My shots from the Stampede

[Tbars4]

..I'm on my way to the Stampede...The NorCal Stampede..(Not the Calgary Stampede).

..I'm taking my time getting up there and my first stop was Bakersfield..I haven't been up to Bakersfield since Buck Owens passed so my first stop was the Crystal Palace..

..For those who enjoy Country music, Bakersfield is the home of the "Bakersfield Sound" with such names as Buck Owens and Merle Haggard to name a couple..For those who are into rock you may be surprised who was influenced by this sound..

This is a good read..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakersfield_sound

..Plus on this trip I am driving thru California's farmland the whole way..We are probably in the worst drought California has ever seen in history so I am taking a lot of back farm roads getting a feel for how devastating this drought actually is..

..I will also be stopping off at a famous fabricators shop to chat and take some pictures as well as full coverage of the race, depending on internet service of course..

..More to follow..

 

[Gadget X]

Have a good trip, and post lots of pictures!

 

[Tbars4]

...Thanks and I'll have plenty of pictures..:biggthump

..:shifty_ey..and a couple of Jason Sherer er er's new car too...

 

[Tbars4]

..I will be out here all weekend taking pictures an covering some stories..

..If anyone has any request I will see what I can do..

..I spent the whole afternoon with Dan and the crew of Ruffstuff..Dan was busy as can be with normal duties plus the BBQ this afternoon and getting the trucks ready for welding duties at the Norcal Stampede..

But those who know what a great guy Dan is know that Dan took the time out of his busy day to show me around the new huge shop and let me grab lot's of pictures for a future write up..

..While I was there, a few teams were already in line at the shop getting ready for the race tomorrow and Saturday..For now I only have a couple spy pics ..

..They are throwing some bacon on the BBQ so I got to get ready for the eats..

..But I did get a whole lot of suspension pictures of this Rangers Suspension with outboard springs..:biggthump

 

[Rick]

I can't think of Bakersfield without thinking of the lyrics of the Rolling Stones song "Far away eyes"...

I was driving home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield/Listening to gospel music on the coloured radio station/And the preacher said, 'You know, you always have the Lord by your side'/And I was so pleased to be informed of this, that I ran 20 red lights in His honor/Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord.

In a 1978 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Jagger said, "You know, when you drive through Bakersfield on a Sunday morning or Sunday evening - I did that about six months ago - all the country music radio stations start broadcasting black gospel services live from L.A. And that's what the song refers to. But the song's really about driving alone, listening to the radio."[1] On influences, Jagger stated "I wouldn't say this song was influenced specifically by Gram (Parsons). That idea of country music played slightly tongue-in-cheek - Gram had that in 'Drugstore Truck Drivin' Man', and we have that sardonic quality, too." Asked by the interviewer if the girl in the song was a real one, Jagger replied, "Yeah, she's real, she's a real girl."

Have a great time at the stampede

 

[Tbars4]

..I'm heading out to the track and it's suppose to be 100* or more each day..

..and in keeping with the musical references, this group was influenced by the Bakersfield sound and the named town is just above Bakersfield and I stop there everytime I'm driving by...

Otherwise, this song gets stuck in my head for many miles to come..

 

[Rick]

Just don't get stuck there I always liked that song.... and CCR.

 

[Tbars4]

Levi Shirley's new car..

 

[Tbars4]

...I talked to a lot of drivers out here and it seems to be Unanimous that John with NorCal has built a really nice race course and it seems everyone is having fun both on and off the course out here..

..In fact, perhaps to much fun is the cause of some of the carnage..

..I did manage to grab a picture of Falken's Ultra4 driver Jessie Combs and her Co-driver on a snack break..

...and if you are coming out today and knowing it's going to be 100*, be sure to stop by the Norcal Booth and grab one of their $3 snow cones..They also make a Monster or Red Bull snow cone too..

..A sneak peak of the new 76 car..

..and it was Gerald at the Helm of the 88..

...and telling how it happened..

The whole left rear was bent up..

note the shaft...

and severed the steering line..

4540..

with 602's roll in the background..

back in the pit diagnosing it's issues..

 

[Tbars4]

..Tom Wayes enjoying the track..

Flying low..

Riding the lip..

..and checking out the carnage..

lower a-arm..

The ride back to the pits..

 

[Tbars4]

..GET HIM...

..Heading back out to the track now ...I will try to post up news as it happens depending on how cell service is out there today..

 

[RockRanger]

Cool pics. To bad I wasn't home to meet up with you. Cant wait to see the pictures of RuffStuffs shop.

 

[Tbars4]

..Thanks and I'll get the RuffStuff pics together pretty soon...I was given a chance to do some secret behind the scenes story up in Reno so I've been a busy dog..

..A hint of what else I'm working on..I had a meeting with this guy last night at a pre opening of the new Gilley's in Reno..

..Heres some pictures while I'm working on a bunch projects..

..and a couple more..

 

[Tbars4]

..and some more..

 

[Rick]

Great action shots Ted

 

[BigRondo]

Great action shots Ted

What Rick said!

 

[Tbars4]

...Some more random pics..

 

[Tbars4]

..Today's randoms..

 

[Tbars4]

...and some more..

 

[Tbars4]

More randoms..

and..