Dalcorp Racing and AREA 51

"Feet For Fener" A Huge Success. Fundraiser for Nick Fener raises over $42,000.00 at the Perris Valley Drop Zone.

2012-01-26T15:18:00.000-08:00

It was almost 8 months ago that our friend, Nick Fener, had a severe skydiving accident at the Perris Valley drop zone. After his canopy collapsed on his final approach, Nick fell approximately 100 feet to the ground and suffered severe injuries to his back, legs and internal organs. It is a miracle that he survived. But those of us who know Nick Fener knew that if he made it through those first few critical days that he'd be back. And back he was!! Just a few months after the accident Nick was back out at the Perris Valley drop zone to attend a fundraiser that his family and friends put on help support Nick and his fiance, Lindsay Showalter. It was determined that given the damage done to his legs and ankles, it would be best to amputate them so that he could be fitted with prosthetics. The evening took on a life of it's own. "Feet for Fener" became the battle cry and the money raised would go towards the purchase of his new legs. The skydiving community along with friends and family rallied 'round Nick and Lindsay raising over $42,000.00 and had a great time doing it. The pictures below tell some of the story but it was one of those times where "you really had to have been there" to appreciate the love and support that was focused on Nick. As of January of 2012, Nick not only has his new legs but is making unbelievable progress in his use of them and his mobility. From early on, Nick's attitude has been "Get Busy Livin' ", and live he has. It is hard to put into perspective what these two have been through, but if you like a good read, go to their blog: www.Nickfener.tumblr.com. It will inspire you beyond belief.

There was something for everyone at "Feet For Fener."

Large or small, everyone was there to support Nick
and Lindsay.

Debbie with the man, the myth, the legend..Nick Fener.
Nick took me on my first tandem jump just months before
when Debbie and I jumped on our 38th wedding anniversary.

Lindsay had a good time from start to finish...and
it showed!!!

It was hard for Nick to get through the crowd. I don't think
he moved more than 50 feet in an hour!

Oh and did I mention there were lots of goodies, too.

Several bands performed all afternoon and into the evening.
The drop zone was rockin'!!

"Feet For Fener" T-shirts were sellin' like hot cakes!

The most moving moment of the night, Nick addressing his
friends and family. It was something that none of us will
ever forget.

Lindsay's smile says it all....

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, Nick
had Lindsay come up and be with him. What an
unbelievable story.

Kimmy and Lindsay at the end of the night...a little tired
and overwhelmed to say the least. What a night.

American Icon: The Muscle Car. Chip Foose, Muscle Cars and Dalcorp Racing the perfect fit for Discovery Channel production.

2012-01-26T14:48:00.000-08:00

When The Discovery Channel came to Dalcorp Racing and asked if they could film their two part series about muscle cars featuring Bob Mosher and Chip Foose it was pretty much, "You had me at can we?" What a great experience it was to be a part of this show that feature some of the great cars of the 60's and a chance to work with one of the biggest names in the automotive world, Chip Foose. We had a great time working with Chip, Bob and director John Aronson and his crew. The show aired at the end of last year and was a big hit, especially with muscle car fans. Thanks again Discovery Channel for letting us be a part of these great shows.

Bob Mosher being interviewed during the filming.

Steve, one of Bob's go to guys also getting a little camera time.

"Director John"

The main man, Chip Foose, doing the intro to the show.

"Rat Fink" watched over things to make sure they were doing
it right!

When Chip is asked for an autograph you can be sure you're
going to get something really cool. Here he does a little
something for our friend, Billy "BJ" Stewart...a rendering
of a 1969 Camaro.

Chip also did some of his magic on the dash of Erica's '66 Nova
race car. Too cool.

Tom Calnon Does 60 In A Big Way! He puts the "hammer down" in the car and on the bar!!

2011-09-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

Tom Calnon knows how to put the hammer down...literally. For years, Tom has built and remodeled homes, done all types of custom woodworking, many times for "A" list stars in Hollywood. So when it came time to build a new bar for AREA 51, well, "Who ya' gonna' call?" And Tom can also put the hammer down in a race car as we found out when he took Dalcorp Racing's SS 64 Chevelle down the track at Irwindale during a test session last year in May. So when it was time for Tom to celebrate his 60th birthday there was only one place we were going to allow that to happen. And happen it did. Many of his family, including his 3 married daughters and we don't even know how many grandchildren, relatives and friends gathered at AREA 51 and got they're party on. Young and old rocked it well into the night to celebrate this special man's 60 years. There was also some roasting and toasting of Tom that brought a lot of laughs but also many tears to all those in the room. From the '57 Chevy cake baked by one of his daughters to watching Tom and all the grand kids blowing out the candles...it was a very special night for a very special man who truly knows what being blessed is all about. Happy Birthday, Tom. This was one party that will be hard to top!

Yes...I thinks it's time to party.

Josh Jacobs and AJ Nocita ready to put "The Nitro Bar"
into full swing...with a little help from Johanna.

....fashionably late as always, Lynn Christy.

"Rat Fink" kept an eye on the kids....

The boys rockin' the video games in the theater room.

Tom and Wanda with long time friend John Harrison.

They started roasting Tom early in the evening!

...decisions, decisions, decisions.

Taking a break on the comfy couches!

"Nice bar, honey!"

You write the caption...

some of the kids...

This was one "Heavy Chevy" weighing in at about 25 lbs!

Grandpa had plenty of help blowing out the candles!

A little dancing and Hula Hoops...

Three very lucky sons-in-law!

...and of course, "The Dance."

"Cowboys, Cars and Stars" Rocks Barrett-Jackson Orange County. Casey James steals the show at Childhelp Gala dinner.

2011-09-30T12:26:00.001-07:00

The second annual Barrett-Jackson auction took place again this year at the Orange County Fairgrounds. And, just like last year's event, the kick off dinner was a huge success. The "Drive the Dream Gala" benefited Childhelp which was founded in 1959 by Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson. Master of Ceremonies Erin Murphy kept the program rolling that included special presentations to key supporters Karen and Barry Meguiar, Jacquie and Michael Casey, and Michelle Lund -The Sharon D. Lund Foundation. Jim Nye handled the live auction action with "Stealing Angels" and American Idol finalist Casey James taking on the entertainment for the evening. It was a great night for a great cause. And thank you Sara and Yvonne for the 50 plus years of service helping children around the world.

Dick and Bo Marconi...our table hosts.

Some Champagne and treats before walking the red
carpet into the dining hall.

Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson (second from the
left and on the right) with Debbie, Mike "Deputy
Dawg" Spagnola and his wife, Diana.

Deb's pick. A Corvette...what a surprise.

Diana and Deb hangin' out with Casey James.

Bo Marconi talking with this year's Honorary Chair,
Barry Meguiar.

...some awards and presentations.

New table friends, Todd and Sherry Trustman.
Sherry, don't forget your skydiving promise!

Debbie with Erin Murphy, the Master
of Ceremonies for the evening. Erin played Tabatha
on the hit series, "Bewitched." She also is the mother
of 6 boys!!

Jim Nye auctioning off a dinner with
American Idol finalist Casey James.

Here you go girls...Casey James.

Not sure what they were talking about but Casey
seemed to enjoy it.

And one of Deb's "Mom Hugs" for Casey.
The night was complete.

"70 What?" Suzy Dollins surprised at AREA 51!

2011-09-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

It was going to be a surprise for Erica Nocita to celebrate a new sponsorship. At least that's what Suzy Dollins thought was happening. Instead, fiance Bobby Ross and Gem City Grill put on a little get together to give Suzy her newly restored Nova. The Nova has been a work in progress for many years with Suzy trying to find the time and money to finish her dream car. When the project came to a screeching halt about a year or so ago, Bobby stepped in and decided to do whatever was needed to finish the project. And finish it he did! The car looks like a 1972 Nova but started life as a '73, or was it a '74? Hey, that's why we just call it a "70 What?" Enjoy the ride, Suzy! Lookin' good!!

Suzy with her new ride!

The man who made it happen, Bobby Ross, owner
of Gem City Grill.

"Hold this, honey...I gotta' go!"

Bobby and Suzy with a toast at "The Nitro Bar."

Suzy gave rides all afternoon. Work..work..work!

