Dairy State Racing

Losing

mikebarrett — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:41:49 +0000

Some people do not know how to lose. They stomp and whine and point fingers. I think their parents probably didn’t know how to teach them about losing. I call it the Balloon Theory. When a 4 year old lets go of a balloon, would you a: get him another balloon, b:comfort him and tell him “better luck next time”? The answer is B. Kids need to know that letting go, not paying attention, etc. causes stuff to happen they may not like. That way they learn to deal with it. The kid that always gets a replacement learns nothing. Only that life is easy.

I thought of all this because my wife lost her mother last week. She passed away after a long illness. I don’t know what was harder, watching her get sick and weaker for such a long time, or now actually not having her around. I hate both. I hate seeing my daughter broken up because she lost a very important person to her. But, I know where she is, I know she was ready, and I cherish the great lady she was, and she will not be forgotten, I promise.

Kudos to Brandon Johnson at the Wausau 525 event this last weekend, as he bested some fast snow-racers in the TLR 400 class. An old hand at racing, Rich Bickle was on hand, and only one driver, Nic Dolezal bested Rich in the 600 class. I hope the non-winners handled it ok…

Also, kudos to the quick info up on that Wausau 525 site, concise and complete. Nice.

Nascar is making all their “secret” fines public. Paul Menard was one of the guys quoted in support of the new rule. I don’t really have an opinion on that, just that considering the astronomical pay scale at that level, something more painful like getting suspended would be even better.

About 18 weeks till we race around here, the lakes are frozen, and I do NOT ice fish. I stay in the comfy environs of my living room and catch up on TV series that I missed in the summer. Right now it is Warehouse 13. They always win. I hope you do, to!

Real Men

mikebarrett — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:39:23 +0000

When we are reminded to think of hero archetypes the first we often think of is a movie character, or a sports hero. The former does stuff that magically appears heroic, and the latter does heroic-appearing stuff because they are uniquely athletic enough to be put in a position that expects it of them. Neither really are heroes. Websters first defines hero as “a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability”. In a human capacity a hero is “an illustrious warrior” or “a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities”. We have to go to that third definition to apply it to someone in every day life, the second only applies to men and women in battle, God bless all of them who fight to preserve our own liberty. I admire athletes, both for the team aspect, and that they perform at a level that is, indeed, admirable when they do well. I don’t think I look at them as heroes. Athletes are larger than life, but not heroic. I rather would point out the guy who has the nerve to stop a car in traffic and help a passer by who has fallen. I would rather label a hero as a dad who risks his job to stay home and cook a kid breakfast.

I have met men of the “greatest generation” who don’t cook because it is “women’s work”. A vacuum is an alien appliance, but a remote control is a natural appendage. Very non-heroic. Real men drive race cars then attend to their injured wife, like Matt Kenseth. Real men play football and teach kids to read at inner city schools. Dale Earnhardt knew that a fellow driver’s wife was expecting a baby, and offered everything from airplanes to ambulances to help aid someone he usually is trying to beat in a race.

Real men take off their shoes and help cook supper, real men play “tea party” with their daughters. Real men listen. Real men raise kids without turning them into serial criminals or idiots. Real men make the bed, take out the garbage, frost cookies with the kids, and change the oil in the tractor, all without sighing or whining the whole time.

Oh, and race drivers are athletes. Do not let anybody tell you different.

IQ Test

mikebarrett — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:55:20 +0000

I have several axioms that my friends hear me repeat. They are strong feelings I have about behavior modifications for the general public that I believe would make the world a better place. Number one is “If everyone did their job like they are SUPPOSED to, everything would work just fine”. I could list 20 examples of shiftless workers I have personally observed, but I know you are smart enough to understand what I mean. Since I drive a lot, I also believe their should be mandatory road testing for a driver’s license every two or three years. A driver’s license should cost $150. And if you get caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you lose your license and your car. Pretty hard-core I know, but I know way too many people I would like to still have around that have been killed by such behavior, both of their own fault, and others. The driving habits I encounter daily are simply atrocious. Lane deviations, errant speed control, traffic light shenanigans, oh, I could go on and on. Driving is NOT a right, it is an earned and valuable privilege.

