A Day at the Racetrack

Saturday, 26 May 2012; Portland International Raceway --

Although Grumpy "laid some rubber" as he entered the gate onto the straightaway, leading to the infield parking area, he did not make even one lap around this fine race track. Sorry, the "spirit" of doing "some speed" just overcame him momentarily, and he exhibited poor judgement in front of his tallest Grandson.

Instead of watching automobiles roar around the track, this day was for Human Powered Vehicles, and their riders, to challenge each other's speed, endurance and acceleration. The day became both a humbling and a rewarding experience for the Old Grumpy One. But that tale will be told later.

"Gr-rr-r!!" says J.

The night before this event, four men with the "snarkiest-attitudes" toward facing facts, met at Fort Bale for a "gourmet" dinner (Swedish style) and a night of rest and relaxation. Wait, I almost forgot! There was no relaxation for a certain Uncle of two very determined offspring of the Tall One. 

Laughter: Antidote for defeat

First J. challenged the wrestling acumen of Uncle B, a former High School wrestling team member. Each time J. wound up folded and mutilated on the big leather sofa. Laughter seemed to be the antidote for any disappointment in this (inevitable?) take-down by Uncle B.

Stealth approach

Next came A. with the dogged determination of a true crusader. Despite his fierce countenance and unique, stealth approach, he too became wound up and tied in a knot to be deposited on the leather sofa.

The next day, after a (full?) night's sleep at Fort Bale, the caravan left for the PIR, where all four had already registered as competitors. Grumpy was conservative as to what events he would participate in, saving his best for the drag races in which he believed he stood a chance against all three of his young descendants. Yes, his thought was "old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill".

At first Grumpy tried to entice a spirit of true and fair competition from the decades-younger set by offering them what Grumpy thought to be a small handicap, considering his advanced age and decrepitude: give me a 50-foot head start. No takers. 

Race official advising T.O. how to beat Grumpy

Having to do battle manu-ad-manu, Grumpy first challenged the Tall One in his yellow streamlined, wing-tank-looking tricycle. Grumpy's thought was that the extra 100-plus pounds that this monster weighed would sufficiently impede TO's ability to accelerate from a standing start to allow Grumpy to get far enough ahead and capture his first blue ribbon and some bragging rights. 

Well, that strategy failed when the Tall, Gray-haired Grandson actually overcame a slow start to blow past the final gate about two wing-tank lengths ahead of the gritty Grumpy. 

#2 Son blazing away from his Dad without remorse

Oh well; there is still hope -- [the #2 Son is riding a bicycle that is new to him; I'll surely win with my greater skill and experience on this old Raleigh!] Here he is "up in the stirrups" so to speak, blowing by Grumpy before he could even get into second gear. Poor Grumpy -- no one cared about his dejection at being so blatantly humbled, now by two of the fearsome foursome that were "friends" when we came to this event.

Still negotiating the 200M drag race; clarifying the rules

Finally, the B-man came with hat in hand, offering a deal that would grant the Old Grumpy One some "breathing room". B-man would start and run the drag course (200 meters?) in just one gear -- no hands on the handlebars (to effect extra push/pull on the pedals), after getting up to stable speed. What a deal!! Still, it seems that B-man is seen here (right), trying to coax a little "blindness" on the part of the race official overseeing the start of these races. 

Accelerating out of the "chocks", pedal to the metal!

In the end, which Grumpy won by "a nose", B-man probably lost only because he chose a notch too low a gear and "over-revved" his pedals by the mid-point in the race while Grumpy was still able to  squeeze out a smidgen more acceleration as he blew through the final gate -- his final reward for a day of hard work. [Thanks B-Man; you made my day!]

More fun, more laughs and greater rewards are not to be had in any other company than a Grandpa in friendly competition with his Son and two Grandsons -- unless a Great Grandchild or two were to join us, that is! Maybe next year -- we'll see.

Proud Grandmother; A Grandson's Big Risk — or Bravery

15 January 2010; Mechanicsville, Maryland, USA --

Posted by Grumpy, but a story written by the Grand Mother:

Some time ago, I wrote about a Grandson who stopped his work to rescue a baby bird  who was being hunted by a poisonous snake(see Bird Brain, Wondrous Intelligence).  Climbing high in a tree, he was able to grab the snake by the tail and hurl it to the ground where his friend killed it.  Bravery or Big Risk?  The Mother bird allowed him to continue his work, installing windows near the nest where her baby was located — after the snake was destroyed.

Life moves on and now I have an addition to this story about this Grandson, with the one told to me recently by my oldest son.  It will be up to the reader to determine if this one was bravery — or was it a big risk?

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A WOULD-BE HIGHWAY HIGH-JACKING!

After a hard day at work, installing custom windows at two locations, Ray and his supervisor were heading home on the crowded freeway.  Ray was driving the truck at about 60 mph, imagining the smell of a good, hot meal, which would be waiting, and the happy smiles of a little boy who was happy his Daddy would be home to play with him.  Suddenly a number of cars were applying brakes, changing lanes abruptly, and some even were heading to the ditch.

"What in the world is going on?" asked Ray's supervisor.  They had slowed considerably when Ray spotted the trouble.  A man was in the center of the roadway, trying to car-jack a vehicle. He tried getting in with an older man — he tried with a young lady — and he was still running up to slowing cars, trying to get inside. 

Ray sized up the situation and said, "Let's stop him!"

They pulled off the side of the road and stopped.  Then the supervisor yelled, at the man, "What do you think you are doing?"

The would-be car-jacker looked up, startled, and then started running away into the nearby woods like a streak of lightning.  Ray said, "You scared him away.  We could have had him!"

They pulled back on the freeway and continued home safely.  They were sure that calls had been made to notify the police of the problem, but they did not stay to find out if anyone came.

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Even though my "Mother's heart" skips a beat when I realize the potential danger they faced — the heavy traffic plus the distraction of the car-jacker's activities — yet they were willing to try to stop him from harming anyone.  They took the time to stop — to delay their trip home — put off the warm shower they had been anticipating to soothe their tired muscles from a day of hard work.  They are the epitome of the American citizen who cares about what happens in their country.  They do not fear standing alone, if necessary, to stop a wrong.  I am thankful the ending was quick and no one was injured in an accident or from any physical confrontation.  I am proud to know that my Grandchildren value their country and are willing to defend what is right.

When my son, Ray's Dad, was younger (perhaps a pre-teen at that time), he observed some kids crawling around on the roof of an elementary school.  He quickly ran home, called the police and told them what he had seen.  When asked for his name, he responded he would rather not tell because he feared they may retaliate.  The police assured him they would not reveal his name — but, in fact, they did.

The boys had entered the school and were preparing to do some vandalism when the police located them.  They found out who had called — and threatened they would get even.  Our son responded that was fine with him; he would call his friends and would meet the vandals anytime and anywhere. The confidence that he exhibited, deterred them from further confrontation. 

Because my son was willing to interrupt what he was doing and make the report, the school did not have extensive damage.  These values were passed on to his children.  I am proud and honored to be the Mother, and Grandmother of these brave men.

I mentioned to my son that I wished more people were aware of things like this to motivate them to stand up for what is right.  He told me, "That is why I am telling you — you'll tell this story to everyone!"

And so now I have! 
Signed,  —  by a proud Mother and Grandma