misskaboom

Today in an email I was asked a question that I thought I would share with you guys. The question is "What one experience makes you grin idiotically?"

Here was my reply:
I would like say when I saw Justine dance in her first recital, but that is just cute. I could say
when Grimace would win first place, people's choice, and best mopar in a car show, but that is just weak. I don't know if there is one event that makes me grin idiotically about a certain person, or an accomplishment. Justine and Brennin always bring a smile, but that is because of the many stories of their lives so far. As for my sister and brother, I like them best when they are not bugging me. My parents...hmmm the fact that they are still married, is awesome, but does it bring an idiotic grin on my face....No. I think the working on a car thing does bring a grin, when all goes well, but I also think that the effect on me has worn off. Too many years in the drag racing "business".

Ok so I since I have to pick one instance that made me grin idiotically, I would have to say my first 10 second pass down the track. Yeah, I know it is lame, but I have nothing else. It was the following season after the 727 attacked me, and I had been doing little short runs and clicking off early for a few weeks. Time came to go up for another run, as I put my helmet on I can hear ThumpThump....ThumpThump,,,,ThumpThump, and I can feel my knee tightening up which is a reminder of things gone wrong in the past. Then I came around the corner into the burnbox, put him in 2nd, hit the throttle and watched in my rearview mirror at the smoke and then drove out of the box. I stopped, drop him into 1st, wiggle the steering wheel, adjust myself in the seat and pull forward to pre-stage. At this point I was still going to shut off early, because of this little chicken shit voice going on in the back of my head saying "What if the transmission tries to kill you again?! What if the rear end goes again?!". I shook my head, bumped up into the stage beams, and revved the engine up a little. The ambers came down: Blink--Blink--I then stomped the throttle, and HIT my first shift and decide there will be no lifting on this run. He is going straight and hard down the track no way am I going to mess this up by lifting. I watch the tach and SLAP! I shift into 3rd at just before the 1/8 mile, and that is when I truly felt for the first time the power of a big block. I thought to myself "Damn!!!! This thing is still pulling!" I knew that a big block would pull harder all the way through the gears, but I guess I didn't realize how much, or didn't know exactly what to expect. As I close in on the 1320 I felt how the truck handles and realized that he felt like he was floating, almost like a skipping or hydroplaning, but I told myself that I wouldn't lift and I didn't. As I passed through the final timing lights, I lifted and really listened and felt what the truck was doing, all the while praying that the brakes would work. Having never taken this truck down on a full pass, we really had no clue how it would handle. The brakes worked (obviously). I swung right, so I could make the turn off, gave him a little gas and dropped him down into 2nd. As I made by way down the return road to the E.T. shack to get my time slip, I took my helmet off, shifted into 3rd and opened the door. I pull up to the shack and the guy (track worker) has a huge grin on his face, and says "You did it!" (side bar: that is why I love Stanton, it may not be the best track in the state, but it they are good people. end side bar) I look down at my time slip and see not a 10.99, but a 10.90! It was a great adrenaline rush, the look on Dad's face was "priceless", but I was more proud of myself for not lifting.

What is one of yours?

Thanks SYH653 for the question.