The Mullet is Not Dead...It's at the NHRA Races

This is much later than promised, but finally my vacation post.

SNARK ALERT: If anyone is going to be offended by trailer park or redneck references or other such snark, I suggest you skip reading this post.

If you are still reading...don't balme me!

Every year in October we go to the NHRA races in Las Vegas. We camp and hang out and watch the races. It is a great little get away. I'm not as good with the camera as most of you all, but here are a few photos to set the stage.

If you have never been to the NHRA races, let me tell you they are teh awesome! That feeling you get deep in your stomach when a 7,000 horsepower engine blasts off. The unique smell of "top fuel" nitro that burns your eyes and nose so pleasantly. The beer. The fair food. The cute little drivers in their fire suits.

Speaking of which...may I present my NHRA boyfriend, Larry Dixon?

Okay, well his car anyway. Believe me, he's just as adorable out of the car. Almost. CO knows all about this, by the way, and he's fine with it. He likes the car, you see. Besides, my NHRA boyfriend made me love going to the races, so CO will live with that. Also, he has an NHRA girlfriend, Melanie Troxel. Funny, but I have no pictures of her. Go figure.

Another great thing about this trip...due to the proximity of the Las Vegas track to Nellis Air Force base, you get treated to a free air show in addition to the fast cars.

It is a great bonus...except when the whole flippin' fleet takes off at dawn. Between the planes and the cars, this isn't so much a restful vacation.

But even with all that wonder, the very best part of the races just might be the people watching. See, for a fast sport, things can move rather slowly if there is an oil down on the track or something. You have to learn to entertain yourself during the lulls in the action. But if you're a people watcher, there is entertainment aplenty.

Entire trailer parks empty out for an NHRA event. It is a place of Van Halen* concert t-shirts, ribbed, white, Wal-mart brand tank tops, tattoos and...mullets. If you thought the mullet was dead, you just haven't been to an NHRA race recently.

During one particularly long stretch of track maintenance, I pulled out my camera, and began randomly snapping photos. CO asked what I was doing. I quietly told him I was playing "I Spy a Mullet." He began to play, too. These gems weren't hard to spot, seeing as how they were sitting in the row in front of us:

The second one was subtle...he just wasn't embracing it like the first guy...but in my book, still a mullet. And the fun does not stop here. Oh no! There were more. So many more.

I'm not sure this is technically a mullet, but Dude...seriously.

This next one certainly qualifies, however. The ponytail kind of blends in, but focus on the dude in the yellow baseball cap, and I think you'll agree.

Oh, and this guy is livin' the life.

But wait...there's more!

You may need to zoom on this one. Long-sleeved grey t-shirt in the middle there. Yeah...that's a good one!

So there you have it...my mullet collection. All of these shots were taken in the span of an hour or so, and there were even more...believe me! But either I was not quick enough to snap a photo, or the subject was moving and the shot came out blurry, or I was too far away. Still, I think it is a fine collection, if I do say so myself.

I did manage to snap two other folks that amused me, as well. First, this guy:

He's kind of hard to see, but he's the one near the center with the short shorts, shaved legs, no socks and black dress shoes. Yes, you heard me those are black dress shoes! What the fuck is up with that?

And this one...this was the photo CO wanted me to take. I think he was a bit smitten with her.

CO said it was going to get a bit lost in translation, because the photo is not picking up her black bra underneath that white tank top there, and you cannot see her boyfriend's long pony tail (the mullet that got away), but you do get a shot of the cig, the tribal arm band tat, and the gut hanging over the belt.

Ahhh, the NHRA. You gotta love it.

Yes, of course I DO relaize we were there too. And for those of you with long memories, you might recall this post in which I admitted to some decidedly redneck behavior well worthy of any of these fine, mullet-sporting folks. What does that say about us? Frankly, I am certain that somewhere, my photo resides on a blog-full-o'-snark, and I simply remain blissfully ignorant.

I'm sure any snark thrown my way would be well deserved.

Oh, and while CO and I were there over Halloween, we decided NOT to wear our costumes (picture previously posted, but since deleted). We were pretty sure no one would get it.

*And yes, I like Van Halen. But still...