Wait a minute, Suzy. Wrong Nova. You better talk
to Erica before you take this one out for a spin!

The "Wild Man" Calls it Quits. Irwindale favorite says "My life's work is complete."

2011-09-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

When most of us 'round these parts think of Pete "Wild Man" Gallup, we think of him coming off the starting line in his blown Chevelle, wheels in the air and the engine on the red line. The other side of the "Wild Man" is a sensitive, caring, see-it-to-the-end educator, husband and father. Friends and family gathered at AREA 51 to pay tribute to Pete (and roast him a bit) and to celebrate his life with the Duarte district along his many accomplishments and successes. The most moving moment of the evening came during Pete's address to his co workers, family and friends when he said, "My life's work is complete." How many of us will be able to say that when we get to the end of our journey. Congratulations, Pete! Keep those wheels in the air!!

Pete "Wild Man" Gallup and Erica Nocita going at it on
a Thursday night at Irwindale. Who knew there was also an
educator in that car!

AJ and Kimberly ready for the evening.

Victor and "Tacos La Paloma" put on a great Mexican
feast. So good!

Peter, left, making sure every thing's going ok. Watchin'
things til the very end.

Peter being "roasted and toasted." He enjoyed
every minute...

Pete with his final words and comments...a very
moving time for all of us.

...and a standing "O"

The "Wild Man" even brought out his Chevelle to give
his co workers a look at the other side of Mr. Peter Gallup.
There were some confused looks on a lot of faces!

Pete loves putting on a show...he had 'em revved up!

Thanks for the many years of service to our community,
Pete. But you will always be "Wild Man" to us!
Congratulations on a job well done.

Surprise 70th Birthday Rocks AREA 51. Mariachi's, Doowop trio and wife Frances pull out all the stops for Paul Flores.

2011-07-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

When Frances Flores came to us with the idea of throwing her husband, Paul, a surprise 70th birthday party, we couldn't have imagined that it would be more like "America's got talent." After AJ Nocita drove the guest of honor into his party, the evening started out with some welcoming remarks from the evening's emcee, Al Gonzales. Then came the first act, a Mariachi Band that played during the dinner hour and really brought a little bit of Mexico north of the border. As dinner concluded it was time for some roasts, toasts and just some good old birthday boy bashing. Afterwards, Paul was brought up front and his wife, Frances, sang her rendition of "My Guy" to him. It was a tender moment and she did a great job with the song. But the entertainment wasn't over yet. Time for a little Doowop that kept the party rolling til midnight! What a great evening and celebration to honor Paul and his 70 years. Hope you had as much fun as we did, Paul!

No one had a problem finding the party...

Everyone was ready for the guest of honor to
make his entrance.

Suprise!! Paul thought he was going to a fundraiser.

It finally sunk in. "Hey, this party is for me!"

A photo op or two...

...the first act.

Work! Work! Work!
AJ and Erica hard at it...

Frances and Paul look like they're headin' to
the prom!!

Emcee and the host with the most, Al Gonzales,
proposing the toast.

And now some roasts....

....and a little "My Guy" by his best girl, Frances.

...and some Doowop to close the evening.

Happy Birthday, Paul. What a night!!!

It's "Back To School" For Erica Nocita. Career Days at Bradoaks and Cloverly Elementary bring out the best in their students.

2011-06-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

June is usually thought of as the month that school's out and summer vacation begins. Not so for Erica Nocita. June means it's back to school and a chance to talk to some enthusiastic young people at Bradoaks and Cloverly Elementary schools in Monrovia and Temple City. For the past several years we've looked forward to our times at each of the schools and the chance to meet some awesome kids. Erica does a great job in fostering their academic potential, skills, interests and explains how education will relate to their young adult lives. Thank you Bradoaks and Cloverly students and staff for inviting us back again this year. We hope we passed!

The students at Bradoaks were really interested in some
of the safety aspects of Erica's 1966 Chevy Nova.

Class participation isn't a problem with these 4th graders.

Driver cards are always a big hit with each class.

It's always fun to see the smiles when Erica puts some of
them in the car.

Watch out, Erica...someone's trying to take your seat!

Thank you to all the 4th grade classes at Bradoaks for being
so courteous and polite.

Erica speaks to 5 or 6 classes, one right after another. Each
session is about 20 minutes so everything is done by about
11:00am. Pretty high energy.

One of the 6th grade classes at Cloverly.

Again, there's never a shortage of questions.

A few autographs before this group heads back to class.

Thank you Jenny Thai for inviting us back again this year.

One of the favorite parts of each presentation is when Erica
starts up the Chevelle. This group jumped back about
two feet when the motor lit.

The student who's birthday was closest to June 8th got to
sit in the car during the start up. I think he liked it.

See you next June!!!

Anderson, Nelson, Nocita and Nocita Take To The Skies At Elsinore. Girlfriend/Rapper celebrates 29th birthday at 12,500 feet!

2011-06-08T06:42:00.000-07:00

After several failed attempts to make her first tandem jump, Johanna Nelson's birthday wish finally came true at Skydive Elsinore on a beautiful Southern California day in May. Joining in on the fun was cousin Courtney Anderson, who was visiting from Colorado, party planner and boyfriend AJ Nocita, Kimberly Nocita, Bart Rogowski and Paul Rodriguez. Weather conditions, friends backing out and scheduling problems had kept Johanna from realizing her dream of making her first jump. But this time, when it was time to go, there wasn't anything in the way but blue skies and white clouds. Happy 29th Birthday, Johanna! Can't wait to see what you do for your 30th!!

Waivers, waivers, and more waivers.

"Chicks Rule!"

Suited up and ready to go...

Cousin Courtney hadn't been up since last November
when she and Kimberly jumped at Perris, but she got right
back in the harness and was ready to go!

Bart was ready to go up and have some fun with
Kim, Courtney and Paul.

Ready to rock n' roll!!

Bart going over "the exit strategy."

Johanna getting some last minute instructions from
her tandem master.

And away we go!!

Nice landing, Court!

Johanna coming in for her landing.

I think they had a good time.
(That's Kim and Court walking in after their landings.)

"Woo Hoo!!"

"Cousins!"

...hugs all around.

Time for a little after jump party!

Lil' brother haulin' in Lil' Kiuh's gear for her. What a
great day. Thanks for setting things up, AJ. That's
how you celebrate number "29".

A Birthday Party "Above The Rest" For Dad. Lindsay Showalter throws a party high in the sky!

2011-05-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

When your daughter is Lindsay Showalter from Perris Valley Skydiving and she decides to throw you a birthday party, you'd better hang on. With the help of Above the Rest Hot Air Ballooning, Lindsay put together a birthday celebration for her father, Frank, but then bailed out of the party a little early with her friends....literally! After taking off from a field near the Perris Valley drop zone, Captain Phil piloted our balloon to an altitude of just over 6,000 feet. Conditions were absolutely perfect and the view spectacular so Lindsay and her friends did what seemed to be the logical thing to do. They jumped out! It is a very strange feeling watching the people you love jump out of a balloon, but it's exhilarating at the same time. After watching them all land safely, Captain Phil took the rest of us for a beautiful ride and then landed in a small field right in the middle of a residential area! We barely felt the basket touch down and before we could even get out of the basket, the chase crew was there securing the balloon. What a ride!

Thanks, Lindsay, for inviting us to go along and share in your dad's 78th birthday celebration. And thanks also to Above the Rest Hot Air Ballooning. If you'd like to have one of the most peaceful and freeing experiences of your life, contact Dawn at (951) 334-1689 or at http://www.abovetheresthotairballooning.com/. Oh, and by the way, you don't HAVE to jump out!!!

Gathering time at the drop zone. It was a crisp and clear
morning; the conditions were perfect!

After meeting up at the Perris Valley drop zone, it was
off to the Winchester take off area just a few miles
away.

That's Phil in the blue shirt, our pilot and captain.

Lindsay's dad, Frank...the birthday boy.

Lindsay took more pictures with her phone than we did
with our cameras!

Some "wild and crazy girls." Kim, Cassie Hero, daughter
Lindsay and Amanda Burgess.

I guess this kissing thing is some sort of pre flight
tradition.

They call this a "Prom Picture."

Frank said that all the attention didn't bother him too much.

