So... Where were we?

Mom has been "between computers" as she is moving stuff from her "old, wonky" computer to a "new, non-wonky" computer, so she's been WA-AY behind in helping me follow bloggies and things. She promises that we'll get back on track soon. Which means when she actually has some time...

*ahem*

Anyhoo. Last weekend we were back out at the historic Wendover Airfield for a two-day autocross. It may be an historic airfield, known for being one of the prime test-flight sites for the Enola Gay before she went off for her historic flight, but it is still also an active military base (here is a current helicopter landing next to the Enola Gay's hangar; Mom was warned by the airport people not to get too close to the helicopters as [and Mom quotes] "they can shoot you").

We took the House With Wheels out to Wendover, and were totally captivated by the Utah desert.

Or not...


Dad was running the event, and Mom was helping him, so they didn't get a ton of pictures (where 'ton' means 'any'). Mom got a couple pictures of Dad setting the course (he's in the truck, I promise!)

Since it was pretty hot out, Abby and I just hung out in the air conditioning while Mom and Dad did their thing. (Mom has a picture of the two of us hanging out together, but for some reason it keeps posting it sideways, so you just get me!)

The helicopters hung around all weekend, and Mom was captivated by them (especially when they did fly-bys).

A bunch of the Army guys got rides in the autocross course, but apparently, they weren't allowed to return the favor and give us rides in the helicopters!

Mom and Dad seemed to think it was pretty cool to have the helicopters flying around, and since they didn't buzz the House With Wheels, it was all fine with us.

Mom and Dad raced the Miata both days. Mom was driving really well on Sunday, but the car developed "technical difficulties" (because we've had so many car races in a row, there were a number of cars that were experiencing technical difficulties by the end of the weekend), so she and Dad (and Uncle Charlie, who came out just for Sunday) only raced half day. Frankly, Mom and Dad were worn out from running the event that I don't think they minded too much. (Dad drove well both days, but he always drives well, so it pretty much goes without saying!)

So, despite the 'technical difficulties', and all the fun, I think they had fun!

Anyhoo, we came back Sunday afternoon, and Abby and I spent several days frolicking in the yard.

Uh-oh. She's still looking like my Evil Twin....
After a week of beating up on each other frolicking together and walks and stuff, Mom and Dad had another autocross, this time at the E Center, in Salt Lake City. Because it was supposed to be another hot day, and it was just a one day event, Abby and I stayed home with Jessi (the lady who is teaching Mom to feed us turkey hotdogs) while Mom and Dad went off to do their thing.

Dad was chairing this event, too (it's a long story, but there aren't a lot of people in the region who can actually run events, and so the bulk of the events fall on a couple of people), so Mom and Dad got up at the crack of dawn and Abby and I went back to sleep left us.

Before the truck and trailer showed up (that has all the stuff for setting the course), Dad and one of the other 'regulars' drove the guy's car around the parking lot to get an idea of the kind of course he would set.

Dad then did the course setting thing.

While Dad was doing that, Uncle Charlie was getting the Car of The Day ready. The two main cars are being worked on, so Uncle Charlie decided to dust off (literally - it has been in our garage for a couple of years now, doubling as a shelf) his old 1989 Corvette.

Pretty, huh?

For a car that has been shelved for 8 years, and tires that were unused, but 6 years old, it did really well. Apparently the car has a ridiculous amount of horsepower, and everyone had a great time in it. Uncle Charlie was 3rd in raw time, Dad was 10th, Aunt Linda was 11th, and Mom was 20th, but was less than 1.5 seconds behind Linda, which, on a 60 second course, is good for Mom. And they all had fun.

Abby and I had a great time frolicking in the mountains (and not cooking down in Salt Lake!).

Holy double-vision, Batman! Heehee!

So. It was a good weekend all around! And I think we're all caught up now!

*kissey face*
-Fiona and Abby the Mutant Puppy

Abby is now officially an Autocross Dog!

This weekend we were off to the historic Wendover Airfield for the first autocross out there of the season. The Utah Region is hosting a couple of National level events in May, and Mom and Dad (and Uncle Charlie and Aunt Linda) want to be prepared for them. Because Wendover is 130 miles away, Mom and Dad decided to go out Friday night (Mom and Dad aren't exactly morning people...). Friday didn't start off as a particularly promising day; we had snow. We sent Abby out to make sure that it was real snow... Heehee!


