getting to know him better. Upon introducing Dave to Marty, Dave shook Marty’s hand and as Marty squealed in agony, Dave and I sat back and laughed our ass’s off. Marty and I jumped into Dave’s jeep, myself sitting in the front seat and Marty stuffed quite comfortably in my gym bag. We all headed to the camp where the Merse mobile would eventually reside for the weekend.
The camp was quite nice actually. As Marty quickly grabbed a beer or two Dave and I began to talk about heading over to the track to see qualifying. It was Friday afternoon and the rumble of the cars was really getting me hot. We all decided to head on over fully expecting to see Ward qualify in provisional land. Before heading through the gates we purchased our prelim tickets and also our Truck race tickets for the next day. We were pumped, Marty was still drunk, and we were about to enter one of the best short tracks on the circuit.
Watching quals was quite a treat. To our pleasant surprise Ward took the outside pole. Dave and I jumped up and congratulated our little buddy for a job well done, as Marty rummaged through his cooler to find another beer. I’m still not sure if he even remembers watching qualifying. Regardless, Dave and I had a great time and so did that Drunk dude that kept talking to Dave. We were looking forward to going to the truck race the following day and, more importantly, getting back to camp to meet up with Merse and Todd (CanuckCat). I was a bit nervous I must admit. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to live up to my rep of being an obnoxious pervert but I would try none-the-less.
The air was brisk and Marty was shivering to death. It was about 8pm and Dave and I began to wonder if Marty was going to turn into a little Popsicle. Wait!!! What is that?? Is that the Merse mobile weaving its way up the dirt packed road?? YES!! THE MERSE MOBILE HAS FINALLY ARRIVED! "Wow, it’s big" I thought. I had been expecting the CAT painted RV that I saw on the site but this was a big huge monster of an RV. As it roared closer a few beer cans came flying out the window and I wondered, "was that to let me know that Merse and Todd drank while driving." Perhaps, but I wasn’t in the mood for preaching and I was too tired to give a shit anyway so I figured what the hell. I can wait until Monday to be pissed about it. As the RV came to a rest Todd got out and we began the introductions. Merse then joined the party although tripping over one of the Miller Lite cans he had so eagerly thrown out the window. I couldn’t help but chuckle but I kept it inside so not to hint that I knew the truth. Todd was very friendly as he handed me a big jar of Hellman’s mayo, which he had apparently swiped from his "Mayo Overflow" cabinet. I was a bit reluctant to take it, as I know how Canadian’s love their Mayo. I had never really pictured him in my head but he looked like a pretty cool guy right off the bat. I think we got along quickly and the Mayo gift certainly helped. As I introduced myself to Merse I could see a slight hesitation in his eye. I couldn’t tell if he was waiting for me to say something perverse or if I just wasn’t what he had pictured in his mind, but we shook hands, said our "nice to meet you’s" and it was done. My mental image of Merse was not what I had expected, but, once again, I was going by his picture on the site where’s he’s sitting with someone in the grandstands. His hair was longer then and he also had a mustasche. Regardless, he seemed like a real cool guy so I was quite happy that he and everyone else was asshole free. That would have been kind of horrible, as assholes irritate me.
Almost immediately, Merse began working his ass off to get everything set up. Todd warned us not to help, as Merse was apparently very picky with setup. Well, I was tired as hell anyway from the long drive so I was not about to complain. I sat back and watched Merse cut the grass in front of the RV, drop the canopy, and set up the grill. Upon completion we all finally gathered around in a circle and looked as though we were going to sing X-mas carols but, fortunately, Marty started mumbling something that saved the day. Merse made a few comments about me being so quite, which I was, and I just grumbled something about being tired. I probably came across as a jerk that first night but I was really just beat as hell. Marty, having slept the entire ride up was pretty much ready to rock. Well, it’s time for bed now…….. or so I think!! On comes the radio at 11pm!!!!! I must admit that I was not overly pleased with this. Any other night would have been great but I’m not a very happy guy when I’m tired and I just spent 11 hours trucking a passed out drunk though the SouthEast. However, not wanting to be the party pooper I forced myself to stay up but didn’t say a word the rest of the night. Merse, Todd, Dave and Marty continued to chat the night away, as I wished that I was dead. Finally, and I still owe him for this, Todd decided to hit the sack, so I took the opportunity to follow his lead. Merse set me up with my blankets and sheets and it was lights out for Jeb. See ya’ll in the morning.
Ahhhh, Saturday morning has come. I awake at 9am to Marty chugging a six pack in his bunk. It was really quite disgusting if you ask me but who am I to complain. I step outside into the cool VA air and prepare for the Truck race. I convince Marty to join me so we head on over to the track. The goal is to meet up with Dave and Todd later at the track. Staggering Marty, and myself, head over to the track, grab our seats, and sit through the incredibly boring pre-race ceremonies. A quarter of the race is finally over now and Marty decides to high tail it back to camp. "I’ll be back" he says. I say, "Ok, I’ll be here". So, he takes his case of beer and heads out. I never saw him again. He went back to camp to finish drinking his High Life. It’s ok though b/c I’m gonna meet Todd and Dave. Um, think again Jeb. They sat somewhere else so I never saw them. I left the race about 20 laps earlier to beat the foot traffic out of the stands.
Walking back, now sweating my ass off, I remember that Sherry should be at the camp by now. I thought, "Please let her be hot and single." As I walk up I can see a lil’ chickie sitting there with dark hair. I get all excited and pray that I don’t stutter when I say hi. I could see Merse informing her that I was coming and I think she was almost afraid to turn around, as if I’m going to walk up all exposed and stuff. Well, I guess I couldn’t blame her. She finally turns and I think, "SWEET, she’s a hottie…………but……….is she single?". Well, 20 minutes later her hubby, Brad, walks up with Dave and Todd so all my dreams went to hell right there. It was like getting drop kicked in the friggin’ heart. Brad was cool though so it all worked out well. As long as he treats my girl good I can get through the pain of heartbreak. I was kinda tired from the sun but I decided to pull a "Marty" and grabbed a beer. We all sat around and waited for the evening parties and to meet Jeff. I must have went somewhere b/c I don’t remember exactly when I met Jeff but he was one cool mo-fo when I did. I think it was in the afternoon right after the truck race when Brad, Dave, and Todd came back. Jeff must have been with them. Not sure!! I was so smitten with Sherry that I lost some time there. Anyway, I didn’t pick up on the Elliot Sadler look a like thing right away but I definitely noticed after it was mentioned. Jeff was a pisser from the first second. The evening party began quite early as the whole bunch was now together. We took some pictures, Jeff dressed up like a gay bouncer, and I stood next to Sherry on purpose.. I couldn’t wait for the night time. I was secretly hoping that Sherry would get drunk enough to want me but I guess there’s not enough beer in the world for that… I just can’t win. Well, I was planning on going "Hunting" with Jeff, Todd and Marty later so it was all good.
As Jeff wakes me up from my 15 minute power nap I can hear Merse calling me a pussy in the background. It’s ok though!! I knew I was wussing out but I like my sleep, what can I say. Jeff convinces me to get up to go hunting, which I am forever indebted to him for. We’ll get to that in a moment. Jeff, Todd and I all head up the dirt roads and make our way to a large party. I guess Marty was content staying drunk at the Merse mobile. Go figure!! Beer is more important to him than women. Anyway, we were not even there 3 seconds and some, not so attractive, chick lifts up her shirt. Well, I was set for the evening. About 5 minutes later some chick starts talking to me, to my surprise. I actually turned around to make sure she wasn’t talking to someone else. She was kinda nasty but had a kickin’ body so I was able to get around the face. While we chatted, Jeff and Todd decided to bolt. Jeff gave Terry Trailor, his cell number In case I needed to get in touch with them. They left and Terry and I immediately followed their lead but went back to her trailer. I was shocked that this was going to be easy. I didn’t even have to buy her a friggin’ drink. It was the perfect relationship. Well, we get back to the trailer and all her friends are inside watching the Marlins game. I used the can and looked around a bit to see if there were any "private rooms" available. NOPE!! I can only think at this point, "where the hell am I going to tap this chick?" I begin to stress a bit but calm myself down in the end. I figure this whole night has been way to perfect for it to go wrong now. Terry then introduced me to her friends, who were much older than me by the way, which made me wonder how old Terry was. She looked a bit older in the face but that body of hers just threw me for a loop. I was wondering if perhaps she found a fountain of youth and forgot to dunk her head. Well, whatever!! Quite honestly, I didn’t give a crap. This chick could have said she was 70 and I was still gonna get it. That body of hers was 23 as far as I was concerned. But where can we do it???
