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Bobsleding in Lake Placid

We just got back frome an incredibly cool-figuratively and litterally-event this past weekend in Lake Placid, NY.

Ron was asked to take part in the Chevy Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge held on the Mount Vanhovenerg Olmpic Bobsled run. The 1980 Olympics were held here so it was pretty neat to be where the Olympians still train.

When we arrived the temperature was -10 degrees (I have never been that cold before). Now, we're from California and not used to those types of temperatures. It gets a little cool in North Carolina during the winter, but -10 was something different. But don't worry; it warmed up to -4 for the high later that day.

Our first day consisted of checking in and receiving our winter clothing from Columbia Sportswear. Great, and I mean great, items they gave us to keep warm, thank goodness. They had all the sponsors logos on them, so they looked a little like race uniforms.

Then they took us up the mountain and gave Ron instructions on how to drive the sled, what the track looks like and what to do to steer through the turns. Ron and the group of drivers walked the track and most of them slipped and went down the track on their butts.

Ron's first ride down the track was with Boris Said as his brake man and Ron didn't really care for the ride, but the next ride down Ron drove the sled and had a blast. When he got to the bottom of the hill you could hear him on the radio saying, Wow that's cool. From then on everytime he came back of the mountain he had a big smile. I got to go for a ride down the mountain with Ron as his brake man and I have to tell you, it was an experience of a lifetime and nothing what I expected.

The next day they took us higher up the mountain and let the drivers drive from 3/4 mile part. The first day was just over  a half a mile. But this part was faster and had 12 turns to negotiate. Each of the runs were timed and that's where the competitive nature kicked in for the NASCAR and NHRA drivers. We got to hang out with Randy LaJoie, Johnny Benson, Todd Bodine, Steve Carlson, LW Miller, Donny Lia, and Joey Logono and on the NHRA side, there was JR Todd, Jeg Coughlin, Bob Vandergriff, Jr, Phil Burkart, Morgon Lucas and so many more really neat people.

On Friday night they had a nice dinner and auction to help raise money for the bobsled team. That's what this whole Bobsled Challenge was about - to raise funds and awareness for the Bo-Dyne Bobsled Project, Inc.  Geoff Bodine and Bob Cuneo build and design the sleds our athletes use in Olympic and World Cup Competition. We found out that Americans used to race in sleds built by Europeans, and didn't do so well and now that they are competing in the Bo-Dyne sleds built in America they are winning medals and representing the USA in golden fashion. 

Saturday began the competition and oh yeah, the tempertures were in the high 20's and low 30's a real heat wave, but I have to say I could finally feel my toes in this warmer weather. Ron was paired up with his brake man, Sgt. Vest from the US National Guard. It was really cool to talk and hang out with so many of the National Guardsman at this event. They helped moving sleds and polishing rudders all day and some of them rode with the drivers as their brakemen. Ron had a blast in the competition a little bummed he didn't do better but I said not bad for a "rookie" his first time out. You can see the whole competion and our trip on January 20th on Speed. It should be good!!

I think the coolest part of this trip was definately meeting some of the US Bobsledders and talking with them. We couldn't believe what they go through to compete for our Olympic team, how they live, how they train and what they do to live out their dreams to be World competitors. It's incredidble and what Geoff Bodine is doing for all of them making people aware and giving our athletes very fast sleds is Great!! We also got to go to the ice rink where the American Hockey Team beat the Russians in the 1980 Olympics. That was the very coolest thing just being inside where so much history happened, it was incredible!!!

Ron and I had a blast on this trip, met some great people, raced a little, got to hang out with our friends  and were able to see a Beautiful part of the country, Lake Placid. Thank-you Geoff for inviting us.

If you are interested in helping out our US Olympic Bobsledders and the Bo-Dyne Bobsled Project, Inc, check out the website www.bodynebobsled.com .  It's definatlely for a Great Cause!!

Hello, I am finally back!!!

Hi to everyone. I know it has been a while since I last blogged but my computer crashed. I lost everything and had to get a new one and with all of our traveling lately that has not been an easy task around here, especially because I am not real good on the computer to start with, but I back.

