BUZZ SODEMAN MORE COLUMNS BUZZ SODEMAN / SPECIAL TO THE PVT Modifieds driven by Pahrump's Levi Kiefer (3) and Leland Hibdon (12) compete in the Boone (Iowa) Nationals earlier this month. Jason Pike also competed. BUZZ SODEMAN / SPECIAL TO THE PVT The area for the haulers is congested, as race preparations are endless for the duration of the Nationals. Advertisement

There was thunder on the track and lightning in the air, literally. If the previous evening's humidity was bad, this evening it was oppressive to say the least.

The previous evening's festivities also claimed another victim, my wife, who decided that the nine hours of racing and a morning and afternoon of sight-seeing at Reiman Gardens were just too overwhelming. So she chose to spend the night at the motel.

Reiman Gardens is located on the campus of Iowa State University, a land-grant institution that is dedicated to the agricultural side of education.

The Gardens are situated within the shadow of the Cyclones' football stadium and is the home to several beautiful and educational display gardens along with an indoor, live butterfly exhibit.

There are more than 800 species of butterflies flittering about various native habitats.

I had left my camera at the hotel, so I went back and spent a considerable amount of time photographing flora, fauna and of course, as many of the vividly colored butterflies as I could despite the choking humidity.

Once inside the main concourse, I spent time viewing the emergence of butterflies from their cocoons and enjoying the air-conditioning.

After getting some dinner for Kathie, I departed for the track and had made up my mind that I would try and find a parking space closer to the media center and found what would turn out to be a great location on Story Street or maybe on this side of Interstate 30 could easily classify as Story Road.

There were several heats of sport mods which resemble the IMCA modifieds but differ in engine, carburetion and rear travel and rise (or so I was told) so I took the chance to visit with the Pahrump drivers and their crews.

I had a most interesting and enjoyable conversation with Jason Pike and his father, Jim, who were pitted overlooking the Interstate. The haulers were parked so tight that a quad was just barely able to get between you and your neighbor.

Down on the other end of the pits were Leland Hibdon and Levi Kiefer, pitted next to each other overlooking the legion of campers that have traveled from all over the country, to watch what is the Daytona 500 for the IMCA modifieds.

An obviously disappointed Kiefer blamed his start on nerves, simply saying, "I blew my chance but I have a number of chances to still make the show."

I didn't get to talk to Leland but J.R. Caha and another crew member were constantly changing the car's setup and seeking to conquer the ever-changing conditions. I was relieved that Caha was sweating just as bad as I was.

I left the pit area and headed for the staging area with the hopes of capturing on film the essence of the event.

I went to the pit side VIP center and asked about where I could photograph the action from a higher viewpoint. I was directed next door to what I would later find out was a private (and posted) box with viewing on top.

I was fortunate enough to get some photos before I was told, rather rudely, that I wasn't welcome up there and that "I would have to leave, after the next heat race."

Still seeking "higher ground," I headed to the spectator side and was able to climb into a tower where video-taping of the event by VCR Action Video and Roger Vansickel was in progress. I was welcomed and this stroke of luck would prove very beneficial to my health and well-being.

There was lightning all around the track and Vansickel's assistants had their cell phones dialed into a weather center; they were able to keep us abreast of an incoming storm front.

Finally, one of the assistants, who was riding a motorcycle and lived some 30 minutes to the north of Boone, decided it was time to bail.

Prior to the storm, Leland Hibdon made it out for heat number 10, struggling to a sixth-place finish in the pack of eight. I kept hoping that another one of our guys would come up before the storm hit but that didn't happen.

When the first small rain drop hit my arm, I was headed for the car. Just as I unlocked the car, the skies opened up and I headed for Ames.

The rain was falling so hard the wipers could barely keep the rain swept away and as I neared the exits for the University the storm increased in intensity and the lightning was hitting often enough to create a strobe effect with the wipers.

I later found out that lightning had hit a transformer at the track, blanketing the area in total darkness which lasted for nearly an hour.

I was told that some four inches of rain forced the closure of Route 17, which is one of the roads east of the track. It actually is the exit that one would take to the Harris chassis shop which fronts I-30.

At the time, IMCA officials had only completed half of the 40 heats and spectators and drivers were bumping around in the dark, slipping and sliding and falling in the quickly forming mud holes.

During one of the farming breaks, I had the opportunity to try one of the rib-eye steak sandwiches which I was told "were to die for." They were right; it was rib-eye steak so tender that it melted in my mouth. The sandwich was wrapped in a hoagie-style bun for the reasonable price of $5.

I kind of suspected what the complex would like the next day. Just watering the access roads throughout the pits made everything sloppy and slippery, so I was processing how I would address the next day of racing, Friday.

One thing I knew for sure, it was not going to be a nice place to walk around and the racing action would run much later as they would manage to get in the postponed races in before the regularly scheduled races would resume.

I decided that I would pick up my credentials early and after a quick recon of the area my worst fears were realized - what a mess! In the interest of keeping a harmonious marriage, I opted to take the day and do some tourist-type things.

Racing started early and I have the accounts of several individuals to fall back on. They started Thursday's racing before beginning the regularly scheduled Friday events.

Jeff Farstveet was still trying to figure out the nuances of the track and finished next to last in heat 23. Two heats later, Farstveet's traveling buddy, James Delaney, picked up a second.

Levi Kiefer matched Delaney's placement in heat 29. Jason Pike started having problems with a new engine and finished last in the 39th heat.

The engine would eventually grenade itself, putting Pike on the road home by mid-morning on Saturday.

For the sake of clarification, B-Mains are used to accumulate points that would determine a starting position for the last-chance races on Saturday. Delaney didn't pick up many for his dismal showing in B-Main 5,with a 15th-place finish.Kiefer didn't help his cause either with a 14 finish in the next B-Main.