Terry and I go outside to sit in the cold ass air. I actually managed to muster up the courage to kiss her, which I normally take forever to attempt, but I wanted her BAD so I just went for it. Having her hand on my thigh inside and outside the trailer helped me a lot though. She had to want it. She just had to!! The Kiss was nice and I didn’t feel any wrinkles at all. She felt pretty young so far so I was ready to rock. I was also determined to get a little so I pushed the issue and said something about whether her friends were going to bed soon. She then said something about we would need to go somewhere else, almost like she knew what was gonna happen before I even suggested it myself. Finally, she suggested laying out under the stars somewhere so I figured getting blankets from the Mersemobile was the thing to do. We headed over to camp and made it there in record time. I was hoping that everyone would be at another party somewhere and planned to make better use of Merse’s back bunk but no deal. There’s the whole crew watching me walk up with Helga the horrible. I knew her body would get me by all the snickers from everyone but I still wasn’t sure about her head. It was so damn dark and I couldn’t keep my eyes off her ass. Well, Merse gets us some blankets and we managed to get Dave to give us a lift to my car out in the middle of nowhere. We laid out under the stars for a bit but it was getting kinda cold, even under the Merse blankets. Rather than freeze the Dr. off I suggested getting into my car. We quickly hopped in, turned on the heat, got in the back seat and started where we left off. I’ll leave out the details here but basically, I had every part of her. The only problem was that we didn’t bring a towel, which would have been helpful, so I used a sock instead. No worries though! It was all very respectful in the end!! LOL . One more problem!! I needed to put that sock back on to walk the 3 trillion miles back to the RV. It was really gross and I care not to think about it. Finally, we headed back to Terry Trailors’ Trailer, I gave her a fake cell number, and kissed her goodnight. Well, she thought it was a goodnight kiss but it was actually more like a good riddance kiss!! I headed back to the Merse mobile with a big smile on my face, feeling very stress free, and hoping that I would have somewhere to crash. The floor worked out just perfect for me……….and my dirty sock…. Race day is almost here and I’m all tired out.
Sunday is here!! First thing in the AM I finally meet the other Jeff (Jcat/ZerotheHero). Once again, another very cool dude. I can’t believe it!! Everyone has been cool as shit. Gay bouncer Jeff left to go home and JCAT Jeff headed out pretty quickly to get to his seat. I didn’t realize he wasn’t coming back and kind of blew off his attempt of saying bye I felt bad about it later, as he knows, but I explained all that to him… Well, we head up to the race and find out that we have 5 JR fans directly in front of us and 3 Jeff Burton fans. I’m thinking this is going to annoy me but I’ll give it some time and see. The race starts and everything is going great until Kenny fking Wallace, that shithead, decides to race Ward like he’s going for the win or something. He causes Ward to hit the wall on the backstretch and it was just shit from that point on. To make it all worse, those friggin’ JR fans must have stood up every 10 laps so they could see cakeboy make a pass for 16th, then 15th, then 14th and so on. Worse yet, this one Jeff Burton fan, an older guy, stood up every friggin time Jeff went by. EVERY FRIGGIN TIME!! I was about to flip out so I left the track for a bit and went out and smoked about 4 cigarettes. I picked a good time b/c a very lengthy caution came out which must have been at least 20 laps or so.. Well, the race ended poorly with Ward struggling most of the day because of Kenny. By the end I just wanted to get back to the RV to eat, drink, and think of what I just got the night before.
Monday morning came and Marty and I were ready to head on out… We said our goodbyes to Merse, Todd and Dave, as the others had left already. I think Merse and Dave pulled an all-nighter Sat night b/c they both looked like they just awoke from the dead. Ya never know. "Well, it was a blast guys but Marty and I need to split. Marty’s gonna need a beer in about 30 minutes so if I don’t get on the road now we’ll be here until 3pm."
Marty and I hit the road and made our way back to this God Awful State you all call FL. We played the "no gas game" briefly going though Jacksonville and Marty spent at least 45 minutes bitching and complaining about it. In baby talk, "I don’t want to run of out gas in Jacksonsville. Me scared and don’t want to get beat up. Get gas at this Texaco even though you have a chevron card where your gas is free. Pay for your gas even though you can get it for free." 45 minutes of that crap
Well, that was my adventure with Marty, Jeff, Merse, Todd, Dave, Sherry, Jeff, Brad, and Terry Trailer!! Sorry so long but I have no life whatsoever and the Busch race is delayed
Cat Tale from Martinsville
By Earwax
I call this a Tale of Ten Discoveries.
Many times in my life I’ve made journeys to new places and met many new people. This was the first journey where I’ve met people for the first time that I had already knew.
Located in the rolling foothills of the Virginia landscape, just outside a small town, snug against railroad tracks, is a small, historic track called Martinsville Speedway. It is here that I discovered new friends that I had already met.
After arriving at the campground, I waited until Marty and Jeb showed up. Ok, faces to put with names. What a start. I have finally met Ward Fans that I knew. Next were Merse and Todd. Then Jeff (Mr. Toasty, not talking about racing here folks).LOL! More faces for names. First discovery: Ward Fans can talk and laugh about anything at all.
On Friday, during qualifying I made the second discovered: that no matter where I go, I will attract people that I normally would have no desire to meet. Ask Rob. He knows.
During the evening festivities, Merse got to meet Virginia’s finest because of the itsy bit of noise we were making during our festive revelry. Party foulers.
Saturday morning started out early enough for me. Discovery three: I would have to have my eyes swollen shut not to notice what a nice day this was going to be. A little breakfast with some Real Canadian Bacon and Timmy's set me up for a good day. Truck race and back to the camp site. Ah, more faces for names. Sherry and Brad almost completed the line-up. (no pun intended) Sometime during the evening I was treated to a show of panties from one of the female race fans in our group. Hehe. Discovery four: K-mart sells panties. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the rather unsightly tata’s that I saw attached to an unsavory woman on top of an RV. Well, this set some of the guys on a quest to find those tata’s or any other tata’s. Most of the search party returned. The missing hunter of tata’s rolled in looking rather…..sheepish. Discovery five: I have a new-found respect for backs, socks and trailors.
Sunday morning. Race day. Its what we’ve come here for. Discovery six: How do you get to a track on time, you ask? Easy, wait until the very last minute to get going. Jeff (ZerotheHero) met up this morning. The final face for a name. (going to have to get that guy to stick around next time) There are many more names without faces. I’ll get to them all someday. T-shirts with iron-ons. What a good looking bunch we were!
What can I say about this race? One word. Startoutstrongonlytobewreckedbyateammateandwindup18thfuck. Oh there might be some other words, but I think that will do. Discovery seven: Jr. fans have big hair and don’t sit down.
This was the last race for Ward in the BDR #22 Caterpillar Dodge. The reins have been handed over to another driver in this revolving door of employment. Ward was the only constant, reliable, and successful figure in their organization. They won’t find another. On to another team that is hungry for the talents that only Ward can bring them. I hope to God they measure up to that talent. The cake was cut and the hat was burned in a ceremony befitting our feelings about Ward’s former employer. Discovery eight: Spitting on a burning hat feels really, really righteous.
It was with joyful sadness that I waved goodbye to my new friends-with-faces. Forever will I have the memories of this weekend to reflect on and smile. I had the time of my life. Merse, what can I say? Sunday night/Monday morning conversation. Alot said, alot learned. Discovery nine: My friends don’t disappoint. I was quite nervous, anxious, apprehensive (you get the picture) meeting new people who didn’t know of my secret problem. My nerves were quieted when I found that my new friends accepted me simply as a Ward Fan. Thank You and may God Bless you.
I end this Tale now. There are things that I forgot or missed. There will things I want to edit in and out.
I’ll let it stand at this last discovery.