There aren't many things that are more colorful than
hot air balloons. You don't realize just how big they are
until you're standing next to them.

Captain Phil checking lines during the inflation process. Air
is blown into the balloon using large fans. Then the propane
burners are lit and the hot air is directed into the balloon
to finish inflation process.

That's Cassie and Lindsay standing between two of the
balloons. This gives you a better idea of just how big
these things are!

...ready for take off.

Here's the gang that gets to have all the fun. Left to right,
Cassie, Paul, Lindsay, Nick, "Lil' Kiuh", and Bart.

Nick watching Captain Phil direct the hot air into the
balloon. Those burners put out a lot of heat!

Here's Dawn, owner of Above the Rest, giving everyone a
"high five" before take off.

The burners are just a couple of feet away so when Captain
Phil "put the coals to 'er", it was pretty warm on the top
of your head!

"Lift Off!"

It could not have been a more beautiful morning for
flying. It was so crisp and clear that we could see
Catalina Island off in the distance.

The basket holds 10 people and there were 9 of us; 6 had
rigs and cameras so we were pretty cozy.

Check out Nick's camera rig...not his first rodeo!

"Lil' Kiuh and Bark"

You are pretty much at the mercy of the wind as far as
where you're going to go. The pilot can plan a route to a
certain degree by being familiar with wind directions in the
areas where they fly frequently, using GPS, and their
instincts. The road down by the balloon was where
Kim and the gang were going to try and land.

How's this for a camera rig? Lindsay is one of the best
photographers at Perris.

As I said, it's pretty tight in the basket..but it's even tighter
OUTSIDE the basket on the 12" step. Here Bart is on the
step while Kim is standing on the edge of the basket
to make her exit.

And there they go!

As we said, you're never really sure where you are going to
end up so picking out a landing area can be a little
tricky. Fortunately Kim and Bart had jumped in this
area before so they knew where it was safe to land.

Lindsay on the step; Cassie up top....

Captain Phil talking to the ground crew. They chase the
balloon as it flies so that they can be in position to secure
it when we land.

A photo op...Frank and Amanda.

There's the chase crew...I don't think we were too hard to
follow.

Check it out! That open field in between all those houses
and streets is where we're going to land. You gotta'
be kidding me!

We were coming in so low over these houses that we
could talk to the people on that second story balcony. They
invited us in for bacon and eggs!

Touch down...and there's Dawn and the boys!

Lindsay, her sister and niece came out to meet dad when
we landed.

Captain Phil not only flew the balloon, but he brought
out the birthday cake and led us all in singing
"Happy Birthday."
Happy 78th Birthday, Frank. We hope it's one you'll
always remember.

Toyota Pro-Celebrity Race at Long Beach A Star-Studded Event. Billy "BJ" Stewart hooks us up with the ultimate backstage pass.

2011-05-06T16:16:00.000-07:00

When Billy "BJ" Stewart called Dalcorp with an invitation to the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro- Celebrity Race, we knew we'd have a good time. But our day in the celebrity pits at Long Beach exceeded our expectations by a bunch! The race raises money for the "Racing for Kids" charity which benefits children's hospitals all over the country. Since 1991, Toyota has donated more than $1.9 million dollars to the program which was originally created to connect children with their favorite celebrities and race car drivers.

The format of the race is simple: celebrities and pro drivers compete in a 10 lap race in equally prepared Toyota Scions. There IS just one catch...the celebrities get a 30 second head start. This year's race saw a lot of good racing and fender banging action (and some wall banging) with celebrity racer/actor William Fichtner coming to the finish line to take the checkers just ahead of pro drifting champion Kenshiro Gushi. One more lap and Mr. Fichtner would have fallen victim Gushi's charge.

Everyone had a great time and raised a lot of money for "Racing for Kids" as well as putting smiles on a bunch of kid's faces! And BJ, thanks for a day we won't soon forget. You're the man!!!

Early Friday morning. Billy and his crew have to prep
all the Toyotas before the first practice session at
11:00am.

Jillian Barberie-Reynolds with Fox 11 News was there
to cover the race, but was also one of the celebrity
drivers!

Even with all the work to do, BJ always has a smile
on his face. Like he says..."I just like racin'"

Every half hour Jillian would do a live shot from the pits.
She was a lot of fun and really has quite a fan following.

We wondered how all that hair was going to fit under her
helmet.

The hospitality area was really nice and had a beautiful view.

Food, glorious food!!!

Hangin' with Jill...

Jillian had brought a few helmets to the race and needed
some help deciding which one to wear. That's the one,
Jill!

BJ and the Toyota gang. They did an awesome job
during both the test and qualifying sessions to keep
all the cars running well and on the track.

Actor Frankie Munoz of "Malcolm in the Middle" fame
won the race in 2005. After that win he focused on a
racing career for several years and now competes in
the pro category.

UFC Champion Tito Ortiz high fivin' Jillian after an interview.

Some of the boys..left to right, Daniel Goddard, Michael
Trucco (Fairly Legal), Djimon Hounsou, Tito Ortiz, and
the 2010 celebrity winner, Brian Austin Green.

Actor and eventual winner William Fichtner lookin' focused.

Megyn Price was a lot of fun and enjoyed herself
almost as much as Jillian. Megyn is one of the stars of
"Rules of Engagement."

Djimon...enough said.

Jillian interviewing the whole gang. Did I mention that
Toyota was the sponsor of the race?

One of the pro drivers, USAC sprint car and midget driver
Kody Swanson. He was voted the 2010 "Most Improved
Driver."

Our good friend Gordon "Lugnutzz" Stewart interviewing
driver Kevin Jonas of The Jonas Brothers. We'll have more
on Kevin a little later.

Each one of the Toyota crew is assigned a driver to take care
during the event. They make any necessary changes to
the car, make sure they are correctly belted in and that
their safety equipment is in place.

6 time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz...
I thought he'd be bigger. Right.

Here's Brian...and BJ bolting him in.

Oh, we forgot...there were Indy cars there also.

Heading out for practice...

We told you we'd see more of Kevin Jonas. He had a
little "brush" with the wall. BJ and his crew had to work
fast to get the car back on the track to qualify.

Fastest man all weekend and the eventual pro winner
was drifting champion Kenshiro Gushi.

Out of the car, shake out the hair and do a quick interview
for Fox 11 News.

Megyn Price and a little more hair shakin'...

BJ and the boys planning their attack on the Jonas
car.

The thing that was amazing about the repairs was that
they didn't use any new parts. They straightened and used
all the original parts.

A bit of a break after a job well done.

Yep, that's the same car, ready to race. Amazing.

...getting ready to qualify.

After qualifying it was a media frenzy and in the center of
it all was Stephen Moyer of "True Blood" fame. He
qualified number one and then rolled the car! Number
one on the grid and number one on the highlight
real!!

Stephen accepting the $15,000.00 pole position money
put up by People Magazine and will be donated to the
Charity of his choice.

A long day for the Toyota Boys....

BJ was still smilin' at the end of a very long day. Thanks
for everything, Mr. Stewart. You're our #1 celebrity!!!

ISM Canopy Piloting Series Ends On A High Note. Foley crowned inaugural series champion.

2011-04-27T12:12:00.000-07:00

After several weather delays and scheduling conflicts, the inaugural ISM Canopy Piloting Series wrapped up it's season at Skydive Elsinore and it was worth the wait! The competition was fast and furious as the competitors went for the event win but also for the series championship. The Chamber of Commerce day saw the 14 competitors put on quite a show for the spectators including a few "close call" moments in which no one was seriously hurt (except for their pride!) The surprise of the day came when ISM team member Paul Rodriguez, who was competing for the first time in the canopy series, grabbed second place honors just ahead of James Brinkman. But when the day was over, the man on the top step of the podium was Shawn Foley who took the day's honors and also the series title.

Congratulations to all the competitors for putting on a show that we won't soon forget! And thanks Bart for all the time and energy you've put into the series. All the hard work paid off!! Can't wait til it's "Wheels Up" again!!

Ah, the glory of being the series promoter. Here's Bart
setting the course on the 39 degree morning...in the
water!

The course ready for action. Talk about perfect
conditions....

Bart giving the morning briefing.

Dave Hawley during the speed competition. We'll
see more of Dave later.

