Subj: Larry's Adventure: Day 4-9
Date: 11/3/99

Hi Gang:
Well, many good and bad times have taken place since I last wrote.

4th
This was a quite day for events. I spent the day exploring the area, seeing the sights, and making contacts. At the end of the day, I had dinner with the president of the Jimmy Vasser (1996 CART Champion, third in 97 and second in 98) fan club and got filled in on the weekend events.

5th
Today was tiger day! I was given a number to call that involved a man (Wayne Reagan) who was studying lions and tigers. I gave Wayne a call, but only got his voice mail, while I was looking up his web site on the computer, he returned my call but his call went to my voice mail. I returned the call and got his voice mail again (tired of playing phone tag) so I told him that I was on my way to his place. There was a mailing address on his web so I started with that and headed for the desert. After reaching the town I drove around a bit but didn't see any signs about his operation, so I stopped at the local AAA office for information. They had heard of him, didn't know exactly where he lived but drew a circle where they thought he might live. They also said the local post office might help me.
Post Offices in the area seem to be little nooks in the back of other stores, rather than being their own buildings. I told the part-time postal worker of my plight. He knew Wayne but because of privacy requirements he would not tell me where he lived. He tried calling Wayne but only got his voice mail. He told me to call back and if Wayne said it was OK to give directions to his house, he would. I said thanks, but I was going to continue on with my quest. Having a circle draw on the map that was in a less populated area outside of another town, I departed. Hey, I got tiger experience, I'll root them out.
Arriving at the new town I stopped at the police station (of my own accord) and asked for his location; same privacy talk. I left the police station determined to find Wayne. Using my downed aircraft rescue techniques, I set up a grid and started driving a pattern that would leave no stone unturned. As I passed a horse ranch, I asked if they knew Wayne and they told me where he lived. I drove along the road he supposedly lived on, I didn't see anything that looked like a place with tigers. I stopped at another house and they told me he was the next ranch down. As I approached the ranch, this place looked like a tiger place; locked gate across the driveway, chain link fence out back, but now how do I contact Wayne? I tried another phone call but no luck. After a bit, I saw a man walking in the yard, so I got out of the car and hollered to him. He stopped, and I hollered, "Are you Wayne?" He said, "Yes, the gates unlocked, come on in." As I drove down the long driveway, two large dogs appeared and escorted my car. Wayne asked if I was Larry and I filled him in on my background and reason for being there. To make the rest of the story shorter; I spent the day scratching tigers, help Wayne feed/water them, and then pushed two tigers in cages to an area that had a man made pond with an island in the middle. We released the cats and spent the rest of the afternoon watching them play/stalk each other and trading tiger experiences. It was a great way to spend the day.

6th
This day was CART qualifying day. Lucky me, they had a Tiger Rescue display set up outside the track. They had two 5 month old Siberian cubs in a cage so I chatted with them for a while. Gave a donation for their facility, and as I was about to leave they asked if I wanted to go in with the cubs? That was a silly question, I said yes, and played with the cubs for a bit (Love them tigers). I bought more items for my Champ Car display and watched qualifying. Jimmy qualified 4th. Driving 101 had several cars on display, so I checked out the cars that I would be driving on Tues. Yup, they looked just like the Champ Cars I would be watching on Sunday. Saturday night I met an e-mail friend.

7th
RACE DAY! Getting to the track was easier than I thought. Plenty of entry points and police to direct race traffic. The fan club had reserved seats in one area so Jimmy had a large rooting section. In case you don't follow the CART series, the race was marred by the death of Greg Moore. Greg was an up and coming champion. Having won 10 of 12 races in the Toyota Atlantic Series he earned the distinction as the youngest driver to win a CART Fed-Ex race. Through his rookie season he finished second to Alex Zanardi (Alex became back to back CART champion the following two years, then moved to F1). He won a total of 5 races and it was only when, not if, he would become the next CART champion. It is not known what happened, but his car went unexpectedly out of control, rolled and hit helmet first, square on, into a cement retaining wall. The accident was out of sight, but when they showed the replay on ESPN; you could see that it was not survivable, but we all prayed. I later heard of his death on my scanner, they announced it later at the track, and flags went to half mast. It wasn't till after the race that the other drivers were told. Like others, the CART community is a tight knit group, and grief could not be contained by many drivers and crew. A small bouquet of flowers was placed by Greg's trailer and spectators kept there distance out of respect. There was little celebration, and that only lasted for a moment before somberness returned. What would have been jubilation for Target/Chip Ganassi being the first to capture four consecutive championships in Honda powered cars, turned into a memorial for Greg.
I liked Greg a lot. He loved to race, was talented, and was a good ambassador for the series. He was liked by many, and will be missed by all.
I was going to write Sunday night, but with the death of Greg, and later learning that my Aunt (who we just moved to a nursing home in Maine) had been place in the hospital, nothing but gloom would have been in the letter.

