Hastings 500 Grass Drags
Hastings, MI - 10/11/03

DON: Big news of the event? Bev got her first cover shot (the one above). I had the best position for photos and still couldn't beat this one.

Given the lack of snow over the last 10 years in Michigan, riding on grass has turned out to be the only way to ride anymore. OK, I'm exaggerating a little, very little.

Ran into one of my old racing customers, Matt "The Flagship" Derrick. Matt's the kind of guy who will racing anything. Matt, when are we going to see you race a dirt sprint car?

BEVERLY: You got to hand it to this group that put on the Grass Drags led by Ken Crouch and Jimmy McHugh. This was a race with 360 entries. They were getting them down the "track" very efficiently. I was impressed.

Not only did they have lots of racers, but lots of spectators. They combine this race with the Michigan Snowmobile Association's swap meet. I don't know how many booths they actually had in the swap meet, but there wasn't anything you couldn't find for your snowmobile. Including new and used snowmobiles! The Barry County Fairgrounds were hoppin'.

My favorite part of the race was the kids on the small sleds. They were absolutely adorable. They didn't seem nervous, they just got on and pushed the throttle. What a great way to get the whole family involved.

I also just have to mention some of the teams, with their matching uniforms and hard work, that took this race seriously. While some were there just to get their snowmobile out early or for bragging rights, there is a points system for the PSGDRA. This was the fourth of five points races this year.

Congrats to all the racers and the PSGDRA for a great show.

More at: www.psgdra.com

Driver's meeting: Don't do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign	Left to right: singer, announcer and starter	Drivers line up for US and Canada national anthems	Let's go racing! Kids first	Dads help with staging. Reminds me of the Soap Box Derby
The "Kitty Cat", the sled of choice	Young lady was not so sure about this...	More reassuring talk from dad and she's ready	See the Beanie Baby at the end? It's yours if you win	Ready? Go!
Now to the pro pits...	where lots of thinking took place...	and even some work	Nice setup for between round engine cooling	What the @%&#
Brings back memories of my old XC700 Polaris	Early model Yamaha can still get it done	All green	The patriotic Arctic Cat	Ski Doooooo
A modified weed whacker for grooming the track...	Don't have a weed whacker? Use your boot	Cheer up little camper, we'll get ice cream later	Nice yellow Sci Doo	Nice looking race sled
Ironically the slow class sleds made for the best pics	Newer Yamaha	Knowing how engines fail, I think I'll stay on the ground	Hi Tech scoring system	Randy Hazard helps with staging
Randy Hazard and Matt Derrick, a dangerous combination	Matt "The Flagship" Derrick launches his sled	The owner was crazy enough to let me operate the crane...	Got some decent pics from this location...	like this one
Bev's boo boo from helping me off the crane	It was more like a dirt drag...	Made for some cool pics though	The Polaris high-tails it to the finish line	Easy win
	Interesting return road with track for ski	Weight check	My advice to all of racing: More ring girls and fewer electronic scoreboards

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