Event Coverage El Mirage-Opening Day for the 2013 Season

I made it out to El Mirage saturday for a few hours. It was opening day for the 2013 SCTA season.
I was only able to get some shots at the starting line and the staging areas.
I was unable to get to the pits for photos or to the finish line, so my photos are limited, but...I did have a nice talk with "Bad Bob" and "Elmo Rodge"...good guys.

It's about 75 miles out to El Mirage. This time of the year we get a lot of early morning overcast from the Pacific Ocean but as you go up through Cajon Pass you eventually get to the ridge and over to the Mojave Desert.



and there's the first glimpse of blue sky



about another 25 miles to go



off of the asphalt and onto dirt, then about three miles of lake bed to get to the starting line











Our own "Elmo Rodge" on the right with the pith helmet















I believe she hit over 195 MPH

 

Great pics

 

Great pic's ZOOMER!!!

 

every crew member helps!











I finally got to meet Nathan, aka "Beef Stew".....!!!!!!!!

 

Great pics thanks

 

and THE man himself, 85 year old Gene Winfield was there with his purple coupe, "The Thing"....









one last drink of water





Gene ready for battle















That's it.....I got out for 3+ hours, which was pretty good after getting my spine fused a few months ago.
It's a start anyways.........

 

Please, make it so one day, I can just visit the "Flats" , yeah , one time ...............

scrubba

 

Great pictures as usual. I really like the saturated color. Not overdone...just very well done.

 

Man you can just see all the history carved into those faces. God bless everyone of them for giving all of us so many great memories.

 

Those were terrific photos. Thanks for sharing with us. By the way , I know what you are talking about with the spinal fusion. I am fused from my rib cage to my sacroiliac(sp?)
Later,
Dick

 

I use a polarizer filter to cut down the glare. but that about it....thats why the sky is a bit darker., I tend to lean towards dense photos....and than you for your kind words...

 

These are awsome pic's and wish I had met you this weekend as I was there both days. Did get to meet Bad Bob and hang out,his chopped Ford truck is really neat ride that is a true daily driver. The one car that blew my mind was Ford Taurus with a flathead v8 Ford power and it went 131mph! When a chute fails at 150+ that was wild waiting at finish line and the vehicle just keeps going.

 

Yeah, those are a "hold your breath" moment.

 

Thanks for the shots Maz. Appreciated.

 

Mazooma.....Thanks for the GREAT photos, color, closeups & comp......the BEST!

 

Nice work Doug ....
Mission accomplished.

 

Your pictures tell a thousand stories. I find it interesting to see the BMR coupe restored and back doing what it does best. Doug does like to play with his rockets. One observation that strikes me is that most, if not all of the hardcore speed freaks are old men, with the exception of a few of the folks with the bikes. I guess it takes a wad now, to build, maintain and race a contender, judging from all the gee whiz aerospace derived instrumentation and jet jockey controls in the cockpits, and the uber high-tech engine compononents required to make and keep breaking records. These flawless machines, with their mind boggling systems to deliver fuel and spark, and the finely made tubing that funnels away the exhaust certainly takes a lot of talent to build and spin up for a run. And, ain't it wonderful there are no sponsors trying to sell us stuff we don't want, or need? I especially enjoy the faces. See in them what you like, but we are close enough to observe, if only momentarily, people who enjoy what they are doing, even if it kills them. I sure do like that 'A' model that runs a vintage 4. There used to be a club in Monrovia that did that but I lost touch with them when I moved. Keep up the good work. I like what I see.

 

Thanks for the pic's, another thing on the bucket for me.
you were lucky to attend.
Thanks again, bob

 

And a Video I stole from Facebook https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=494804093918755&set=vb.100001675060821&type=2&theater Featuring the world famous "BeefStew" in the role of starter.

 

Wow Doug I wish I would have known you were there. I spent most of Sat sitting at the finish line watching them go through the traps.

 

Thanks for the pics, but would have liked to see some of the coupe you drove to the event in.

 

Great pictures...

 

cool pics

 

Great pictures !!!!! Almost like being there !!! Well very good action shots. Thanks

 

Cheers Doug, you always take great pics. JW

 

This year is the first time in 15 years I missed the season opener. I was doing fine until I saw your photos. Now I'm really pissed off that I had to miss it. But as usual Doug, great photos!! Thanks.

 

Even with back problems you still manage great shots Doug. Glad you were finally able to get out for awhile.