8th
I'm at the base that is a few miles south of Area 51. I could tell you where it is...but then I'd have to kill you :-) Actually, it's Nellis AFB (home of the Thunderbirds) When Craig and I were out here last year, we put on over 100 miles, on dirt roads, hunting down secret military bases that don't exist. Even managed to get ourselves on to an active aerial gunnery range (talk about fancy driving). Ah, but that was another time. Nellis is just north of Las Vegas. It is a lot cooler now than in the summer, when even at midnight, the temperatures are still triple digits. The room is typical to the others in size and price (3 nights for $45). The only draw back is that the A-10s, F-16s, and F-15s seem to depart at 0600, or earlier. I think they use their afterburner as a way of saying, "I'm up, so you should be too." I will check out the driving 101 (www.driving101.com) place and get a heads up on what I will be doing on Tues.
I'm starting to get excited about the drive. In fact I upgrade for more laps. The facility provides driving suit and helmet, but having experience with aviation accidents (not mine), I know that gear doesn't work if you don't wear it. I stop at a local racing store and but driving boots and gloves. I also started looking at the helmets (another toy I can justify) figuring that I would need one when I take the NSX on tracks and my as well get one that fits great vs what ever the school had.

That was the reason for wanting Don's phone number (I wanted to tap his expertise). Thanks to everyone who responded so quickly. It was a big help!

I received an e-mail stating that my first of back-to-back military trips has been canceled. I welcome that. Otherwise I would only have one day home before I left for the evaluation. My sister was not glad to hear the news. She feels that, like in the past, when Aunt Ann needed help, commitments disappeared. She feels that it is an omen of bad news to come. I hope she is wrong.

