The 2014 Holley Hot Rod Reunion is over and I’m sitting at my normal job, fully aware that this weekend was awesome…and that a retail job bites the big one. For three days I was bouncing around Beech Bend like a sugared-up five year old who was given a can of Jolt and a camera and let loose inside Disneyworld. So, what did I learn from my first actual working gig for BangShift?

8: I think this one comes as no surprise to anyone, but “God Help the Rental Car”. At least the rental company didn’t give them something truly pathetic like a Chevy Aveo. Instead, Lohnes and crew were pimping a Lincoln MKS.

7: What I actually know about drag racing people is actually pretty low. Friday morning I had a quick conversation with Don Garlits as he was walking his dogs outside the hotel. It didn’t dawn on me what had just happened until some guy chased me into the elevator and asked how I knew him.

6: Finding Charles breakfast in the morning was too easy: Great American Donuts in Bowling Green. If you get a chance, I recommend them. I’m addicted as well. Nothing like a ton of sugar to start a long day of photography!

5: When it came to transportation to and from wherever: Brian had to drive the rental Lincoln, and I drove the Imperial all three days. Charles rode with me all three days because Dustin took one look at my car and somehow worded “All, HELL no” to something polite. Don’t hate on my Imperial, guys! It’s a little special, but it’s filled with love…

4:  Lohnes is running a racket out of the tower. I swear he’s bribing the concession stands. He gets them business, they get him food. It’s like The Simpsons, where Homer pictures himself as “Don Homer”, and requires a donut for his Mafia services.

3:  It helps to have friends. Between Lohnes, Wickam and Chris and Jeremy from Holley, I managed to not get heatstroke, got tips on how to make my photography just that much better and learned who I should watch and learn from, as well as a bottle of cold water here and there, and some ibuprofen for my back after the fall.

2: If the other photogs are to be the basis for this judgement, I tend to position myself in dangerous areas. I love to shoot close to the burnout box and right next to the starting line. Though, this bit me in the ass with the jet cars. I can deal with the heat and the burner pops, but the (Willys?) jet car smoked out the track both times. Everything tastes like Jet-A now.

1: Every time I have a “first” with BangShift I get hurt somehow. This year I fell onto my car and my back is killing me. When met Brian, I torqued my ankles at Red Rocks and got hit by a taxi crossing a street. When I met Chad, I managed to have a wind-whipped door fling me into a Yukon’s grille guard and got food poisoning that night. Therefore, from here on out it should be smooth sailing. What’s next??