Bullet hits the speedway

Today Sunday January 27th 2013 was the annual "Laps for Charity" event benefiting Speedway Children's Charities held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The event allows anyone with an insured street legal vehicle to drive it on the 1.5 mile tri-oval speedway which is normally just for racecars so it is a very unique opportunity for the average person.

Little over three weeks ago I had an opportunity to purchase a 2010 Dodge Charger R/T with a 5.7L Hemi and what better place to drive it than a racetrack. So this morning at 7:30am I fired up the Charger which I call "Bullet" it is painted silver and it ain't no slug got 10 seconds, sorry I got side tracked but I am back focused on this mornings event. I arrived at the track at 8 am one hour before the event opens to the public so I parked Bullet waiting not so Patiently. Finally they tell me to start my car and drive down to where I will pay my money for the event and sign all the legal documents so if I would die in a fiery crash no one will sue the track. I paid my $60.00, which breaks down $30 for the 3 laps, $20 for additional 3 laps and $10 for the picture of me and Bullet in Victory Lane. I am now back in my car waiting to be directed in to the staging area. After only a few minutes of waiting they direct me to the staging lane number 4 as I pull in to that lane I fine myself at the front of the line so when it is my lanes turn I will be right behind the pace car, how cool is that WOW! As an FYI the pace car was also a Dodge Charger way cool.

After what seemed as like a long time here comes our pace car so I fire-up Bullet and after putting the Charger in to drive I start to lead my group behind the Pace car onto pit row then on to the racetrack. WOW I am so very excited that I cannot stand it. I keep hearing some one very close to me screaming WOW over and over again louder and louder. I then realize it is I and I am like a kid waking up Christmas morning seeing that mountain of presents under the Christmas tree. I am now following the pace car on to the track we start to pick up the pace as we come out of turn number 2 up on to the back straightaway picking up speed. We get up to about 80 mph as we now roll in to turn number 3 I follow the Pace car down in to turn number 4 and follow the pace cars lead as we power in to the front straightaway, again getting up to about 85 mph. The first three laps were over in no time and we are headed down the entrance to pit row and then off the track. It was amazing driving on an official NASCAR speedway with professional drivers like the late Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jr, Tony Stewart, just to name a few. It was a feeling that will be with me a lifetime.

 After driving over to have a picture taken of me and Bullet in Victory Lane I then drove back over to wait in line again for my rerun on the track. I was waiting in line parked for about 20 minutes near a car club they were the 702 Modern Mopar car club and from where I was there were mostly late model Dodge Challengers that was very cool. Which at a later date I will reach out to them to see about joining. I sat in my car thinking about just being out on the track anticipating going again when I noticed that all the drivers started getting back in there rides firing them up. That was a cool sound the roar of all those Hemi's coming alive. I started Bullet and his 5.7L Hemi roared to life and we all started moving towards pit row and the track. This time I had couple of Dodge Challengers in front of me and this time on the track the two Challengers and Bullet were kind of isolated so when we came out of the turn on to the straightaway we accelerated shooting down straightaways I was able to get up over 100 mph which was way fast and way cool. Just started to feel comfortable on the track if I had just one more lap I think I could have hit over120 mph.

 I will be counting the days until next year’s event; I plan on making this a Marc and Bullet tradition going forward. It is a great event for an even greater charity.

On September 21st during the Barrett/Jackson Auction I had the dream​of a life time to get behind the wheel of a 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang on a closed course behind the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Nevada as part of the 5th Annual Barrett-Jackson Auction. Not only did I get to drive the GT500 but a 2013 Focus ST, Boss 302 Mustang, and a 2013 Shelby GTS all were manual transmissions and first came with a ride with a professional driver behind the wheel once through the coarse then we swapped places and it was my turn to take these incredible machines though there paces. 

​First let me say is that the last time I was behind the wheel of a manual transmission has to be over 20 years ago when i still had my 1974 Pontiac Ventura GTO which was a manual transmission four speed with over 500 horse power at the motor. With that said the first car I got to drive was the 2013 Ford Focus ST All Wheel Drive (AWD) Under the hood lies Ford’s direct-injected, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, makes 247 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque with that all noted for the record books I am now embarrassed to say it took me four attempts to get the car moving. Yes I killed the car three times trying to get the car going, but once I did it was awesome on the closed coarse track that was setup in the parking lot I have not had some much fun i a car in a very long time. 

The next car I got to ride in was the 2013 Ford Boss​302 Mustang at 442 horse power with a professional driver behind the wheel I experience what I would like to call pucker power or white knuckles just wow. After what seemed like seconds through the coarse it was now my turn to take the car for a ride and put it through its paces the best I could. With only killing the engine once I had the Boss 302 headed in the right direction. As I am approaching the start of the coarse the instructor in the car with me said that he had turned off the traction control and to have fun out on the track. The first turn I gave the Boss 302 little extra peddle and the rear of the car started to float through the turn. Wow what a car, I started to have fun and before I knew it we were at the end of the ride, the instructor ask if I wanted to do it one more time and we did. 