Discovery ten: Clutch
Time for Jeff/Toasty
8am I wake up to my phone ringing,it's Merse telling me to get my ass up and in Virginia soon. I tell him I'm up and I've been up since the crack of dawn,just trying to finish some packing(I lied,sue me). So either way I hop up and start getting ready for my voyage to Martinsville. Trucks loaded,got clothes,beer,and a clean sock for Jeb so I head off in the wind to go watch some racing but it's a lil' later than I had planned on leaving. Around Danville I get another phone call from Merse.."where the hell are ya man,we're waiting?". I tell him I'm close to the track,down the road a few miles(I lied again,sue me twice). So I'm rolling through the area trying to get in and I get close the track,in the distance I can see the stands but up close I see people houses(anyone who hasn't been there,Martinsville is in the middle of a neighborhood). So I'm on the phone with Merse trying to find the campsite,Jeb and Marty have already left to watch happy hour with just Merse, Dave,and Todd hanging out at the site. I'm having trouble finding the site but eventually through crowds of poeple,tents, and motorhomes I see this guy at the end of a road in a tank top and hat...Merse. I pull up and instantly Merse,Dave, and Todd come over to introduce themselves. They are all suited up in CAT gear and I'm thinking to myselfs these boys are some good fans. So we hang out for a minute or two and then Sherry and Brad come pulling up. She has on her CAT gear and she's just full of energy,fun to be around like one of the guys. Well eventually it gets time for the race so we're going to head to the track. Merse, Brad,and Sherry stick behind at the campsite while Dave,Todd and myself head to the track. We get to the track and can't seem to find Jeb or Marty so we just grab a seat. Todd and myelf and taking a few cold ones back while Dave kinda luaghs at us,we enjoy this race needless to say. I really had a great time with these guys hanging out and I didn't even know them. First time I've ever met them and we were enjoying a race together,now that is male bonding. It was a great race also,McFarland entertained us being a local late model hero running with the big boys. He got spun out with a few laps to go but still finished in the top 15. Wood won the race and put on a hell of a burnout show for his home state crowd. So now it's time to head back to the site and we run across this fella wearing a shirt with the logo Dave made. So Dave goes to speak with him,Todd and myself follow. After speaking briefly we realize this is Brad,Sherry's husband-hahaha! While talking DW rides by in a cart,Mikey does too and thats about all I remember because the beer was starting to flood my eyes. I was about to run to the Drivers campsite and see if I could use Todd Bodines pot to piss in. Either way we got going again and I finally found somewhere to pee without getting arrested(lil' blue house) but after seeing the inside I was almost willing to take my chances with the track police. So we make it to the campsite and there is this lil' fella with this big ass ward mbna coat(it was Merse's coat,how sweet-he let Marty wear it). Then there is the serial killer looking guy sitting across from him and he's just staring,never saying a word. I get back and meet these guys(Jeb and Marty) so I try to start a conversation. Jeb's tightlipped and won't say a word while Marty will occasionaly ramble off the occasional word or two. We start talking football,bingo-I got Marty to talk! This is where I got to Marty by talking about how good of a QB Shaun King is,which leads to me throwing that in my post here and there just to get him started up. Still no luck with Jeb and thats weird,this lil' shit won't shut up on the board. So we're sitting around drinking a few cold ones and eating on Merse's world famous wimpies(Merse is a great host) and this redneck stumbles upon us. He looks at us for a sec and then offers a sip of his liquor. Now there's no better way to make a new friend without saying a word than to offer liquor,now thats a true friend indeed. So the bottle passes a couple times and we talk some racing with him and then he goes back to his campsite. We start getting a few more beers in the system and Sherry breaks out the iron for our logos Dave made. Everyone had a shirt except for me,well at least I didn't have a shirt I wanted to wear in public(tight sports bra). So finally these guys talk me into and we're putting it on my shirt,only problem is how the hell am I going to fit into this shirt! While watching Sherry iron on my shirt,she sticks her tongue out at someone...I've now got the motivation to put this shirt on now! After all,I can't let this girl down,hahaha!!!! All the shirts get done and it's time for the showing of the cake and some pictures. We have another problem,who is going to take the pics? Wait a minute,here comes drunk redneck again and he's gonna do it for us. So while looking at this fella and his buddy,you can't halp but smile and chuckle. They look like they came out the woods long enough to buy some overalls and an el camino to prove they've been uptown. But good hearted folks they were and still had fun drinking with them. Well somehow we continue to drink and it gets dark outside. It seems like Merse,Marty,Todd,and I drank a case during this process and that may be why I don't recall what all we did during this time,just remember it getting late and Merse saying it's time for dinner. So they start cooking it up and all I remember is staring at Todd cook the steaks. I felt like I was at a japanese steakhouse where they cook in front of you,I was hyponotized damn it. The food is done and I just grab me a chair,beer,and I enjoy this great meal prepared for us. We eat,drink and have a blast for this and then we bring the cake out. Let me just say Sherry,I've neve tasted anything so good...the cake was awesome too,hahahaha!!! Picture time again at the site-we're burning shit and yelling so people are starting to get afraid. Some folks come around to see exactly what the hell it is we are doing but they quickly leave being afraid of the rabid animals we were. We were taking all hostility out at this special burning of the BDR logos. BDR was going down in flames and we wanted Martinsville to know it. Merse downs the BDR hat into the flame after he uses it as toilet paper,it was all over and all hell broke lose. Well the pot was stirred and now it was time to cause some comotion. Sherry and Dave were headed to K-mart to get some panties while me and Jeb were headed to other campsties to get some panties! Brad and Sherry decided to spend the night after all so she had to go get some stuff to be clean for the next day(probably the only girl in Martinsville who did). Meanwhile during Sherry and Daves excursion to K-mart,Jeb and myself stumble upon different sites to visit. We meet a few people,some people who weren't as enthoused to meet us. We then decide to head back to camp where Jeb will soon say he's going to the bath room but try to go to bed. Well I'm feeling great and I'm ready to go walking again so I go looking for Jeb. This asshat is in bed sleeping and the only thing that'll get him up is when I tell him Dave and Sherry saw ladies dancing on top of a motorhome with no tops(no shit,they really told us that). So he hops up and we grab Todd to go on a voyage for breast. We come upon a crowd standing around a motorhome and everyone was yelling while girls danced to loud music. We looked at each other and I said,"boys this must be it". We moved closer to the action to see 4 hot ass girls dancing but the only one revealing any skin was as tall as me and weighed twice my amount. Needless to say we kept walking on to the next site. MLB playoffs were going on so I suddenly found myself in someones site watching tv with them. I was there for a few minutes and then we moved on to this guy who had a show truck with airbrushing all over it. He had posters made and somehow convinced me to buy one,hell of a salesman he was. So we step even further down the road where there is a huge crowd yelling and thats where we head. We get there to see more girls dancing,but now I have a new plan to find somewhere to "water the grass". I see a Winston Cup Series trailer and I think to myself,perfect! So after I get finished marking my spot beside the same place guys like Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch,and Robby Gordon have gotten called to I realize how awesome it was. "Bill Davis to the big red truck" is what I yell as I come back to see Jeb has hooked up with some lil' lady while Todd stands in shock watching. Eventually it's time for us to head back,I give my number to Ms.Trailer so she can let me know when she's done with Jeb . Todd and I head back to camp but after a few more drinks we can't remember how the hell to get back. after it seems like an eternity of walking we finally make it back to camp. Things have kinda settled down there and it's getting late. We hang out there for a while and then I start to get sleepy. I sneak off to the tent for some shut eye and then I wake up again. I fight my way out of the tent which was a task in itself and I make my way to the fire. Sitting there is Merse and Dave sitting drinking coffee talking about how they just ran some guy off. I make my way to the other side of the motorhome to shake the dew off the lily and then it's off to the tent again. I tried to go over and hang with Merse and Dave but I was so tired it just weren't happening. I get back in and sleep until I hear Merse and Sherry stirring the next morning. I hop up and I feel like shit,they both tell me I look like it too. Sherry tells me "good news,I found us some tickets". I tell her I can't go,she then tells me she already bought them. Unfortunately I spent $70 on a ticket that I didn't use. I got a call from the lil' lady sometime during the night and never answered,when I called she wasn't the happiest person in the world. I ended up packing up and saying bye to my friends(only got to meet zth for a sec,he was drinking beer at 8am-gotta resepct that)to make the drive of shame back to d-town. It was then upon my arrival that I saw that she was not home....she had left to go shopping!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sherry's Version
Getting there- get this
call.... can you believe these guys only brought a 12 pack of beer??? Buy
them more please!! I don't know how the hell they thought they were gonna make
the whole weekend on a 12 pack.. lol!
Get there and hang out some and Merse decides that he and Marty are gonna get
some wood chopped up for the fire. Merse tells Marty to go get him some
wood from the other side of the trailer. Marty brings back the most
pathetic looking piece of wood. So I tell Marty he has weenie wood.
That's how the whole Marty's weenie wood got started.
My plan was to go tailgate on Saturday and leave that night about 6. Merse
started cooking about then so I figured oh hell we'll stay to eat and then go.
Nope.. I think the decision was already made that we were staying the night
there... really glad I did cause it was a blast and the damn food was good!
