School's out " time for family fun

It was quiet this morning outside sitting on the front porch with a cup of hot tea. Wait a minute, that's because our daughter is still sleeping and there are no school buses driving up and down the street. School is out for 77 days for the elementary school kids.

I have been hearing from most people I've talked to that their general summer vacation plans have changed because of the ridiculous price of fuel. Most people aren't going far or spending much.

"Good Morning America" aired a segment called "Staycations" about people all over the United States who were going to stay home for summer vacation and planned outings in their own back yards.

One family transformed their back yard into a movie theater by hooking up a very large-screen television outside. Another family set up the back yard like they were camping with the few amenities, like being able to go inside for the rest room facilities. Hey, that sounds like fun.

Speedway racing

Auburn, Calif., is just a two-hour, 15-minute scenic drive taking Highway 50 to Spooner Summit, north on Highway 89 to Truckee, west on Highway 80 to Auburn. Auburn sits in the Sierra foothills and has lots of trees in case it gets hot in the summer.

The Gold Country Fairgrounds is the place to be for Fast Fridays throughout the summer. It's truly a blast if you love to watch motorcycles sliding around on a short oval dirt track. Suggestion: Don't sit in the lower seats " you'll get dirt kicked up at you. I got one clump that hit me on the forehead. Good thing it didn't hit my eye.

This is wonderful family entertainment and reasonably priced. It's $10 for adults and $6 for seniors or juniors. I believe children under 10 were free. Another suggestion: Bring a warm jacket in case the weather gets too cool.

This summer the season offers events like extreme sidecar series, freestyle motocross jumpers, vintage speedway, North vs. South Civil War Challenge and the National Speedway Championship series. For information, go to www.fastfriday.com/homepage or "Gold Country Fairgrounds" under search. The signs on the freeway are easy to follow to the fairgrounds.

Flat track closer

to home

Thunder Bowl Speedway is in Moundhouse with racing mostly on Saturday nights but with some Sunday races. All motorcycles and quads are welcome to participate. They even have races for little kids riding 50cc motocross bikes. I saw one little girl take home a big trophy when I went. Practice starts at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Sunday practice starts at 9 a.m. and racing at 10 a.m. Spectator entry was $10 each.

The racetrack was hard to find. Take Highway 50 six miles east of Carson City to the left turn on SR 341 toward Virginia City. At a quarter mile north is the Chocolate Factory, turn left there on Industrial Road. Follow the road till you see a sign that says Thunder Bowl Speedway and make a left there on Thunder Road. The road will curve around to the left and you'll think you are lost but go up the knoll and you'll see the pay area. We parked on the east side of the track and it was windy that night, so you may want to park and stay in your car if you run into the same conditions. The flyer says for information on the track, directions and camping to call Ed, (775) 450-7167.

n Lisa Welch is a Johnson Lane resident and can be reached at 267-9350.