“… not at first anyway. Not when the kids were little, and we’d go every weekend to watch, trying to corral kids in the stands, at the track, in all sorts of weather, it was rough.”
What changed for you?
“I changed my mind, and started to ask questions about the car, or why he thought he didn’t do so well that night… little things really, and now I still do that, just not ONLY on the ride home, but while I’m at the track with him… heck, I’m even The Jokers B.U.G now!”
To quote from my deepest writing well, that I draw from, every time I sit at my writing kit, Mr William Shakespeare…
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and
The Twelfth Night Act 2, Scene 5
some have greatness thrust upon ’em. Thy fates open
their hands. Let thy blood and spirit embrace them.
And, to inure thyself to what thou art like to be, cast
thy humble slough and appear fresh.
This is a quote readily available, and readily used by an Emerging Man, magnates of the silver screen, politicians, and sports coaches. Most just use the first line.
Leah, embodies all four.
Because, you see, these famous lines, which are usually used in the most serious sense, are from a play, where the gentleman reciting the lines, is being set up, having a prank played on him, by stirring up his emotions.
It’s a comedy.
But all four lines befit our Gal… Leah.
For you see, she didn’t start out a B.U.G, she didn’t want to have anything “OUT THERE” to do with “the car.”
Until the day her and her Guy, were at a racing association meeting, and the topic of getting the B.U.G.s back on the track came up… and they needed someone to be the leader and organizer.
She didn’t raise her hand, she didn’t “love it” at the time… it’s a good thing her Guy has all the confidence in the world, he piped up, “Leah can do it.”
Bada – Bing – Baby!!! You have just had “greatness thrust upon you!”
And so… it begins.
Was her first project calling a meeting? Nope.
Was her first project coordinating matching, vintage, outfits? Nope.
Outta the gate she had to circle the wagons!
A big time magazine was coming in to do a feature article on the historical nature of their home track, being one of, if not the oldest remaining, and continuous running tracks in the country!
Who stated, “If you don’t have B.U.G.s we’ll just bring some of our own, for show.”
So she circled the wagons, and the first rousing speech she gave was, “Ok ladies, do you want them bringing in some young hussies, who’ll be hanging all over your men… and cars!?!”
THAT DID IT!
And “The Brew City Gassers” B.U.G.s were off and racin’!!!
Sometimes “greatness” is thrust upon you, kinda feels the same as “being thrown under the bus” but we’re just splitting hairs.
And sometimes we get exposed to our potential greatness, when somebody, like our Guy, takes us out of our comfort zone.
Leah wasn’t born a B.U.G., and she wasn’t even into vintage clothes when she met her Guy.
It was at “another one of his car things,” in her words.
At a smaller than small town, vintage car show, The Symco Shakedown.
THAT DID IT!
That placed our Gal, and our Guy, on the path to becoming quite the tandem in business!
What other hot rod shop, and custom car building facility sports it’s own vintage clothing store, and photography venues, on such a scale as Greg’s Speed Shop!?!
And getting back to our quote… and how it’s usually used seriously… but comes from a Shakespeare comedy… but in our context works perfectly… because it’s a bit ironic… she is as serious about her part of the business as our Guy is his… and what does it all revolve around?
“the car”
She said, “I didn’t love it, not at first… not the oval stuff.”
“But The Joker, he’s different, you didn’t know I painted the door did ya!?!”
That’s right, a beast of a race car, who rounds out our “warriors three”, The Joker!
A VINTAGE GASSER! Competing in the A/Gas division of the fastest vintage drag racing association in the country!!
With the Baddest B.U.G cutting a line every time she sprints down the track to get into position to do her job… backing up The Joker into the racing groove! And then positioning him at the start line, so close to the laser she only has to move the toe of her vintage boot, just so, to get him ready to race!!
She’s in it now.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/612140864333943
The book wouldn’t be the same without her… heck! it probably wouldn’t have been written!
The title would’ve been different for sure instead of…
The Joker: A Story About A Guy, A Gal & A Gasser! (available on Amazon)
Are they a serious race team? Oh yeah. Just shy of a world record!
Do they have fun? Definitely!
Do they have haters? Sure do.
But by the looks of it… Leah will be having the last laugh!
And it’ll be great!
The Emerging Man writing to ENCOURAGE, EQUIP & ENGAGE!
While Offering Positivity… with Work Gloves!!
theemergingman.com 