After a satisfying breakfast like that, can the day get any better? Of course, we are heading to the U.S. Nationals! We arrive at the track, pick up the tickets (no problems, we were both wearing Levi's) and wander through the pits. Sensory overload was the only way to describe the day, Funny Cars, dragsters, Pro Comp (remember that?), Modifieds, Comp eliminator, Stock, Super Stock, Pro Stock, Top Fuel Bikes. I mean everything and everyone ran flat out; no delay boxes, no throttle stops, no electronics, just good old-fashioned heads up racing.

It was a weekend of watching old legends fade and seeing new ones born. Watching T.C. Christenson's "Hog Slayer" twin engine Norton, watching Gary Beck (right) shear the wheel of his Top Fueler, watching Bob Ingles spin his Pro Stock Pinto in the fence, Dyno Don's 351-powered Mach I (below) . . . the list goes on and on.

Monday, final eliminations, the day dawned cool. No, make that cold -- no, make that damned cold. I was freezing in the stands and went to buy a sweatshirt and, you guessed it, no sweatshirts, long sleeve shirts, not a one, sweaters, nada. I finally bought a very expensive bright blue with white stripes NHRA "Official" racing jacket for $25.00! (I wish I still had it I would sell it on eBay). We watched more racing then I could ever remember before or since, and we left after the final eliminations.

I still to this day can't tell you who won, but we were two dead tired, very happy, drag racing fans. I told David I would drive the first half of the 12 hour drive home and made it about half an hour before I told him he had to take over. I had had a couple of Uncle Frank's corn dogs before leaving the track and the smell I emitted on the way home kept David awake. I also kicked off my shoes and socks and he later said he didn't know what was worse, my feet or the smells erupting from my digestive system. We arrived back in Annapolis at 5:30 a.m. and decided to drive straight to work (we both worked in a dealership at the time) and sleep for a few hours in the parking lot. Since the back lot was locked we just pulled up by the front door and dozed off. Some time later we awoke to see the owner of the dealership staring in the window at us. He always arrived early and he did not look too pleased to see two grubby, smelly, half-asleep employees blocking the door. We went into work but just gave it up and went home around 10:30.