The next car was a 2013 Shelby GTS Mustang with was the hotrod Supercharged V6 Shelby and I just have to say putting it through its paces I just have say again, WOW!!!!! I now get to do a ride along in the beast of all muscle cars the 2013 Shelby GT500 662hp 200mph out of the factory. I want to drop down on to my knees saying that I am not worthy of such an opportunity. After sitting in the passenger seat with the instructor behind the wheel for the run thought the coarse I was strapped in tight hanging on for dear life for what was the most exciting ride in muscle car or any car for that matter and again all I have to say is WOW. Now it is my turn behind the wheel of the most Horse Power in a production car made in the United States and the second in the world. 662 unadulterated horse power 200 miles per hour rocket sled on wheels. Before I headed down the start of the road course the instructor gave me a few pointers about the car to be safe and what to expect once I put the car in gear and let out the clutch. I was a little nervous and gun shy to really open the car up but with a little encouragement from my instructor I really started to enjoy being behind the wheel. As I approached the end of the coarse the instructor feeling that I was starting to get relaxed driving that awesome mustang he ask if I wanted to go through the course again. 

After not only second attempt at the course but a third time that car was so sweet and after I parked the car reluctantly I must say I must have been smiling from ear to ear because the execs from Ford ask me what I thought. I told them where do I need sign to take one of these babies’ home. It was a very spectacular day. A day that I will not forget for a very long time and now I get to go home an start making phone calls to all my gear head buddies an tell them about my day. They all are going to be so jealous.

Cruise-in at Gaudin Ford

On Saturday afternoon I attended the 5th Annual Barrett-Jackson Cruise-in at Gaudin Ford which had at the time I was there over a hundred cars on display. Everything from early model Fords and Chevy's to late model muscle cars like Mustangs and corvettes.  I am a Ford guy and have been for the last 20 years so I was excited to see all of the Mustangs both old and new along the Shelby's, Boss 302's and Roush. There was a Shelby Mustang that he had autographed the dash. I spent about an hour at the car show admiring all of the cool rides on display. I also went in to the showroom at Gaudin Ford and found a couple of cool late model fords fully restored and one that was tricked out. BUt back in the corner was a really cool Mustang which a a Prudhomme Shelby Super Snake which many of the young people reading might not know that is tied to Don "The Snake" Prudhomme famous NHRA Funny Car driver which as a young kid I got to see at Beeline Drag Strip just outside of Phoenix Arizona back in the early 1970's. I will be deferentially will be back for the 6th Annual show and I recommand to any gear head or custom car lover to make there way here in 2013.

there could be found a great mixture of old and new cars and trucks many with cool modifications

Late model Shelby's, Boss 302's and Roush Mustangs in all range of models could be found.

Black Jack tournament at Stratosphere Casino

I shot a Black Jack tournament at the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel and Tower here is Las Vegas. Here are a few photos from that event. It was my first Black Jack tournament. I have shot many Poker and Slot tournaments. The big winner walked away with $15,000.00.

New Camaro's at Henderson Chevrolet

Yesterday morning as when to Henderson Chevrolet to shoot the new Camaro's. They are one of my favorite retro muscle cars. I spend a few hours shooting their Camaro's both inside and out side at the Dealership.

The center Camaro is a Neiman Marcus edition selling for $75,000.00

 

Indy 500 edition

Last Shuttle launch

I watched the final space shuttle launch of the Atlantis yesterday morning with my father and my wife. I cheered as the massive ship lifted off the pad headed to the stars, I scared the cats. I could not help to reflect back 30 years ago to April 12th 1981 sitting in the family room in Ceres California with my father, mother and great aunt Grace (84 years old) watching the count down to the launch of the first Space Shuttle Columbia. That day as well I cheered along with everyone that was watching that day as we watched in excitement as that massive ship moved off of the pad heading to space. I had grown up watch the Apollo Saturn 5 rockets launches but the seemed not to compare with the huge Space Shuttle with fuel tank and booster rockets. My great aunt Grace moved from Wisconsin to Iowa in a covered wagon. She lived to see man on the moon and the Space Shuttle launch.as the Shuttle

I have been a huge NASA fan since Neil Armstrong first stepped on to the moon, I have suffered through the two Space Shuttle disasters taking the lives of 13 astronauts and one civilian and wondering was the price to high for the loss of life for the knowledge that we gained in exchange. I know that in the history of exploration there have been loss of life by those willing to take the voyage with out a second thought and going forward as mankind continues to explore where we have never been, there will be men paying the ultimate price to gain that knowledge.

Part of me is sad with the of the Space Shuttle program but another part is excited what the future will bring as mankind continues to reach for the stars. Next stop Mars.

Wed at car show

On April 23 of this year I was covering the Rat City Rukkas Car and Bike Show help at the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel and Tower when I was informed that later in the afternoon there will be a wedding ceremony taking place. The couple Alexis Alvarez (Bloomington, CA) and Matthew Wimberley (Yucaipa, CA) attend last years car show and liked the show so much they wanted to be married at this years event.

Bride Alexis Alvarez (Bloomington, CA) and Groom Matthew Wimberley (Yucaipa, CA) are about to get hitched by ordained Minister James (Checker Jim) Marquez and car club member.

Bride Alexis Alvarez (Bloomington, CA) and Groom Matthew Wimberley (Yucaipa, CA)  exchange rings during the wedding ceremony 

Newly married Bride Alexis Alvarez (Bloomington, CA) and Groom Matthew Wimberley (Yucaipa, CA)  kiss after ordained Minister James (Checker Jim) Marquez says those famous words “You may kiss the bride".