RIDE TO THE RACES IN MISSOURI
Reprinted from TN Chapter “F” Newsletter
Written by James Taylor & Nancy Lovelace
Saturday morning started off with the weather a little on the cool side, as I was warming the bike up I thought to myself, this is going to feel good for a change, not so hot like it was last time. As I turned into Don’s (Oller) driveway my worst fears and long time assumption that Don could pass for an Old Fart in the Mud was confirmed. (Literally).
Actually what had happened was that Don had tried to back the bike out of the garage and, due to him having some recent driveway repairs done, the contractor had moved a foot or so of loose dirt in front of the shop. So his rear wheel and Mufflers were almost sitting level with the ground.
Jimmy happened to be there and it took both of us to help pull the (Old Fart) – I mean Don back up into the shop to try again. After laying down some four-inch concrete blocks for him to back out on, he got it out of the shop. As usual, and anyone that knows Don very well will know that this meant that he had to drag out the garden hose and wash the bike again before we could leave.
We did manage to make it to the BP Station on time and meet Dennis and Connie Plank, the other riders for this weekend. We left about 9:30 and made it about half way to Dyersburg before stopping again for all of us to put on some heavier jackets as then temperature was around 50 degrees. All except Nancy, that is, who was enjoying the Heater and the other amenities of her Chevy.
We made our regular stop at the Missouri Rest Stop to let us all get warmed up and make a dash to the rest rooms. By the time we made it to the Cape, the sun and temperature had come up some and the rest of the ride was a pleasure.
We got to Rosners Motel about 2:30 and after we all got settled in we walked to the restaurant to chow down. Nancy and Marion, like most women, decided that they had time to do some shopping and headed off to Big Lots to get some last minute bargains. They said something about they have a better selection of Junk – I mean better stuff in Farmington, Missouri than they do in Jackson, Tennessee.
We left for the Race Track around 6:00 and any one that has traveled with us before knows that we just LOVE to play the game and see how many people we can get in a vehicle. Just because we only had Nancy’s car was no exception this time. Nancy and Marion said NO WAY all six of us could get in the car, but with a little Folding, Bending, Pushing, Pulling, and Prodding, we all got in. Don and me both made it into the back, with Marion squished in the middle; Nancy was driving with Dennis working the gas and Connie on the gearshift. Good thing the track was not far away, Don and I can only inhale for no more than three minutes at a time.
We arrived at the track to find much to our surprise that they were having the regular scheduled races we originally wanted to see. Don had checked their Web Page the day before we left and had sent out an -APB- (All Participating Bikers) that he had viewed the tracks Web Page and that our original plans had been changed to the following weekend. We got to see a lot of fast Sprints and Mini Sprints run, but the weather was a little cool by nights end, … all the girls were bundled up for winter.
Got back to the motel about 12:00 and we were all ready to crash. Nancy and I got up early to go to the restaurant and eat, as I had to leave from there on my way to Little Rock to make sales calls all week. I had called my Regional Boss last week when I got his e-mail to tell him that I could come to Little Rock, but that I wasn’t going to be in Jackson Sunday afternoon to leave out … they were asking all of the salesmen to drive in Sunday.
I explained to him that I was going to be 250 miles east of Jackson, almost to St. Louis, and could not see the need to drive all the way back to Jackson just to get in the Van and start again --- So --- I told him I thought I would ??? or could, meet them on the bike?? – May Be -- ??? Please ???. After some more begging and pleading and him agreeing to pay for the gas mileage. (Any excuse to get to ride – right??)
Nancy, Don, Marion, Dennis and Connie left the motel about 10:00 and rode back down Hwy 67, back down I-55 for a change, and got back home around 4:30 or so. Everyone had a good weekend and hope we all are able to make the Cookout on Sunday the 10th of October.
Happy and Safe riding!