How do they get some of those awesome shots that
you see in magazines? Here's Amanda Burgess of
Amanda Burgess Photography showing you how.
(yes, that IS one of the course markers!)

A little too low and you skip off the water like stone...

A little TOO low and you don't skip quite as well. Here
Dave Hawley hits really hard.

...and skips right out of the pond. He hit the water in excess
of 70mph.

...this can't be good.

...not exactly how Dave wanted to land. The bad news, Dave
had to withdraw from the competition. The good news,
he walked away...slowly...but he walked away.

Bart making some adjustments to the course.

You see a lot of different styles coming across the water.
This might not be the most efficient way of doing it.

Paul Rodriguez making it look easy during the accuracy
portion of the competition. Remember, he has to drag
his foot past each of the buoys to score the maximum
points on his run.

All the flags up means he got them all. Way to go, Paul!

And here's still another way to cross the pond. It
looks like he's hoping just to make it OUT of the
pond!

Paul Rodriguez and James Brinkman fought hard all day
for 2nd and 3rd place honors.

Bart wearing his "scoring official" hat.

I don't think that this was in the flight plan...

Dave Hawley hung out the entire day to help out with
the event. Now that's one tough competitor! After the hit he
took, most people would be in bed for a week!

When it was all said and done, Sean Foley (r) took
home the overall series win with Scott Harper a
close 2nd. Congratulations to all the fliers who made
the ISM series such a success. Can't wait til we do
it all over again!!

Davis Crushes Competition At Santa Anita 5K. Tune up race has Margaret Davis running "on all 8 cylinders!"

2011-04-19T08:13:00.000-07:00

We've all gotten the call or we know someone who has. Grandma or grandpa fell and broke his or her hip, arm, leg or some other body part. And that many times starts them down a path that is not so pleasant. When we got the call a few months ago that 88 year old great grandma "Mahgy" had fallen and broken her leg we weren't sure what to think. It didn't take long, however, for us to figure it out. Margaret Davis and her daughter and running partner, Colleen Heublein, were scheduled to run the 2011 Boston Marathon in April. They had been INVITED to run given Margaret's numerous marathon victories and were just beginning their training for the big event when she fell. When the Boston officials were notified of the accident, they were saddened and immediately extended the invitation to 2012. Which could mean only one thing....a rehab training schedule and a comeback race. And comeback she did! We're not sure she ever left!! On a beautiful Saturday morning at the Santa Anita Race Track, Mahgy smoked the competition just like she's been doing since she began running competitively at age 79. To celebrate her return to racing, granddaughter Kristy Roblee, her husband Mike and their son Dane also ran with Mahgy and Colleen. It was a family affair all the way! Congratulations Mahgy and Colleen, marathon racing's "Dynamic Duo!!!"

Mahgy and Colleen getting ready for the start...going
through their normal routine.

A little early for Dane and Ryan but they were troopers!

....it doesn't get much better than this.

Check out the runner on the left. You won't see this at
very many races!

At the finish!!! Chalk up another win! Incredible!

"High Fives" all around. Great race you guys!

A hug from sister Debbie and a sigh of relief!

Mike ran career best numbers and finished well.
Nice job, Mikey!

The peanut gallery cheering Mike on at the finish.

Kristy wasn't far behind and finished with a sprint!

Finally, the big moment had arrived. Dane's race!!

It's not exactly "Where's Waldo?" when you're trying
to spot Dane. He's the one that's a "redhead" taller
than all the other kids.

After a hard race it's time for a little snack with dad.

Dane showing Mernie his medal after his race.

"NUMBER ONE!"

"...and the winner is...Margaret Davis!"

Not many great grandmothers and great grandsons
get to run races together. Dane, you're a lucky boy.
Actually, we're all lucky to be a part of your life, Mahgy.
Thanks for dragging us along!!

Ryan, it won't be long but you'll just have to wait your turn!

PATRICK JAMES McGOWAN....you will be missed.

2011-04-06T09:20:00.000-07:00

Pat McGowan was one of those rare individuals who not only excelled in the sport that he loved, but more importantly, he excelled in life. When the word came to us that Pat had been killed in a skydiving accident, the Perris Valley drop zone and skydiving community was frozen in disbelief. Friend and fellow instructor Christopher David Stasky also died as a result of their low level collision last Thursday, March 31st.

When you first visited the Perris Valley drop zone it wasn't long before you heard one of two names; drop zone manager Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld or Pat McGowan. When our daughter, Kimberly, walked into the office at Perris for her first class towards her AFF Certification, she didn't have any idea who he was. It didn't take long for her to realize, however, that this was someone who not only taught students about skydiving, but also about life. Pat was the master of taking the experience of skydiving and applying it to our every day lives. His passion for his sport was only exceeded by his passion for his life as a husband and a father. As an instructor, many would use "TMI" to describe Pat's method of teaching..."Too Much Information." He worked extremely hard and did his best to make sure his students were prepared to "save their own lives." He had done it in his life over 17,000 times! Pat was all about safety in every aspect of the sport and always stood his ground, even if it meant causing a stir or bucking the system. As Kim's parents we WELCOMED this method of instruction, and also enjoyed the life lessons that he would share with her almost every time they were together. Pat McGowan lived each day to the fullest; his life accounts were current. It is hard to put into words what his loss means to all who knew him...it is nearly impossible to think about his wife, Blue, and their children, Rose (8) and James (5). Pat touched thousands of lives in his 42 years on this earth. Many of us will continue to feel that touch for as long as we are here. "Blue Skies, Pat."

A memorial fund has been set up for Pat''s family. Should you wish to make a donation, please make your check payable to: Blue McGowan-Skydive Perris c/o Manifest-Pat McGowan Memorial Fund 2091 Goetz Road Perris, Ca. 92570

Pat was an animated teacher and made each class
a lot of fun as well as being informative.

No stoned was left unturned when it came to safety.

....Pat had a sense of humor, too.

Pat's ability to take skydiving and apply it to every day
life was masterful.

...think he'd done this a few times? Like over
17,000 times!!

Kimberly celebrates her first wind tunnel
experience with Pat. You would have thought
it was his first time also!

How many first jumps did he make with students? No one
really knows for sure.

Did we mention he was animated?
Debriefing after a jump was always fun with Pat.

One of our favorite pictures...Pat, Kimberly and drop zone
manager Dan B-C. Kim was on her way to getting her
"A" license when the boys stopped her for a photo opp.

PATRICK JAMES McGOWAN
As another friend who also left us much to early once said:
"Not here for a long time...here for a good time."
Husband Father Friend Coach Instructor
"Blue Skies"

Mayflower Event Rocks Monrovia!! Nearly 250 attend "Rockin' The Auction" at AREA 51.

2011-03-16T08:47:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, March 12th, there was quite a disturbance in Monrovia around the 800 block of South Alta Vista Ave. The police were called, traffic rerouted, the street was blocked off for hours. What caused all the ruckus? It was Mayflower PTA's 5th Annual Auction and Party. This year's event, "Rockin' the Auction" raised the bar even high than in years past as more than 200 parents, staff, educators and friends got their "party and auction on" and raised nearly $40,000 !! A wide range of supporters and item donators supplied nearly 150 silent auction items for bid which had AREA 51 filled to capacity with shoulder to shoulder action. And once again the live auction was an example of the giving spirt that this community has for this one of a kind school. The dynamic duo of "Lady and Bella" took center stage during the live portion of the program raising $3,400.00 between the two of them. Lady, a 3 month old Australian shepherd, and Bella, an Imperial Shi Tzu and also 3 months old, had the crowd melting in their seats and their wallets falling open. Pie 'n Burger of Pasadena provided a burgerfest that was second to none and donated some of their famous pies for dessert. Thirsty? Not a problem. Commemorative glasses could be purchased to handle your favorite beverage including the night's signature drink, "The Pomegranate Rocktini!!" And if your fun meter went past the red line they had you covered via Jan's Towing. Jan's offered a free lift home...for you AND your car. How's that for service!