When I finally found out we were staying I said I had to get some stuff from the
store like toothpaste and a toothbrush, clean underwear, soap and a brush...
just necessities on my part. Dave was the only one sober besides myself
and I had had a few to drink during the day so the boys decided that Dave was
gonna take me to a store and get me what I needed. We drove a little
ways and then saw a Kmart... Now Kmart is not my favorite store and not where I
would go to get panties, but I decided I would suck it up and get them there....
Walked in the store and Dave, being the smartass that he is, yells (and yes I
mean yells)... "where's the panties". I think I about died!
LOL! Finally found them and then walked around to get a few more things
and we found some Ward Burton diecast. I had to show Dave the way from
there.... we found some stuff he didn't have (nothing I didn't have.. dang it!)
and went on our way.
Got back to the camp and as we were pulling in the campground, Dave and I
noticed a huge group around this one camper. We looked up and people were
flashing from the top... yes females ....
So we got back and told a few of the guys and they had to go see. Oh wait.. back
up.. we got back and we told the guys.. I said where's Rob... cause I knew it
would be his thing.... he was SLEEPING!!!!! So I had to go wake him up .
They left for a few minutes and came back... told Dave and I we sucked cause it
was nothing but dudes on top of the camper... lol! I swear it was women
when we went by! Lol!
We had the official hat burning ceremony to bid farewell to Merse's Bill
Davis and Mike Brown signed hat. It was classic! A bunch of
drunk guys spitting on the fire while yelling, "Bill Davis sucks."
I swear I should have taped the performance and sold it. It was fabulous.
Funniest moment of the night was when we were picking on Marty. Marty is a
great guy and just a total riot but he is no doubt smaller than I am. It just
cracks me up. We had been picking on him all day and night about his
110 pound love machine. By 6 he was bundled up in a blanket cause he was so
cold! The best joke though was when we were sitting around the fire
and Dave yelled hey where's Marty? He then picked up the smallest
skinniest sticks you could find and started moving them back and forth and said
"here's his legs". I literally about fell out of my chair in
laughter.. even Marty was laughing. I got poor Marty in trouble too though
that night. He was all huddled under his blanket and his phone started
ringing, so I said I'd get it. I answered Marty's phone.. and I couldn't
hear very well cause I was by a speaker so I said Marty's phone again.... turned
out to be Marty's wife and she wanted to know why some chick was answering his
phone. Oops.. sorry bud!
Todd and Jeff come back without Rob.... said he picked up some girl ... next
thing we know he's coming to get some blankets with the girl..and they leave.
nuff said about that one.. lol
I wake up early the next morning because I hear this rustling sound.
I'm like wth is that??? I look over and there on the floor next to Todd's
bed is Rob. I'm like damn poor dude... either she said see ya or he didn't
want to stay around. Lol! After I see what the noise is I go back to sleep
for about another hour. I wake up again and look over and Rob has now
stolen half of Todd's blanket. I'm the first one to get up that
morning... cold as hell .. and I gotta find 3 tickets.
I walk a ways and get to a truck.. see a sign on the front .. 3 tickets for
sale... I think I got it made... gotta go back later to get them though cause
the people are sleeping.
People start to wake up and we sit around and bullshit for a while. Jeff
finally wakes up and says he's going home. I'm like wth hell dude. I
got you a ticket. His girl got on his ass so he decides to go home.
He's nuts... spent 70 bucks on a ticket he won't use.. crazy lol!
We go to the track .. after Dave has driven me to my car, once again, to drop
all my stuff off. (Thanks again to him for taking me there as many times
as he did. I know it was a pain in the ass). Everyone showing off
their awesome displays of Bill Davis hatred. GOTTA LOVE IT!! Glad I
stayed and got to meet some great people. It really was a blast and
I'm looking forward to Pocono next summer (that is if I can ever get off of
Merse's shit list..lol! )
OK My Turn From Merse
I'll start from the Beginning of my trip with Todd. I'm doing this tonight, February 3rd 2004. My recollection is not that good right now but I'll do my best. I might spend some time rebutting Rob's statements. Needles to say getting ready for this trip was tough. Broken water heater and having to replace the sink was not a blast but it's all in the fun part of going to a race. I about Begged Todd to get down here asap and he was able to get his departure time moved up so that made me happy. He tells me it doesn't matter how much time he gives me and that he'll have to help load the Merse mobile and all. This time I had the engine running when he got here. I don't quite remember what time he got here but I'd guess around 10 in the am Friday. Todd tells me time for a "stupid check" I guess that's what Canucks call making sure they have everything. Well the check was complete and after getting on the road he left the Video camera in the car on the baby seat. Does the word Stupid sound familiar? On the way we go, and realizing I have to drive ten hours straight or maybe we could run fast and get there in 8 and a half. Well we were cookin with gas and a phantom tractor trailor accident at mile marker 199 held us up for an hour or so. I had to pee so I told Todd grab the wheel while I go. The traffic was going maybe 5 mph. As soon I as I started to do my thing the traffic picked up and I told Todd just hit the gas and stay in your lane. I came out and he looked just a tad nervous as he has never been behind the wheel of a big RV. The speed is now approaching the limit so I told Todd, "Time for a shift on the fly" Being a Canuck and a hockey fan as well as a player he knew exactly what I was talking about. Yes Merse and Canuck changing drivers on the fly at 65 mph. Gotta Love it!!!!!!
Now it's getting dark and the rain which started pretty much as soon as we hit the road was still coming down. I don't know what it is about route 81, rain and accidents but Todd and I can't get away from it. We get off the road to fill up and then drive an hour and were there. I pull into the station and this dumbass is parked a few feet to close for me to get the pump to the tank. I thought more then once about a little tap to get closer but decided not to. Well as it turned out we were able to get closer with this dumbass still hanging out in the store. We fill up and head to the track and call Dave and he kinda tells us how to get there. Well we got there but not quite the right way. Just added 20 minutes, what's 20 minutes when youv'e been on the road for 12 hours? Todd tells me he will wait to have a beer till we get there as not to offend me the driver. I gotta tell you folks if I had my druthers I would have cracked one an hour out. Take it easy Rob!!!!!!! We get there, they know were coming and still we sit there looking at what we thought was our gang [Rob, Marty and Dave] So I say to Todd "Tell them Bill Davis Sucks" Todd chose "What do you guys think of Bill Davis" Dave comes running to the RV and Marty and Rob are just kind of hanging like they didn't give a shit if we were there. So I crack a beer and get out and yell were f@@@@## here!!!!!!!!!!! Not everyone else was as exuberent as me. Time to park the RV and get set up. Everyone stood around and I mentioned you want to step inside and get warm? These guys were outside all day and it was cold and raining, Marty looked the worse for ware. We got setup and started the fire with wood that was a little on the wet side so we never really got much flamage. As Rob said he was tired and he went to bed and Marty and I stayed up till 3:30 in the am. catching up on old times and reminicing about the 8 years we've known each other without actually meeting in person. BTW he looked as I had pictured him. I was right on about Rob and Dave a little off but not by much.
In the morning after sleeping on the couch, the place Todd would never get to even sit on. See what Todd did at Pocono and you'll understand. I made some breakfest with the help of Todd as he cooked the Back Bacon, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm good bacon. Making the coffee was a joke as I had not any coffee filters. The one thing I forgot, doesn't matter to me I don't drink the stuff. Marty started with a beer and finished with a beer every day. He couldn't hang with me each night but tried his dammdest. Rob well we all know what Rob did on his weekend. Saturday was coming and Sherry, Brad and Jeff were on their way. Like Sherry mentioned Rob and Marty each had a whole 12 pack and Marty with his little throw away cooler, you gotta be kidding me. Jeff shows up and man he's a big dude. He is the funniest SOB I have ever met!!! Now he's got a case of Bud Lite and he's ready to drink and boy did he ever. He was there to get you a beer and anybody else. Hey Merse you need a beer? No man just opened one. Yeah but you'll need one soon. All night he was like that and it was appreciated . Sherry and Brad show up a little later but everyone had gone to watch practice and then the truck race so it was me and Marty. They got there and Marty soon left for the truck race. I stayed with Sherry and Brad as I really don't move from my RV the whole weekend. Well Sherry did as I asked and made a cake and the decals for the t shirts, see Martinsville pictures. We spent the day getting them on every ones shirts. Sorry Sherry you spent the day doing it. I spent the day drinking!! Good ole Marty strolled back early from the Truck race and the rest came back later on. So were all pretty much there and the party comences.
