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September 8-10, 2011: Rain Happens and Patience Is a Virtue—Wet & Wild Pass Time at Milan, Michigan

We were not planning to be at a track again until the AMRA National Finals near the end of the month, but an opportunity came up that we just couldn’t pass up—a chance to be on the Speed Channel’s hit drag racing game show “Pass Time”.

This was a very exciting weekend, but it sure did put our patience and perseverance to the test!  Speed Channel’s drag racing game show, Pass Time, came to our local track Milan Dragway in Milan, Michigan.  The way it works is they invite vehicles to the track, and then they pick and choose among those who are there to be on their episodes.  They typically film 10 (sometimes more) shows per weekend, and they choose 10 vehicles per show.  The hard part is waiting to be chosen.

The Pass Time crew tries to set up the sensitive camera equipment between the raindrops

Unfortunately, the weather had other plans.  The weekend was plagued by rain, then rain, then more rain.  And they only film after dusk, so when it did dry up, the track really didn’t.  They had planned on taping 4 shows Friday night, but it took several hours just to get the first show taped.  The second show got in just before it started raining again just before 2 am.  Towels were soaked throughout the pits because drivers kept drying off their cars just to get them wet again on the next rain.

Saturday morning was no better.  The rain had finally stopped mid-morning, but began again before noon.  Luckily, around 1, it stopped.  Four o’clock brought blue skies—it looked promising!

Sadly, we still hadn’t gotten picked, and we were discouraged.  We didn’t “fit” into any theme, either, so we feared we wouldn’t get picked at all!  We decided to make the best of it, of course, and enjoy the tapings and entertained kids with photos on the bike and “Snappy” stickers in hand!  It was a cold night of taping, but it was fun watching them tape the shows.

Above set of pictures—setting up the stage, cameras, lighting.  Below—ready to start taping the show!

Sunday was more waiting, and wondering.  Maus got sick – the extremely high humidity, cold rains and cold, late nights took their toll.  Most of Sunday, Chip had to wait with his bike in the hot sun in the staging lanes among all the cars and bikes that had not yet been chosen for Sunday night’s tapings.  At 5 pm, we were ready to call it a weekend.  Thankfully, shortly thereafter, we were PICKED!  We are going to be on Pass Time!!!

(The Milan episodes are due to start airing February 29th – so watch your TV listings – Speed Channel – Pass Time – taped from Milan Dragway in Milan, Michigan.  We’re in Episode 11.)

Fellow AMRA racer (Super Gas), Phil Knighten during his interview  with host Brett Wagner

Chip and “car wrangler” Paige Simpson

Before the actual run down the track, the vehicles go for their “glamour” shots.  Above set of pictures are from SnappyOne’s photo shoot.

Above, Chip readies his bike for his run and waits his turn (Episode 11, “car” 2).

Above shots courtesy of one of the technicians – taken from the tech booth!!!!