On April 23 Phoenix hosted the NASCAR\Subway Fresh 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. From what I understand Lucasfilm contacted our garrison and asked us to provide some PR because two of the drivers were going to be sporting Star Wars colors. Dale Jarrett was going to be racing the “light side” car while Elliot Saddler would be racing the “dark side” car. The M&M PR people told us that they could only accept 4 people on each side. Since the vast majority of the garrison was out of town at CIII I was able to attend the event as one of the stormies.
I have mixed feeling about the event but there were some cool high points. One was being escorted to the M&Ms suite. There was food and drink and because the walls between the skybox's are glass, there were tons of people oogling us which is always fun. The best part though was walking out to Pit Road and taking promo pics with our Dark Side driver Elliot Saddler. He was a very nice guy and after the pictures were taken I was able to talk to him and his chief mechanic. They let me take my helmet off and peek inside the car which was cool too.
Anyway, the reason this post was is so late is because I just got my hands on some of the higher rez pics that the M&Ms folks took. Here they are:
Us with Elliot Saddler and a HGH overdosed yellow M&M. That helmet was HUGE.
It took up and entire 6 seater golf cart and that ain't no lie! 3 guesses which Stormtrooper I am :)
We heard that Uncle George was there that day but we did not get to meet him.
Evidently we came very close a few times but kept missing him. I'm sure he had no desire to
meet some sweaty Star Wars geeks anyway but it would have been a cool story. Its funny how un-billionaire
he looks in this picture. I think that rocks. If I were a billionaire I would wear jeans and Payless shoes too.
So unless I get more pics that's it for the NASCAR adventure. I have to admit I've been able to do some really cool stuff with this Halloween costume. I never thought that would happen and I'm really glad I invested in it. Although, I have to admit smiles from kids at PCH are way more rewarding than M&M chachkis.
-Neil
posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 11:27 AM