First I would like to send out our prayers to all of the people in California. We watched all of the devastating fires on the computer and were in utter shock. So many people lost their homes it was heartbreaking to Ron and I.  We were so happy to hear that Scott was okay and didn't lose his home. Kyle was on phone with him the first night and kept us informed.

Well I know that you have all been watching our Ron and he is doing FANTASTIC!  It has been a lot of fun at the racetrack, sometimes a little stressful but most of the time it has been exciting. Kyle Fisher, son of Bob Fisher (Palmdale Chiropractic) came to stay with us for the summer and go to a few races and hasn't left since the Charlotte race in May. He has made going to the races for me a little easier because he keeps me informed on what is going on at all times and sometimes makes me laugh during the race because this child is a nervous wreck. He is going to stay with us until the checkered flag drops in Homested. He is sooooo excited as we all are.

We are getting ready to go to Texas tomorrow and I am excited for the race. Ron is really focused and I think that we are going to have a GREAT race and hopefully gain a few more points on Skinner.

Be sure to check out the new Hornaday Professor Line. We are getting some of the merchandise in and it looks great! We have a black Tee that just came in that has Ron Hornaday on the front in red with "Live every day like it's Saturday"(one of Ron's most favorite sayings to live by) on the sleeve. Candice will be sending Scott a picture of it soon. We have some other new things coming soon and we will get them up as soon as we get them.

Talk to you all real soon, Lindy

THE MONSTER MILE!!!!!

What a day!!!!!!!!!!!!  Last week at Mansifield on the way home on the airplane Ron told me that he ask God, please just let me get out of Mansifield with a good top 10, because he really wanted to win Dover. Ron loves Dover and has been sooooo close to winning there but never could he seal the deal. Well he finally did it and it was a Glorious Win! Practice did not go so good on Thursday and Ron was a little frustrated. When we got to the track on Friday Rick told Ron everything would be alright. After qualifying Ron still was not happy and Rick again told Ron we will be alright. I told Ron have trust in him and everything will work out and work out it did. I thought Ron was excited after winning Charlotte but let me tell you all he was estatic after Dover. Ron also had one of his Favorite Fans in attendance, Robin from NJ. It was great seeing Robin and her mom, Barbara. 

Ron loves his new Monster Mile trophy and I think that this one is going in his glass case in his trophy room. Ron has a special  trophy case for the  NASCAR Craftsman 100th race win that he won in Monroe, WA and now he has won the NASCAR Craftsman 300th race so I think this one will get to go in the case.  Well it's off to Texas we go. Talk to you after the race.  

Our Angel on our sleve, "Tanner"

As most of you know Tanner has a very special place in Ron's and my heart. Last week was Relay for Life Cancer Awareness week and we at my store Miss Estelle's dedicated our window to Tanner. The theme of our window was  Tanner's Tea Party and the Cancer Society awarded us 1st place. Before the  Dover race Ron dedicated the race to Tanner and could not have been any happier when he won!! I hope that everyone will keep Tanner in their thoughts and say lots of prayers for her, because she really could use them. We love you Tanner.......................... 

Lindy's Blog

Charlotte

What a night!! Ron was on cloud nine as all of us were. Actually I haven't seen Ron that excited about a  race in a long time. Ron was so excited about his new sponsor, "Camping World" and the new colors, "blue and yellow". Victory lane was awesome having Tori and Slater there, the only thing that I missed was not having my other 2 girls, Lacey and Lily. We had a great night!!! Ron had to fly out the next morning at 7:00am to Iowa to practice Kevin's Winston west car and so he didn't have much time to celebrate but each time he called me from Iowa which was a lot he kept telling me, "Lindy you just can't believe how many calls that I have had." Our week was busy after Charlotte, Ron had many interviews to do and I had a lot of work to get ready at Miss Estelle's for the "Relay for Life" window contest. It's paint the town purple in downtown Mooresville and we are working on our window.

Well it's time to get ready to go to Mansfield and I can't wait to get there. Talk to you soon, Lindy