Why? It's a simple reason, and one we're very proud of: Dan Beauchamp. Don't recognize the name? I hope one day you will for his accomplishments at racing (and beyond, too!), but we know him foremost as Conrad's nephew.
You've seen Dan's older brother and sister in law in this blog, and Dan has made an appearance, too. Conrad has been able to watch the races, but this time was my first opportunity. Making it more worthwhile was that the races were at Bark River, Dan's hometown venue, and his parents and other family were there.
You see, I still don't know anything about trucks, cars, buggies, whatever. It's not how I'm wired. Kind of the same way that I just don't get baseball, football, or hockey (but, surprisingly, I do get basketball, sort of). Anytime I go see such events live, though, it's different. There's an energy that sucks you in, and for the few hours we had at Bark River, it was the most fun thing we could possibly have been doing on a sunny August Sunday.
Dan made the podium that day, finishing third (after jumping out to an early lead but then suffering a spin coming out of a tight turn). Making us even more proud was how he was very publicly raining money for and awareness of the fight against a rare disease called Prader-Willi Syndrome. Dan's little cousin suffers from it, and it was genuinely touching to see all the racing fans wearing t-shirts from the information booth and then to have Dan share the podium with his cousin. After the local news interviewed him, there was time for a photo with his deservedly beaming Mom (Conrad's sister, Karen).
Some photos, then, of the day, the race site, Dan's truck in action, and the awards after. I hope we can get another visit to a race in - likely not this year given all that's going on with us, but one day again. And again. Oh no, am I mildly hooked on this? With Dan's growing success, I certainly have good reason!
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