An Auto Enthusiasts Life: SKUSA 2009 - Prelude to my Callaway SC 540 Silverado Experience

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

SKUSA 2009 - Prelude to my Callaway SC 540 Silverado Experience

So a few weeks ago a friend of mine came through town for work. However, before I can proceed I need to explain what brought me to the point of how Mike C. and I actually met and became friends. I know it's a story of the past, but it helps explain a few things.

In November 2009 I was working at the Ferrari Store in San Francisco and a co-worker came in and proceeded to tell us that a very famous Formula One driver was confirmed to be participating in the SKUSA event that weekend at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. This driver, Michael Schumacher. I immediately called my wife and told her I was going to Las Vegas. Once I told her why, it was no contest. She knew I was going. I had tried to get some things signed back in 2005 and 2006 while attending the Formula One race in Indianapolis at the famed Indy Motor Speedway. In '05 I had my Ferrari cap signed by Rubens Barrichello and Ross Brawn. In '06, I had my 1:18 Ferrari Enzo diecast car in front of Schumy and he just went right around it signing everything except for my car. I was a little bummed out about it, but such is life right. I did however get Felipe Massa and Ross Brawn, so I was happy. Keeping that story short, let us now get back to November 2009! I made a few more calls after I spoke to my wife to a couple of friends that I thought for sure would go. One wasn't able to pull it off, but my friend Mike T. from Los Angeles was ALL IN. He said he would get the room, so all I had to do was make my flight purchase and it was all set. So, on my lunch break I got that all in line and I was already feeling the excitement of meeting (at the time) my favorite driver from my favorite marque.

Friday Morning Practice

Thursday morning came and I made the usual trek that I normally did for my work commute. But this time I stayed on the train and was on my way to the Airport. The flight was easy and when I got to Las Vegas, I just needed to kill a few hours and wait for Mike T. to show. So, I had breakfast at the hotel and since I'm not a gambling man, I did a little bit of nothing for a couple hours. After all, I was there for a chance of a lifetime, not to gamble. Once Mike T. showed and we got settled in our room, we just decided to do some sight seeing for the day. After all, we were going to be at SKUSA all day on Friday. To spare those details, I'll skip to Friday.

Schumacher signing for fans.
He signed my Enzo on the
engine cover.

Friday morning Mike T. and I got up, grabbed breakfast, then got a cab ride over to the Rio Hotel and Casino. We walked through the ground floor and out the back to where the event was taking place. Once we got in, we looked at the go-karts on our way through to where the bleachers were. I met up with my co-worker who was there to be a mechanic for his friend who was to be racing that weekend. We talked for a few minutes, and then the hunt was on to find Mr. Schumacher. We ended up finding where he was to be and waited for a bit. Throughout the day, Michael walked through the paddock to the starting grid, so he was getting hit by the fans, and I did manage to get my Ferrari hat signed very quickly. Now it had 3 signatures. Then a little later I managed to get the 1:18 Enzo signed. When I put it out in front of him, he asked where to sign it, I asked where I wanted it signed, and it was done. SWEET! 2 things signed. I had 1 more item that I needed signed before the day was to end of the day. This item was the only Michael Schumacher Ferrari hat I had in my vast Ferrari collection. Eventually it got signed.

Schumy Drift

Waiting for Qualifying 1

So, this is where the meeting of Mike C. and I comes into play. Mike C. was doing the same thing I was. Trying and succeeding to get some of his collectible items signed by the man who brought Ferrari back to their racing glory. I actually met quite a few fans. It was a great day. Everyone was being rather patient, and to make it even better, Schumy was being pretty cool as well. So this is how and where I met the friend that now works for Callaway. We talked about a lot of things throu the day, and one of them included, well obviously the fact that we were all fans of Schumacher and the great marque that he had driven for, Ferrari. Then we found out that 3 of us were all members of the same forum website that caters to the marque. Pretty interesting! Considering that is also how I managed to meet Mike T.. But, before the day was to end, we were waiting around the team tent at the end of the day for him to come out and see his fans that had been there all day long. And a couple more rare moments came into play. I was joking about getting a kart tire signed that was sitting on the ground when Mike C. was all for it. So we each grabbed a tire and got them signed. Then the moment came where I just had to get a picture with Schumy. So I asked him and he obliged. So I gave my camera to Mike T., Mike C. to jump into the shot, and a couple clicks later we were all happy. What an awesome day. So, obviously Mike C. wanted a copy of the shot. What fan of Schumacher wouldn't want actual proof that they had actually met the man in the flesh.

Waiting for Qualifying 2

Well, since we had had an awesome day checking out the Super Kart Nationals, and having the chance of a lifetime to meet the greatest Formula One driver of our time, the day was over. Since we hadn't had much of anything to eat all day, Mike T. and I decided it was time to leave and grab something to eat. Not knowing what to eat, we invited Mike C. and his friend to hang out for dinner, and he knew of a great burger joint in the Rio Hotel. So we went there and had some good time getting to know one another. After nearly a couple of hours of chatting, the day was done. I had to get back to the hotel and grab some sleep. I had to get up pretty early to catch my flight back home. It was Saturday, The event was still happening, and I had to get back to work since I was unable to get the day off. OH WELL! Thursday was fun, Friday was awesome. It was time to get back to the norm.

Now that I have explained how Mike C and I met, stay tuned for my write up on the next time we actually got together. And yes, it will include the Callaway SC 540 Silverado.