Nearly a dozen or so raffle items went out to some lucky winners; a Tiffany necklace, 10 car washes from Nu-Way Car Wash, a gift card from Armstrong Nursery just to name a few. Donna Baker of Podley Properties generously donated a beautiful diamond and topaz ring which was also raffled off to start the live portion of the show. The lucky winner was Andrea Archibald who did a victory dance that won't be soon forgotten! The last item auctioned off was the newly released iPad2 (valued at $900.00!) which was donated by The Wilson and Yee Families of Volkswagen Pasadena, longtime supporters of Mayflower.

Fundraisers are usually just that; a means of raising money for a cause. The Mayflower fundraisers not only raise money, but more importantly, they raise the level of community involvement, create a bond between staff and parents, and they have a great time doing it. Congratulations to the committee for putting on this "Rockin' " event! Betsy Wilson, Jeanine Scott, Gretchen Lee, Catherine Hackworth, Andrea Archibald, Desiree Lang, Jeanine Cummings, Kim Petulla, Kathryn Hutson, Cheryl Dunbar, Maribel Guido, Mindy Minogue, Katie Richter, and Darra Baker. We can't wait til next year!!!

You could purchase these cool commemorative glasses
which came with "refills" of either Sam Adams or
the signature drink of the evening, a "Pomegranate
Martini." Or should we say "Rocktini."

....assembly required! Gretchen has it handled!

The Mayflower PTA starts them out young. It takes

years of training to put on a fundraiser like this!

Each one of those records has the names of the

companies and individuals who supported

the auction....nearly 300 of them!!!!

"It's starting to come together." Jeanine "likes"

this! (...for our fb friends)

Part of the Mayflower set up crew on Friday.

Great job, girls.

Saturday afternoon before the craziness starts...

a time to take care of last minute details, of

reflection, and of course, a bit of the "Blue Cup."

As the saying goes, it's a tough job but someone

has to do it!

The auction committee...you guys ROCK!!!

I think The Simpsons even put in a couple of bids...

Kristy had "The Hoister Bar" ready for action.

Gretchen Lee strikes again...cool set up, Gretch!

...ready to rock and roll...

Carrot cake muffins with a cream cheese frosting...

They tasted even better than they looked thanks to

Tricia Hobbs and Tamara Morrison.

Lady, the Australian shepherd, waiting to go on

stage. She wasn't even nervous!

...raffle city.

And Bella, the other half of the dynamic duo.

Mernie came out of retirement for the Mayflower

gang. Great to have you back, Mern!

Pie 'n Burger made sure everyone had enough

to eat...and the burgers were awesome!!!

Donna Baker made a very generous donation of

a beautiful diamond and topaz ring that was raffled

off during the live auction portion of the program.

Thanks Donna for all your help and generosity.

By the way, you make that "Cigars, Cigarettes, Tiparellos"

thing look good!

"Captain Kirk" McGinnis had a smile on his face

all night long. And he should; he's the Principal and

these are his parents. You're a lucky man,

Mr. McGinnis!

Even check in time was a party!

There were so many cool items that people were

actually phoning friends and putting in bids for

them.

"The Hoister Bar" was also rockin' all night. Great

job Kristy, Kimberly and Mern. You guys made

it happen.

....this looks serious.

AJ also dropped in for a guest appearance on his

way to work.

...and a quick hello to sis...

When a silent auction section was closing it got

a little intense. These are some serious bidders!

...and the winner of the diamond and topaz ring

is.....

...the suspense is killing us!

Andrea Archibald!!! I think husband John, in

the background, was even more excited than

his wife!

Meg Walker latched on to Bella early in the evening

hoping to convince husband Ron that they needed

another dog. It almost worked...they were just

one bid away. You're a hard guy, Ron!

Kim Petula honoring those choosen for the PTA

Founder's Day Awards. Mindy and John Minogue

of Shaker Shirts receiving the Golden Oak Award,

Richard and Barbara Wilson, the Honorary Service

Award, Tricia Hobbs, the Golden Apple Award, and

Mike Vanni, the Continuing Service Award.

Dr. Debby Collins joining the group and receiving

a Continuing Service Award.

Jeanine Scott closing the evening's activities with

a few final remarks and thank you's.

Thanks to all who helped make this "Rockin'

Auction" such a success. Not only was it a success

as a fundraiser, but it was a whole lotta' fun! Hope

to see you all back next year!

Rogowski/Nocita Take "The Leap" On Valentine's Day! (out of a balloon, that is!)

2011-03-01T06:42:00.000-08:00

For most couples, Valentine's Day looks something like this; a nice card, a box of chocolates, some flowers, maybe a romantic dinner out. Bart Rogowski and Kimberly Nocita had a little different idea of what might be fun on Valentine's Day. Let's take a hot air balloon ride....and then jump out! So Kimberly, Bart and their friend and cameraman, Paul Rodriguez, took off early in the morning near the Perris Valley drop zone and did just that. The weather was perfect and the views spectacular. Here are a few of Paul's photos from the day. We don't EVEN want to think about next year!

Getting ready for lift off...

"Put the coals to 'er, mate!" Lift off!!

Getting close to altitude...6,500 feet.

...out on the ledge.

What was it The Carpenter's said? "...a kiss

for luck and we're on our way..."

"Lil Kiuh"

The landing zone...it's the road between the fields.

....Kimberly having a little fun at Bart's expense....

Kimberly and a happy landing.

Happy Valentine's Day you crazy kids!!!

Jim Annes Turns 40! Birthday boy takes b.y.o.b. to a new level.

2011-03-01T06:38:00.000-08:00

It's not unusual for people having a party at AREA 51 to bring in their own beverages for us to serve to their guests. But when Kristen Annes decided to throw a 40th birthday party for her husband, Jim, they kicked it up a notch on the beverage scale. Jim brews his own beer and has for many years. About 50 of his closest friends and family were treated to some of Jim's favorite homemade brews and the party was on! Burger Continental of Pasadena provided the eats so no one went hungry. Great family, friends, food and a little home brew....It's all good! Happy Birthday, Jim!

With a name like "Skull Splitter" you had to
think twice before trying it but it turned out
to be worth the risk. Great brews...

Erica made the rounds to make sure everyone

was having a good time.

Jim, on the right, had a smile on his face all

night.

Burger Continental put on quite a spread!

Jim's wife, Kristen (r), did a great job in pulling

everything together.

Happy Birthday, Jim! Here's to 40 more!!

Run Again, Becky! Run Again!! Shevlin returns as people's favorite for city council seat.

2011-02-18T07:29:00.000-08:00

It's been almost two years since Becky Shevlin took her seat as a Monrovia City Council member and it is time to rock n' roll once more! For the second time, AREA 51 was honored to host Becky's kick off election party for over 100 of her family, friends and supporters. There isn't a more honest, hard working, patriotic, community minded person out there than Becky. She works tirelessly for the city along with volunteering for a long list of community focused organizations. Oh, and according to her husband Chris, she's also the best wife and mother on the face of the planet!! Good luck, Becky! And we're just curious...when DO you sleep?

As an added surprise to the evening, Chris arranged

for their daughter Sarah, who is away at school,

to make surprise appearance at the party. Oh,

and she also delivered the pizza!

...best time of the evening!

In her spare time Becky also baked all the cakes

for the party.

There's "Big Jim" Costanza and his wife Leanne.

All the "who's who" of Monrovia were there to

support Becky.

Fred Bowden and Mayor Mary Ann Lutz enjoying

a little food and libation before Becky's presentation.

Husband Chris doing the intro's and thank you's.

Becky, center, still gets a kick out of Chris!!

There was a lot of love in the house that night!

I think Becky had as good a time as anyone there.

Can you find Becky and Chris? (hint: find the

person eating the cake and look to the left and

right.)

Chris did a great job organizing the party and

arranging all the food, drinks, and Sarah's surprise

visit.

A dynamic duo; Becky and Jo Jo Montgomery.

Becky with a photo opp with some her supporters

including Ulises Gutierrez, Monrovia's Citizen of

the Year.

Chris with a couple of his Italian buddies!

Great night, Shevlins...and good luck Becky!!

We're so glad you're "Runnin' Again!!!"

Morris, Patterson Head Meeting For Mt. Olive High School. Automotive Programs coming back to schools.

