UNFORTUNATE SATURDAY NIGHT.....!!

My last night for points in racing did not go well.  Actually that is an understatement.  I only ran 3 laps in the main event before one of the other racers decided to door slam my car.

 This is the damage from him leaning on me. 

This is the damage after I lost control, hit the wall, lost my steering, went back down across the track into the infield.  I might add without hitting anyone or getting hit again.  Slid to a stop and the firemen came over and said "you're on fire, get out".  

Let me say I envy drivers that can get in their car and get all their gear on and organized in nothing flat, or take it off.  I don't happen to be one of them, John usually "dresses" me and makes sure everything is as it should be.  Of course he isn't in the middle of the track, so I start fumbling and bumbling around.  By the time I managed to get everything unhooked, one of the firemen came up with a little bitty fire extinguisher, and put out the fire.  I'm still not out of the car and because of my fire suit pants, probably not going to get out before the races are over...........so........one fireman grabbed under my arms and another one reached in and grabbed my feet, and out I came.  I have no idea what John was thinking, he said he was just glad they got me out.  But I have a feeling it looked like dragging a body out........LOL  The rest of the night so many people came up to ask if I was OK, never thought so many people would care about a crazy old woman.  That was rather nice, considering my car is totaled..!  That was the last point race, and the guy responsible for the damage was 2 points behind me for 5th place.....!!!  hmmmm, I wonder......????   No, surely he wouldn't do it on purpose, would he?  

Of course by the time we got home early this morning, Doug was asleep.  But this morning we heard about how the evening went.  

A few days ago, while we were gone Doug found the gate to Burroland off the post on the back side two days in a row.  We blame Frijolita, she is our gate challenger, although the rest of them seemed to appreciate her efforts and went with her.  We have been limiting their time in Burroland to cut down on their access to mesquite beans.  Guess they decided to take matters into their own "hooves".  

John fixed it and I guess he did a good job.  Doug said when he came out to round them up for evening feeding, everyone was easy to get in, except Lynn and Cheyenne were missing.  Of course he panicked, said he looked all over the 10 acres and they weren't anywhere.  Amy and Morgan came to help feed and clean pens and so the 3 of them started looking.  Amy started yelling she found them.........over in Burroland, headed towards the closed gate to finally come in for supper.  This morning those two were back over on Burroland again.  But, they goofed up, Doug was watching when they came to the fence and tried to get back in from where they had went out.  Heh! heh!  Busted.....!!!  Our land is not exactly flat, there is a lot of difference in the topography and the fence in some areas isn't low enough to stop a determined mini I guess.  That particular spot won't be usable in the future though.  

The flies are really bad right now, I guess they are trying to complete their life cycle before it gets cold.  I don't think they have to be so frantic, it usually doesn't get to freezing around here until late November. 

BOY DID I HAVE FUN LAST NIGHT

John took this picture of the pretty little pristine car when we got to the track yesterday afternoon.

 I won the main event, BUT the car isn't quite as pretty as it was.....!! LOL  Somebody tried to tear my door off.   We don't race for another month, so John will have time to plan his attack.  He's got a lot of "straightening" to do, unfortunately.   He actually likes to do that sort of stuff.  When we were dating I had the front of my 1950 Chevy pretty well mangled by a 1963 Ford Galaxie.  So John went to the junk yard, got the parts and put it back together, so I wouldn't be without wheels.  My kind of guy...........LOL

See why I need to have a black bumper.....!!!! LOL  A white bumper gathers too much paint from the other cars, if I happen to "accidentally"  bump them. 

After I won and drove under the flag stand to get my trophy, John ran all the way over from the pit bleachers, way on the other side of the track, which is a 3/8's mile track.  It's a wonder he didn't have a heart attack. 

I'll finish this later, our poo picker-upper didn't come today, so John is picking up.  Unfortunately on race nights they are in the pens about 12 hours, which means there is a lot of poo.  He just came in and said he did Boaz and the mule's pen and had to dump the bucket.  We usually get 2 buckets.  Since there are 17 pens, this might be a record.  So I better go help.

