Idaho Racing News

This blog entry is a re-run from a couple of months ago. Thought some of it was still pertinent, and since I wrote it before the new website navigation came into effect it was probably not well read. Well, if you've already read it just skip it.

The View… from where I sit

By Brian Calkins

Cool stuff coming your way and some things you should do just because.

Many of you have heard that our Governor has decided that it is a good idea to raise the registration of all cars and pickups to $150 per year to provide extra revenue to fix the state’s roads. That would be twice as much to those who own two cars even though they only drive one at a time. And for guys like me… well it makes me break out in a cold sweat. That sounds more like a driveway tax than a road improvement tax. Doesn’t seem equitable to me. More fair would be (and I hesitate to mention it) an increase in the fuel tax but also a hefty increase in the fuel tax on those vehicles that cause the most road damage; heavy trucks. Yes I know that is an unpopular thought and will cause an increase in transportation costs and a subsequent increased cost on almost all consumer products. But that is better than the government continuing the practice of subsidizing businesses. My opinion; make highway taxes fair. Make the user pay the costs of road up-keep. At least to the degree that said user uses it.

(the previous paragraph is no longer pertinent, since that issue has already been decided, or resolved, as the case may be, or however you feel about it. Comments are still welcome.)

The United Street Rods of Idaho is a lobbying group that protects the rights of all hot rodders in the entire state. Not just street rod owners, but all car guys (and gals) no matter what you drive. They need your support to protect us from stupid legislation and from special interest groups that hate cars. I repeat, they need your support. Membership is ridiculously inexpensive - five bucks a year - which includes a news letter and more importantly the satisfaction that you are doing at least a small part for your sport. Check out www.usri.org for more information.

Remember several years ago when Arnold Schwarzenegger convinced GM and the federal government to release a civilian version of the Hummer? Now any one with enough green can have one (except the first version now called the H1 has since been discontinued). Now he’s trying to get his hands on an army tank. Okay, admittedly this one was originally his and was just on loan to Motts Military Museum in Groveport, Ohio, but he wants it back so he can drive it around; oh, and give rides to school children, so he says. I think he just likes to drive big powerful things that can run over smaller less powerful things. I mean, what car guy doesn’t? Even many of those of us that don’t like him will secretly envy him when he gets that tank back. What’s next? A civilian version? One can only hope.

This summer the Idaho Rally 2008 will be in Elmore County near Mountain Home. Final arraignments are still being worked out but keep tabs on the progress by logging on to www.idahorally.com The best seat in the whole event is as a course worker/volunteer. Get your organization to help out. Motorsports is a family affair and a heck of a lot of fun. Idaho Rally is part of the California Rally Series and is also round 3 of the United States Rally Championship. This will be a huge national event and is coming to a country road near you.

Speaking of really cool things. I was playing with Google Earth the other day and looked up Freezeout hill (about a mile south of Emmett, Idaho, city center) and noticed down near the canal at the bottom of the hill several cars, pickups, trailers, motor homes, a wrecker, an ambulance and the like. Admittedly most of them were identifiable only because I already knew what they were; support vehicles for the annual Freezeout Hillclimb. By flying (Google Earth style) up the road you pass by a few other motor homes parked on the corners where course workers can offer a modicum of safety to the competitors.

When you get to the top there are no other vehicles so you know this is in early morning before the racing starts but, no matter, the racing gods smiled on the National Hillclimb Association when the satellite and operators picked that day to photograph that region. Speaking of the region; fly south again (again Google Earth style) to Firebird Raceway. The pits are full of haulers. I mean full. I surmise that this would be the annual “Fox Hunt” because it is usually the same weekend of the Hillclimb. More cool stuff. Check it out and download your own free copy of Google Earth. Takes a high speed connection. Sorry dial-uppers.

No matter what form your motorsports jones takes this coming year remember to have fun and also give back a little to motorsports in some way. Pay admission to an event, buy stuff from concessions, support advertisers, volunteer your time or money, and most of all remember this is your sport, your lifestyle, and I might add your family; take good care of it.