Stage one of the 2008 Project is now officially underway with Bob McMurray already on his way to the big event and now reporting in from Kentucky (yep that's right Kentucky) prior to the rest of the team and his co-presenter Robert Rakete joining him later in the week.
Bob says:
Kentucky. Yeah right!
Things didn't quite go to plan but I will get to that in a minute.
First up I really do have to have to let you know that I do have a special wife.
Every year without fail and strangely on the same day each year, she has a birthday.
They only happen once in a lifetime as every one is unique but this year on May 13 she had an anniversary that is only celebrated with the passing of each decade in one's life. So the subject of me coming up to Indianapolis with a departure date of May 12 wasn't going to be the most popular decision made in the household this year.
However, after what seems to be a lifetime of us being involved in international motorsport, she was fully understanding and supportive of me departing on that date. What a gem she is.
Heaven only knows what it is going to cost me when I get back home though!
So we left Auckland airport May 12 for LA on the Air NZ big bird.
I have to say something here though and I don't really like doing it.
The flight was, apart from some bumps in the night, really good. On time, comfortable and efficient. I am a long time customer and admirer of Air NZ and support them whenever is possible but the crew in my section of the aircraft were the worst advert for the airline and the country I have ever seen.
I could go on but I needed to say it and I will leave it at that apart from saying that, on behalf of those Kiwi passengers on board, I apologise to the American and other international customers that I heard complaining.
Travelling on....
Arrival in LA and the typical chaos of LAX arrivals and immigration procedures saw us out of the airport in under the hour, which was some sort of record, for an overnight stay before catching our flight to Denver then Indy.
A 4am bus to the airport and then the re-check in and security and belts off, shoes off confiscate the toothpaste I had forgotten to put away and we were through!
To wait an hour plus for our flight and watch the queue at the McDonald's grow ever longer. They are never going to go broke for lack of custom!
Arrival in Denver saw three degrees celcius and the snowploughs in action trying to clear the taxi ways of the heavy rain with snow forecast!
OK, out of there as quick as possible to Indy thanks.
Back in Indy...but bad news!
Arrival into Indy saw cool and overcast conditions but thankfully dry. Apparently the first dry day for weeks.
Get the bags and let's get off to Kentucky for Jonny Reid's Firestone Indy Lights rookie test on an oval. The reason for coming up here three days early and the thing that will make all worthwhile.
Waiting for the bags I get a text from Jonny.
"Kentucky called off due to weather conditions!!
WHAT!!!
Apparently the track was so wet from previous days rain that it was still seeping water and there is no way you can run an oval in wet conditions.
From bad to worse
What made it worse was that Jonny had written the text while on the way to the airport to return to NZ to sort some stuff out to then return to Indy on Sunday before the new rookie test date of Monday 19 at Iowa Speedway.
A bizarre meeting then on the kerb of the Indy airport arrivals area with us and our bags coming from NZ to Indy to see Jonny do his rookie test having a chat with Jonny and his bags just about to go the other way back to NZ.
Unbelievable!
No trip to Kentucky then.
Hampers put on hold
No Kentucky Fried Chicken in Kentucky. I was really looking forward to that!
So now we have a couple of days to get organised for the real work to start on Saturday. We visit a couple of locations that we are planning on using for the show, get to the Speedway (that place just impresses the heck out of me every time I see it) to organise the credentials, obtain the new road maps and try and figure out just what the weather is going to do for the next couple of weeks.
Not looking good to be honest.
This afternoon (Wednesday) is a practice day and has started off very wet so let's hope things clear up soon.
So now we await the arrival of Robert Rakete and the rest of our happy band and hope they bring some good old Kiwi sunshine up here.
Like the blog? Want to see the video?
Remember the show from Indianapolis screens Sunday May 25 within PowerBuilt Tools Motorsport from 4:30pm on TV ONE.