It's later and I'm back, and we managed to only have 4 buckets, don't know if that is a record or not.  It's been awhile since I picked up poo and my back said, it wasn't interested in continuing this past time.  I've noticed as I "mature" my body does not appreciate having to do something out of my daily routine.  Actually there's a lot of things it doesn't appreciate......!!! LOL

When we got home about 2am the donkeys were all more than ready to get out of their pens.  A lot of them let John know they had been in pens long enough and wanted OUT.  We've tried to explain to them about how some equine stay in stalls or small pens all the time, but I don't think they care, they just wanted OUT. 

Quilla and Ruger were play fighting this morning, first one would chase and bite neck, then the other one would take a turn.  They played for a long time, until John went out to do round up, that was more important, since they were fed early yesterday.  Quilla seems to be a very good "uncle" for Ruger and Wister, he puts up with their nonsense and seems to enjoy it.  Ruger doesn't always hang out with Ruthie and Wister, but he does spend a lot of time with them, which is why I think they would make a good trio, if I could find a forever home for them. 

THIS TIME TOMORROW WE'LL BE HEADED FOR THE TRACK......!!!

We took this picture this afternoon before the one in the 21x was touched up.  John painted it the other day and I hadn't looked at it closely.  I noticed this afternoon that it needed more black on the one, so John said if I'd mark it he'd paint it.  Too bad I didn't notice it before we took the pictures....!!! 

Anyway tomorrow night is the first night of our regular season of racing.  I hope we have a good year and not too many crisis'.  

Last year we just had the BlackJack Racing on the trunk, but this year I had a decal made from a picture I have of BlackJack.  It made a cute decal, but John just about pulled his hair out trying to get it on the car.  The little "hairy" edges didn't want to cooperate.  

It's just about time to drag out the fly masks for all.  A couple are already wearing masks, as they are fly magnets.  We don't have a lot of flies yet, but as warm as it's been, it won't be long.  

I'm trying something different this year.  I've always hung out the nasty smelling fly traps bags as soon as the flies showed up.  Someone told me that since they attract flies, they actually draw flies into you area.  Makes sense, so I'm not going to hang any traps and see what happens.  I got my first order of fly predators from Spalding  last month and the 2nd batch today, so we'll just go with them, for awhile.  

Monday we will take Boaz into the vet to see what she thinks his knee needs to be cut on again.  Poor boy, he just takes it all in stride, he's very easy to work with.  

Well John's shelter experiment isn't going too well.  He found out you can put enough pressure on PVC pipe if you bend it in an arch to break it.  He marching ahead with plan B as soon as he can get to Tucson and get some more PVC.  Not sure where this is going to end up but hopefully the animals will get a shelter eventually.........!!!  LOL

ALL READY TO GO........!!! 

ROUGH RACE NIGHT.....!!!

I had fun, but it was not without contact, here and there.  Managed to not ruin any tires, but the car doesn't look so good.  

As you can probably tell from the pictures the track was quite muddy.  Did find out I like a muddy track, I won my heat race, without damage.  John said the others were all squirreling around in the mud, while I had what they call a clear track, once I got past the 3 cars that started in front of me. 

All this is from the main event, doesn't even show the rear bumper that is being held on by the 2 "required" chains. If it wasn't for the chains, someone would have had a bumper to avoid, if they could.  Ripped the bolts right out.  The front damage happened going into turn 1.  One of the drivers that really doesn't like a muddy track, basically stopped going into the turn and I was right behind her.  Surprised the heck out of the guy behind me, which is what happened to my rear bumper.  

I fought the whole race trying to get around the mud hater, she has a bigger motor than I do, but obviously I was handling better than she was.  I could catch her in the corners and pull up on her side, but she'd power me down the straight away.  I could have taken her out, but I hate to do that.  One of the other cars spun her for me.  Unfortunately since I was on her bumper at the time, I got collected up in the mess with a couple of other cars behind me.  Think of the filling in a sandwich, that was me......!!! Of course when they got us straightened out, she and I were in the back and she started in front of me..........again.......!!! SIGH

The caved in rear door with the blue paint happened when I stopped a car coming back from the outside of the track at speed from ending up in the infield.  Wasn't really my idea, but it sure did straighten him out in a hurry...!!  A little farther back and I would have probably cut another tire, which really would have upset John, my crew chief.  He wasn't very happy with the 2 cut tires last race day...!!!!  LOL

I finished 6th.  Unfortunately the young lady that is behind me in end of the year points finished 2nd and gained 17 points on me.  We have 4 more races, so she might just catch me, if I don't start finishing better.  