A couple of easy questions for the IQ test I began with. Do you know you can do a U Turn at a signalized intersection? That used to be a big no-no. Now from the left lane you can do a u turn at an intersection, and right-turn on red drivers must yield to that person doing the u-turn. BUT, you must not back up at all during that u turn, otherwise you are engaged in a moving violation. Pedestrians have the right of way nearly all the time, except where is no intersection or crosswalk or where the pedestrian does not have a green or “walk” signal and where vehicles have a green signal. Can you drive barefoot? Yes. Can you pass on the right of a non-paved right if the car in front is turning left? Yes. That’s a brand new law, by the way. How many pages are the WI “rules of the road”? 38! Which side is your gas cap on? Some surveys show only 50% of drivers know this…come on people! Can you inline skate on the road? Unbelievably, the answer is YES, subject to local ordinances of course. And here is my favorite:

“No person shall
throw any missile, circular or pamphlet at the occupants of any
vehicle or throw or place any missile, circular or pamphlet in or
on any vehicle, whether or not the vehicle is occupied.”

I think they mean “missive”, not “missile”.

For goodness sake, take the time to learn how to drive and be safe. And don’t believe everything you read.

I really have nothing about racers right now, some activity is happening for local guys going to the southern tracks, nothing specific.

18 weeks to our season starting!

Reflection

mikebarrett — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:14:54 +0000

All that talk about resolutions and the year in reflection is hard to avoid. I did some new stuff last year. Got to see more races without having to work them than I have in a long time, and I am going to do some new stuff this year (I hope). The first official event for me will be the bar stool races at the Wild Horse Saloon in Kellner, to raise money for the Tri-City Children’s Dream Foundation. The group does nice things for sick kids, the facility is nice, and the last two years the days have been brilliant and not too cold. Beyond that, winter time for me is a good way to catch up on business repairs and bookwork, home improvement, reading, all kinds of thing I have no time for in my busy summers. The creep of age has claimed too many family members, and keeping the ones still with us out of the hospital is nearly a daily struggle. Take your vitamins and your walk daily, we all have reasons to stick around as long as possible.

We all hoped at the beginning of the year for good weather for racing, and we got it (mostly). We always hope for safe racing, and this last season was perhaps the safest. I was amazed at the level of competition this last season that took place without silly skirmishes or retributive crashing. Also, the level of talent in very young racers was clearly evident, and that is truly the hope for the upcoming next few years. Most tracks have had to modify schedules to accommodate the stretched wallets of fans, and we have yet to see if it really works well that way. Season passes are affordable and are nice gift for the inveterate fan.

It is 2012, let’s predict some things. Carl Edwards will win the Cup Championship and at least 8 races. Paul Menard will win at least a race. Kyle Busch will fail to win. The truck series will again be a 3 way possibility at the end, proving that “let em race” works best for competition, but not safety, lots of trucks will be wadded up this year. I think Chris Wimmer will get a look, possibly by a cup team but Nationwide for sure. Matt Kenseth will again vie for the title, and if he is in the chase again, will have my pick as a favorite.

It is white outside, it is cold, and racing is 19 weeks away around here. Warehouse 13 and catching up with NCIS is distracting me from that, and the Rose Bowl is this afternoon. I predict Badgers 24, the Ducks 20. Go Bucky!

Family Traditions

mikebarrett — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:44:20 +0000

This week we do lots of things that we do every year. The tree, the lights, the big dinner at someone’s house (times two or three sometimes). All of the annual repetition reminds me of the many activities we do regularly, not only yearly, but repeatedly through generations. My first grandchild is being raised by my firstborn, and the things I see them doing remind me so much of the great joy that little life brings. He is one year old, and his dad treats him like a teeny little grown-up. My daughter, his mom, is super-attentive and the results are showing. The kid has lots of curiosity and little fear. Racer material! I remember all the time we spent making sure Grandmas and Grandpas got to see my little people when they were growing up, and now Great-Grandmas etc. get that benefit.

