Saturday, July 23

Cerwin and Chaplain Jake took the chapel and Jake’s Marmon to the speedway on Friday so they could park at our designated spot – just inside the gate.

The organizers gave us the best spot on the grounds.

We enjoyed watching arriving trucks.

The view behind my chair and under the chapel.

Our view of arriving trucks when sitting in lawn chairs under the canopy

The ice chest contained cold water for drivers. It was a hot, humid day.

After I had the inside of the chapel set up and had done a bit of reading, I did a photo walk.

Driver goodie bags

Trophies

Arriving trucks

The monster truck – Keystone Crusher – was giving rides to those who wanted to get close to the track.

Chaplain Jake said we had VIP seats from Peterbilt (some connection he had). I had no idea what that meant, so I was surprised to have access to a room overlooking the race track! 🙂

How nice to sit in air conditioning, watch racing trucks, and eat lunch provided by Peterbilt. There were hamburgers, vegie trays, crackers, cheese, cookies, and soda.

I made sure the Peterbilt rep who was sitting next to me knew that we appreciated their gracious gift.

It was time to give Jake a break from chapel duty so we walked back to the chapel – taking pictures as we went.

Our view from my lawn chair while Jake went to the VIP room.

We enjoyed watching arriving trucks and visiting with people who stopped by to talk to us.

The view behind the chapel.

Another photo walk

On this picture you can see Jake’s Marmon (it used to be a chapel tractor). He is on the left talking to a few visitors on a golf cart.

Jake’s Marmon

The police security was next to us.

We heard that a special jet dragster was going to do a demonstration, so I headed toward the track – hoping to get to the viewing room before it took off.

When I heard the roar, I knew I was not going to make it, so I went into the stands and soon knew why people around me were putting their hands over their ears.

I should have gone higher up in the stands because of the cement barriers – but I did get to hear the amazing roar and watch it take off like a jet.

I went back to our viewing room to get another soda and watch more racing while the men stayed with the chapel.

The Keystone Crusher was still giving rides.

Preparing the track for the next set of races.

Trucks waiting to race.

Heading back to the chapel to give the men a break.

I was surprised to find that trucks were still arriving.

By mid-afternoon the trucks began leaving.

This one was arriving.

Then it was our turn to leave. As you can see, I am again following the chapel in our RAV4. This car got between us, but it is not difficult to follow a chapel.

This time I only had an hour drive – and mostly on familiar roads. About halfway home, Cerwin headed toward the TFC Headquarters and I turned toward home. He had the TFC pickup at the office.

I often thank God for the amazing variety of activities He has brought into my life.

Little did I know when I was a young girl – wanting to do mission work – that He would bring me into the interesting life of truck drivers. 🙂

One highlight of my day was when a trucker stopped to tell me that he now knows how old I am – because of the article I wrote for the Highway News and Good News when we were at Macungie and I tried to locate and photograph trucks that were built in 1944 – the year I was born. It’s always nice to know that people like something I wrote.