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Thursday, August 7, 2008
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HAPPY CAMPERS Campsites add character to race weekend Staff Writer BAXTER - One campsite's motto at Brainerd International Raceway Wednesday said it all.
The campsite dubbed "Adult Day Care" had a sign that read "Welcome to Kamp, subject to change."
And with an estimated 8,000 campers, who'll fill the campground at BIR for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, one thing is for sure - you never know what's going to happen.
Campers began filling the campground Monday and on Wednesday Sandy and Kory Sandstrom of Twig, who've been coming to BIR for Nationals since the '80s, were busy setting up their "Adult Day Care" camp that included many inflatable race cars and other characters, including Uncle Sam.
"We have a group of about 35 friends who come from all over to come here for the week," said Sandy Sandstrom. "This is our vacation. We love racing. I watch every single race out here."
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Sandy Sandstrom of Twig tied an Uncle Sam doll with a string Wednesday at her campsite at Brainerd International Raceway. Sandstrom and her camping group were gearing up for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals this week at BIR. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Sandstrom said every year their campsite has a different theme. Last year the site was a zoo. Sandstrom said one friend in the group, who doesn't watch the races, dresses up every year in keeping with the theme.
"Last year she was the zookeeper and this year she's the day-care camp's director," said Sandstrom. "She cooks for us and takes care of us. We have a great time.
"People already were stopping by our site to ask us how much we charge for the day care. I told them that they have to wait until our day-care provider arrives."
Sandstrom said two of her favorite race car drivers are Tony Schumacher and Ashley Force. Sandstrom said she likes racing so much that she turned her golf cart into a customized racing golf machine. She also brought a cut-out of Elvis Presley one year for John Force, NHRA drag racer and Funny Car champion, to see because Force commonly has said, "I saw Elvis at a thousand feet," which also is the title of Force's book.
People couldn't help but smile when they passed the campsite hosted by Jerry Anderson of Wyoming and Craig Lida of Baxter. The smile came after people saw a man-size fiberglass statue of a red Power Ranger that was screwed to the back of Anderson's all-terrain vehicle. The Power Ranger went everywhere with Anderson and Lida.
Anderson, who is a truck driver, said he got the Power Ranger in December when he was doing a moving job for a couple. He said the wife told him that she didn't want to see the Power Ranger at her new home, she wanted it to disappear. So Anderson took it.
Anderson said he takes his Power Ranger to different outings for fun. He calls his statue Darrell and Lida calls it the silent Bob.
"He doesn't say much," Lida said with a laugh.
Anderson and Lida have been attending BIR Nationals for a combination of 30 years. Anderson, who said he is a big race fan, will attend other races while on the road whenever possible.
Lida lives within a mile from BIR, but he still camps there because it's a lot of fun. Lida said he spent about $700 so far at the event and he even gets a good neighbor discount from BIR.
"I can't even imagine how much people spend here who live out of town," said Lida. "But it doesn't matter how much it costs because this only happens once a year and it's a great event."
Donna Woho of Brainerd, who has attended Nationals at BIR for 12 years, said she's spent about $1,000 so far. Woho was camping with Mark Sjoblom and Rob Turcotte of Brainerd and more people were expected to come from out of state.
"This is my vacation," said Turcotte. "I like to see the different mix of people out here and I love the races."
Woho and Sjoblom have a camp war with each other during the BIR weekend. Sjoblom is a John Force fan and Woho is a Kenny Bernstein fan. The fan of the losing racer has to wear the winning racer's cap and pose for a photograph.
"I had to wear it last year," said Woho.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
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