Rantings & Ramblings

by Lois Bjelke

"Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the racecars iz" (or something like that)

After a bizarre week of having the house roof replaced, the CO detectors go off, the furnace go out, and my allergies go berserk because of the woodsmoke from the fireplace (trying to stay warm), I'm more than ready for a nice, quiet race weekend. By the time you read this, our Memorial Day event will be right around the corner. This is always the time of year when I wonder why the ultra warm days of late March and early April couldn't wait until the end of May, instead of lulling us into a false sense of weather security and then abandoning us about the time we're going camping at Brainerd.

There was considerable discussion at the last Board meeting about apathy in the club, the lack of attendance at membership meetings, etc. I have to admit that I usually don't remember the membership meetings are happening anymore, even when they are something I want to go to like the Ellingson Car Museum (a great time, by the way) - heck, anymore I'm lucky I can remember that Nash Bridges is on Friday nights, and what day of the week it is really. Looking at the changes that have occurred since I last wrote for The Tonneau, though, I wonder if it's apathy, or other interests.

In the last couple of years I have tried (and left) a full-time job (and am loving being gainfully unemployed for the moment), have gotten involved in collectible card games to the point that Erik and I now go to a convention in Milwaukee in August for them, want to find a Live Action Role Playing group the local area for the Vampire: The Masquerade or Werewolf worlds, have gotten back into gardening full swing, want to start going to the Star Trek conventions again, and started learning to rubber stamp and quilt, as well as continuing to cross-stitch, read, watch TV, work on the cars, learn Latin, etc. Racing, while still important, no longer actively takes up 16 plus weekends a year, and looking back on those days, I wonder how the heck I managed it. While people who know me well still don't call during a NASCAR race, they also have pretty much stopped inviting me out of region, except for crewing. There's just too much else to do, especially when I'm rallying the Buick.

Last year I tried my first non-historic series rally and had a blast. Unfortunately, I probably won't have time to do as many rallies this year as I or my driver would like - I have some major projects in and out of the house to get done, and will probably be spending more time with Mom in Iowa, helping her do the things she can't do by herself anymore. The joys of being only children - we'll also be helping Steve's mom clean the basement this summer - after three years of promising I think she's going to hold us to it this time. I'll also have to find another job soon, so the summer promises to be busy, as always.

Being at home more this month, I'm finding I could turn into a real Internet addict if I was left to my own devices. Erik and I have joined a site called Ancient Sites, which is based in ancient Rome, Athens, Egypt, and, interestingly enough, colonial America, Macchu Pichu (Incan, I think), and Tara (Irish, time period unknown). What with quizzes, on-line gaming, a large extended Roman family, and an attempt to get gladiatorial gaming and "gambling" (there's no real money, so can the bets be real?) going, we've been and will be busy. Yet something else crowding the available car club time.

How about you? If you've kept with me this long, you're probably beginning to realize that your life is getting more crowded, too. What do you want from the club? Two race weekends a year, a magazine or two a month, friends to chat with on the phone (or online), the occasional rally or Solo, or is it your main focus outside of work and home? Do you look forward to or dread the off-season? (My answer: yes) Do you wish we had better meetings with more interesting topics, or do you think we should just forget the meetings, except for Meet the Candidates and the Banquet? Or do you just belong because it seemed like fun and it's one way to get SportsCar delivered? Been involved for a long time and thinking of retiring? Let us know - if nothing else it'll give us something to discuss the next time we see each other.

I'm going into my first racing season with two "Chiefs" in the house, and I'm glad I'm neither of them (I remember all the work all too well - been there, done that). Erik is Chief of Paddock, and Steve is Equipment Chief. I'm working really hard at staying out of their hair and letting them get on with it themselves. However, if we stay at a motel, I may have some early mornings if I want a ride to the track when the Equipment Chief takes my truck. Maybe it's finally time to replace the tent.

You've probably noticed no mention of the Riviera. She's still sleeping in Iowa - Erik's new job has him working every weekend, and since his wheels have been in the shop for major repairs, we're his transportation. There's been no time to go get the car!! Since I'd like to put her in a show the first weekend in May, we may be looking at a weekday run, trying to do it all in one day. Yuk!! However, she'll be here in time for the GRRR, which I'm hoping to run after missing it the last two years. I think the steamboat the dinner is on was once owned by John Hartford, the fiddle player on the old Glen Campbell Show - don't know if he still owns it or not, but a neat piece of history nonetheless.

I know nothing else I can even remotely justify jotting down here. Enjoy The Tonneau, enjoy the Spring, and I'll see you Memorial Day.

Copyright 1999, Land O'Lakes Region.
Last revised: May 8, 1999