John was thinking about using a new rear door, to replace this one that can't really be pounded out anymore and has a rip in it.  I told him just to do what he could and keep the new one for next year.  He's got new body panels except for the left rear door and front fenders.  These fenders ARE the new ones we had.  LOL  Time for another trip to U-Pull-It I guess. 

When we go racing the donkeys end up spending about 12 hours more or less in their pens.  OMG you would think they have been abused, to hear them when I get out to open the driveway gate.  John tells them a lot of equine spend all their time in pens, some that aren't even as big as the ones we have.  They don't really seem to care, they just want to get out and make up for lost time. 

BRATS.........!!!

Well, I must say round-up Friday night was "interesting". Most of the herd were over in Burroland and not the least bit interested in coming in to eat hay.  John went over, found some of them, got them headed to the gate, and they circled around him and disappeared.  

I went over and pretty much came up empty handed.  Went I came back, I almost got ran down by a thundering herd, headed for the gate.  John had found them and once he got Tula headed the right direction, the rest followed.  Wished I had the camera, they were running, bucking and having a great time. 

Somewhere in the melee Coquette lost Penny.  Talk about a crisis?  She absolutely panics if she doesn't know where Penny is.  John got her in their pen before she really fell apart, so then she just paced and yelled.  When Penny showed up you could almost see the relief in Coquettes eyes.  Coquette would be adoptable, she's healthy and has had training.  But her attachment to hunchbacked, fearful Penny probably means they will both stay here.  I can't see most people wanting to give Penny a home, although she is very sweet, she is not what most people want in a donkey.  Sad............!!!!  Unless Coquette gets over clinging to Penny, we won't ever separate them.  They weren't even in the same pen up at Milagros, I guess this attachment developed on the trailer ride. 

John had ran across Pepper, so we knew he was up.  But we couldn't find him, everyone else was finally in their pens........no Pepper.........!!  We had not planned ahead for such a problem getting them in their pens, so by this time it's getting pretty dark.  I went over to look for him, and finally came back to go ahead and mix up my feed pans, while John went over to look for him.  John said he walked the complete 20 acres, never saw hide nor hair of him.  Was almost to the gate to come back over here, said he heard a noise behind him, and there was Pepper, looking at him like, "you looking for me?"  

We've seen him laying down twice lately on his left side, which is great.  He can get up pretty easy from his left side, not at all from the right.  I don't know if he puts any thought into the repercussions when he lays down.  My personal thought is his right leg and hip are weak from the hip being cracked and the left leg, while not all that strong anymore, is stronger than the right.  So when he tries to lay down by collapsing his hind quarters, the stronger leg, stays up longer than the almost useless weak one, and the right one gives out first and down he goes.  Maybe the right one is getting a little stronger, so he actually has a little bit of control of which side goes down first.  I'm sure after 3 years of us having to roll him over, he knows what he needs to do, but it doesn't always work out like he'd like it to. 

Yesterday was race day, so they didn't get to go over to Burroland, but we'll let them out this afternoon for a couple of hours.  Hope it doesn't take longer to get them back, than they are over there.......!!! LOL

Finished the test for my "safe driving" award.  What a waste of time and effort, remember I said I was learning more than I ever wanted to know about Speed Racer?  After spending 4 hours studying driving safety with Speed Racer questions thrown in for comic relief, the final test of 25 multiple choice questions was all Speed Racer questions, like "What is Speed Racers favorite animal at the zoo?" or 

"What is Speed Racers favorite snack?"....!!  Afterwards they asked for a critique of the class, so I did my best.....!!!!   Don't think they will be using it as a testimonial.......!!! LOL

Racing has gone better.  The heat race was OK, but in the main event, I got a flat about the 2nd or 3rd lap.  They will let you stay on the track with a flat, unless it is the right front.  Mine was the left front, so I stayed out and managed to stay in the pack, until coming in contact with another car, flattened the right front, so I had to pull off.  You might know, there were a lot of hornets for a change and only a couple of them had fell out, even though it was late in the race.  So I got scored at 15th....!!!  That's my lowest finish this year.  Too bad it wasn't one of those nights when only 10 or 11 cars show up....!!! LOL.  We have 5 more races, two of them the same night as a make up race for a night this summer when we got rained out.  I trying to hang on to my 5th place for end of the year points, it's going to take more than 15th place finishes to keep it.  Hopefully this was just a bad night and not the start of something else.....!!!

