Gloat Developing...

[Darren Ford]

Totally unrelated to woodworking, hence the offtopic forum.

Can anyone guess what it is?

I am sitting in a hotel in Griffin, GA. It is 6:52am EST and I will be leaving in about 30 minutes to travel 7 miles to the location of the gloat.

It will start at 8am EST and be finished sometime early - mid afternoon.

After this is over, I will have, in addition to a grin that is guaranteed to last for days, a new appreciation for a profession that I already know is extremely difficult.

I am going to receive instruction in something that alot of people think is easy, but in reality is so difficult to do well that only a few do it for a living.

I will post pictures when I get home. I plan to go home this evening, but there is talk amongst family members of taking the long way home and seeing some sights and staying over another night.

[Jeff Sudmeier]

Well you have me stumped! Let us know what it was :)

[Hal Peeler]

I would guess that you're headed north to Atlanta Motor Speedway for one of the driving schools. I work in Griffin at a research facility and actually have field plots on the grounds of AMS. Wild guess but I can't think of any other reason anybody might be so excited to be in a motel here. If I'm right, have fun!
Hal

[Jerry Clark]

Yep, That was my guess-- Have fun- say "Hi" to Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson! Ha ha ;)

[Darren Ford]

No fooling you guys. I was at Buck Baker's racing school. This was the most intimidating thing I have ever done.

If anyone is interested in the full pictorial, including how I almost blew up Buddy Baker's personal race car by forgetting to watch the temp gauge, you can see it here (http://kd4pbs.homelinux.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=510)

http://www.emailmom.com/misc/bb/photo1.jpg

http://www.emailmom.com/misc/bb/smc1.jpg

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Darren what a rush that must have been. I've got one recognizeable character flaw. There a lot of things I'd like "to do just once"! I bought and paid for a new car with cash..$100 bills....Had the dealer/owner make a sign "paid in cash..in full" and sign it. I then drove it to a competitor's lot and blocked one of the two exits while wife and I went shopping for a couple of hours. The competitor wouldn't budge on price and didn't think an E-4 sailor had that kind of money anyway........He handled my rebuttal very well, however. I'd like to take the course you just completed. I'd like to experience a carrier DAYLIGHT takeoff and landing......there are a few others...Congrats!

[Martin Shupe]

I'd like to experience a carrier DAYLIGHT takeoff and landing......there are a few others...Congrats!

What's the matter Ken? You don't like to fly at night? :D

The night traps never really bothered me, and I usually got better grades, perhaps due to my heightened concentration level. Now the night cat shots were something else. They scared me ever time, especially after I lost my primary gryos on one. :eek:

Good story about the car purchase.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Darren...don't mean to steal your thread...

Martin......No fear of night flying. :confused: When smacking something or diving into the water....I want to see what's coming in time to say ..."OH ________" You can fill in the blank. :rolleyes: ;) :D

[Darren Ford]

Not at all Ken, I would have gladly traded the school for a day or night trap :)

Tell us more Martin... We want detail. the plane, the carrier, scariest moment, funniest event, everything!

And remember. No pics, didn't happen :)

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Darren......here's the closest I got to a carrier landing. In November of 2000 I rode with my youngest son, a young LTJG ships company officer aboard the USS Carl Vinson from San Francisco to Bremerton Washinton. You'll notice that my "trap" was pretty sedate! Okay Martin....former Navy Flyboy....pony up now!

[Jeff Sudmeier]

Darren, I am VERY jealous! That is also one of the things that I would like to do just once!