After the dinners and the decorations are finished, we turn to the stuff we think we either should do, or the stuff we would like to do that we never have time for the rest of the year. A lot of time for me has been spent making sure my mom has what she needs, she does not drive anymore, and we shop and deliver for her. I will make special time for my wife and daughter, they see me less in the summer than any of us would like, and maybe a trip to Minneapolis or some late night movies are in store.

I see Matt Kenseth has developed a great sense of humor. His wife and he now have two young girls, an a sense of humor is definitely a bonus in that situation. Matt’s wife Katy broke a shoulder blade in a benefit race in Charlotte, and Matt remarked that he never thought he would have to learn how to put a bra ON!

The family racer has been all over his updated car, and he got some supplies for the effort. I look forward to seeing shiny new things circling the track in the spring. He has been diligent in working regularly on the thing, and everyone is impressed so far. A little garage clean-up would be nice, but he is building a car, don’t let the details get in the way…

I am a couple pounds heavier, and a little lighter in the wallet, but some very sweet people I love are healthy, and we got to spend some nice hours together again, so life is cool right now. Even the little dog has a new bed, and work is a bit of a distraction, because home has been so warm. I look forward to the new year. I hope you do, too.

Closed for Flu

mikebarrett — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:34:16 +0000

That’s what I was Sunday night and most of the day Monday. It doesn’t happen very often, but I got sick. Oh, boy did I get sick. That’s all you want to know about how sick I got. No, I did not get a flu shot. Yes, I wash my hands a lot (and use that disinfectant goop). Anyway, that is why this is a day late. A cool guy who used to live across the street from our business used to say “you gotta get sick once in a while so you know how good it feels to be well.” Big John Bottcher is well remembered by many racers around here as the gruff realist who helped them put cars together. He knew all the basics, from welding to painting, how to save time, weight, and money. Big John also taught many of us to work the problem until it was fixed. When I was 16 I dinged the back corner of my beloved 1973 Chevy Vega. A couple of my friends and I took it to John’s and set to work bending stuff back into place, paint-prepping etc. Instead of having to lay out cash I didn’t have for a new fender, John showed us how you can make a body line out of still pliable bondo. Absolutely no one could tell the difference when it was done. Big John was one of those guys I won’t forget.

Very little is happening race-wise this week. Christmas is days away and for the first time in my life, no snow is on the ground. I remember one year about 8-10 years ago when it waited to snow until the 23rd, and it was a gorgeous Christmas. This week, the browns of fall and skinny pine trees remain, and it looks like that is the way it will be. I noticed Chris Wimmer has a company handling his web site, and I look forward to seeing him break out again, his win at the Rheem World Crown 300 Super Late Model race at Gresham Motorsports Park (GA), was a great accomplishment, and the guy has real skill, he deserves a good team and sponsors. His older brother Scott’s year was stark, but he notably contributed to the teams of Ty and Austin Dillon as a tester, and still has a good association with Childress Racing.

Schedules are trickling onto web sites. Golden Sands will run a bi-weekly schedule with every class running the nights. May 4 opens racing there, and the 20th State Park will open up. Marshfield has no dates set yet. only 5 months 3 weeks till racing!

Have a very merry and very healthy Christmas!