2011-02-18T07:15:00.000-08:00

Several years ago many schools began eliminating their high school auto shop programs for a variety of reasons. The bottom line? They were seriously missed by thousands of young people who had an interest in the field of automotive repair. Fortunately there are people like the Patterson family and Kevin Morris, principal of Mt. Olive High School who are willing to do what it takes to put these programs back in place. With some funding returning to the schools, an automotive advisory group was assembled by the Patterson's and Mr. Morris to begin to lay the foundation for Mt. Olive's shop and curriculum. It may be 1 or 2 years before the funding is actually in available and things could get under way, but that's not soon enough for this group. They are looking to put things in place immediately through donations and the participation of local auto related companies. Sandy, her husband Harvey and son Sean, have been putting on shop classes and taking the kids on field trips to local businesses, racing events and other auto related happenings for some time. They also do a lot of hands on repair and building of bicycles for under privileged children. In the future they will be working with the local Elks Club, YMCA and other community service organizations. They are always in need of donations and materials to make these things happen, so if you'd like more information regarding the Mt.Olive program, please contact Sandy at siriusgear@gmail.com.

A little insight from the principal, Kevin Morris:

We believe success can be
accomplished through:
• A safe and nurturing learning
environment
• A community of caring and
respect
• Parent and community Involvement
• Shared decision making
• Strong standard-based curriculum
• Meaningful professional
development for staff
• Supportive counseling and
family services
• Directed-instruction
• Effective academic intervention
programs
• Comprehensive pre and post
assessment system that measures
program effectiveness
These key factors move Mt.
Olive closer to becoming one
of California’s more notable
Continuation High Schools for
years to come. We are a team of
dedicated educators who are committed
to teaching and preparing
our students for life after high
school as socially conscience
and productive citizens in today’s
society. That is our commitment
to every student. The Mt. Olive
Family is a community of success
and nothing less!

...gathering time.

Sandy Patterson and Kevin Morris getting ready

to get things started.

Richard Nicholson was there to lend support to

the group and the program. A long time educator

and "gear head," Richard has worked with many

schools and related automotive programs.

You have to eat, right? Victor made sure no one

went home hungry.

Parents, professional educators, business and

company owners; there's a lot of brain power

sitting around this table...and a lot of very caring

individuals.

Thanks to all of you for donating your time and

making the effort to put these programs back in

place. You guys rock!!

"Old Guys Rule!" Doug Smith and team 501X celebrate Baja 1000 win at AREA 51.

2011-01-20T05:53:00.000-08:00

"Old Guys Rule!" is something you see a lot of on hats and tshirts these days. They're usually worn by older, baby boomer type guys who are about 50 lbs overweight and heading to the golf course for their weekly exercise...driving their golf cart. Not so for Doug Smith and a group of friends who decided they would like to see the Baja peninsula in Mexico. And what better way to see it? How about entering The Baja 1000 off road race and doing it on a motorcycle!! Doug and his teammates, Paul Doebereiner, Jim Dizney, Eric McKenna, Dave Potts, Steve Williams, Jimmy Sones and Charlie Marshal entered the biggest off road race in the sport and won the 50 and over class on their Honda CRF450X. They not only finished the 1,061.69 mile course first in class, but finished 7th overall out of 292 entries! If and when these guys ever hit the golf course, I wouldn't want to be the foursome playing ahead of them! Congratulations Team 501X and good luck the rest of the season.

The hardware....#1

One of the biggest modifications done to the new

Honda CRF450X are the lights. These babies

will brighten up your night!

...lots of stories and bench racin' after a 1,000 miles.

Win the Baja?...better have Mexican food!!

Lots of support from family and friends.

Betty looks like she wants to go for a ride!

Doug had sweatshirts and tshirts made up to

celebrate their victory. Jim Dizney checkin'

out the new wardrobe.

Checkin' out the hardware...

The "Hazmat Head" gets checked out by some

curious wives. Their comment? "You guys have

too much time on your hands."

Congratulations Team 501X! Thanks for chalking

one up for us old guys!!! You Rule!!!

"70 What?" Years in the works, Suzy's Nova begins to take shape.

2011-01-20T05:51:00.000-08:00

We've all started a project with good intentions, hopes and dreaming of the finished product. Then life happens and things go sideways. Years ago, and I'm sure it's more years than she'd like to remember, Suzy Dollins began restoring a 1973 Nova. It was going to be a street car and her everyday driver. She had a vision of what the car would be and was going to make it happen. Doing much of the work herself, she chipped away at the project over months that eventually turned into years. Then, as things often do, circumstances prevented her from completing the project and the Nova had to be put on hold.

We met Suzy years ago through the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce and would help her with little things along the way when she was working on her car. Towards the end of 2010 Suzy came to us and said that she wanted to get the project back underway with the help of her "special friend", Bobby Ross, owner of Gem City Grill in Monrovia. After meeting with Suzy and Bobby it was decided that it was time for this Nova to be brought back to life and the build resumed with the help of Pete Baleno and Buster Baglierie. Below are just a few pictures of some of the action that's taken place over the past several weeks. The Nova, per Suzy's vision and design, has taken on an identity all it's own. It's a combination of parts from 1972 through 1974 to make this Nova a "70 What?" Can't wait to see this "bad girl" on the street!

After pulling off the front end, Buster does a little

touch up work to the firewall after welding up

all the unnecessary holes and openings.

After the front end was completely rebuilt by

Pete, the engine was sent in place to start mocking

up all the pulleys, belts and lines.

Pete fabbed up some cool brackets for the alternator

and power steering units.

It's starting to look like an engine...

The core support and radiator were put in place

so that the engine could be started and checked.

Suzy arrives for the start up. I think she was

a little excited. Ya' think?

A push of the button and the 350 Chevy comes

to life.

I don't think Suzy believes it's actually running!

Bobby Ross and Pete look on as Suzy enjoys

the moment.

Wiring Guru Buster starts working his magic.

Do you REALLY know where all those wires go?

Buster finishes wiring the carbon fiber gauge

panel that Suzy assembled some time ago.

It's starting to look like a car again.

Stay tuned for more build action in the weeks

to come. It won't be long now, Suzy!

Second ISM Swoop Competition In The Books. Final round set for mid January, 2011.

2010-12-20T07:18:00.000-08:00

It was blue skies and "wheels up" at 8:00am at the Perris Valley drop zone on December 11th as the second of three ISM Swoop Competitions saw about a dozen flyer's go for the top spot on the podium. The three part competition included two attempts each for speed, accuracy and distance. As always, the accuracy portion of the program provided some "hold your breath" moments as swoopers would skim across the pond at speeds nearing 90mph! When the dust and spray settled, it was Sean Foley coming home in the number one spot with James Brinkman and Scott Harper close behind. Thanks to all the competitors and volunteers for making the day such a success. Can't wait til January's event!

Kimberly Nocita holding the morning volunteer
meeting and getting support from fellow 'diver
Shannon McKernan.

"Professional Volunteer" Steve Pearson was
on hand to help out wherever needed.

...the definition of trust...when your girlfriend
packs your parachute. Kimberly putting the
final touches on Bart's rig as he readies himself
for the next round of competition.

Beautiful.

Almost a rainbow...

There's head gate judge Debbie Nocita making

sure everyone was scored correctly.

Thanks to all the ISM Swoop Competition sponsors

for helping to make the day such a success.

It's hard to put on a competition AND compete

in it. Bart Rogowski did justice to both!

Awesome, Bart!

It looked like James Brinkman was going in but

he pulled it out. Nice run!

Kristy Roblee was on hand to help out her sister

and provide some moral support.

Kristy and Kimberly laying out the tape for the

distance portion of the program.

This looks like it's going to hurt!

Great job, guys and girl!!!

...and Bart and Kim!!

Kimberly getting a "well done" from nephew

Ryan.

...and a hug from nephew, Dane.

...and the winner is....

Sean Foley!!!

"Adrenaline Obsession" has been a great supporter

of the series.

Jessica Edgington scored well placing 2nd in the

accuracy and distance portion of the competition.

Left to right, 3rd place Scott Harper, winner Sean

Foley, and 2nd place finisher James Brinkman.

Congratulations, guys!!

...and a Merry Christmas to all!!!

Nocita's Celebrate 37 Years In Paris...(oops) Perris. Courtney Anderson also makes first jumps with cousin "Kiuh."

