Friday's Report
8:30 AM
As reported on the homepage, the skies are clear and we're looking forward to a great day at Budweiser Motorsport Park. The weather forecast does show a considerable chance of showers at some point during the day, but for now, it's full speed ahead to the track. We're not sure exactly what we'll be able to report today, or how much, or when, but stay tuned to this bat channel (ok, it's early and I'm still punchy from the last two days of seemingly non-stop travel) for all the news from Edmonton.
If you needed a real eye-opener to start your day, you should have been in Room 130 at the Leduc Best Western at 6:30 this morning. Picture this: Wilson at his laptop, in his underwear, tapping out reports, photoshopping pictures and laying out the weekend's web pages, while his room-mates wiped the sleep from their eyes and debated whether to gaze in wonder or roll over, get back to sleep and write the whole vision off to some bad mushrooms at dinner last night. Like they say on the sports channels, you just had to be there..... or better yet, anywhere..... else.
11:15 AM
We be living large (as Mr. Pfister is wont to say). Everything's working well.... so far, as Dean keeps reminding me. In the gate on time; the skies are looking brighter all the time; everyone is greeting us warmly, and some people, if you can believe it, still remember the Northern Thunder website. We connect with Bruce "Drag Race Canada" Biegler and his ace local photog Cheryl Ogonowski about media access issues before heading down to the credentials trailer to replace the media "necklace" that Dean forgot at the motel.
Then it's off to the media center to get things set up for the day. Meet Roger Richards, Larry Sullivan and Jim Lukens (of Drag Race Central) and settle in with a front row seat for the laptop, printer and other devices. Even though I can't get starting line access to shoot any photos, I've got a prime location less than 100 feet from the starting line if I just walk out the door to the balcony in front of the centre. Cool.
Time to get this update posted, work on some of yesterdays' photos and witness Terry Capp's exhibition pass, scheduled to happen very shortly. More news soon. Maybe very soon. Stay tuned.
3:30 PM
After one pair of Thunderbolts (junior Alcohol Funny Cars) we went down for a rain delay that lasted nearly an hour. When the track drying finished, the program moved to Pro Stock, followed by Alcohol Funny Car, Pro Mod, and Top Fuel. Then the nitro harleys took their turns to make a set of exhibition laps, followed by the aptly (considering the weather conditions) Thunderbolts.
You guessed it: two pairs into the resumed qualifying session for the T-Bolts, the skies started leaking again, and in a few short minutes we were down once more.
6:00 PM
We've been on hold for nearly an hour now, and except for some unnecessary excitement in the media centre (more about that later, like after I leave for home), the day appears to be pretty much done. There are blue skies in the distance, but the clouds hanging low over Bud Park aren't getting any lighter, and the temps are dropping. At this time, there isn't any track drying being attempted.
We've just been told that a decision on any further activities today will be made in about half an hour. More news when we have any.
8:30 PM
Well, against all odds, and definitely defying the satellite weather map, the track is dry and the Thunderbolts qualifying session was finally completed. We've also run through Top Dragster (lots of neat blown alcohol units) and are now into Top Sportsman. The crowd hasn't given up on this evening as the stands are close to full even though the air is cool, and heading towards cold as we near dusk.
I'm not sure how late we're running tonight, but the lights on the pit side of the track are ready to allow a late finish. All right: Rob Murphy just did a thundering burnout in his new Cameo pickup. Far out. Next bit of news as it crosses our desk.
That's it from the first day of qualifying at the IHRA Rocky Mountain Nationals