Wow – what a day! What a week, really. It's been busy.
The trailer is back on the ground, the discs and the floaters are all ready to go, and all the wiring and plumbing are back together in the driver's compartment after changes were made for Todd. Ozzie has been working hard on the chute launchers that will go on the car this year to shoot the parachutes far out into the air.
Yesterday, there was a whole gang at the shop: Alan, Ed, Charlie, Jerad from Red's Reconditioning, Mitch, Terri, Terri's husband Bob, who was working on the trailer A/C and heater, Maura, who does custom sewing and embroidery, and me. Alan took some videos of all the work that was going on, and it will be up on the Website soon, so keep checking.
It's just five days now until we pull out of the shop to head for Valdosta, Ga., to test. These next five days are going to go by so fast, and we still have so much to do. Thanks to this amazing team, we'll get it all done and be on our way. Terri is back from shoulder surgery and oh my gosh it's GREAT to have her back!
I can't believe this season is about to begin, how excited I am, and how excited the whole team is. I will try to give everyone an update on a daily basis. I'll write at you soon.
Jay
February 28, 2010
February 21, 2010
MONSTER JAM
Hello all. It is Sunday, and I wanted to bring you up to date. Last night, I went to Monster Jam in Worcester with Marybeth, Brandon, and Scott for Scott's birthday. Thanks to Adam, the driver of the Taz truck and to Permatex for the backstage look and for letting me sit in a monster truck. What a great experience and a great show.
Alan has been working in the shop machining floaters and discs for the clutch as well as cleaning and helping us organize the shop. Friday, Ed came over and worked on putting cylinder heads together. Scott Spencer has been working on repacking wheel bearings and brakes on the trailer.
Thanks to HTC Racing in Rockland for the powder-coating and for rebuilding the calipers. Saturday, Mitch was back at it too, working on redoing some air valves and air lines on the trailer while Rich from In A Flash Welding installed some D-rings and brackets on the trailer.
I have been doing a variety of things in the office and the shop and trying to work on my computer. Thanks to all the great volunteers who make all of this possible. There's no way we could do it without them! I'll be back soon and hope you are well.
Thanks for reading!
Alan has been working in the shop machining floaters and discs for the clutch as well as cleaning and helping us organize the shop. Friday, Ed came over and worked on putting cylinder heads together. Scott Spencer has been working on repacking wheel bearings and brakes on the trailer.
Thanks to HTC Racing in Rockland for the powder-coating and for rebuilding the calipers. Saturday, Mitch was back at it too, working on redoing some air valves and air lines on the trailer while Rich from In A Flash Welding installed some D-rings and brackets on the trailer.
I have been doing a variety of things in the office and the shop and trying to work on my computer. Thanks to all the great volunteers who make all of this possible. There's no way we could do it without them! I'll be back soon and hope you are well.
Thanks for reading!
February 16, 2010
BACK HOME!
Hey all!
I survived two weeks of computer school at the Carroll Center For the Blind. I finished up Friday night, and boy, was it great to be back home.
Saturday morning, Mitch, Scott, and I unloaded the race car and got the trailer backed into the shop. We got the brakes and hubs apart to service them for the upcoming season and sent all the calipers to HTC Racing to be rebuilt and powdercoated.
Sunday and Monday, I worked from home and played the good husband, doing laundry and cooking dinner and trying to get Ann to take it easy because she's been fighting a cold for two weeks.
Today, I'm on my way to speak for the New England Ford Truck Club. I talked to Tommy Howell this morning. He sounds good and can't wait to get back home.
This week, we're working on getting Todd's firesuit designed and new uniforms made for the team. It's still rainy and snowy on Cape Cod. I can't wait for the warm weather to get here! The Winternationals were last weekend, and it was great to see racing on TV again – you can tell the season's finally getting started. We at Follow a Dream will be back racing before we know it.
Stay tuned. I'll be back soon!
Jay
I survived two weeks of computer school at the Carroll Center For the Blind. I finished up Friday night, and boy, was it great to be back home.
Saturday morning, Mitch, Scott, and I unloaded the race car and got the trailer backed into the shop. We got the brakes and hubs apart to service them for the upcoming season and sent all the calipers to HTC Racing to be rebuilt and powdercoated.
Sunday and Monday, I worked from home and played the good husband, doing laundry and cooking dinner and trying to get Ann to take it easy because she's been fighting a cold for two weeks.
Today, I'm on my way to speak for the New England Ford Truck Club. I talked to Tommy Howell this morning. He sounds good and can't wait to get back home.
This week, we're working on getting Todd's firesuit designed and new uniforms made for the team. It's still rainy and snowy on Cape Cod. I can't wait for the warm weather to get here! The Winternationals were last weekend, and it was great to see racing on TV again – you can tell the season's finally getting started. We at Follow a Dream will be back racing before we know it.
Stay tuned. I'll be back soon!
Jay
February 12, 2010
ANOTHER BUSY WEEK LEARNING COMPUTERS
Good day, everyone
Sorry for the lapse in posting. If I remember right, my last blog was before the weekend. Charlie and Eddie got the car set up at the Frank Marrata Auto & Cycle Show on Friday. Thanks to them for a great job. I arrived Friday evening around 7, and we also had Tom Dobruck from Permatex and Tom from Wynn's there for the weekend.
