Go Speedracer...

SW VA is quite "different" from perfect tree lined suburban utopia of Fairportpittsfordpennfield. The closest thing to Eastivew Mall is an hour away in Roanoke. Blacksburg, home of Virginia Tech, abounds in coffee houses, exclusive boutiques, trendy restaurants and homes starting at $300,000. However life is very different a outside of Blacksburg. We found this out two weeks ago. We decided eat out at the local steak house. While eating we witnessed several drag racers being loaded off trailers and trucks for a promotion of the local race track called the Motor Mile. Grace was thrilled! After seeing the Disney/Pixar movie Cars Grace was bitten by the car "bug". We took her out to see the cars after dinner. The pit crew offered for Grace to sit in the cars and we were given free tickets to the races the following night. I wondered what every one a home would think about the Walkers attending a drag race however, I knew at some point we'd have to start mixing with the "locals" and not looking so "yankee". So Sat. evening found the Walker clan walking to the speedway with blankets in tow. The crowd was not the same people you'd find at the Corn Hill Arts festival. One guy had a T-shirt with a huge confederate flag on the back. Under the flag read the following caption: " if you are offended by this you need a history lesson." There weren't any seats in the stadium, just concrete steps. People brought blankets or lawn chairs to sit on. I heard sinpets of conversation in long southern drawls. I smelled hot dogs and funnel cakes from the concession stands above. The national anthem began and everyone stood, hats removed,hands on hearts. I saw several mullets and some ladies wearing tube tops and spandex who probably shouldn't have. Grace loved watch the cars even though Dad had to get her a pair of ear plugs (it was REALLY) loud. In short, we had a great time.

Oh, one other thing. We gave Grace the camera to see what she would do with it and she took the pic. above of me and Carl. I think it's pretty good for only 2.5 years.