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GET
THE LATEST NEWS FROM DAN FITZGERALD RACING! |
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08-18-08 |
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LIGHTER WALLET
AND CONSCIENCE |
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A couple weeks ago
I noticed that a gas station along the route to Winnemucca charged my credit
card $9.80 although I purchased $98.00 in diesel. It bothered me
quite a bit, although it was nice to know I saved $88.20. As we
headed up this Friday I stopped in and made good on the other $88.20,
explaining the situation and paying the store the difference. It
was the same cashier and it turns out she paid the difference when her
drawer didn't balance. But all is well, she thanked me, and I
feel MUCH better about it all now. WHEW! |
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NEW LOOK! |
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One of my Iowa
connections, Pat Graham, has debuted his new ride and new look prior to
this year's IMCA Supernationals. With a new yellow body and
some sweet graphics, Pat's car is looking sharp as he readies for the
annual event.
To check out more on Pat Graham you can visit his website at
http://www.patgrahamracing.com
. Good luck Pat!
**Here's wishing a speedy recovery to a Pat Graham crewmember who was
hit by a wayward tire in the pits at Marshalltown Speedway on Friday
night. We wish him and his family the best! |
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6 DEGREES OF
SEPARATION |
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With our annual
pilgrimages to the NHRA drags at the Strip @ LVMS, it's obvious I am a big
fan of the straight line scene. Well it turns out that I now have an
"in" to the big time. A friend who used to sand drag with us has
signed on to do the cylinder heads for Doug Kalitta's race team.
Frank Dischbein raced with us when we first started sand drags and then also
helped out a late model team that I was helping when in my teens.
Maybe if I find Frank in the pits, he'll remember me and introduce me to
someone famous! haha |
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STORM CHASIN' |
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Before the race in
Elko last weekend I decided to go storm chasing. The
weathermen always warn of "possible thunderstorms" but they always get
gobbled up by the surrounding mountains. At times I get tired of
it always being hot and sunny. So when the "weather" missed
the valley for the umpteenth time, I decided to hit the road.
I checked the radar to see a heavy storm moving along I-15 about 30
miles north of town. On the road and about 30 minutes later
I hit the storm. It was awesome! The lightning,
thunder, and ensuing downpour was great. I parked and sat
with the windows down just enjoying some "weather."
Since then it has been, sun, wind, heat, sun, wind, heat, sun, wind,
heat, etc, etc. |
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BURGER HUT! |
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Our route home
from Lovelock takes us down the western side of the state.
We hit Fallon, Hawthorne, Tonopah, etc. One of the SMALLER
towns is Mina, NV. In Mina they have the roadside burger
stand called the "Burger Hut." It's a little pricey, but the
food is quite yummy. A great little stop just under half-way
home. We all enjoyed a good burger, fries, and a
frosty beverage for the ride home.
If you are ever in the area....(I know, yeah right).....stop by!
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WHY I DIDN'T
MAKE THE OLYMPICS! |
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfwM1DWGmsc |
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HUSBAND'S
REVENGE! LOVE IT! |
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNgsLMU2ZuM |
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8-12-08 |
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PHOTO OF THE WEEK |
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The photo of the
week goes back to early 2007 as I raced in Arizona. I was
racing the car that I have recently had to go back to. The look
didn't last long as soon after this photo the people from GimpTV had the car
wrapped in their colors. Take a look!
Photo of the Week |
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WHERE DOES THE
TIME GO? |
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Just a little more
than a week remains of my summer vacation. Believe it or not I
start back to work officially on Wednesday, August 20. The kids
return on Monday, August 25. While I do enjoy the freedom of
summer vacation, I also look forward to going back to the challenge of
teaching a new group of kids. I tend to feel better when I have
a regular routine and working tends to help with that. At times
I feel pretty useless while not having anything to go to every day.
I'm sure I will feel differently when I do
HAVE TO
go back to work! haha. |
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WILL WE SEE
THREE...? |
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It is sad but I
have been excited by the price of diesel lately as it has been creeping down
towards that elusive THREE-something per gallon. While I have
never paid FIVE-something for it, I have paid darn close to it.
A 7-11 by my house went to $4.19 last week and a Sinclair went to $4.23.
However while in Elko a Chevron was charging an unheard of $5.49 / gallon.