The rest is all kind of a blur, the rest of the Cat
tales tell pretty much everything. I stayed up late again, I think it was about
4 in the a.m. and Dave/Earwax stayed up with me. Sunday night after the race
Dave and I stayed up till 5:30 in the morning talking about everything under the
sun and then some. We burnt everything is sight and then we found the stakes
marking where not to park, that was after we burnt the backstops for the horse
shoes that we never got a chance to play. Silly me JCAT/Zerothehero came by
Sunday morning and spent a little while with us but it was way to short a stay.
When the folks woke me up at 8 in the morning I realized 2 and a half hours
sleep 30 beers and I'm driving another 12 hours home. We packed up, hit the road
but not until the gate on the back fell down and we were dragging the lawn mower
and two buckets of sand that never got used for the horse shoe pits. Todd
"Man we must be draggin somethinf someones honking the horn at us"
Merse "Na were fine what could it be. Merse "I think we better
check"
PatCat’s
Cat Tale
My
Dad and I have driven to
The
trailer was not far from our seats and I found it quickly—there was a line of
maybe 50 people waiting and I saw a sign that said “Meet Nascar
Great Ward Burton.” My knees began to shake. I was soon joined in line by a
Ward fan from
From Betty on Charlotte Oct 2001
Living a Dream
Carolina , the Mecca of race fans, and Charlotte the jewel in it's crown
We came on the wings of an eagle to where Nascar history abounds
Our eagle was just a bit tardy. We'd traveled so long and so far.
If not for an angel named Leland, we'd have spent our first night in the car.
DEI was our first destination, Earnhardt's shop is the best, don
't you knowBut the sight that was just as important was the little blue house 'cross the road.
Then off down the road to Gibbs Racing, a beautiful sight to be seen.
The case with the 2000 trophy, The cars all in orange and green.
We followed our guide back to Charlotte ;she'd help us to find our way home.
A hard right in front of a cop car. We're now on the highway alone.
Sight seeing became our new hobby. Directions and maps close at hand
But we sure saw some beautiful country, and got saved by a UPS man.
Then off down Tyron to the race track to watch the young men qualify
Then back to our room where they told us that Blaise Alexander had died.
On Friday we went to get money, a Hershey
's car got in the wayWe're sorry we're late for our tour, guys. But it's free milk, what else could we say.
Since Sherry deserted us Thursday, we thought as a guide she sure sucked.
So Friday we didn
't take chances, we jumped in the back of her truckOh Robert, you are such a cutie. Big thanks from the 22 Crew
We saw BDR from the inside. But who was that blonde you called Sue?
The Petty museum was awesome, not flashy or all steel and chrome.
Kyle's sister helped out with our shopping, and made us all feel right at home.
Dear Mona we said we would help you. We're sorry we came a bit late
We want you to know that we love you and think what you do is so great.
There's Susan and Karen and Cathy.
There's black shirts all over the place.My friends up to now have been handles. But now I can give them a face.
Calm down, Sherry, don
't get excited. They tell me there's plenty of loot.Don
't crush the poor man when you hug him, It's only an old racing suit.Dear Sarah, you look like your mother, a wonderfully sweet southern belle.
And Tabitha you should be chubby. You're pregnant, but how could we tell.
And Jeb, you are just like your daddy, a handsome and charming young man.
You might as well sign up for Hargrave. I'll bet it's in your future plans.
And Ward, what you give us is priceless. You stand there and give us your time.
You'll stay til
l the last of us meets you, and gets all out precious things signed.It's Saturday, why is it raining? Will Ward have to race Tommy's BOAT?
And the way that wind blows I am happy I just bought my leather CAT coat.
The weather clears up and the track dries. At last we get on with the race.
Ward drives Tommy's Pillsbury doughboy . The five car comes home in eig
hth place.On Sunday 5000 new hero
's , a hundred and ten thousand fansHear news that the US has started the bombing of Afghanistan.
The green flag, the CAT car's in trouble, by now we are running dead last.
With pit work and lots of hard driving, it's better;
we're starting to pass.I listen to talk on the scanner "What do you mean pit road was closed!?"
"You're running good laps"; "You're the fastest". And up to third place the CAT goes.
It's Monday and time to go home now.
We bid Carolina farewellWe've brought a suitcase full of memories,
and lots of good stories to tell.We all have our dreams of adventure. We cant always see them come true
But never stop hoping and dreaming for this trip proves that sometimes they do.
Sherry Durbin on the Fan Club Picnic Weekend
It was
a very nice Wednesday morning when my boys, Matthew & Bobby, and I
left our Kentucky home. We were headed for Charlotte to the races and to see
our favorite drivers. It was dark when we left and all the lights of the
different towns almost looked like Christmas lights, as the sun began to rise
I had blue lights shine on me, oh no I said to Matthew, I know we are not
speeding, I have my cruise set. Well I pull over and the officer ask for my
license, I say sir I had my cruse set, he said I am not pulling you over
speeding, so I ask, he says reckless driving, my son & I just look at each
other like what is he talking about but, God is with us and we do not get a
ticket. He was very nice and told us that 75 was not the Watterson expressway
and to be careful.
Well as we made our way through the mountains we stopped to
take
pictures of the colors that were starting to appear with the changing of the
season.
As we got closer to Charlotte we stop at Evernham's shop.
Well dummy me
leaves the camera in the car and just guess, Casey is there. I did not get to
speak to him but he was there.
Well now we are back on the road to Charlotte, as we arrive
at our hotel
there is our old friend Cathy to greet us, with her friend Carrie. Well we
catch up on old & new news, then hop in my truck & off we go. It
is late so
it has to be close, first stop Roush Racing, just need to check on Mark &
Jeff, but why we are there, we checkout the others on the block. Next stop
Hendricks, I need to check for Terry, my son as many of you know, has other
plans, someone in rainbow colors, I can not say the name here it might break
my computer.
Well now it is time to go tot Church, as most of you know God
dose come
first in my life. Well we had a great class, but as we are going into the
auditorium, I saw someone I had not seen in a long time, friends of mine from
Kentucky had moved to North Carolina and were worshipping at the Church I
visit when I am in town. Well we had a lot of catching up to do.
Then it was back to the hotel, where we found our friends
from Canada had
just arrived, Betty & MeeMee. Their plane was late getting in and they could
not find the hotel at first. We spent most of the night catching up &
laughing.
Well on Thursday, we get up and go to breakfast together and
head out to
DEI again for my son & Carrie. We have a nice drive & visit there.
Then on the road again to Joe Gibbs and you all know that is
for
Bobby. Well as we arrive Joe is coming out and agrees to have his picture
with Bobby in all his Tony stuff. Joe was very nice. Again we have a great
visit. One of Betty's daughter's likes Bobby Labonte so she buys out the
store, LOL.
Well we are back on the road again, I am leading the way with
Betty &
MeeMee in tow behind me. I am going to show them where the "CAT"
dealer is so
they know for Friday, yea right, LOL. Well you know how things go
sometimes, they are following quite well and I am talking to the folks in my
truck, and all of the sudden we come up on the exit before I realize it
and so I jump over & off at the exit, OOP's, Betty & MeeMee do not make
it. So
I pull over to call on the cell phone and they say just meet at the
hotel. Well when I get there, they are still not there. I wait & wait, they
are
lost and it is my fault, finally they get back. We all laugh and cry & I say
I
am sorry. Then the rest of the day we just split up. The boys & I go to the
mall, Betty & MeeMee go to qualifying and the next morning we hear about
Blaze.
My prayers go out to all the racing families who keep going
through this
over and over. May God Bless You All.
O.K. it is Friday morning, we all have a big day planned, we
must stick
with the schedule or be late. Well first a trip to the bank for money. My
son, Matthew sees the 22 Hershey's car. Well we have to stop, right? take
pictures, get milk, go back to hotel and put milk in room. O.K. now we meet
with more Ward Fans, off to Bill Davis's shop, late but on our way. As you all
know it is always a great visit at Bill's but even more so this time. We had
a guided tour from one of the guys, "THANK YOU" very much.
Well it is time to move on we have a schedule to keep, yeah
right.
We promised to help Mona at 4:00 so keep moving.
While we were out that way we needed to go by Petty's.
MeeMee's favorite
driver is Kyle. So I have been there before so no problem, we can get there
and back with time to spare, LOL.I get a little behind, just a little. We get
to the shop and look around the museum and are running a little
behind, LOL, remember we were to help Mona we get to the "Meet &
Greet" at
about 6:10.We did not get there to help so much for schedules.