POWER STEERING IS THE ANSWER TO THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS......!!!

At least I think so.  The races last night were the most fun I've had in a long time.  I've never driven with power steering, so didn't know what I was missing.  Usually after the races I'm wore out, but that wasn't the case and I know it was the power steering.  YIPPEE.....!!!!   I won my heat race and finished 4th in the main event, the only thing that would have made me happier was to have won the main.  I was up there trying, but there's just too much motor in some of the other cars, although I was hoping they might run over each other.....!!!    I know that's not very sportsmanlike, but a win is a win and I'll take it anyway I can get it.....!!!!  LOL  Over the winter John and some of the guys are going to lock up the differential, which according to those that have them, really makes a difference.  We're racing tonight again because of Labor Day, hopefully it will be as much fun as last night was. 

Of course when we go to the races the donkeys get fed early, we start at 2pm as opposed to 6pm.  We don't get home until sometime after 1am, so they get to spend a lot of time in their pens with nothing to do.  When I get out to open the driveway gate, it sounds like a chorus, if you enjoy a donkey serenade, although I'm sure they aren't "singing" because they know we like to hear them.   Of course right now they are confined to the 10 acres, which adds insult to injury in their minds.  So far the cattle haven't gone into Burroland.  We haven't even heard any cows lately, don't know if they've been moved or what.  I asked John what we were going to do if the cattle don't eat the beans.  He said something about having a "bean raking" party with all our friends.............Hmmmmm.......I would imagine we wouldn't have any friends if we wanted them to rake 20 acres of beans....!!!  I really don't know what we'll do, we've heard they won't eat them after the beans have laid on the ground for awhile, but I'm not sure I want to rely on that information.  

The people are on their way to see if they want to add the mini mules to their herd.  I rather torn about letting them go, if the people want them.  They really are cute little devils with busy little minds, lots of fun to watch.  But a good family home trumps being in rescue/sanctuary any day, lots more one on one time, especially if they would be trained to drive. 

I'M SLEEPY & THE DAY IS STILL YOUNG........!!!

Sundays after Saturday night races is always pretty low key.  The donkeys get fed & that's about it for the day.....!!!!  John sits in his recliner & "watches" the race he taped last night.  We already know who won, & he isn't a favorite in this house, so John doesn't mind missing most of it as he catches up from getting to bed about 3:30am.  

This is Reilly, my passenger for the night.  He's somewhat of a gear head, and I think he had a good time.  We finished 2nd in a rather ho hum heat race.  The main event was a lot more interesting.  He got to see other cars up close and personal, we "kissed" one of the big tractor tires in the middle on our way to get back on the track, after someone had rudely sent us in that direction. We did some "agricultural" racing, which happens when you go into a corner too fast or too high on the track.  It's a good thing our track doesn't have walls, or I'd never survive.........!!!  And I didn't tell Reilly, but the the last 2 laps were a little more exciting than I expected.........the gas pedal stuck wide open.  That's when we did some of that off the track agricultural racing, we were going into the corners a lot faster than I wanted to.  It "fixed" itself just about the time they threw the checkered flag.  John will check it, but it probably got some clay or a rock caught up in the cable.  Not a fun experience.  

One of the cars rolled over which brings out the red flag.  That means STOP right now, wherever you are on the track.  I stopped behind one of the other cars & all of a sudden BANG.............!!!!  Someone wasn't paying attention I guess..!!  Of course it pushed me into the car I had stopped behind.  I asked Reilly what car it was, he said black.  About half the cars are black & he couldn't see the number.  I figured whoever it was backed up, so I decided to back off the car in front of me.  When I backed up, the "black" car was still there close enough I got him.  If you believe that, I'll sell you some ocean front property in Arizona........!!!  Heh, heh, heh...........!!! 

John was so proud of his new bumper he got to replace the partial bumper from last race day, see how shiny it is & not a scratch on it in the picture above? 

