I ran into Dennis Kasparek at a Mud Bog event in Walla Walla this past weekend. To quote Dennis, "once a motorhead, always a motorhead". . . I agreed, whole-heartedly.

Victor, when I received your e-mail message asking for a write-up, that phrase immediately came to mind. I am a motorhead. I love engines, the louder the better.

I was raised just a couple of miles from Tri-City Raceway in West Richland. In order to spend time with my father, I would hang out in the garage while he worked on cars. He worked on everyone’s cars, and taught me to bring tools to him under the car. To this day that is a favorite activity. In those days, because I was a daughter instead of a son, I was not encouraged to actually "work" on the cars, just fetch the tools or a cold beverage. After work, my dad would "unwind" by climbing Flat Top Hill on his motorcycle, and I was right there, sitting in front of him, hanging onto the handlebar cross-bar. Mom would watch from the front yard. My relatives bought a cabin on Chinook Pass. We rode motorcycles on the trails in the summer, and snowmobiles in the winter. I remember watching my uncle’s motocross races in West Richland and Kiona.

Tri-City Raceway (TCR) was built and suddenly I was introduced to auto racing. My dad's friends raced and he tagged along. We attended races all over the northwest. We were out at TCR during the week for practices and I watched the crews adjust the tires and suspension between runs. On one such practice, I even caught a ride in a Late Model Sportsman, the fastest local class at that time. We set an unofficial track record with me in the car, just sitting on the sheet metal floor, hanging onto the roll cage!!! (Mom wasn't told until years later) I loved those loud V-8 engines, and still get shivers when I hear a big, throaty growl come from a car. Attending races was a family affair. All my aunts, uncles and cousins would come to the races. We'd all pick a car before each race and cheer them on. We always went down into the pits after the races to talk to dad's friends. I always thought the drivers were so cool and sexy while they were still on that adrenaline high, especially if they won.

I love boating, and spent nearly every weekend on the rivers as a kid. I have only missed a couple of Water Follies hydro boat races. I had a horse to ride as a kid but gave it up when I finally got my drivers license. First car I bought was a '77 Monte Carlo, the last big one.

Two years later I bought the cutest '79 Toyota Celica. Boy was my "Buy American" dad mad!!!

I dated my husband because of a bet on our cars. He was married at the time, and I ran into him at a gas station. We both had brand new cars and I bet him I would have my Toyota longer than he would have his Ford. A year or two later, he was divorced and the wife got the car. I won on a technicality. He bought me dinner and the rest is history. Off-roading in his truck and riding behind him on his street bike were some of our favorite pastimes. Eventually, we sold all the toys and concentrated on non-motorized activities like snow skiing. When my son was 16, I bought 4-wheeler ATV's to ride at the off road vehicle park. It was a wonderful outlet for my son and his friends. I still have several ATV's and go riding at Juniper Dunes area as often as I can. I just bought a badder, louder exhaust pipe for my ATV. It sounds great!!!!! I still follow the regional ATV races and am a retired race promoter.

Later years saw local car racing change. I went to the races occasionally, but I missed knowing the drivers. About 5 years ago I helped sponsor a car at TCR for a season. That was fun. I continued to watch NASCAR races on TV to spend time with dad until his passing. I enjoy Sprint Boat racing and have recently discovered drag racing thru a co-worker who is a former SSSCC member. I have only been to the two local drag strips tracks, but who knows? I may have to drag race the Miata or the Mini Cooper one of these days!

3 years ago, my sister found the ad for my '90 Miata and suggested I drive it to work to save gas money. 4 months later, I happened onto one of the SSSCC business cards that said, "you have the car, can you drive it?" I called and Mitch talked me into coming to the next event that coincidentally was at Tri City Raceway! I showed up, everyone was so helpful. I raced the last two weekends of the season, both at TCR. In the spring, I attended my first event at Dust Devils. Oh my gosh! I looked at that sea of cones and thought, "I can't do this!" Again, I got help and encouragement when needed. Vickie inspired me to "just go faster". I have attended the SSSCC driving schools and one Evolution school. I have only raced in Packwood and Tri-Cities. This spring I took the plunge and bought a '02 Mini Cooper for racing. I wanted something with a back seat for a car seat for granddaughter. She calls it grandma's racecar. Now I am learning to drive front wheel drive and it is like starting over. All my auto-pilot reactions have to be re-learned. I'm enjoying the challenge.

In the Mini I can carry 4 race tires in the back seat. My floor jack, impact wrench, water sprayer go in the trunk. Recently, coming home from a race in Packwood, my flat tire indicator light came on. I pulled over to the side of the road and used my tire gauge to find that one tire was barely lower than the rest. What a relief to know that nothing serious was happening. How empowering to have the knowledge! It tickled me to know I would have really turned some heads if I had pulled out all my equipment to put on my race tires!!! My neighbors get a kick out of watching me change tires on my driveway. It is quite a conversation starter.

Basically, I love to drive. I'm a better driver today than ever before. On the highways, I have had several close calls in recent years. I have managed to miss road debris, a deer, and an elk not to mention other drivers on the road. In at least one incidence I'm sure my newly developed skills saved my life.

As a single woman, I appreciate how the club members give help when needed. In return, I help when I am needed. Recently, I worked as the chief of attire, bringing you the recent club t-shirt. I prefer to work on race day as the photographer to express my creative side. I really appreciate photos of myself racing so I want to give that back to others. Yes, I have always been a motorhead. I am happy to be accepted into SSSCC's bunch of nuts.