O.K. we made it, we get our numbers and go about visiting
& taking
pictures. It is not long and Ward & Mona are handing out the door
prizes. Butch wines for the tallest again, another lady for the smallest until
everything is almost gone. Then comes the grand prize, one of Ward's drivers
suits from last year.JEB draws a number reads it out and it is "MINE"
oh I
go nuts.I hug Ward so tight I think I might have broken him. Ward,Tabitha,
Sarah & JEB all get in the picture. Folks I have no memory after
that, my friends will have to fill you in on the rest of the night &
weekend.
We went to the BUSCH race on Saturday and cheered our man to
a great
finish for Tommy.
We went to Church on Sunday then drove home listening to the race, great job
Ward.
We arrived home around midnight and now I need to rest from the trip.
Love to all of you who made this weekend so great and to Merse who gives us
a place to post our stories.
Let's do it again next year love, Sherry Durbin
Charlotte Oct race
My Cat tale starts with Sunday night the 1st Oct. Ward had had a bad day at Martinsville
due to an engine failure I believe, so my (now ex) friend and I were at the
hotel waiting for Sherry Durbin to arrive, as she was so generous in allowing us
to stay with her.
They arrived late in the night, but we were waiting for them so they had someone
expecting them. We all made our aqquaintances and finally about 4am we
drifted off to sleep.
Monday we woke up goodness knows when. Re-aqquainted ourselves to make
sure we were all the right people (we were). Decided to go see what the
track looked like since we had all never been there. That place is huge
let me tell ya! Did some shopping in the gift shop and looked for the
trailers, none were open but we did see them. Went to Hendrick and DEI shops,
real nice places.
Tuesday, was BDR and Petty day. Went to BDR early in the morning.
Looked through the new shop and was amazed at how they let you go see
everything! Asked if Ward was around and the lady at the desk (whom we
discovered was admin assistant extrodinare Lana) said she thought he might have
left. We did get to meet Tommy and he signed our Jackets! Poor guy was
mighty sick with a cold. We went up to the old shop to look around there.
We were heading down to leave when Sherry asked this gentleman if Ward had been
there, he said yes Ward was, and as far as he knew he still was there. We
all went back into the shop and talked to Lana again this time making the
connection as to who she was, she told us Ward was still around. I was
looking at Ward's car in the entryway when my friend said "don't turn
around" I said why not, she said cause Ward is here. He was standing
with some fans talking to them, (I had to sneak in a picture). Ever the
gracious person he came over to us and talked for awhile. He looked at me
and says "would you like me to sign your jacket?" Dumbstruck, I
said would you? He said sure will! He looked at my jacket and said
"looks like Baldwin's already been here" Tommy had signed our jackets
in the first time we were in the shop. After he signed our jackets some more
fans came in and we let Ward go talk to them. We asked if Bill was around
and Lana said yes, I asked if he would come out and sign our Jackets also.
Bill said sure and he was very nice.
Ward came back over to us and asked where we were from. I told him and he
said "you came all the way down here for your first race and to meet me?
I said yes sir. He smiled. He had to leave but it was a great day for us.
Went out to the Petty museum took the tour, but didn't get to see any of the
drivers or the new cars. Also went and saw Joe Gibb's shop.
Wednesday we went our separate (for the day) ways. Geza and I went to
qualifying that night. Ward was 12th after having been 10th or so in
practice.
Thursday more wandering around Charlotte, beautiful area.
Friday went back out to BDR to do some more shopping (needed something for Ward
to sign) bought one of the Ward stand up's. Friday night was the
meet and greet. We got there about 5:30 or so, met Mona (wonderful lady!) and
looked around at everything. Ward came walking through the barn/garage
area to clapping and a standing ovation. He had to use the porta so
everyone started getting in line. When he came out 3 people took his
picture he said "I knew y'all were gonna do that" Everyone got
to talk to him for awhile. I brought my stand up and he said You want me
to sign me? I said yeah! He was great to talk to. Many of the pictures I
took of Ward he was coughing, (Tommy had given Ward his cold, which Ward {he
doesn't know this} gave to me!) I also got to talk to Sarah, she is a
beautiful young lady and very interesting to talk to. I knew her birth date and
I wished her a happy birthday and gave her a hug, she thanked me. Jeb was
also there but I didn't talk to him much (what !
can you say to an 8 year old?)
And also Tabitha, but I only said hi to her.
Saturday was the Busch race, and I got sunburned.
Sunday was the Cup race, and everyone around us were freezing cold. I was fine
being from Minnesota!
Monday we said our goodbyes to Sherry and her family. We drove through
Danville, South Boston and Chatham on our way home. Also saw Martinsville
speedway.
All in all this was a great trip, and if I could recommend this to all Ward fans
I will. You will enjoy meeting Ward and everyone you chat with on these
boards.
To Lil, Sandi, Merse and especially Sherry, it was wonderful meeting all of you,
and just think we get to do it again real soon!!
Cathi Nelson
Robbinsdale,Mn
A.K.A Cat
MERSE on POCONO 2001 July
THURSDAY:
Well for my first Cat Tale I was hoping to end it on a great note. That would be a Ward Burton Victory. That’s just not the way it happened, but except for Sunday it was as good as it gets. Wanting to get a good spot in the tunnel turn I thought my best chances were to head up to Pocono on Thursday evening. I pull in all by myself and to no avail there weren’t spots any better then what there usually is on Friday morning. Check that, after pulling into a spot I got up on top of the Merse mobile and boy oh boy so much better a view then before. I was only up about 12 spots from what I always end up in and the view was so much better. Now of course I had to get two spots right next to each other because my buddies were coming up the next morning also bringing Denise my lovely wife along. There was no way Denise was going to come up on Thursday night so she caught a ride the next day with my buddies. Now the lonely task of setting up with no help, not easy with two never mind by myself. First I had to cut the grass and having people staring at me wondering what in the world is this guy doing here with a 33
Foot RV by himself. Well I cut away and gave our spots, nice well cut stripes. Now I got there pretty late so not much lightness left. Set up the tables and chairs
and contemplated setting up the flags. Darkness fell and I said what the hell gotta get those flags up. Being that they are 40 feet in the air at the top and 5 flags to hang it was a bitch to raise them up with the wind blowing at 20 miles per hour.
Now I’m feeling like I got a lot done so I loaded up my six pack cooler with a few Miller Lites and headed off to the Gordon Bus. We met this guy last year and he has the most awesome bus done up Gordon style. He was very close to where I was so he was easy to find. As I’m walking toward the front of the bus I see this
Golf cart that looked a little different then your run of the mill Golf cart. Now being a little timid since I’m by myself and not yet loaded from the Miler I simply say you remember me from last year? The guy Bob his name is says yeah, I think you know this guy. I said I don’t know I only remember you. The guy turns around and it’s none other than Robby Gordon. The funny thing is it took me totally by surprise so I really didn’t say much other then babble hey whats up Robby? I wanted to say how in the hell can you blame Ward for wrecking @ Daytona but decided to be the better man, Hee Hee. So I went from sitting by my lonesome wondering what kinda night is this gonna be to meeting and hangin with a Cup Driver. He stayed there for about half an hour signing autographs and taking pictures of course I got mine. The only problem was he was looking the other way because some ass wipe was talkin to him. Someone offered Robby a beverage and he requested a Diet Coke and no one had it. They said they had Pepsi and he said, Nope it’s gotta be Coke. Well guess who had not only a Coke but Diet as well. Yours truly Merse. I ran over got him one and thought about saying hey how bout a better picture but didn’t. Someone asked him if
This happens all the
time about people gathering around him and I loved his reply. “Actually I’m
kinda looking for it” Typical driver looking for fans.
FRIDAY:
Wake up about 9:00 am. And do some more setting up. Grill, chairs, and some eggs beacon and sausage for Braekfest. Now for the most important setup of the weekend, Horse Shoe pits. Most people grab to pins and pound them in the ground, Well that’s just not good enough. First we have to pace off the distance,
Then tap in the pins as to no where to rip up the sod for a good dirt pit. Only takes about an hour or so to get the sod up and it’s worth the time. Pile up the sod behind for a backstop since most guys can’t seem to find the pit with the tosses. Then for the heck of it I built some backstops that have to be pounded
in. Now for the pounding of the pins or pegs, set them at an angle so they lean forward so a shoe thrown perfect in the middle of the pin will slide directly down for a ringer. Now I’m done and no one to play with because my buddies and Wife haven’t arrived yet. Practice has started so I head up on top, couldn’t hear Ward and was wondering why. Later I realized that I had him locked out on the scanner. How did that happen I will never no. I missed all the talk until the end of Happy Hour. Finally my buddies and wife arrive and it’s time to party.