Todd arrived on Saturday afternoon, and the rest of the crew showed up that night. It was great having everyone together again. Sunday, we closed the show with a service of the car, then we started it up. The crowd and the team seemed to love hearing it run.
Eddie, Charlie, and Todd went straight to ProStart Race Cars to fit Todd for the car. Todd flew home Tuesday, and the guys headed home, trying to outrun a huge snowstorm.
I got back to the Carroll Center Sunday night and was back in class Monday morning. My head was swelling by noon!
This week, I have worked more on Outlook and started on Excel on Wednesday. I find it amazing that less than two weeks ago, I could barely turn on a computer and now I'm posting this blog. I'll write soon, and thanks for checking back!
Jay
Sorry for the lapse in posting. If I remember right, my last blog was before the weekend. Charlie and Eddie got the car set up at the Frank Marrata Auto & Cycle Show on Friday. Thanks to them for a great job. I arrived Friday evening around 7, and we also had Tom Dobruck from Permatex and Tom from Wynn's there for the weekend.
Todd arrived on Saturday afternoon, and the rest of the crew showed up that night. It was great having everyone together again. Sunday, we closed the show with a service of the car, then we started it up. The crowd and the team seemed to love hearing it run.
Eddie, Charlie, and Todd went straight to ProStart Race Cars to fit Todd for the car. Todd flew home Tuesday, and the guys headed home, trying to outrun a huge snowstorm.
I got back to the Carroll Center Sunday night and was back in class Monday morning. My head was swelling by noon!
This week, I have worked more on Outlook and started on Excel on Wednesday. I find it amazing that less than two weeks ago, I could barely turn on a computer and now I'm posting this blog. I'll write soon, and thanks for checking back!
Jay
February 6, 2010
FRANK MARATTA AUTO & CYCLE SHOW
Hi everybody!
It's Friday afternoon, and I'm on my way to Hartford for the Frank Maratta Auto & Cycle Show. It's been a busy few days of computer training at the Carroll Center. It's really been cool learning the Internet and checking out stuff like nhra.com.
Using a screen reader, you have to listen and use key commands. It gets a little frustrating because you have to be patient and listen to what the computer's saying, but the reality of life is that Windows and the Internet are based on visuals – I can't exactly point and click! I'm not complaining, though. Repetition will be the key - the more I do it, the easier it gets. I can write an email just as easily as anybody else now.
Todd's flying in from Indianapolis for the show, and practically the whole team's going to be in Hartford. Should be fun! Sunday night, Eddie, Charlie, and Todd are headed to ProStart in New Jersey to get Todd all fitted for the car, and I'll be back at the Carroll Center all week.
Talk to you soon.
Jay
It's Friday afternoon, and I'm on my way to Hartford for the Frank Maratta Auto & Cycle Show. It's been a busy few days of computer training at the Carroll Center. It's really been cool learning the Internet and checking out stuff like nhra.com.
Using a screen reader, you have to listen and use key commands. It gets a little frustrating because you have to be patient and listen to what the computer's saying, but the reality of life is that Windows and the Internet are based on visuals – I can't exactly point and click! I'm not complaining, though. Repetition will be the key - the more I do it, the easier it gets. I can write an email just as easily as anybody else now.
Todd's flying in from Indianapolis for the show, and practically the whole team's going to be in Hartford. Should be fun! Sunday night, Eddie, Charlie, and Todd are headed to ProStart in New Jersey to get Todd all fitted for the car, and I'll be back at the Carroll Center all week.
Talk to you soon.
Jay
February 3, 2010
LEARNING HOW TO EMAIL
Hey all!
Another day at the Carroll Center. Today was spent working on Outlook for me email. By the end of the day, my head was pounding! I'm not complaining - the teaching and the knowledge I'm gaining is awesome.
It's so weird having so much time on my hands with nothing to do, but I'm thankful for this opportunity. Thanks for reading, and if you send me an email, I'll respond. My email address is jay@followadream.org.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
J
Another day at the Carroll Center. Today was spent working on Outlook for me email. By the end of the day, my head was pounding! I'm not complaining - the teaching and the knowledge I'm gaining is awesome.
It's so weird having so much time on my hands with nothing to do, but I'm thankful for this opportunity. Thanks for reading, and if you send me an email, I'll respond. My email address is jay@followadream.org.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
J
February 2, 2010
LEARNING COMPUTERS
Hello, everyone!
I just finished my first day of training at The Carroll Center For the Blind. My instructor's name is Heather, and she's wonderful - very patient, and fun too. We worked on Microsoft Word for most of the day and learned a little about computer setup and other general stuff. It's kind of weird being back here and getting flashbacks from 12 years ago. Once again, all the people are great. I'll blog again tomorrow. See ya!
Jay
I just finished my first day of training at The Carroll Center For the Blind. My instructor's name is Heather, and she's wonderful - very patient, and fun too. We worked on Microsoft Word for most of the day and learned a little about computer setup and other general stuff. It's kind of weird being back here and getting flashbacks from 12 years ago. Once again, all the people are great. I'll blog again tomorrow. See ya!
Jay
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