The hood doesn't look so good either.......!!!!  LOL

The back has a few "wounds" too, for some reason last night was pretty rough.  

We managed to finish 6th.

We got home so late because our good friend Larry won his 3rd race & the track wanted to see the inside of his motor.  It takes awhile to tear down a motor, even with lots of help.  He was legal, which was a disappointment for some other Factory Stock drivers.  Larry's a real good driver, he doesn't need to cheat.  He's won main events in 5 decades & has a chance for another championship this year.  He has been a champion at other tracks, but not this one.  Hope he gets it.....!!!

RACE NIGHT TONIGHT.....!!!

Not sure why the car looks so red/pink.  It is actually General Motors Engine Orange, which is as close to Hugger Orange, an old muscle car color from the 60's,  as we can get without paying for it.....!!! LOL  Car paint that has red pigment in it, costs a fortune anymore.  John can paint all the orange on the car with 3 or 4 spray cans of paint.

I am going to have my first "ride along" tonight.  A friend of ours asked if the 13 year old son of her boss could ride in the heat race.  His birthday wish was to be able to go into the pits, so her husband upped the ante & asked if he could ride with me.  The last I heard they are talking about his Dad riding in the main event....!!!  I hope they aren't screamers, that would be very distracting I think.  LOL

Molly Brown got to go out last night after being in "prison" for a couple of days.  At afternoon feeding she wasn't favoring her leg, much at all, so we decided to let her out.  She came in this morning walking good, so that crisis is over I guess.   I'm sure there will be another one, just around the corner, they sure like to keep me on my toes.  

I'm still working on Boaz's knee with Wonder Dust.  Might take an update picture when I change the bandage, either tomorrow or Monday.  It's looking pretty good, but don't see a whole lot of healing going on. 

VET WAS OUT THIS MORNING

This is what Jenny's foot looks like when it bleeds

I figured Dr. Megan might as well come out & see what she thinks of Jenny's foot & see if there is something else we should be doing.  I sure like having a mobile vet in the neighborhood again...........!!!!

She was pleased with the hoof growth at the coronet, it is coming in smooth & hard.  Of course right below it is where the abscess popped a few weeks ago & it is squishy & icky.  But like she said & I had already thought of, if it's open that a good thing, as long as there is any foreign "stuff" in there.  She said to continue giving her SMZ & soaking a couple of times a week.  So I guess I wouldn't have needed her to come out, except she did take x-rays to compare with the ones taken up at Gilbert, when Jenny was up there in April.  It will be good to know what's going on in there for sure..........as long as it's improvement, don't want to hear anything else.  

All in all a good experience & Jenny actually was a good girl, raised her foot when needed & didn't try to lean on the Vet. Wasn't real happy with the x-ray business, but I have seen her worse.  According to the clinic at Gilbert she not only kicked but actually landed a good one on one of the techs.  I've never seen her kick, although she will lean on you or use her head to slam you up against a wall or corral panel, if given the opportunity. 

Dr. Megan said the bleeding is probably because there is so much blood in the area of the new granulation tissue, that it doesn't take much to make it bleed like crazy.  At least I think that's what she said, I need to get a tape recorder, I sometimes think I forget more than I remember, when someone tells me something........!!!

We only have one more night of racing the 13th of October.  Unfortunately last Saturday night I blew another motor.  We're beginning to think Kia Sephias don't have the endurance a Toyota Tercel has......although it is faster...!!!! LOL  So John went to the guy that had borrowed the Toyota & got it back.  That was the deal originally, he could borrow it, but if I needed it to race for points I'd take it back.  He had wrecked it a few weeks ago, & it was sitting in a shop with money owed on it, so he didn't fight too hard.  He had painted it blue & yellow (UGH), so John is busy getting it ready to paint.  Stopped on the way home from picking it up & got about a dozen cans of spray paint...........!!! LOL

BEFORE

AFTER, I hope......Hard to believe it's the same car....!  This is from last year. 

He is going to "try" rebuilding one of the Kia motors.  He's a Chevy man, could rebuild a Chevy with his eyes closed I think...........BUT..........according to him, there is a lot of difference between a Chevy & a 4 cylinder overhead cam motor.  I'm sure he'll figure it out, & there's some guys around that should be able to help him, if he gets stuck.  

