By Karl Haglund
Caption: Bill Haglund (Karl's father) takes Media Night race at Boone via Brian Efkamps stock car – circa 1988 or so..
Some of my fondest childhood racing memories were official “Media Night” events. These special events would allow my dad, then editor of HRN, the resources he needed to get behind the wheel of a race car and compete against other media hounds. He usually ended up lapping the competition which was great fun for me. It is great to watch your favorite racer win, but when that racer is also your dad the joy is multiplied.
HRN editor Kyle Ealy and I were talking about this recently. What happened to Media Night?
Why do I not get the chance to carry on my father’s legacy or - more truthfully – why do I not get the chance to bring shame upon my family name? Does anyone have these special nights for the “masters of pen” anymore?
Why won’t anyone lend their $30,000 late model to Kyle Ealy? He can handle it. I have personally witnessed him drive the wheels off the official HRN minivan. With the Cubs game blaring from all 3 working speakers I sat in awe as he pushed the minivan upwards of 5 mph over the speed limit as we barreled across the north Iowa countryside en route to Deer Creek. Many a blue-haired lady felt the wrath of the Ealy shoe along 65 north.
So, maybe Media Nights are gone forever. Is there anyone out there willing to give a slow shoe a chance? I’m not asking for a ride in a late model or modified… or even a b-mod or stock car. I just want to give it a shot sometime. I want to write the story of my indignity. I think it would make excellent reading. Maybe I could just take a few trips around a track with nobody else. Come on, give me something here!
I’d buy a car myself, but I know nothing of engines. I would be the car at the back of the pack smoking and backfiring. It would surely make my grandfather spin as I single-handedly destroy the Haglund name for generations to come.
More, my dad Bill would finish his remaining years in seclusion, unable to attend races at Webster City or trade shows in Des Moines or legends night at Farley due to the absolute shame. I’m guessing that may even happen with someone else’s engine know-how, but it is a risk I am willing to take without consulting Bill or any other of the Haglund clan.
Someone? Anyone? In the interest of journalism I command you to respond!
Other news… I think I may be becoming a fan of NASCAR racing. I’m the last one to the table on this I think. I have just not really gotten in to this until now… I don’t know why.
It all started last year when Matt Kenseth came out of turn 4 at Texas (I think) and fishtailed. He never let up off the gas and powered on to 2nd (I think). Anyone know which race I am talking about? The idea of not letting up at that speed impressed me. It lit a fire for me.
Then it started all over again this year with the Daytona 500. I like Ryan Newman. I don’t know why. I hate to say that I like his car or colors or number, but I fear that may be it. I like the number 12… and I like the blue and white colors. I am Nancy, hear me roar.
In my own defense I also like a number of other drivers based solely on their ability to drive. I like Tony Stewart because I enjoy seeing him in his late model. I think I would still rather watch him race at Eldora than any asphalt track, but the tide is shifting. Kahne can be added to this list as well.
I enjoyed watching the recent Bristol race as well. My 3 year old son Anders likes Stewart because of the car. He refers to it as “the Home Depot car” and was glued to the set when Stewart was at the front. He has a #20 matchbox car and I think the fact that his “play world” was colliding with TV world was pretty impressive for him. His Home Dept car had a bit of bad luck at the end. It was a fun race to watch.
Anyway… yadda, yadda, yadda – I may be becoming a fan of asphalt racing. Time will tell.
I will be in Marshalltown for the Frostbuster special April 4th and then opening night at I-35 on the 6th. Thank God for spring. I’m also attending the car show at the Mason City mall on March 29th with my aforementioned 3 yr. old son. That will be over with by the time this issue hits the newsstands, but I’m sure we had a grand time.
Feel free to stop me for a chat or send off an email to whatsyourstory@mchsi.com.
Algona's Greg Hilbert writes DirtTrackRadio.com to tell of an exciting recreation project of his Dad's 1957 stock car.