I think with all the gold mines in the area they must have a special blend
with gold flakes in it. Maybe if you strain it you get some
money back in gold?? |
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STRIPPING IT
DOWN! |
Over the last week
or so we have begun the process of stripping down the usable parts from the
wrecked race car. It took a cutting wheel and a pry bar to get
the engine out of the car. It was really wedged in there.
The radiator was pushed so far back that it actually dented the oil pan on
the car. That distance is a least a foot normally.
Several people admitted they thought I was exaggerating when I said the car
was destroyed, however after seeing it for themselves, they agree.
Here are some photos once the motor was out of the car.
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08-03-08 |
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MOTIVATION! |
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While trying to
figure things out recently I was watching a television interview with a
famous athlete. The discussion was great and it was neat hearing
their own thoughts and feelings on their career. When asked how
they rated their career and accomplishments, they simply said that they
rated their life on what they actually finished. Since I started
the season with a goal in mind, I need to finish it. Regardless
of what happens, finishing will be an accomplishment that I can be proud of.
I might be broke, but they just fight over your money after you die, so just
spend it. |
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GAS IS CHEAP? |
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I really pay
attention to the price of gas while making the big trips to northern Nevada.
That way I can plan out my stops to maximize my savings. So when
I found Diesel at $4.49 / gallon down the street I filled up. As
I head up the little town of Indian Springs is 1st up and normally is HIGH.
Well they were $4.42! The price went up until I got to Round
Mountain where it was a decent (sarcasm) $4.49. In Battle
Mountain it was $4.69 at one station, $4.65 (cash) at the Flyin' J and then
$4.41 not 1000 feet down the road at the last station. Filled up
there before heading home. Fill up again 1/2 way home. Got
$98.00 worth and went in to pay. It's old school pump then pay, even
have the old spinning reel pumps. Paid with the credit card,
signed the receipt and moved on. Later while checking out the
receipt I realized I got a deal. They charged me $9.80 instead
of $98.00. So I got my fuel for $0.449 per gallon! A
bargain. I'm sure they will change the charge, but it was funny!
Placement of that decimal is MUY IMPORTANTE! |
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BEYOND 2008 |
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I don't like
clichés at all but "it will all get better in time" is pretty true.
Things do not seem as bad after a while to calm down. It just stinks
that I have had so much to calm down from these last couple of weeks.
After speaking with BMS and researching my options I do think there is some
racing in my future. They have been more than fair and
accomodating. However after this season I do feel that I need some
time off to regroup and to allow everyone to enjoy their own lives a little
bit. While I do not like the sound of it, I will be missing the
big post-season events around here. Most notably, the Duel in
the Desert, here in Vegas. As you know, I am sort of too
into numbers, so missing the Duel in 2008 is especially difficult.
You see, I have made the A main in all of the even numbered years and just
one odd numbered year. Since 2008 is even, this would have been
my year! I'm sure the other 160 or so other cars might have had
something to say about that though. Should I mention I
will still have a fire suit and could fill in for someone?? Hint?!
haha |
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THE FIVE P'S! |
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Proper Preparation
Prevents Piss-poor Performance. So it's back to square one this
week as we spent the afternoon going over things on the car.
Jerry visited to check over the motor and I found an issue that we feel has
been causing some of our performance woes. Hopefully it helps.
Mechanically we will be going over the drive train looking for anything that
may have caused the driveline failure. It really did a
number under there and will entail changing transmissions as well as major
interior work. YUCK! But it is what it is.
Off to work we go! |
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MOVE OVER! |
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I'll admit, it has
been a while since I sat in a Driver's Ed class and it has been even
longer since I've read the state driving handbook, but come on.
Aren't you supposed to move over when someone is pulled over on the side
of the road? Especially on a 4 lane highway, but even on a
two lane road if the opposite lane is empty?
Several times while traveling this last month or so I have had people
just simply refuse to get over. At most places the shoulder
isn't very large and changing a flat on the trailer is difficult,
especially when it is on the side of traffic.
Not sure if it is ignorance, lack of forethought or simply lack of
class. But come on people, move over! |
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07-29-08 |
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FEELIN' IT! |
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As is normally the
case two things happened after the wreck in Lovelock. One, I'm
male, so I chose not to go to a doctor to be looked at. Two,
the soreness continually got worse over the next couple of days.
