Daughters and Railhawks

Last weekend I got to spend a wonderful Saturday evening with my daughters at the home opener for the Carolina Railhawks.  They are a "minor league" soccer team based in Cary, NC.  My girls chose the game as their "turn" to do something as their older brother got to attend a Carolina Hurricanes game with me 3 or 4 years ago.  Those with children know how that works.

I really enjoyed the game.  With all the games my girls play in, I have really gotten to where I enjoy watching soccer even when they are not playing.  In person was great.  It is too bad the tickets are as expensive as they are, or I might be tempted to buy some season tickets.  The game itself was a close match as the Railhawks pulled off a 1-0 victory over the Charleston Battery.

The other interesting thing for me was all the tie-ins with Cary.  Since the soccer complex itself is located in Cary, I suppose they kind of consider it their team.  So lots of the advertising was Cary businesses, the post-game watering hole is a pub in Cary, etc.  Having grown up in Cary many years ago when it was about a tenth of the size it is now, it was one of those, "who'd a thunk it?" moments.

Perhaps the kicker to the evening was when we arrived at the soccer park.  Just as we got there a silver Mini Cooper showed up and turned in front of us, also on their way to the game.  We ended up parked right next to each other.  And a few minutes later, a Pepper White Mini parked on the same row - we followed them out.

So, soccer, Minis, and a great night with my girls!

Daughters and Railhawks

Last weekend I got to spend a wonderful Saturday evening with my daughters at the home opener for the Carolina Railhawks.  They are a "minor league" soccer team based in Cary, NC.  My girls chose the game as their "turn" to do something as their older brother got to attend a Carolina Hurricanes game with me 3 or 4 years ago.  Those with children know how that works.

I really enjoyed the game.  With all the games my girls play in, I have really gotten to where I enjoy watching soccer even when they are not playing.  In person was great.  It is too bad the tickets are as expensive as they are, or I might be tempted to buy some season tickets.  The game itself was a close match as the Railhawks pulled off a 1-0 victory over the Charleston Battery.

The other interesting thing for me was all the tie-ins with Cary.  Since the soccer complex itself is located in Cary, I suppose they kind of consider it their team.  So lots of the advertising was Cary businesses, the post-game watering hole is a pub in Cary, etc.  Having grown up in Cary many years ago when it was about a tenth of the size it is now, it was one of those, "who'd a thunk it?" moments.

Perhaps the kicker to the evening was when we arrived at the soccer park.  Just as we got there a silver Mini Cooper showed up and turned in front of us, also on their way to the game.  We ended up parked right next to each other.  And a few minutes later, a Pepper White Mini parked on the same row - we followed them out.

So, soccer, Minis, and a great night with my girls!

railhawks_logo.png

THMMC Bullfrog Run

Wow, it has been a while since I've had a chance to post here.  Seems like every time I turn around, I have something to do other than spend time on the computer.  So while I think about what might need catchin' up, one thing I know I wanted to post about was the First Annual THMMC Bullfrog Run.  It was originally scheduled to be held on April 5, 2008, but due to rainy weather, it got pushed to April 6, 2008.

This was the first THMMC event for me and my Mini.  It was great being around other Minis.  I occasionally see them on the road in passing.  This was much more fun being part of a group.

The event itself involved a drive up Hwy. 66 north of Winston-Salem in the Hanging Rock State Park area.  As I discovered, this is a very curvy road reminiscent of what you can find up in the mountains with a variety of s-curves and switchbacks.  For those members of the club going to Minis on the Dragon 2008, it was a good warm-up event.  One of the main benefits I got from the even was that it helped me get a much better feel for what my Mini can do.

You might be wondering - why the "Bullfrog Run"?  As was posted when the event was first being planned, it was being treated as an "event" in memory of one of the early members of the THMMC who was known as Bullfrog.  He was described as one of those people who was always willing to go the extra mile to help fellow Mini drivers and probably served as a role model for club members.  Even though I never met him, he reminds me of someone from my past.  Back in the late 80's when I was first getting into my on-line simracing hobby, one of the leaders of the league I was involved with was a fellow from England named Derm Quinn. He too was one of those people who served as a role model - someone who worked to make sure others could have fun and didn't really ask for anything in return.  Hopefully you have had the pleasure of knowing someone like this yourself.

So the First Annual Bullfrog Run was a great success in my newbie opinion.  Below are a handful of pics I managed to snap.

THMMC Bullfrog Run

Wow, it has been a while since I've had a chance to post here.  Seems like every time I turn around, I have something to do other than spend time on the computer.  So while I think about what might need catchin' up, one thing I know I wanted to post about was the First Annual THMMC Bullfrog Run.  It was originally scheduled to be held on April 5, 2008, but due to rainy weather, it got pushed to April 6, 2008.

This was the first THMMC event for me and my Mini.  It was great being around other Minis.  I occasionally see them on the road in passing.  This was much more fun being part of a group.

The event itself involved a drive up Hwy. 66 north of Winston-Salem in the Hanging Rock State Park area.  As I discovered, this is a very curvy road reminiscent of what you can find up in the mountains with a variety of s-curves and switchbacks.  For those members of the club going to Minis on the Dragon 2008, it was a good warm-up event.  One of the main benefits I got from the even was that it helped me get a much better feel for what my Mini can do.

You might be wondering - why the "Bullfrog Run"?  As was posted when the event was first being planned, it was being treated as an "event" in memory of one of the early members of the THMMC who was known as Bullfrog.  He was described as one of those people who was always willing to go the extra mile to help fellow Mini drivers and probably served as a role model for club members.  Even though I never met him, he reminds me of someone from my past.  Back in the late 80's when I was first getting into my on-line simracing hobby, one of the leaders of the league I was involved with was a fellow from England named Derm Quinn. He too was one of those people who served as a role model - someone who worked to make sure others could have fun and didn't really ask for anything in return.  Hopefully you have had the pleasure of knowing someone like this yourself.

So the First Annual Bullfrog Run was a great success in my newbie opinion.  Below are a handful of pics I managed to snap.