Personal Log: Drag Race Day

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Next year's event will be called the Elliot Handler Memorial Races.
We did not at that time know that the inventer of the Hot Wheels had died two days before.



Personal Log: Drag Race Day

This was a personal event related to the IKV Melota. I have started on a series of summer events to get klingons, mundanes and families together while it is too hot to wear uniforms or go outside*. Thus, I post this on my LEGACY IKV Melota website.

*Notes about heat follow the main text.

We had IKV Melota members and a few mundanes participating. This event had a better turnout than last month's "Guitar Hero Night".

We all met in the neighborhood of 1500 at the House Salek. Grilling started earlier so that as attendees arrived, they got fed immediately. Thus, the racing started at 1500.

I have the largest Hot Wheels set of anybody I know, dead or alive. Anybody can buy cars anytime. I have enough track to cross the house and return.

Nobody else had classic "Redline" cars to run. (bummer) Some of the participants were not even born when Hot Wheels came into being. Some participants also did not have their childhood cars. It would have been fun running them. However, we had plenty of cars from various decades and even new in the package so everybody got to make runs.

I set up a drag strip using my original track from Christmas, 1969. Our "drivers" ran their cars on a "quarter room" track one-on-one for bragging rights.

As new cars hit the launcher, they were announced. As my original cars from 1969-1972 hit the launcher, they were ANNOUNCED.

In one of the photos, you see my Red Baron (1972) about to run T'Paun's Red Baron. This was a good fair run because both of these cars are from our childhoods and not new.

I got out my Mongoose and awed them with the fact that it came with a drag chute that worked.

I must admit a loss. This is the first HW event that I have hosted where my original Redline 1968 Corvette (Xmas, 1969) lost. I would like to proclaim the winner to all. However, just as with "Guitar Hero Night" last month, I was suffering from a 1983 bicycle wreck and between the pain and the pain killer, I don't remember much of the day beyond the fact that I had a lot of fun with my friends and family. I also should have put on a shirt.

Later, after the excitement of the cars wore down due to determining a winner, we got out the loop-the-loops (1988) and started running the various cars. Some of the newer cars are too light and don't stay stuck to the track.
In the loop photo, you see my 68 Vette (1969) and my Red Baron (1972) both on the upper side of the loops.
Also, we brought out the Bug Bite Set (1972). In one of the photos, you see its numbered track. In another photo, you see the Bug. I don't have a photo of it in play, though.

Once the cars wore off, we moved to "Guitar Hero" for a reprise of the June event.

Yes, I talked a lot about my track and cars. I hope that it inspires feelings and memories in others. I truly submit that those of us with white beards or white streaks in the hair should pull out those original toys from our childhood and re-live those days today. Get out that Barbie. Get out that Hot Wheels car. Get out that skateboard as I did some 33 years later. Get out your G.I. Joe and send his Mercury capsule a thousand feet up on a rocket as this fellow did.

Have FUN! Don't grow old. Grow experienced and know how to play.

Strength and Honor

Cdr. Salek, Sutai
Ship's Brewer
IKV Melota





       



       




Dragon caused a wreck.(left) Numbered track is Bug Bite track.(right)


The Bug Bite set in action.


The Bug from the Bug Bite Set.


Red Baron's balance is off enough to cause a problem.

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
333 AM CDT FRI JUL 29 2011
...HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT SUNDAY...
* EVENT...AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL RISE
TO OR EXCEED 105 DEGREES THROUGH SUNDAY. LOW TEMPERATURES
TONIGHT WILL ONLY FALL TO BETWEEN 78 AND 84 DEGREES.
* TIMING...NOW THROUGH 8 PM CDT SUNDAY EVENING.
* IMPACT...INCREASED CONCERN FOR HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES DUE TO
PERSISTENT HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
BE SURE TO CHECK ON PERSONS WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS AND THE
ELDERLY... AS THEY ARE THE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT EXHAUSTION
AND HEAT STROKE. NEVER LEAVE YOUNG CHILDREN OR PETS IN AN
ENCLOSED VEHICLE...EVEN FOR A SHORT TIME...AS TEMPERATURES CAN
QUICKLY RISE TO LIFE THREATENING LEVELS.
TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN
POSSIBLE...RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR
EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT
STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN
POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.
TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS
IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY
HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE
IS AN EMERGENCY - CALL 911.

As of this writing, we are in our 28th straight day of 100+/no rain. The 7 day forecast page shows tomorrow as being the coldest of the next seven days at 100. The other six days are warm.





                 


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