They get all setup and I say lets toss some shoes and they agree. I ask who of the three is the worse at shoes and John immediately threw his hand saying ME!!!
So that’s who becomes my partener and we comense to beat them ten games in a row with John averaging 2 points a game. Now it’s time for dinner and as I’m relaxing waiting for my chicken to be made up comes two guys from the Cat crew. Tony and Jim, two of the guys I ran into from the last time @ Pocono.
They walked up and said the Gordon bus guy Bob said you gotta go stop over and visit Merse. Well they did and they had a little girl with them who had asked them to bring her in to the garage to see Rusty Wallace. Jim gave her his shirt he was going to ware the next day and a hat you just can’t buy. She was proud of that hat and I have to say I was thinking damn give me them, Hee Hee or where is mine?
Jim liked my hat
though and he gladly signed it along with Tony. We talked and took a couple of
pics and they had to get going to get Ashley back to her Mother.
Needles to say we partied most of the night and bedded down to the sound of rapp. That was at midnight and we didn’t get to sleep till 4:00 when they finally went to bed.
SATURDAY:
We arise at about 7:35 am. And I just didn’t feel like making anything to eat so I just grabbed some leftovers and some tastycake oatmeal bars and a bunch of OJ and I was fine. Kind of a boring morning as usual, always a let down after the first real day of partying. Some more of watching cars go around the track and then the ARCA race. Not the greatest thing in the world but it’s racin. While the race was on my buddy had a friend that said he would get us in the garage. Well we got dressed to get in there and to no avail did we get in. Just couldn’t manage it, so we missed the end of the race. OH WELL!!!! I did get to see the crew working on the car through the fence and saw Tony and Jim.
Well we get back to the RV and it’s go time. We fired up the shoes and we actually lost two out of three games, I was off a little. The boys wanted to eat and I wasn’t really hungry myself. A few minutes later a guy I had met the last year stopped by and challanged me to a game of shoes. Figuring and knowing the guy was good I had asked one of the other guys to play with me against them. We beat
Them 21 to 1 Whooo Hoooo, shot 6 ringers in that game. They won the next two games to get the best out of three, OH WELL!!! A last I sit down and I see a golf cart going by with a guy who looked familiar with three chicks with him. I said to Denise and the guys “that looks like Bill!!!!!!!!!” So I started yelling Bill Bill Bill!!!!! He kept going and one of the girls just held her hands up as to say sorry.
Well that’s not gonna stop me, So I ran after him and he stopped and I ran up and said Bill!!!!! He says “yeah Bill Davis” I said “hell I know”. I said “how ya feelin” he said “just fine”. He had a bottle of wine and I asked him “What kind” he had “No idea.” Well I asked for an autograph and he didn’t have a marker. I said “damn me either.” Then comes along another golf cart the other way and Bill says “This guy will have one.” So I ask the guy for his marker and he gave it to me. I said thanx and turned to Bill and said you have to back up and let me get a picture. He said No problem. I started running up and yelled to Denise “ Get the Cat Suit out and Hang it up NOW!!!!!” She had it out before Bill got back. Bill gets back and the girl riding in the front with him gets out and says sit down for the pic. Of course that’s what I did. Bill was chatting with someone and I yelled at him “ Bill look at the camera” Yeah I yelled at him. He looked at the camera and Laughed.
They all asked me where I got the suit and I told them, they seemed to be shocked that a fan had Wards suit. Oh By the way the guy who let me borrow his pen was Mike Wallace, what a bone head I was.
SATURDAY NIGHT:
Well now I’m thinking I have already had way to much happen to me in a good way and that’s pretty much right. Just one more little story, LOLOL. I was determined to stay up late and bother the rappers. Denise and I went on out our with her wearing the Cat Suit and met some nice people. We went back to se if John wanted to see the Gordon bus. BTW it’s Jeff Gordon not Robby. He came over with us for a while. I got whooooozy and needed assistance to get back to the RV. Ready to go to bed because the Millers had cought up to me, John asks me to make the comacazzis. Man I’m hammered the last thing I want to do is make shots. Well I did so I had to taste test them, they were the best I have ever made.
Wel to make a long story short we went to bed at 5 in the morning.
30 visitors, 30 shots, Ring of Fire 17 times in a row, 10 times faling on my ass, many people asking for me to turn it down especially the rapppers and we went to bed.
H.A.M.M.
From Charlotte 1999
Oct. 5th, 1999
Arrive JFK; Merse man picks me up. (Tony was delayed in driving north). Go to the Merse palace, meet Mrs. Merse. (Very sweet she is). Tour of the PC dungeon where Merse types from. (Very dark and cool). Few drinks
Rise early, Oct 6th, 1999
Wash nice RV. (Needed it) Fuel it up. (Needed it) Took shower. (Needed it) Tony arrives driving like Andre-Eddy. (Screeching tires) I had drink. (Needed it) Went road trip grocery shopping. (Have never seen a beer distributor before……$$$$) Thought we would go to town and have drinks while watching qualifying till Tony brainstormed to leave for Charlotte immediately. (We left Scranton, PA 9pm)
Oct 7th, 1999
Awoke to the whooping of two easterners and rose to see the "Charlotte Motor Speedway" (2 hours sleep and a whoop from me as well) Set up camp. (OK, so we were in a RV. Still had to put out the awning and get the ice chests ready, hang flags etc.) Took it easy and Hort came by. (Nice guy that Hort is. Took it easy)
Oct 8th, 1999
Uncle Terry, his brother "Bro", two buddies, Bill and Gary arrive. (Oh my gosh, they parked right next to us) 4 grown men on a road trip with a RV, beer, and some food. (I mean nothing else in the drawers, i.e.: utensils, foil, can opener, I mean nothing) Set up their camp. (2 minute job) Witnessed a camper lady with dog on leash catch dogs dung in bag before it even hit the ground. (What a site! ALL WEEKEND LONG)
{It all kind of gets foggy from here}
Went to track. (Watched Busch Happy Hour and meet Racergirl and her friend)
Back to the RV and met Turnip and fam. and heard that John, Rose and fam. had been by. (Nice folks, REALLY nice folks) Went to the Meet and Greet. (Hort gave us a ride)
Ate, saw Ward, met John, Rose, and fam., met Sward and Brad, met Virginia Lil, met reubenjet, saw turnip and fam. again……..Met Michael and Sandi. (I had to look at the three of us, I thought one of us looked like Ed McMahan to her the way she jumped and squealed. Puts a smile on my face to see someone get so excited……. All nice folks) Back to the RV. (Whew!) Tommy boy and Brother Brent show up. (Nice to meet ya’ guys) More drinks (didn’t need em’)
Oct 9th, 1999
Viewed lady and dog doing their "trick" again. (Wow) Walked from turn 4 to turn 2 to view the Busch race from "chicken bone alley". (Yee Haa, we are in Nascar country!!!!!!) Listened in on Ward’s scanner of course. (That man can be colorful at times) Back to RV, outside of turn 4 and took it easy. (Needed it) Company again. (Loved every minute of it)
Oct. 10th, 199
Got up and watched the rain. Sandi and Michael came by and watched football with us. (Sat. dish is now a necessity when camping) Lady and dog again. (I am not kidding) Tried to motion to all the folks to not go on the Pedestrian Bridge to the track. (I’m just a dummy from CA but I even knew they couldn't race in those conditions.) More company and drinks. (Enjoyed the company, didn’t need the drinks) Watched all the people that went to the track come back soaked from the walk. (They needed a weather rock I guess) More company that night? (I can’t remember)
Oct. 11th, 1999
Lady and dog. (What a site to wake-up to) Merse organized the ice chests and Tony made lunches while I checked to see if the keg was still flowing. (It was…..Barely) walked from outside of turn 4 to turn 2. (Row 54 and sucking wind……great seats though) Ward on the scanner again. (See "scanner quotes" and "race summary" for details) No crowds when a race is run on Monday. (But enough people to encourage a lady in the in-field to ask for a visual breast exam from the race fans that stayed late to let the crowd dwindle. Merse and Tony had to point her out to me.) Back to the RV and took it easy. (We sure ate well every night!!!) Took a long shower at the shower house cause no crowds. (Needed it)
Oct. 12th 1999
Merse-mobile got rolling bout 8am. (Flight was at 9:15, had to hustle) Got packed at 60 mph. (Not easy and listening to Tony and Merse ask each other if they were going the right way to the airport) Got there and parted ways. (Good guys with a long drive ahead of them) Two good flights, (OK, flights) and I was only a 3 hour drive from home.
