A Springtime Tuesday rushes onward, a wave-force concealed under the surface. The wave builds and if you choose to ride you are uncertain as to what the veiled pulse of energy will become at the moment of crest. Do we need to know though, in order to enjoy the ride?

Saturday of the past week, just three days ago I accepted the invitation from Jeff and Dave Lumbert to have a look at the race car they are building in anticipation of the coming racing season.

Drag racing is not for everyone. The tao of conceiving, constructing-by-hand a 1,500 horsepower quarter mile race car is one of many ways-of-life similar in dedication to becoming a master gardener. A short cut of any kind is absurd, when the stakes are so outsized. That is, when excellence is what you have in mind. A life time’s experience, combined with a durable “dream”, and time+money+effort+care is the cost of creating a beautiful/quick and safe race car. Strictly speaking a safe race car is oxymoronic. Still safety is paramount. Two red fire bottles are mounted and distribution lines are attached, if fire suppression should ever be needed.

I imagine the blue Nova paused at the starting line, the Steve Cohn engine is brought up to launch rpm, and a second or two remains before the “go” light flashes green. Jeff releases the trans brake. As if outside of time engine and frame and driver function as one unit to reach a velocity of over 200 mph, in around 6 seconds. The reality is another definition of the surreal: an event of love and devotion and fire and steel and tradition of family dedication within the constraints of 1,320 feet of a lane of asphalt. I cannot describe to my satisfaction such an event. It is the sort of thing you have to hear, to witness and feel for yourself.

Not unlike the feeling of awe that comes when standing before the statue of Winged Victory of Samothrace at the Louvre museum. The mind goes no further.

Whatever one’s life entails, you just know that all of it was worth arriving at this place, at this time.

The rest of my Tuesday will be dedicated to spreading what remains of the mulch pile in my driveway, more reading, etc., etc.. The anticipation of what lies in store for Jeff and Dave’s ’67 Nova will glimmer in the background while I work my way through my to-do list.

There’s a kid in me who can hardly wait for the big Memorial Weekend race at the Wisconsin track!

Thank you to Jeff and Dave for showing me the car!

Here are a few photos that I captured.