Last Races of the Year

Last weekend was the last Soap Box Derby race of the year.

Saturday was a long day of racing. We had to arrive at the track in Salem at 7 AM because there were two races that day – there was a normal double-elimination race, then there was a single-elimination race to make up for the race about a month ago when the timer was broken.

Grandpa and Grandma Wiser came to the race on Saturday – this was the first race they have watched.

In the double-elimination race, we did not place. In the single-elimination race that followed, we placed 7^th. Also, in the single-elimination, there were a lot of runoffs for places, so we ended up doing more racing there than in the double-elimination. We had two heats in the double-elimination race (and lost them both). In the single-elimination, we had four heats. This was the most racing we have done in a single day, and it was exhausting. Also, because of all this racing, everything was a little more fast-paced than normal . . . people were moving just a little faster and doing things with just a little more purpose and urgency, in order to finish the racing before dusk.

Saturday evening we went to Old Country Buffet for dinner, and then Dacota Boucher, a competing driver who is also from Vancouver, came to our hotel and swam with Alex for a couple hours.

We stayed at the Rodeway Inn in North Salem. In the past, we have stayed at Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, and Shilo Inn; we were a little nervous about staying in a $44 hotel room, especially since Alex has started getting used to the more expensive places. However, we could not find anything to complain about. The rooms were nice and clean; the pool was nice and clean; the lobby and breakfast area were nice and . . . well, you get the idea. The breakfast selection was not as big as the other hotels, but for the price difference, I can live with that.

Sunday was another regular double-elimination race. Again, Alex did not place. Grandpa and Grandma Kennedy were at this race, as well as my cousin John, and his family. After Alex was eliminated from the race, we gave Maddie and Ryan driving lessons and a trip down the track in Alex's car. Maddie was pretty scared, but she did great. Ryan could have used a bigger car! Hopefully next year John will be able to bring them out and enter a race.