Today it seems to have peaked and I expect to be feeling better as the
week rolls along. Most of the soreness is from my neck, shoulders,
and midsection. However this time I have had some tingling
in my legs from my knees down. Not sure what that is.
I do remember my legs lifting up and slamming back down inside the
cockpit after the wreck. It was so eerily quiet after the
impact I could hear them clunk to the floorboard.
With the pain, I still have movement in all directions and do not have
any sharp pain which is good. So I feel for the most part it
is routine pain that comes with a hard impact. I won't snap
back as quickly as I did when I was 24, but I will snap back eventually. |
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THE SHOE TREE! |
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On the way to
Lovelock there is a "shoe tree" alongside the road. It's on
highway 95 just north of Hawthorne, NV.
They have even paved a little turn off and parking area around the lone
tree for people to use for viewing and "adding" purposes.
Amazingly enough I was able to snap this shot while passing by from
inside the truck. I knew the truck and trailer wouldn't fit
in the little paved area, so I had the camera ready in advance and
snapped as I went by. Not too bad for a one chance shot!
Some day I hope to add some shoes of my own to the tree!
Anyone out there have their own shoes on the tree?
dfr87n@yahoo.com |
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FOR SALE!! |
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Unfortunately I
have decided that I need to sell the quad. It's brand new
and hasn't even been out of the garage since April.
It's a 90cc Polaris Predator. The retail is $2400 for it,
drive it off into the desert for $1950. I just don't have
the need for the quad, nor do I have the time to use it.
If interested email me at
dfr87n@yahoo.com .
Thanks! |
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OLD GUY AT THE
BEACH! |
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07-24-08 |
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FAN ENTRIES
DISCONTINUED |
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While the monthly
drawings have been fun and the interest has been pretty good, there simply
isn't enough interest in them at this time to continue doing such a thing.
So I have discontinued the "fan entries," formerly "fan points." Thank you
to those who played along faithfully! Hopefully you can still
enjoy other aspects of the website. |
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BACK TO BIKING! |
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With my shorts
starting to tighten around the mid-section I realized one thing.
I have slacked on my exercise biking. Yikes! So I have
climbed aboard the bike and am traveling 16 miles per day now. I
was doing 12 miles previously. Hopefully this will loosen the
clothes before the school year starts in about a month. |
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DOWNSIZING! |
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As the season
starts on the downward slope it has become clear that I need to make some
changes to the racing operation. I need to downsize back to one
car. I'm not 100% sure that's what I want to do but it does seem
like that's the direction I need to head. It will be difficult
to do as the car that will most likely go is the car I used to retire my
father's number in March, the same one carrying his gravesite plot number.
I worked for many years to finally get two complete cars going, but I think
it's time to grow up and downsize my "toys" and allow my friends and family
to have more weekends off to enjoy their own lives. |
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SCHEDULE |
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For the next few
weeks, until my summer vacation is over, I intend on racing as much as I
can. So I will be hitting places where I can get in a couple of
shows without having to leave "the area." Once school starts
back up I will have to stay closer to home and catch races locally.
This weekend it looks like I will be attending the two-day show in Lovelock,
NV. I enjoyed myself the last time I was there and they are
trying to race under the lights for the first time this season.
Should be fun! I do have some October and November dates
on the calendar if you are interested in seeing those.
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A VINYL FIRST! |
This weekend I
delivered the vinyl for my very first Dwarf Car. I do not apply
vinyl. Well I do, but there is a lot of "drama" when I do and I
end up having to recut some of it. So good thing Blake
showed up and applied the vinyl in our trailer at the track on Saturday.
I'm sure Rodney was glad that someone who knew what they were doing applied
it. Here's a photo of it, taken from a cell phone since I forgot
my camera. The colors aren't as sharp as they are in person, but hey,
look anyway.
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DARK KNIGHT? |
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Have you seen the
new Batman movie? I haven't and will have to wait until the
"newness" wears off before heading to the theater. I really
didn't care for the movies previously, but really got into Batman Begins.
It was so dark and serious, it really drew me in. After reading
the reviews I must say I am really excited to see this one.
Anyone see it? dfr87n@yahoo.com
. What'd you think? |
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