you are so lucky, that sound cool!!! On Sun, 3 Jun 2007, Lee A. Stone wrote:
> > This " Eyerock500 race . was originally started some 6 or 7 years ago > here in New york because there was a need for funds to maintain a > summer camp program for students who are blind, blind deaf and deaf > blind. Doctor Lauren Liberman who runs the program at a New York State > University in Brockport , NY had called a local disc jockey Wolf Man Bob > from WPYX radio station to ask his help. with the ideas bouncing > quickly back from the listening audience someone said . lets get some > blind folks on the race track. I do not know but can find out next week > who got the first race track involved. Fonda Speedway which I think is a > half mile dirt track. all flat. We used that track for six years running > but last year had to cancel two times because of rain and flooding. > Now for requirements which gets a bit touchy. the only requirement is > that one be blind totally or legally. that brings a stir from some of > the drivers because of those having some sight may be able to drive > better. to me it does not make a crap. I just want the thrill of the > crashing fenders and the smell of gass and oil burning. each year they > say they will ask all drivers to wear a blind fold but maybe this year. > the second requirement is that you need to someone buy or borrow a > regular racing outfit . one or two piece as well as a safety helment > and gloves. . Now, if possible it is asked that one get a $500 sponsor. > however some drivers just show up and that is accepted too. the whole > concept is for us to have fun but the more money that we raise the more > kids who can go to this summer camp. let me stop for a minute and > explain the camp. it is actually kids / students living in dorms which > during the college year would normally be filled by other students. > Most cars that will race are donated by individuals, garages and > salvage yards.. a driver is matched up with a donated car by a lotto > drawing and if you want once the car is selected you may ask to check > the car out with or without tools. there is not a lot of time to do > this. so if you really want a car to work on then you can do like I > will do this year and that is to find a car now, for next years race. > each car must be a four cylinder and for the first time all cars must be > automatic , however I have driven three and four speed stick shifts > on these tracks in prior races. what a blast running a Ford Escort at > 62 or 64 miles per hour in second gear. remember that song about the > little nash rambler passing the Caddilac in second gear?? the only > requirement I forgot to mention is that these cars run. some of them die > out in the first lap or do not get passed the starting line. some guy > three years ago could have won the race but apparently he ran out of > gas on the last lap. what am I forgetting. Oh there must be two front > seats as there must be a sighted co driver. usually but not always a > driver who is familar with that race track. prior to the race we have > a drivers meeting to spell out the rules. No intentional attacks on > another car, follwo your co drivers voice and may the best or woman > driver win. Now let me say here there is a guy who comes every year with > his own car. a hopped up Japanese car which is fine but this guy wants > and wants. , I'll tell you later how I helped him, of course by > accident go flying into the inefield. okay. the first year we raced it > was just a straight race but now we have two qualifying races. and the > best 16 cars are in the final race. again keep in mind you are > supposed to listen to your co driver. Last year I was sure some so and > so was trying to pass me on the left and I said screw then and kept > whipping the wheel to the left smacking that car good and solid. My co > driver , who happened to be a brother was laughing his arse off , > because I found out later. no car was trying to pass me at the time but > I was slamming a solid concrete safety wall. . the whole race is to be > 12 laps but depending on how many cars are still running after a while > they can stop the race and declare a winner. after all . one year we > had to many crashed cars blocking the path of others . there was only > two cars out front running so they were the first and second place > winners. My one race there was two cars stalled out in front of the > grand stands but a little space between them so with my co drivers > guidence I slammed between them on an angle and blew open a hole , > loosing a front fender and the front bumper but what a rush to feel > that wham bang and my co driver yelling" punch it punch it. hit the > blank blank gas now.". I am thinking those other drivers , if they > still come back to race now bring a fresh roll of toilet paper. on with > the show. now all the time we are racing they are selling raffle tickets > up in the grandstands and before and after they are selling tee shirts > which were printed up by one of many companies who donate the first I > think 500 shirts sold at $100 a pop. on those shirts are the names of > the $500 sponsors and the name of the radio station. Now this race is > always done between other regular track events .like the stree stock > cars. the different big block cars, etc. ours is always in the middle so > we start around or between 7 and 8 pm. ooops . forgot another > requirement. you, the blind driver and whoever brings you must signe > several releases . taking the heat off the track and radio station and > more so nobody gets sued.. this year it is different because of a > lawsuit going on on the West coast whereby a person died while > participating in a clear channel contest. but the race goes on.. Let > me come back with a second posting as this is running a bit long.OLee > > > > -- > "It's today!" said Piglet. > "My favorite day," said Pooh. > To listen to the show archives go to link http://acbradio.org/handyman.html or ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml Visit The Blind Handy Man Files Page To Review Contributions From Various List Members At The Following address: http://www.jaws-users.com/handyman/ Visit the archives page at the following address http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man list just send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! 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