2010-12-08T12:43:00.001-08:00

If 25 years is a silver anniversary and 50 is gold, then 37 years must be "Nylon." Youngest daughter Kimberly decided to hook up her mom and dad with an unusual way for them to celebrate their 37 years of marriage. They jumped out of an airplane together! "Mom and dad have done a lot of things together over their 37 years of marriage but they've never jumped together. Dad jumped back in the 70's and mom made a tandem jump this past year but they've never been on the same plane together. It was so much fun being with them on the plane. It's something I'll always remember." Kim had also arranged for her friend Lindsay and boyfriend Bart to do the photos and videos...it was the complete package!

A few days later Kimberly's cousin and "A" license holder, Courtney Anderson, came out for Thanksgiving and a visit to the Perris Valley drop zone where she and "Kiuh" made several jumps while friends and family enjoyed the day with them. The weather was perfect and much warmer than Courtney's snow covered drop zone in Colorado! It was great fun watching the girls jumping for the first time together. They'll be together again over the Christmas holiday so stay tuned for more cousin action over the skies in Perris!

"Sorry, dad. No Cabernet on this flight!"

Ready to go...

Bart's friend and roommate, Paul Rodriguez, was

Debbie's tandem instructor. Deb looks so relaxed

she could probably jump by herself!

Paul's a little camera shy!

Nice photo, Bart. You should consider doing

this for a living.

The proud daughter...thank you, Kimberly!!!

The gang...

Nice presentation, Debbie.

Courtney arrives and is ready to go!

Kim giving Courtney the aerial tour of

the drop zone. It's good to know where you

should land...and where you shouldn't!!

Proud papa, Ken Anderson.

Bart jumped with Kim and Courtney and organized

their jump.

...rehearsal.

"Lil' Kiuh" coming in for a nice landing.

Courtney wasn't far behind.

Their first jump together! (I'm guessin' it will

be one of many)

Proud sister, Erica, will be making her second

tandem jump in just a few weeks. Can't wait, Erica!

Kim was giving Courtney some packing tips

throughout the day.

Courtney's friend, Aron, made her first tandem

jump and did great.

Let's go again!

Cousins...

...and again! This looks like a scene out of the

movie, "The Right Stuff."

Who has more fun than these two?

...a final equipment check and away we go!

"Okay, let me see. Did I forget anything?"

Kim had great landings all day.

...Cousins.

I think Courtney was having a good time. Ya'

think?

What a day! It's Miller time!!!

NHRA World Finals At Pomona. Champions crowned on a Chamber of Commerce weekend.

2010-12-08T11:06:00.001-08:00

It's always exciting when the World Finals come to Pomona and this year was no exception. The only class champion that wasn't crowned on Sunday was Greg Anderson in Pro Stock. He took the title by only needing to qualify so he was given the hardware, the jacket and most importantly, the check on Saturday. Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock Motorcycle were all decided on Sunday with top honors going to Larry Dixon, John Force and LE Tonglet respectively. Hope you enjoy the pictures below. It was a great race weekend!

Here's Erica with Ed "The Ace" McCulloch. Buds.

One of our favorites...V. Gaines. Nice 'gar, V.!

Who's that on the wing of Terry Haddock's Car?

It's Neighborhood Pawn owned by past mayor

of Monrovia and friend Rob Hammond. Very cool.

Buster Baglieri hanging out with Shane Gray's

team. Shane went on to win the event in Pro

Stock.

Larry Dixon...T/F Champion!

"Big Jim" Costanza...a man on a mission.

Larry Dixon's crew chief Alan Johnson.

The head of Tony Schumacher's Army, his dad,

Don Schumacher.

Austin Coil, John Force Racing's main man,

retired after the race and 15 championships.

It all came down to this run for John Force. If

he wins the round, he's champion.

His wife, Laurie, looking up and giving thanks.

He won the round!

15 Time Funny Car Champion, John Force.

Daughter Ashley enjoying the moment...

"Houston, we have a problem..."

Steve Kent in "The Pistonator" Corvette walked

away unhurt.

Check out these numbers. Shawn Langdon, left

lane, upsets Larry Dixon on a hole shot.

What a weekend!!!

Racecar Night At The NHRA Museum Cruise. Hundreds enjoy great weather and awesome cars!

2010-12-08T10:57:00.001-08:00

When John Duran of The Cal Rods Car Club invites you to a cruise night at The NHRA Musuem, you know it's going to be an awesome night. And the November cruise was no exception as several hundred hot rods, show cars, race cars and special interest vehicles turned out for this monthly event. If you've not attended one of these cruise nights, you'd better put it on your calendar for next year. The museum is also open during the event but there's no way to see it AND check out the cars all in one night. Go to http://www.nhra.com/ for all the cruise info and dates. See you there!

Bob Williams displaying his championship Wally

for winning the C/Gas title in the NHRA Heritage

Series. Congrats, Bob. But did you really have to

chain it down?

One of the coolest things about the cruise is

watching all the cars pull in. Check out this Vette.

Nice color...

Paul Althouse had his beautiful Camaro out for

the night. His son, Dan, is the pilot and it goes

faster than it looks!

Paul Althouse talking with Jay Payne. Jay doesn't

look like he's buyin' what Paul's selling!

Erica calls her car "Daisy." Enough said.

Raffle and giveaway time...

American Baby Cancer Foundation A Real "Fun-raiser!" A great day (and night) of racing and car show action.

2010-12-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

It was an all day and night affair on November 6th as Drag Corner Promotions hosted a fundraiser for the American Baby Cancer Foundation at the Irwindale Dragstrip. Activities included a car show, cacklefest, manufacturer's midway, kids activities, a great line up of exhibition cars and some great bracket racing, Manufacturer's Cup style. Four teams raced in a round robin format to earn points for their respective teams but also for round win prizes. At the end of the night Dale Raymond of Costa Mesa was crowned the overall champion and took home a cool $1,000.00 in cash! Tanner Poe was the other big winner taking the trophy and savings bond money in the jr. dragster category. Thanks to all those who participated and donated their time and money to help make this event such a great success. For more information regarding the American Baby Cancer Foundation go to: http://www.babycancer.org/.

Jeff DeGrandis was the Grand Marshall of the

event. Jeff is the Animation Producer and

Director for Nickelodeon as well as being the

official Ed "Big Daddy" Roth artist. Check out

his website at http://www.dragfink.com/

Driver's meeting....

The most celebrated car in NHRA history,

"The Winged Express."

Teresa had the Dodge R/T on the money all day!

"Girl Power" in the jr. dragster ranks.

Radke on a pass....

Kevin Houmard looking over his son's beautifully

prepared jr. dragster. Kevin's cars are always

show quality AND go fast!

Wyatt Radke on the return road. It looks like

he's on the way to the beach!

Eileen Pandelas in her 1965 Chevelle. Check out

the size of the meats in the back!

Kimberly Nocita had the opportunity to sit in

Bob Hansen's "Wynn's Spoiler" for the cacklefest.

.....Lucky!!!

...the "Kim's eye view!"

l to r, Bob Hansen, Kimberly and Debbie Nocita.

"Lil' Kass Heublein" A crew chief in the making!

One of the event sponsors and good friend,
"Ernie the Attorney" put on a great show for

the fans all day.

Ed Schwartz (l) and Bob Beck did fantastic job

calling all the action on and off the strip.

Marianne Chew and Lynn Christy worked countless

hours on the event and made sure everything

ran smoothly.

Grand Marshall Jeff DeGrandis and his family

being driven in the parade by AJ Nocita in the

"Donutz 1" 1959 Caddy.

Ron Johnson brought out some of his cackle cars.

Here the "Chizler" gets a push down the strip during

the parade.

Gordon "Lug Nutzz" Stewart with one of his

ABCF buds before heading down the strip in the

parade.

Friend of Drag Corner and "The Camfather",

Ed Iskenderian.

Kimberly Nocita did a beautiful job singing The

National Anthem. Her performance could only

be described as prayerful.

As The National Anthem concluded, "TV" Tommy

Ivo's car and the "Chizler" were pushed started

and squared off on the starting line for an exhibition

race, parachutes and all!!

Mike Boyd putting "The Wing" through it's

paces. Awesome.

Long time friend and volunteer Fred Trout

talking with Erica and Kimberly Nocita about

the day's activities.

