Breaking Trucks and Taking Names

This past weekend I missed what could possibly be the most fun event in the state of Virginia for country people.  The annual Field Day of the Past in Goochland is an event that has all the entertainment and fun of a carnival and all the historical and educational value of a museum.  It’s basically a weekend long county fair that brings in around 35,000 visitors over three days.  From engine shows and equestrian competitions to carnival rides and tractor pulls, this place does it all. The most exciting part is undoubtedly the last event of Friday and Saturday night: the truck pulls. 

     

         Truck pulls are basically exactly what they sound like: trucks pulling things. The idea is that country boys with souped-up trucks come from all over to compete to see whose truck can pull the most weight before their truck stops moving, breaks, or crosses the finish line.

  

       The truck is chained to a “sled” (pictured on right) that has one set of wheels on one end and a sled on the other.  There is an enormous weight over the wheels (this is shaped like a box in the picture).  As the truck travels, the weight slides closer to the sled end, creating more and more friction against the ground.  Eventually, the truck will not be able to pull any farther.  Whether that’s because the engine just can’t keep up or because your several thousand dollar axles bent into scrap metal is irrelevant.  Whichever truck makes it the farthest, wins. 

            

      People pour their money into their trucks like crazy, but hey, everyone needs a hobby, right? Is this a stupid motocross sport?  Yes.  Is it fun to watch and exciting?  When you have a couple thousand rednecks surrounding you, who are all really excited for it. 

   

      Next year, you better believe I’ll be right there with them.  The most fun event in Virginia isn’t made fun because you’re surrounded by awesome people doing something smart.  It’s the most fun event in Virginia because you’re surrounded by awesome people doing something stupid! 

RCTech. Image. 9/23/13.http://www.rctech.net/forum/attachments/monster-trucks/373792d1222380816-tractor-pulling-truck-sled-4-sale-p9160034.jpg

Cumberland County Cooperative Fair Association. "What is Truck Pulling?". 9/23/13.  http://www.cumberlandcofair.com/truckpull.html

Field Day of the Past. 9/23/13. http://www.fielddayofthepast.net/id1.html

Protecting His Flock

My brother shot his first gun at the ripe old age of four.  He had been taught how to load, aim, and fire though since he could hold a cap gun.  His favorite movies starred John Wayne and to this day he has never truly liked a movie that has any less than 2 explosions.  He has grown up surrounded by guns.

The other night, I was startled awake when I heard my brother pounding up the stairs hollering “Get my gun!” Now naturally, this made me wake up pretty quickly. Jumping out of bed and throwing open the door I frantically asked him what was wrong as he rushed past me and into his own room.  In my head I’m thinking: robber? Murderer? Good gosh, we’re going down.  

“There’s a ‘coon in the chicken pen!” he yelled back down the hall excitedly. I heard the rapid click click click as he dropped bullets into his .22 rifle. “He’s already killed one of them!” Raccoons were the most dangerous predator to our cooped chickens, since they are clever and can find almost any available way to enter a coop.

I was expecting him to rush back down the stairs, but instead he held his gun with two hands, and swiftly, yet purposefully and firmly walked down. I followed him, because I was already awake and besides, if he missed, I wasn’t going to let him hear the end of it. It was my duty as his sister.  I watched my dad shine a light or “spotlight” the raccoon, which almost immediately became entranced, and stared back at the light. Lakey, having gotten outside, abruptly stopped, raised his gun, and fired.  

I then watched my brother calmly walk over to the raccoon, and remove it from the chicken pen.  There was no more fuss, no more shouts, no rushing. Lakey had done his duty, protecting his helpless, penned chickens, and now all was well.

One thing I most love about the country is the sense of security that it brings. If my brother would so valiantly protect a flock of chickens- chickens- how much more would he and my dad protect our own family in a time of need? My brother had taken out a small rodent (the average weighs between 12 and 20 pounds) from across the lawn that was surrounded by his chickens. He didn’t hit any of his chickens, and in fact, hit the raccoon squarely in the head.  He could much more easily take out a bigger, more dangerous target! He got incredibly defensive over stupid animals, and I know how much more courageously he and the other guys in my family would defend us.  It sure helped me sleep easier after I got back to bed that night.

“Raccoon-Chicken Predators- How to Protect Your Chickens From Coons.” 9/12/13. http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/raccoon-chicken-predators-how-to-protect-your-chickens-from-coons

Cooper, Diana. “Interesting Raccoon Facts.” 9/12/13. http://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environmental/articles/48196.aspx