Readyness

mikebarrett — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:44:13 +0000

How well you do in life is almost always dependent on how well you prepare. Having worked with several different teams and organizations I have been both well-prepared and ill-prepared with various groups. The difference between the two are more than pronounced. It can make or break a whole event, whether you are running it, or participating. This is especially true in emergencies. I have been working for the Tri-County Children’s Dream Foundation for a few years at different events, and they are an example of preparedness and care that others should copy. We had a little snag last year during the bar stool races when organizers let on-lookers “suggest” different ways to bracket the races, and it turned out to be a nightmare. This year (next year, technically) they will stick to a plan, making things as fair as possible, and much more efficient. Lately, a lot of folks have been following the ideas of the “zombie apocalypse” crowd, watching TV shows like the Walking Dead and movies like Zombieland etc. I watched Zombieland last night and it portrayed real people dealing with the effects of said apocalypse. What I have noticed is that all the preparation you take to avert disaster during this kind of disaster will work for any disaster (earthquake, flood, attack, etc). Keeping a “go bag” on hand for family members seems like a good idea. I have begun to pack a couple, and intend to reduce the clutter at home and make it easier to find things that are really useful in times of need. I will know every time the power goes out, or when zombies attack, that I will be ready. This all first occurred to me when a storm hit the area, and only half my flashlights had good batteries in them, and I couldn’t find my scanner.

Racers can prepare like this, too. Sorted tools, generators gassed up, tires labeled, and all that stuff done during the week that will save a minute or two is key. You can visibly see the difference between those prepared and those not. The prepared ones grab the broken part, fix it, see it all under decent lighting and go racing quickly. The ones not ready run around the pits until a race starts and the watch from the fence because they werent preapred. Don’t be that guy. Make your lists, sort your parts, make a plan, and be ready.

Even if you don’t need it during a race, who knows, maybe the zombies will attack that night.

Flakes and “Regular People”

mikebarrett — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:55:13 +0000

Snowflakes. What were you thinking I meant? We have them just dusting the yard now, and the season now looks correct. White fuzz on everything and less than a month before the best holiday week. I have procrastinated decorating and now have promised to hang lights in the cold. The tree is in a box in my car and my people are getting antsy to to the indoor thing. Maybe tonight.

As I watch the mostly uncomfortable faces of the folks at the big Nascar banquets in Las Vegas I wonder how much some of them go for the holiday decorating. They have all made the big-time, and could certainly afford to hire the pros. But, knowing guys like Kenseth and Martin, and the ones who struggled early in their careers, I would imagine many of them actually like to do something “regular” like decorate a tree with the kids, or hang lights. I know for me it is a way to feel at home, safe, close to family, and rooted in a nice tradition. It is kind of fun to see the famous drivers and wives awkwardly tottering around in stiff formal wear and having to sit still for hours. Most of those guys are really cranked-up individuals to begin with, and these dinner things are tough on them. It will be a relief for them (and me) to see them back in polo shirts and driver’s suits in February.

There are opportunities now for some mid-tier drivers to get some racing in. Indiana, the Carolinas Georgia, and especially Florida have series where you can go to all manner of tracks and succeed. Drivers who race around here get exposed to lots of different tracks and conditions, and I encourage anyone thinking of venturing south to do so, and get as much racing in as possible. Just ask Carl Edwards how that kind of exposure worked for him.

I have a young driver to buy a Christmas gift for. I wish I could afford a set of brakes or a cool driver’s suit, but I think I will have to settle for the “regular” kind of stuff. Hmmm, maybe slippers. That’s all the specifics I will give here, I think the kid might read my stuff…

Also, this week you can not deny it is good to be a Wisconsin sports fan. Packers at 12-0 and the Badgers going to the Rose Bowl after winning one of the best college games I have ever seen. I don’t mind the flakes right now. Remind me of that in mid Feb.

Thanks

mikebarrett — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:55:51 +0000

Thanksgiving weekend always gets me looking at the past year, as I consciously remember the importance of friends and the good fortune of family. I know how lucky I am to be doing things I like that pay the bills, and that I get to work with my family with little controversy and a lot of cooperation.

My fine friends in racing showed me a lot of heart and skill this year. Many many drivers and teams in front of us had struggles, overcame them, and even without adversity, raced hard whether at the front or simply striving for a better mid-pack finish. Drivers way too numerous to begin listing here were very nearly to a man (or woman) great to watch as they competed. It is an expensive sport, and I saw a lot of family and friends come together to support the spendy hobby their own brother, son, or co-worker had chosen.