The MCC event in Barona last June made a fan

of rock drummer Vinnie Appice. Earlier in the

day Vinnie sat in with the band and played a few

numbers that rocked!

Special Award recipient "Mousie" Marcellus with

trophy girl and alcohol funny car driver...that's

right, funny car driver, April Ortiz.

April with Jeff DeGrandis.

Nothin' like a rocket car at night!!!

Once again, Tony Franco in "Terminal

Velocity" set a new track mph at over 219 mph

on the 1/8 mile!! Tony, you're the man!

Tanner Poe, the jr. dragster champion, with

his family. Great job, Tanner!!

Overall champion Dale Raymond with Pete

Baleno and April Ortiz.

Billy "BJ" Stewart in Erica Nocita's '66 Chevy

Nova. Ford guy BJ must have enjoyed the day

and been in a good mood to sit in a Chevrolet.

Thanks BJ and Dale for all your help. What a

day!!!

Rehearsal Dinner More Like A Party At AREA 51. (Wish we could have gone to the wedding!)

2010-11-22T06:19:00.000-08:00

If a rehearsal dinner is this much fun, what will the wedding and the reception be like? When longtime friend and Sierra Madre School educator Barbara Wamboldt called us and asked if we would provide the venue for her son Chet's rehearsal dinner we jumped at the chance. Anything that Barbara is connected with is always a party. Chet and Kelly's dinner was no exception; it was party time! A great group of people, good food, many stories and a lot of laughs. What a way to start off the biggest weekend of your lives together. Congratulations, Chet and Kelly!

Even welcoming family and friends to the dinner

becomes a party when Barbara's the greeter!

Chet looks like he's ready to have a good time.

Some of the wedding party. By the way, did I

mention that they played football together?

....a pretty good Betty Boop face!

Wedding coordinator Sue Cook had everyone

in line and under control....most of the time.

Kelly and her dad rehearsing HIS big moment!

Now here's how you come down the aisle!!!

Barbara with a few words to say. Well, maybe

more than a few, but mom's can do that!!

Gifts for the girls...

Chet and his dad, Richard, made these custom

steins for all the groomsmen. Very cool.

Kelly and her girls...

Who said football players can't dance?

You didn't think Barbara was going to just watch,

did you?

A little quiet time for the father and daughter.

...and a final photo op with Homer and the gang!

Let the wedding begin!

Inaugural ISM Swoop Competition A Huge Success. Event showcases talented flyers on a picture perfect day at Perris Valley drop zone.

2010-10-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

On a crystal clear Saturday morning, the first of four ISM swoop competitions got off the ground with about a dozen skilled flyer's and ideal conditions. Bart Rogowski and Kimberly Nocita, the organizers of the event, couldn't have been happier with the results of the competition. As Kimberly put it, "You'd always like to have more participants but the group that flew here today put on quite a show. There was a lot of talent out there and things went well. It was good fun and safe day and that's all anyone can ask for." With sponsors like Adrenaline Obsession (an active sport clothing line), Liquid Sky, Amanda Burgess Photography, Just Jump Productions and several others, the four event series looks to gather speed over the next few months. October 30th will be the next scheduled date of the series and there is already a buzz around the Perris Valley drop zone that this one will be even bigger and better! The nature of the competition makes this a great spectator sport so plan on coming out and seeing some real stars of the sport in action. For spectator or sponsor information you can contact Kimberly Nocita at kanocita@aol.com. And the best part....it's free!!! See you there!

Did we say early morning....

BG is everywhere!!!

Although it would get into triple digits by noon

it was cool in the morning.

Kimberly Nocita and Bart Rogowski going over

some last minute details.

Adrenaline Obsession came on as one of the

major sponsors and also provided some cool

shirts for the participants. Check out all their

active sport lines at http://www.adrenalineobsession.com/.

Debbie Nocita and daughter Kimberly showcasing

some of the competition's sponsors. Move over

Vanna White!

Amanda Burgess captured some unbelievable

shots throughout the day. Check out her site,

http://www.amandaburgessphotography.com/.

The speed trials were the first in the three part

competition format followed by distance and

accuracy. Competitors can generate speeds up

to 90mph!

And when you carry that much speed, sometimes

the landings can be a little rough!

With his organizing duties behind him, Bart

got the chance to hang it out during the speed

trials. Wow!

Skydiving IS a colorful sport...

Time for a quick photo op between jumps.

Coming across the pond...going for distance.

Bart Rogowski....game face.

Kimberly making sure it's all right and good to

go.

Debbie was one of the pond judges and did a

great job. Her decisions were final!

Our favorite part of the competition; accuracy.

The object is to come across the pond with a

foot in the water as you pass the markers,

then come off the pond and land in a designated

area. Landing too soon or too late costs you

points. You must also stick the landing to score

the maximum points. Not easy.

Picture perfect!

After the group lands it's back to the packing area

and up again in about 20 to 30 minutes.

How many jumpers CAN you get into a mini

pick up?

....serious faces.

Bart making it look easy...

Eventual winner, Danny "DK" Koon put on quite

a show. And yes, he is going as fast as this looks!

Great job, guys. What a show!

"DK" with Bart. He was this happy and he didn't

even know that he'd won!

Bart was pleased with the day. Well done.

Adding up the scores and verifying the results

takes a good amount of time. Each landing is

video taped and must be reviewed to make

sure that the competitor clears every gate and

is within the course limits.

The second most fun part...handing out the awards.

"DK" getting the word he was number one!!

One of the shirts provided by Adrenaline Obsession

for all the competitors.

Adams Go Kart Track handed out some gift

certificates to the podium finishers as well.

Danny "DK" Koon with runner up Sean Carey

and third place finisher Peter Kallehave.

Can't wait til October 30th!!!

Carnight 2010 More Like Arcadia High School Reunion! A great time with old (and getting older) friends!

2010-09-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

This year's annual Carnight hosted by Dalcorp/AREA 51 and WR Trans had a little different feel to it than in year's past. With several Arcadia High School alumni showing up it seemed more like a mini reunion than the typical gear head gathering. There were some great cars and motorcycles in attendance but the focus for many of us was that of catching up with good friends from our high school days. The stories, like wine, seemed to get better with age. Maybe it's because, AT our age, we're all just happy to be here to be here! Thanks to everyone who dropped by and made this year's Carnight a very special evening.

Gary Kepner, left, talking with AHS alums Steve

D'Auria and Dave Pfost.

Here's Gary with his 1940 2 door sedan. Nice

Ride, Gary.

A scary group...l to r, Frank Marone, Ted

Seriff, Jeff Hinky and Chris Shevlin of Chicago

Title Insurance.

Some of the AHS class of '67...Lynn Tenney,

Fred Trout, Mark Stirrett and John Pandis.

Sarah Shevlin slide in behind the wheel of the

BG Oil Chevelle and looked like she was ready

to put the SS through it's paces. Better watch

it, Chris and Becky! You might have a racer in

the making!!

Lynn Tenney with "1tongeo" George McClelland,

Class of '67.

Fellow classmate Ross Lee's '57 Retractable Hardtop.

Ross passed away suddenly in December 2009 of

cancer. Fred Trout is selling the car for Ross's

family.

...a very cool ride. Interested buyers can call

us for info. 626 358 2868.

A little fundraising going on...

All the girls love Pato.

John, Mark and the Wigleys.

Here's a happy group!

A chance to visit with Tom Sparks is always a treat.

Another Arcadia alum, Roger Lord (left) and Roger

Peterson.

Mike Spagnola (center) doesn't miss much. Doug

Stokes (right) has Mike laughing about something...

'cause that's what Mr. Stokes does!

Jim Berens (left) in a serious discussion with

trans man Lorenzo Rodriguez, owner of WR Trans.

Lighten up guys, it's a party!

That's better!

Hey Phil, the keys are in it!

"Flash" with his street legal sprinter...cool.

Talk about a round table discussion. If you can

see through the cigar smoke, from left to right,

standing is John D'Auria, George McClelland,

Carl Burator, Fred Trout, Rich, John Pandis, Steve

D'Auria and Roger Wright. Close to 500 years of

experience...in what we haven't a clue!!

George, Roger and Fred saying goodnight to

Carnight, 2010. And a good time was had by all!