You may have read in previous posts that my husband is a performance engine builder. That means he builds engines for race cars and race boats. Although the boats race all over the country and in Canada, the cars usually race at our local track in Hampton, Va.
Saturday night was our first race of the season. I managed to find a safe spot between two billboards to take these pictures of cars on the back stretch.
These were taken during a practice session.
By the way, that huge structure in the background is an old NASA wind tunnel, which is in the process of being demolished. For decades, it’s been in the background of pictures taken at this race track.
Motor Man and I have a parking space right by the track. This is our little white truck.
Parking where we can watch the race from our vehicle has many advantages. If the weather is cold, like it was Saturday night, we can sit in the truck where it’s warm. And later in the season, it’s nice to have air-conditioning. We can also avoid the mosquitoes that will be here in a few weeks.
The grandstands are nearly empty in the above picture because we were at the track early. Motor Man likes to be there for his customers – just in case they have questions about their engines.
Although we usually watch the race from our truck, we always have pit passes, which allow us to be in the pits (the area in the center of the track). We like to check on our customers before the race and wish them luck. And we’re usually there after the race while the cars go through post-race inspection.
As for how the first night of racing turned out… there were six divisions racing. Our engines qualified on the pole (which means they started in the first position) in three of them and won one race and finished third in another. The third race (the main division) was rained out by a storm that came from nowhere!
It was a disappointing end to the first race. But there’s always next time.
these days of mine 
This looks like so much fun-thanks for sharing this little peek inside your racing world!!
I can imagine how disappointing it was to have the race rained out before Danny’s division…especially since the rain was unexpected!!
Great pictures of the first race. Where is Mark’s wrecked car?
it’s got to give your hubby a lot of pride to see the cars with his engines do well! nice that you share this with him!
It’s good to see a “Langley post” on the blog.. I know things are gearing up for another season of excitement – hopefully rain won’t be an issue at many more races!!
I didn’t know your hubby built engines for racecars/boats…what a cool job! If his company ever needs a talented machinist to make parts for him I know this guy (who happens to be my husband!) who wants to move South to warmer weather! Wink, wink!!! 😉
Have a great day!
Ok, Kandi,
I’ll let you know!
My father in law would LOVE to meet your husband, I’m sure. His friend races cars somewhere in AL and he is gone every Sunday to watch and help out. Our friends go to Talladega every year but I have never been to a car race. I watched Final Destination 4 a while back and even though it is one of those silly scary movies, it scared me enough to not want to be in the stands at a car race should any car or pieces of cars fly into the stands, lol.
I’m sure when Bugaboo gets older, that I will be forced to go once. 🙂
Oh, what a fantastic career! I have a son-in-law that drag races (he is also owns a mechanic shop) and he loves engines! I posted recently when he was features in Race Pages Magazine here: http://gratefulprayerthankfulheart.blogspot.com/2011/03/aj-is-ok.html
Thank you for leaving your comment! Nice stopping in to visit with you!
Kindly, Lorraine
I know you are so proud of your dh, as he enjoys seeing his engines run. My dad was an avid race car fan, and I have many memories of being there with him and our family when I was a child. I like the idea of siting in your vehicle, as I would not want to be fighting the mosquitos either.lol. Thanks for sharing this lovely post.
Sue
Gosh, I haven’t been to a car race since I was just a teenager.
Very cool! Love the sound of all that horsepower!
I bet having those cars start and finish so well made your Motor Man feel fantastic. He must be very good.
Do you shoot through the chain link fence to get your shots or ?
Bummer bout the rain.
Can’t wait to see how the rest of the race season goes!
p.s. The wind tunnel of NASA’s…I guess it’s too old to use for testing the cars in? Maybe that’s just in NASCAR? I’m clueless here bout this racing stuff, can you tell? – Though we did get to go to Bristol once – awesome. All I know is what I’ve seen on TV and what I pick up from my kid.
Dianna, they have used a different wind tunnel (near this one) for the NASCAR cars, but I think they’ve recently started using some nearer the Charlotte area – closer to the racing hub.
No, I didn’t shoot those pics through the fence. (I snuck between two billboards to take them! I probably wouldn’t do that during the race – just for practice. I don’t want to do anything to get kicked out of the track!) 😉
Hey! I just figured this out (maybe). You can tell Jr that you know someone slower at all of this stuff than he is! I signed up for your blog and look forward to it. We are going to try and get up the weekend of May 7th (just havent told Kathy yet!). I’m going through withdrawals.