From those singularly warming views of racing to the accomplishments of those in our area, especially in wide ranging efforts, I’m thankful they did us proud. Most recently Chris Wimmer’s big-time win at the World Crown race in Gresham Georgia was a huge coup, proving the younger Wausau racing brother of Scott Wimmer still has it. Chris is a great guy to talk to, so quiet and polite, and his racing style is nothing but extra-smooth and always competitive but never ever dirty or abusive.

Speaking of quiet, it is a big difference now compared to the quick turnaround weeks i am used to in the summer. Winter will be much longer, so I get to enjoy my valued family and get a little “me” time. Thanks also to anyone who actually paid attention to my rambling on-track and to this stuff here. I really don’t know who might be reading, but an occasional comment or email does show some folks are paying attention, and that most actually have brains. The quiet is almost oppressive right now, as I write the outside air is one degree above freezing, the air is completely still, and everyone is off to school or work. I get about an hour of that stillness. I can write, watch news, stretch, and futz with my home theater if I like, for an hour anyway. Even that I am thankful for.

I hope you also get the chance to soak in some quiet, and to thank the ones who help you or encourage you. Happy belated Thanksgiving, and now go get those trees and lights up!

Making History

mikebarrett — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:42:13 +0000

I remind my kids often that we live in a magical time. We wear watches that are more powerful than the computers that powered NASA spaceships in the 1960s. As a Baby Boomer I have seen Ali and Sugar Ray box, Jordan and Magic play basketball, Starr and Favre and Rodgers play football, and Earnhardt, Gordon, and Johnson race. Among these greats I list Tony Stewart as the most phenomenal driver I have seen in memory, pushing the limits of machine among the likes of Jackie Stweart, AJ Foyt and Michael Schumacher. He went out and did what we all cheer for, won, won again, and eventually winning half the Chase races wrestling a title away from uber-good-guy Carl Edwards. That’s the way you do it! As a result of his stellar year, the total money Tony Stewart has grabbed from racing is over 11 million dollars! Alan Kulwicki won just over $900,000 when he won the championship as the last owner-driver.

Matt Kenseth again ran under the radar, finishing 4th and taking away 4th in the points from that mouthy kid Keselowski. Way to go Matt! If it was not for the petulant actions of Brian Vickers, Kenseth may have been a Cup champion. But that is in the past. Next year I expect to see Matt in the hunt again. Robbie Reiser, the Wisconsin native running the majority of racing operations for Rousch Racing has been another guy off the screen but instrumental in garnering multiple championships this year; Nationwide owner and driver, Cup Manufacturer, etc.

Paul Menard cruised ’round much like many others, I think, content to watch the story unfold around Edwards and Stewart. All well and good, in my opinion. He finished 16th, gained a point in the standings, and posted almost 4 MILLION in earnings. Nascar is a good place to race…even if you only get half the purses.

Travis Kvapil, finishing above his average at 22nd posted winnings of over 2 million bucks. Nice.

The truck series was kind of tough to watch. The stalwart team of Johnny Sauter’s put a great truck in his hands, won the rain-shortened race, but came up 6 points short of a title. Their pluck and hard work this year is a good example to others, and I am sure they will be winners again next year. We now enter that Wisconsin winter that sometimes gets unbearable long. Thanksgiving is mere days away and Christmas close behind, and I have a great family to share special times with. I hope you do, too. Last year almost 8 full months passed between races for us locally, and it looks like that is the same this year. I plan on getting back in shape, cooking some different dishes as a hobby, and maybe even some interior home improvement.

The future looks as good as these magical times. Names like Cole Whitt, Kyle Larson, and Austin Dillon are coming up, and I say you will see more of them soon in the winner’s circles. Happy Thanksgiving!