But, by the time we were leaving Park City, the weather was starting to lift.

We picked up the car trailer in Salt Lake and were off to Wendover. Abby took my napping spot (again) so I got to sit with Mom. Abby thinks that she's got the best spot, but I think I've got the best spot! Which, now that I think about it, means that we're both happy. As for Mom? I hope she realizes how lucky she is to have me as a lap dog! Heehee!

I wanted to stop on the way out there to see my buddy Clive, but Mom and Dad wanted to get to Wendover before dark.

Clive! I didn't know you were So Close! And you are so important that you've got your own freeway exit!

Oh. Mom says that's a different Clive. Gosh darn it. I was so excited to see you! I guess I'll have to wait until Air Fiona is operational again before I can come visit.

We arrived at Wendover before the sun set, and Abby got her first sight of the hangar where the Enola Gay was housed stateside during WWII.

Mom says that for those of you who have asked about the House With Wheels, when we tow the trailer, we are 64.5 feet long. (The legal limit in most western states is 65 feet...)

When the sun set, we settled in to relax for the night.
This way we could be up bright and early the next morning. We all slept well (well, except for Mom, because Abby has decided that she should be a pillow dog like me, and I guess there isn't quite as much pillow room in the bed in the House With Wheels) and were raring to go the next morning!


Unlike some autocross events where we are parked so I can sit and look out the window at Mom driving the Big Yellow Car, at this event, we were parked a fair distance away from the course, but still close to all the cars and people in the paddock. Abby took to the whole autocross business fairly quickly, and was pulling her 'cute face', suckering people left and right.

I swear, this girl has no shame sometimes!

Anyhoo, after a late start, Mom and Dad spent the day dashing back and forth to the House With Wheels to let us out on walks, in between racing and working. Notice how Dad is scattering the course workers here!

Dad at the start.
When they were done, Mom and Dad took us on a long walk, so we could check out the sights of the historic airfield.
We got to see the old barracks

(Mom says that every time she sees these buildings her brain automatically plays footage of a nuclear bomb going off. I have no idea what she's talking about...)

And bits of airplanes.
A most excellent walk in a most historic place!

The next day, Mom and Aunt Linda drove the Big Yellow Car, while Dad and Uncle Charlie drove the little silver and black thing.

Mom and Dad both had a great time, and Mom apparently made great strides on Sunday (but we don't have any pictures of anyone driving on Sunday - Mom and Dad were too busy working and driving to get any pictures), so it was a good weekend; I know Mom seemed really happy with how she drove on Sunday - I think Dad was happy, too, but I think he was too tired to be really excited!

Sunday was kind of a long day, though, because Mom and Dad didn't finish driving until 5pm or so, and then they had to load up cars and get the House(s) With Wheels packed up and ready to go, and then we had to drive back to Salt Lake and drop the trailer and then drop the motorhome in Park City and go home. We didn't even get home until 10pm! And then after Mom and Dad were all exhausted, Abby decided to get under the bed (she barely fits!) and bark incessantly for like 10 minutes. For No Good Reason, other than that she's a puppy. Like that's an excuse. *sheesh*

Today was a bit of a recovery day; Mom and Dad had spent a lot of yesterday running around (literally!) when they weren't driving (not to mention Dad driving us all safely home after such a long day!), and so they were pretty worn out today. Me? I was happy to kick back and keep Dad company, but Abby had to have a serious case of puppy-itis, so Mom took her to Petco to wear her out a bit! And Mom saw Jessi, the lady who is training Mom to give us turkey hotdogs, and Mom says that we will be going back to school for more education. I totally blame Abby for this continuing education. Unless it involves more turkey hotdogs, in which case it will all be okay. I guess.

Mom wants to add a few gratuitous racing photos, so you can see what this autocross is all about.



Oh, and I should mention that Abby is totally cool with the autocross - my little sister is becoming more and more of a real dog every day! (And yes, she is getting BIG! I would be nervous about her getting so big, but I know that I can run faster, corner better, and change directions quicker than she will ever be able to, so I'm not too worried - she won't ever be able to catch me!)

Heehee!

*kissey face*
-Fiona