Foot notes:
Thanks everyone for making my trip so enjoyable!
By RHONDA
8/3/2000
My cat tale includes me, im rhonda a 38 year old mother of 2 boys
Brandon 16 and Blake 12, also my husband Roger.
While on vacation this summer we went to N.C. among several other states,
our first real stop was the Charlotte track. What a blast that was, we
were there on a Sunday and the place was packed with race fans like us.
If you want to have alot of fun, visit that track. The only thing bad
about it was there was no Ward Burton stuff to purchase.
We made it to Wrightsville beach that evening, that was also
beautiful..on our way back north the next day we stopped by Bill Davis
racing, i had been telling my family, actually driving them crazy about
it the whole way...
We arrived in Highpoint about 10:30am. and found the shop no problem..we
for some reason pulled in to the new shop, which we didnt know which one
was which, they set across the street from one another. anyway, we walk
right in, and the place is empty, my husband thought we were in a place
we shouldnt be and would be kicked out at any minute. We finally walk
back to where they will one day build the cars and a man comes walking
toward us, i ask him if we were allowed in there. He said yes, but
that all the stuff was at the old shop across the street, as he walked
us the right direction, i ask him if Bill Davis was in. i thought it
would be cool to meet him, a fellow Arkansan. He said yes and that
Ward was or had been there too. I began to get a little weak :)
We walked in and was greeted by a nice lady, who was also from Arkansas,
she was very pleasant. I ask her if Ward was still there, and she said
that he was, but if he was in a meeting try not to bother him. So we
walk in and are looking at the men working on the cars, the kids have
went off on their own. Me and my husband are standing there, i look
around through one of the glass offices and see Ward with his back to
us. I about die and began to shake like hell :) i say to my husband
(there is Ward!!)quietly. At the same time, my youngest boy sees him
and kinda makes a small
scene, and says (there he is!!!) well that gets wards attention, he
turns around to look at us, which we are the only ones there..he then
comes out and greets us. I was totally shaking, I have never in my life
been so star struck.
Ward and my husband discuss why were there and the visit to the
Charlotte track. etc...I'm still just amazed, I try and talk to him, but
you wonder if you should talk racing or what, but him and the husband
were talking just fine. He signed mine and Blakes posters (personalized)
I then took a picture of him and Rog and the boys, he put his arm around
Blake and took a very good picture, it was then my turn...My husband
(Rog) says, get over there with your buddy honey..i was a little
embarrassed, but i think ward knew i was the main fan :) i ask him, does
everyone shake like this when they meet you?, he says noooo, no one
shakes when they meet me, your gonna make me shake..in that awesome
voice he is blessed with..
So Rog is about to take the picture, and Ward isn't putting his arm
around me, so I (like an idiot) say, will you touch me.. :) he smiles
and puts his arm around me, Rog then says, give him a big smooch
honey..ward laughs at this (its a totally good picture, i wish you could
see it) anyway it looks like i was kissing him on the cheek in the
picture, but i didnt (damn it!!) should have, but i figured if i were
him, I'm not so sure I'd like strangers slobbering all over me..after we
talked awhile longer, in which ward was so polite, he would address me
as ma'am, no ma'am, yes ma'am, he was so sweet. He said that we were
lucky that we caught him there that day, I guess they had a special
meeting or something, he said that he hadn't even shaved..he still looked
very good!
It was time to part as he needed to get back to his meeting (that we
didnt mean to interrupt :)) Tommy Baldwin was in that meeting, but we
didnt talk to him, he looked like he had alot on his mind..didnt get to
meet Bill Davis either..we put 2,800 miles on my dodge intrepid, and just
meeting Ward was worth the entire trip, what a man he is, and to admire
someone so much and get to meet him was just so unbelievable wish now
that I'd ask him some stuff about Jeff (his bro) and had him pose with me
in front of my car with the Ward lic plate..i bet he would have... THE
END FOR NOW..there will be other cat tales to tell in my lifetime :)
From Tiffany
3/16/2000
My parents went to the
Twin 125's at Daytona Int. and I was unable to go
because I had a big test in school that day that I wasn't allowed to miss.
Well, they went by Ward's hauler for me and saw that he would be there the
next day(Friday). We had already been planning to leave on Sat.for the
Daytona 500, so after they saw how important it was to me, they surprised me
by letting us leave a day early. We left our small town of Ocala, Florida at
6:00 to head over to Daytona, and it was al so I could meet my favorite, and
only, driver.
When we got there, the line was evident and was working it's way up
behind the memorabilia haulers. I got in line, decked out in full Ward gear,
and I'm not joking on that one! My mother slipped out front leaving me there
for a while, and my dad was videing Ward signing things that I couldn't see
going on becuase I was behind it all. My mom retured with a brand new uniform
jacket that she had just bought from the hauler. We decided it was the
perfect thing for him to sign.
We didn't have to wait that long in the line and when it was my
turn I
couldn't help but jump up and down. I couldn't belive that I was meeting the
driver that I cheered for and cryed for on T.V. We went up to him and I
handed up my jacket, he commented that it was a nice jacket and laughed. I
was wearing a black Ward shirt and it shocked me when he asked if I wanted
him to sign it. So I turned around and he pulled me up against the hauler and
found a nice place on the number to write his name. My mom also bought a
couple cars for him to sign so I could put them on my shelf. When finally my
turn was over I stood to the side of the line and continued jumping up and
down. I wasn't trying to grab any attention I was just so happy and shocked!
He looked over a couple times and waved and smiled.
When his line died down and there were only a
couple people left I
jumped back in it for more photo oppertunities. I shook his hand and posed
with him. He even pointed and said I was his biggest fan. He made me feel
really happy to be a Ward Burton fan and represent such an awesome person. He
was everything I thought he would be and more. I'll admit I'm obbsessed, but
when it comes to Ward Burton, that's the best way to be!
CAT TALE #8
The First of 2000
Joey (Joe) and Diane (ELLADEE) meet TommyWe first heard about Tommy appearing at a convention in Ft. Washington PA on the best information site on the web, 22fastforward.com. We were very excited about Tommy being within 2 ½ hours from home, and immediately set out making plans to attend.
A few days before the convention I started wondering if we had correct information. At the time we had just read a post, not seen anything verified. Tommy was the only reason we were planning to take this trip. Like a lot of families we both work full time outside the home. Our weekends are always full with our girls extra curricular activities and general duties that can not be accomplished during the week. I certainly had no desire to use my precious time to see Steve Park or Dale Earnhardt Jr. Its not that I do not like them, it’s that I would not make the trip just for them.
Anyway, I was at work one morning and decided to call the A1 Administrative Assistant at BDR, Lana.
Unfortunately, Lana does not have information about Tommy’s appearances. I explained our scenario to her, and she put me on hold. Well, I was at work and had another line ring. I put Lana on hold also. When I changed back to Lana a voice said "How are you?" Holy Moly, I was struck dumb. Like Ward, you can not miss that northern accent anywhere. It was our wonderful, loyal crew chief Tommy. In a flash I broke out in a sweat and had that queasy feeling in my stomach. I didn’t miss a beat though. I came back with "what’s happening?" He said "nothing much." I asked him to verify his autograph session on Saturday. He did not know anything about it!!!. He was advised he was speaking in a seminar, and that was it. I told him I received the autograph information on the "Ward Board" He chuckled and said "if you heard it there it must be true!!!"
I told him I had no interest in driving two plus hours to see Dale Junior or Steve Park and he just laughed and said "thanks"
We made a little small talk, and on the side I asked him softly "So Tommy did you get married in December?" He chuckled and said "yes" I was laughing at the way he said it and I asked him not too tell my 12 year old daughter when he meets her, or it will break her heart. He asked me what our names where and said something to the effect that he would put his left hand behind his back when he sees Steff!!
I was floored. Here I am at work the phone’s ringing off the hook. My bosses wife sitting next to me wondering what the devil is going on: why I am not answering the phones, and ignoring her husband (my boss). (Of course she understood after I explained it to her.)
You know how much I Love Ward, but I tell you for Tommy to take the time out of his busy schedule to answer the phone personally was beyond anything I ever imagined. He could have just as easily given the information to Lana to relay to me.
Still I wondered if he was holding an autograph session, especially since he did not know anything about it. So the best way to get accurate information. Ask the board. Jethro, thank you very much, posted a link clearly showing the autograph sessions with Tommy. Confirmation WHHOO HOOO. Time to make plans for the trip!!!! It was getting exciting as I was also making plans to meet fe