9th
DRIVE DAY! I'm up at afterburner 6. I'm starting to get excited. I'm wearing my "drive it like you stole it" tee shirt, shorts (showing my Grand Prix white legs), driving boots, and gloves. Realizing that I look like a dork, I take off the boots and gloves, put on more presentable attire, and head for breakfast. {side note: from wearing a flight suit, little time off, and, I'm ashamed to say, too little exercise; me wearing shorts is not aesthetically pleasing to the eye. In fact, twice at the beach in a swim suit, I've been put back into the water by Green Peace. How humiliating!} After signing all the, I should have know better than to do this waivers, I get issued a driving suit. After putting on the suit, I now put my brand spanking new boots and gloves on; colored matched, of course. I'm starting to feel like a race car driver. They take our picture for the obituary, I mean driver's license, and proceed to the track for safety briefs and to ride in a van around the track showing the driving line. Driving with us today are top drivers from the "World of Outlaws" who will be racing this night for their final championship race. I say, "bring um on, and we'll show these pussies how us Champ Car drivers do it down town!" A TV crew from TNN is here to document their drive as a publicity on "what the dirt boys do to relax when they aren't racing." So look at TNN on Wed. and maybe you'll see me in the shots.
During the car brief, they show how the 5 point seat belt attaches. The crew chief states that if he reaches between your legs he is just after the seat belt (I think he's gay; not that there is anything wrong with that). He later says that if you see him looking you up and down, he is just checking to make sure all of your safety equipment is on properly (I know he's gay). To get into the car, you first step into the tub, and take little steps forward as you lower yourself down. Your kind of like sitting in a recliner, with legs out straight and leaning backwards. After putting on the seat belt (I'll reach between my own legs thank you), they assist in tightening the straps tight and then I put on the steering wheel. I'm really starting to feel like a Champ Car driver now. I adjust my mirrors and start to smile. They take another picture for next of kin, give the thumbs up, and we get ready for launch.
To make things easier for novice drivers, the cars have a two speed manual transmission. To keep from burning up the clutch, they give you a push start with an ATV. The instructor goes by, and I'm OFF!
Having your butt 2 inches off the ground being pushed by 550+ HP motor is a little intimidating at first. Like they briefed us, the car starts to bounce a little as we start to accelerate (caused by stiff suspension that gets loaded with faster speeds and downforce), I catch up to the instructor and as we accelerate off pit lane I try to shift into high but it won't go in. We are supposed to stay 7-8 car lengths behind the instructor, so I'm sure he's wondering if mister CART big mouth is afraid to go over 60 MPH. I double clutch it back into first, pick up speed and this time it goes into high. With each of the 8 laps, the instructor picks up speed and we get up to 145 MPH on the last lap. During that time, I have so much adrenaline pumping that my left leg is shaking (calm down boy!) It seems that just as I'm starting to get the feel of the car, it's time to quit. So I reluctantly get out of the car, and wait for my second turn.
This time I'm prepared for the drive. I know the procedure, I'm locked, cocked, and ready to rock. The instructor goes by, and I stick to his ass like stink to a skunk. {The way the instructor knows to increase speed is if you're staying the proper distance behind. To far behind, is a signal to him that you're going fast enough, and he backs off to let you catch up. To close and he gets nervous and slows down. There is also a touch of cockiness in the instructor in that he tries to pull away from you near the end to show your weakness as a driver. He doesn't know that he is messing with an NSX triple digit driver} We hit turn two, slam it into high, and we're off. I'm staying the proper distance so with each lap comes lower times and higher speeds. By the end of this session, I'm going over 160 MPH! When we pull into the pits the instructor gives me the thumbs up, I shut off the engine, pop off the wheel, and tell the crew chief to put one turn in the front wing.
I mean this stuff is addictive!! I take a ride along ride in a two seat car at 185 MPH and now I'm ready to do it again! I give them more money for a third ride, and tell them if I come back in again, tell me I've had enough, and not take my money (I'm like an alcoholic). I climb back into the same car, get strapped in, and wait for the instructor. Even this is really cool. People are watching me, the crew chief is setting on the pod with race headphones on, and holding a small CART labeled umbrella to keep me cool in the sun. I am beginning to feel like Jimmy Vasser, I fire up the car myself, flip my shield down, the crew chief gives me the thumbs up, shakes my hand, and the instructor goes by. I'm and old pro now and I'm ready for fast straights and hard braking, the only problem is that it's a different instructor and he doesn't know my new found abilities. Here we are doing over 150 MPH and I have my hand out of the cockpit waving at the instructor to "pick up the pace." So we go faster, I'm hot on his tail, we're passing slower traffic, and I have the biggest shit eaten grin on my face! Unfortunately, we level out in the 160 range, but I'm still pumped and feeling confident.
After this secession, I pop the wheel off, walk away from the car quickly, chewed out the instructor for blocking, and then smiled! I told him I just had to chew out another driver to complete my racing experience (he smiled also).
If any off you guys feel the need for speed, they have my recommendation!

On a sad note, I received a call to night telling me that my Aunt Andrea died. I would like to tell you a little bit about her. Born in 1916, to a poor family, she didn't fall into the then accepted role for a woman. She put herself through a music college, opened her own school and instructed in organ, piano, guitar, violin, and others. Some of her pupils became famous musicians, which she considered them as her children (she never married). She always helped others first. One time when my sister lived in Colorado and hadn't been home for years, my Aunt, in her 60s, drove her little Honda Accord to Colorado to baby sit her animals so that my sister could visit my mother. She lived life to the fullest, never afraid to try something new. This year, along with the doctors, we felt that Aunt Ann should not drive anymore because of the onset of alzheimer's. It was hard to take her Honda from her, she didn't like it, but understood it had to be done. A short time later, her health/memory grew worse and we put her in a nursing home with her sister (also with alzheimer's). I don't think that having her independence taken from her was the thing that bothered her most, she was able to adapt. It was knowing that she should remember things, but couldn't. She continued to go down hill fast and succumbed to kidney failure among other complications. My Uncle got a chance to speak with her so that she would have family there. He said he would return tomorrow, she mustered enough strength to wave by, then died shortly after. So today I dedicate my Champ Car Drive to the memory of my Aunt, for I wish to emulate her, and live life to the fullest and not be a spectator.

I don't mean to bare my sorrow on all my new found friends, but I am finding this therapeutic in telling you how great my Aunt was.
Thanks for you're understanding, Larry