Athens, TN All-American Soap Box Derby

Wednesday July 21, 2010

Akron, Ohio

Today was our second practice run for both drivers followed by some alignment time in the pit area and then wheel selection and one final weigh in and inspection. Sounds easy when I write it. Of course Autumn had a 5:30 AM wake up call so she could be at the track by 7:15. Cass did not have to be there until 9 but we were all glad to draw early track times as it was heating up a bit in Akron today. Here are some photos from today's action.

Here is Autumn just before the ramp drops. It is about 7:40 a.m. What a way to wake up with a 30 mph breeze in your face on a 1000 foot race track.

After working on the car in the pit area and making final alignments to ..001 of an inch Autumn select a box of random wheels. You are not allowed to open them until you are under the watchful eye of an inspector though.

Now that they are watching you may open your box. The inspector is out of the photo but trust me she is watching.

Here Autumn helps dad Tony put on a championship wheel. Yes still under the eye of the nice inspector lady.

This is the walk Autumn and Tony were looking for, the walk to impound the car. You may not touch that car until race day. Sounds like NASCAR.

Here is Cass on the ramp getting final directions from Mike Lee our Regional Director from Cookeville. Mike is giving the age old advice of stay low and drive straight.

Oh and did Mike mention drive fast Cass?

After practice Cass polishes a spindle before putting on the alignment gauge.

Then the nice man in the yellow shirt looks at your car one more time to make sure you did nothing wrong.

You may now get your wheels

Remember when we said the nice lady was watching Autumn? Here she is wiping Cass's axles to make sure no illegal substance is on the spindle where the wheel is riding. My doctor said not to bend over that way and to use my knees but I guess she will learn that 500 cars from now.

You may now put on your wheels Cass.

To close today here is a photo of the New Zealand car. Extra points if you can identify the bird without using Google.

This afternoon the champs head back to the track for official photos and for trading night. We will see how good of traders Cass and Autumn are. Thanks to everyone in Athens for sending items with them to trade.

I am guessing the bird is a Kiwi the national bird of New Zealand. Can out run a human easily I am told.

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