Day 2 : New Weston OH - The Batemans
Trip Start
Jul 15, 2010
1
2
28
Trip End
Aug 19, 2010
New Weston, Ohio
Friday, July 16, 2010
Learning from our past experiences at USA Airports we decided that we may as well get up and packed and plan to be left the Hotel by 3.30 am.. Yes I know we werent flying out until 6 am but we just knew we could not afford to miss this flight!
After shifting to three different queue lines because we already had our boarding passes and luggage tagged, we finally got our bags checked in. Then we queued yet again and by the time we eventually got through security it was 5.15 a.m.
The useless people at United somehow booked us all into separate seats. That's right, they checked a 3 year old kid into a middle seat all by himself with us on the total opposite side of the plane!!!
At the gate they couldn't do anything for us so we had to just board and then work it out with the passengers around us to move and eventually a nice girl and another guy offered to shift.
After some 3 and half hours we landed in Chicago on time and then found out that our connecting flight to Dayton was in Terminal F. The walk was quite lengthy and by the time we got over there the boys were absolutely stuffed.
We boarded the small plane and the hour flight took no time at all and before we knew it we were finally in OHIO.
We anxiously waited at the baggage claim to see if the old 'Red Rocket' was aboard but to Jo's dismay he was once again a no-show.
After filling out more paperwork for the missing bag we caught a shuttle and collected our Chevrolet Impala from the rental company.
I hate to admit it, but after loading the boys in I jumped in the front as usual to find that the steering wheel and pedals were on the other side of the car. After looking around to see if anyone had saw me get in the wrong side, I slowly got out and walked around and got in the other side and proceeded to drive around and pick up Jo and the bags.
We were pretty happy to be finally doing what we really enjoy doing and that is just driving around the countryside of the U.S.A. The short drive from Dayton up to the Bateman's house is pretty neat.
We pulled up the drive of the Bateman's house at around 3.30pm and Chris and Albert came rushing out to meet us. Albert is of course the famous family dog.
Our friendship with this family started many years ago when I posted a message on a message board asking for a place to stay near Eldora and Clyde and Jonathan replied offering a bed at their house. The rest is history and we absolutely love being out here and staying with them all once again.
After a little bit of settling in, it was time for me to rush over to that famous racetrack for the World Of Outlaws - Knight Before The Kings Royal.
In such a haste to get over to the track I yet again jumped in the wrong side of the damn car. So here I am sitting 2 for 2 at jumping in the passenger seat. Once again, after a quick look to see that no-one had saw me, I ran around to the left side and sped off.
By the time I got up to the track and signed in for my media pass qualifying had started.
I made my way down and grabbed all Stevie Kinser's camera gear as I had previously arranged that to save me lugging my gear all around the USA.
I took a heap of photos through the heats and then went up to sit with Clyde during the features.
We saw Joey Saldana put on a clinic in the World Of Outlaws feature and then Tony Stewart run down the leader with around 8 to go in the 360 main event.
Highlight of the night was seeing NASCAR superstars Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Dave Blaney all running Sprintcars whilst NASCAR had the weekend off. Isn't it awesome that these guys come and do this whenever they get the opportunity because of how much fun Sprintcar racing is.
Poor Steven Lines got a massive wake up in his heat tonight when he lined on the inside of the 6th row. The cars along the inside line read Kasey Kahne, Danny Lasoski, Dave Blaney, Tony Stewart and Tony Lutar... Amazing!
I must thank Shannon Saldana and Stevie Kinser for donating a couple t-shirts each to help out the boys whilst their baggage remained lost.
Lets just hope it turns up tomorrow hey.
