Paradise is a state of mind and heart.  It’s engagement with no separation between the texture, aroma, touch, and echo of one’s passion — and you, the agent.  Paradise is a time and place of sublime union with what you’ve learned to love.  Paradise is temporary, a rare interlude, a magical concatenation…  Paradise has that quality of mythos. 

Last night a friend spoke of his experience at the Burning Man festival in the Utah desert.  He described in glowing terms visuals of artistic expression, the palpable community, a solicitous ethos, “all in this together.”  The question under consideration: what is it about that environment, the principles, written or perhaps left informal, unspoken, – that fosters an almost transcendent sense of belonging?

For me, the drag strip, a double lane of asphalt, a starting tree, and a finish line a quarter mile distant is paradise enough.  I have learned over time to appreciate the difficulty, the expense and the dedication required to build, tune and successfully develop a drag car.  These photo’s were taken on Saturday Sept 2nd at Great Lakes Dragaway, Union Grove, Wisconsin.

A segment was spent with the Lumbert Brothers and their 57 Chevy Pro-Mod car.  I’ve observed their development of the car over a year or so.  They live in the Fox River Valley as do I.

Also I met a gentleman who built a very rare English Anglia Gasser.  He mentioned that he had just sold the creme colored car to the man belted into the drivers seat.  I walked with him behind the car to the starting line.  It seemed that the new owner was making a first pass down the strip… 

Staging lane photos, Chicago Wiseguys Pro Mod cars, and Brew City Gassers lined up waiting for a turn at the starting line.  Last minute checks of parachute, tire pressure, and some quiet conversation, the still focus of anticipation.  Prayer to the “gods” for a quick light, a clean launch and a good pass…

Could there be a song that expresses the exhilaration of this kind of moment?  Indeed there is!  Paradise City by Guns N’ Roses.