08/10/2026
What an amazing weekend!
This weekend we drove out to Cordova Illinois on the Mississippi river to Cordova Raceway Park, and attended the Havliks Fastest Street Car shootout.
This was the maiden voyage for the new addition to the Beg Borrow and Steel Racing family. Norma Jean, the RV! She did an amazing job other than a few teething issues that are to be expected. She safely brought us 650 miles round-trip.
Jesse Havlik and crew did an amazing job at organizing this race/event. They used the WhatsApp to keep all of us racers updated and for putting out race ladders and lane assignments. That worked very well. Lane assignments were kept consistent, I liked that a lot. You always felt like you knew what was going on. And to me that’s important at a race.
I also have to mention Cordova raceway. What a world class facility. Their bathrooms and shower room are what every track should aspire to have. They even have a bar on site called the strip bar. Catchy isn’t it. Lol. It’s also one of the longest shutdown areas I’ve ever raced on. My brakes appreciated that. Lol. The staff was like a well organized machine. Everything went very very smoothly.
We were able to be part of the most epic photo shoot I’ve ever seen, complete with pyrotechnics and all of the cars that I grew up admiring. And mine was in there with them.. Photos to follow. 
I was able to meet Larry Larson, Annette, Summers, and Steve Morris.
Larry Larson laid down a 6.20 pass in the quarter mile in his drag week S-10.
Annette Summers carried the tires 200 foot out while flat shifting a Lenco transmission until it got loose. Set it back down, got back into the throttle and finished the pass. This woman is a bad ass!
I got to sit next to Annette Summers at the drivers meeting. Larry Larson was just a couple of tables over along with Steve Morris and family. Mrs Summers was totally cool while I fanboyed all over the place like the dork that I am. Lol.
NOW READ THAT AGAIN.
I WAS AT A DRIVERS MEETING WITH LARRY LARSON, ANNETTE, SUMMERS, AND STEVE MORRIS. AS A FELLOW DRIVER!
I still don’t think it’s  Fully sunk in.
These are the people that inspired me to start racing. I remember watching their exploits in the pages of hot Rod magazine when I was young. They are the reason Beg Borrow and Steel Racing exists. True ambassadors of the sport. 
We met so many people and made so many great new friends. Mr. fabulous photography and Randy Adler JR to name a few. I hope we get the chance to hang out and do some more Racing with all of them.
We made it through qualifying and into round one. We raced the 1963 impala station wagon that was on the poster from last year for first round. He had some traction issues off the line so we played it safe in order to not break out and backed out of the throttle up top to stay slower than 10.50 for the win.
Round two had us up against a 1966 Chevelle. He got the holeshot on us and we just didn’t have enough to run him down up top. We broke out with a 10.45. He went on to win the class, so I guess that’s a small consolation. Prize for us. Lol.
A Racing friend of mine posted something on Facebook that stuck with me this weekend. There’s a million ways to lose but only one way to win. We all keep looking for that one way. Thanks, Tim Flanders
On the way out of town, we pulled over and walked down to the Mississippi river to put our feet in it and take a couple of pictures. Lol. Just because we were there.
I want to think Jason Lee. The best crew chief son and friend a guy could ask for. Thank you for keeping tabs on the car and the driver. Lol. I couldn’t do this without you. And I don’t think I would want to. You’re getting very good at what you do. Keep up the great work.
Thank you to Shane Spidell for hauling the four wheelers out there and always being there to pitch in when needed. You’re a lifesaver.
And special thanks to my beautiful wife, Rebecca. None of this would be possible without you, my love. I love you to the moon and back
We went rounds, met some great new people, met some of our heroes, had a great time with great friends and family, and safely made it home. How does it get any better than that.
Thank you for following along. Keep reading and Racing from the Beg Borrow and Steel Racing family. 