 TWO VALUABLE WORDS:  PATIENCE & WISDOM

Took Pepper to the vet today to see if they might have an idea about the spells he has, when he gets down, can't get up & then is disorientated for a couple of hours.  

One thing we noticed right away is "there's a new vet in town"..........!!!!  And she is mobile........!!! YIPPEE!  Over the years Nancy has had other vets working with her, but it seems like after a couple of years they move on & we are without a mobile vet again.  Megan says she is here to stay, so hopefully she'll be around for awhile.  

She checked him over, looked in his mouth & couldn't find the grey spot we saw in the spring.  She said there is a smooth spot in the area we saw it, but it isn't discolored.  She poked & prodded him, & didn't find anything out of the ordinary for an "mature" gentleman.  Actually gentleman  isn't really what he was, we warned her about him using his head as a weapon.  Besides having to watch out for that, he also decided he was ready to do something else before she was finished.  When she rinsed him mouth out he got some water down his lungs & panicked poor old guy.  He started scrambling & almost went down, which of course scared him. Needless to say he was ready to get in the trailer, to come home.  

I'm glad they didn't find anything, but I'm glad we took him in.  She said he could be having little strokes or something like that, there's really no way to tell, unless he was in the middle of having one.  And there really isn't anything that could be done even if we knew for sure what is happening.  

I told her of course they usually happen on week-ends or holidays, & she said she's on call, bless her heart.  

Gus is doing just fine, tomorrow will be rebandage day.  Today was the last day for his shots, which I'm sure won't break his heart, although he will miss his animal cracker.  

Jenny still has a little drainage from the abscess at least I hope it's an abscess & not infection again.  I called the clinic at Gilbert yesterday, & was told to not soak the foot too much & to continue with the SMZ.  Sure hope it works.  

Racing tomorrow night, only have 3 more race nights till the season is over.  I'm still in 5th place for end of the year points.  I had hoped to be able to move into 4th place, but unless the guy in 4th quits racing, there's too many points to make up.  Of course I better watch 6th place or they might catch me.........!!!!   LOL

HURRAH....GOT THE VIDEO LOADED......!!!

It's down a couple of posts, still don't know what happened.  The last couple of days it wouldn't download, but this morning it worked.........!!!

As soon as chores are done in the morning, we'll head for Las Cruces, NM to do a home study for Tucker & Mocha's new home.  It's about 230 miles over there, so we'll be gone all day, hopefully we'll get home in time to do chores........!!!! LOL

Tonight John's taking me to practice at the race track.

This was last week-end & not real exciting, but at least I stayed on the track for the most part.  I'm the orange slash/white one running around in about 10th place.

Tonight at practice I want to work on going into the turns, that's where I'm losing about a second on the lap.  John thinks I need to barrel into the turn & not tap the brakes.  Hmmmmmmm  sounds like a good opportunity for some "agricultural racing".  At least there isn't anything close to our track, so if you go off it's just a matter of making sure you keep the wheels on the ground rather than in the air, crank the wheel & head back for the track.  Hopefully there isn't someone already on the track where you come back on........!!!  LOL

UPDATE......!!!

Vet clinic called this morning, said Jenny's still getting stronger, that it only takes one person to help her get her rear end up under her now.  So she's still not "on her own" yet...........SIGH.....!!!  But we'll take what we can get.  She said they go out & get her up during the day a few times.  So we probably aren't going to be going up to get her until later in the week.  

I finally got a picture of Boaz's leg this morning.  It's much better than it was, but I don't see it getting completely well without the vet scraping it down some more.  It's just too thick.  

Racing went pretty good last night.  Finished 2nd in the heat race & 7th in the main event.  Brought the car home in one piece, so that makes John happy.......!!! LOL

Also brought home a rather oversized end of the year trophy for last year.  I finished in 6th place in the Hornet class & this trophy is about 4 foot tall......!!!   Absolutely the biggest most useless piece of "memorabilia" I've ever had the pleasure of possessing.  Have no idea what the 1st place one looks like, but I bet it was BIG.......!!! 

There was a big mess at the end of the year, the promoter got locked out of the track, & it's all new people now.  I guess he left the trophies & the new people just got around to handing them out.  Too bad they didn't have access to the end of the year point fund money, he absconded with. 

Any ideas on what to use it for?