EASY ENTRY – Dave Carpenter entered his racecar through the window to start the second lap in the Big Bend Open Road Race Saturday. Like many cars modified to race, the doors are sealed shut making the window entry necessary. The car posted the best speed this year, averaging 166.535 miles per hour from Fort Stockton to Sanderson and back.

THE FAVE – Big Bend Open Road Race Director Randy Archer presented a T-shirt and other goodies to Hunter Truesdell last week. Race participants selected Hunter as their favorite and most creative. Looking on was Roger Johns, navigator in the 1964 Lincoln Continental shown here, driven by David Cudd of Montgomery. The car was the first “unlimited build” by Jesse James, host of the TV cable show Monster Garage.

SPORTSMANSHIP – George Hansard, left, president of Pecos County State Bank, won the Sportsmanship Award Saturday at the Big Bend Open Road Race. Hansard went “the fastest I have ever traveled in a car” when he served as navigator to Ted Zaleski of Austin in the 150-mph class.

TO THE PODIUM – J.D. Brotherton, right, made it to the podium in Saturday's regional finalist competition in Levelland. Sharing the honors were Melvis Hawkins of Hale Center in the first-place center position and Bobby Nichols from Boys Ranch. Observers said it had been several years since an individual from Sanderson has gotten to the podium.

I’LL DRIVE – Fifth grader Megan Seidel got to sit behind the wheel of the 2005 Cadillac CTS Marilyn Anderson of Bothell, WA, drove in the Big Bend Open Road Race Saturday. Several of the racers brought their “wheels” to Sanderson Elementary on Thursday before the race.

Photo by Sheri Thorn

REPEAT PERFORMANCE – A range fire broke out late Wednesday in east Pecos and north Terrell Counties, eerily similar to one six weeks ago that blacked 51,400 acres. This fire was north of the March 13 fire and quite a bit smaller – so far, at least.

Race cars go back to school

NOISY CANDY – The car that would post the highest speed at Saturday’s Big Bend Open Road Race caused Sanderson Elementary School students – and just about everyone else – to cover their ears. The “M&M” car driven by Dave Carpenter and Dan Stoltenberg of Parker, CO, visited the school, along with some others, Thursday.

GOOD CLEAN FUN – Juliana Castro was one of the volunteers cleaning windshields at the turnaround for the Big Bend Open Road Race Saturday. Members of the 180° Revolution cleaned windshields and provided other help for donations.

EL PATRÓN – Amtrak had a rider when it passed through Sanderson Tuesday. A 1927 railway car, restored by Patrón Tequila, was on the tail end of the regular passenger train. Before the jet age, personal train cars were a preferred method of travel. Similar private cars are not unusual behind Amtrak trains.

CONFIRMED – The Most Reverend Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI, DD, and Rev. Isidore Ochiobuto confirmed three teens at St. James Catholic Church recently. Shown from left were Jessica Garza with sponsor Eve Garza, Cheryl and Darren Seidel, Pfeifer, Ochiobuto, Jacob Benavidez and sponsor Mark Dominguez. Cheryl Seidel also was proxy for Alex and Florence Ehlinger.

BIG WINNAH – Gily Rodriguez of Alpine won two out of three games at the Los Jaks rally in Marathon last weekend. Rodriguez is an avid rally-goer and usually takes something home with him.

SAFETY AWARD – Juan Rodriguez of Sanderson, right, was one of six Sanderson Texas Department of Transportation workers getting safety awards from District Engineer Lauren Garduño last week. The longest award was for 22 years to Ruperto O. Perez. Also honored were George Estrada, Eddie Benavidez, Martin Arredondo, Jr., and Pete Olivares.

‘EXCELLENT JOB’ – Big Bend Open Road Race Director Randy Archer honored Dale Lascano of Sanderson for doing an “excellent job” as the new Sanderson Volunteer Coordinator. She stepped in with two months to go before the race. “We had a blast,” Lascano said.      

BIG BITE – “Butter,” aka Joanna Ramos, took a big bite of a hot dog at the Los Jaks rally in Marathon last weekend. Driving the bike was Hugo Galindo. Proceeds from the rally benefit the Catholic Church Bereavement Fund.

NOT WINTER – It’s really spring but this view of US Highway 90 between Marathon and Sanderson Saturday night looked like winter. A storm dumped hail on both US 90 and US 285 between Sanderson and Fort Stockton about sundown Saturday. At least it’s moisture but Sanderson only recorded three hundredths of an inch of precipitation.