Making Memories

First off, I'd like to apologize for taking so long to get this blog done. Since my last entry, I've had a milestone birthday, the kids finished the fifth grade, I've nursed my mom back from some complications following a somewhat routine surgery, and my precious grandma passed away after a valiant struggle with cancer.  So basically, I've had some ups and some downs these past few months, but hopefully now that the kids are on summer break, I should have some more free time to let you in on the goings-on of the Worsham clan.

So, as I type this, I'm poolside with a few other racer's wives at the kids favorite stop on the tour, Norwalk, OH. The kids to hang out at the water park all day and the wives get to work on our tans and catch up. This is actually the last stop on our three week trip with Del.

We started this journey more than two weeks ago when the girls and I packed up our 1-per-person suitcase allowance and our new Yorkie puppy, Zoe and flew to Boston to meet Del. We explored the city of Boston, Salem, took in a game at Fenway Park, and enjoyed our new family-favorite Cannoli's from Mike's Pastries. They are so good! if you're ever in the area, I highly recommend stopping in for their pastries!

The next stop was Portsmouth, NH, our home base for a few days while we raced at the inaugural race in Epping. The girls and I spent a few days exploring the little town of Portsmouth, and we definitely had our fill of fresh seafood. As soon as the event wrapped up, we were able to fit in a quick stop to Niagara Falls, and Erie, PA before we made the drive west to Michigan to attend Tammy Oberhofer's memorial service. I'm still amazed at how strong Jim O and his beautiful daughter Ashley are and how eloquently they spoke of their wife and mother. You can definitely tell how close the three of them were. I'm also so proud to be a part of the Kalitta Motorsports family. It was so touching to see how they all came together starting from the top with Connie Kalitta to the crew and support staff that were there.

Immediately following the service, we headed back east again for Joliet, then a few days in Chicago. The kids and I were able to negotiate a shopping trip on Michigan Avenue in exchange for getting Del some authentic Chicago deep dish pizza.

We've put some miles on our rented SUV, and the cargo area is definitely more jam packed than it was since the beginning of our trip, but we're "making memories" as Del and I like to remind ourselves. I'm pretty sure the kids have had enough of Del's and my singing along to our favorite 80's and 90's tunes, the puppy probably thinks she's been adopted by a gypsy family and the girls are tired of me nagging at them to get their noses out of their iPhones; to take in the scenery, the quaint little towns, the big city skylines and everything in between. This is what they'll remember of the summer's growing up in a racing family. This is making memories.

Junior Dragsters and Fish Tales

We’ve had a busy past few weeks. After much pleading from the kids, we finally gave in and got some Jr. Dragsters for them. Del and Grandpa Chuck are having so much fun with them. It really is something special to see so much pride and excitement in their faces as well. Whether Del is going 300+ mph, or the girls are going up to 70 mph, it’s still just as exciting for me to watch. I love watching Del pulling them up to the line, leaning in, and giving them those last minute tips and pointers. They still have some work to do when it comes to staging and reacting, but we’re all just having fun as a family. People ask me all the time, if I’ve ever wanted to jump in a race car and give it a try, and my answer will always be the same, absolutely not! I have no desire to go that fast. I’ll leave the driving to Del, and if the girls decide racing is in their future, I’ll be standing on the starting line, cheering them on as well.

Late last month we also had the pleasure of attending Alexis’ and Jesse’s wedding as well. It was so beautiful, and you could definitely feel their love for each other, their support from their family and friends, and their commitment to the new family that they had formed...and wow, was it a party! Dancing to an impromptu performance from Dan Akroyd was definitely a highlight. You know it was a good party when my poor dress was beyond repair. The bottom of my dress was so torn up from getting stepped on, danced on, and spilled on that it definitely won’t get a second chance to be worn.

“Somewhere warm and tropical on a beautiful sandy beach would have been a perfect spot to spend my anniversary” is how I remember ending my last entry. Well, that’s exactly where we got to spend a few days over the spring break.The Tuesday after the Las Vegas race, we packed up the kids and my mother-in-law and spent a few days in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Del and I hadn’t been back there since 1998, so we were pleasantly surprised to see how much the quiet little fishing town that we remembered had grown. I do have to say, that I might have found a new favorite vacation spot. It’s a short 2 hour flight from Orange County, the rates are still pretty inexpensive and the people there are so hospitable.

Del snuck out early one morning for a half day fishing trip, while we girls slept in and had a long brunch waiting for his boat to come in to see what he had caught us for dinner. Well, he didn’t disappoint as he proudly showed us the 120 lb Marlin he wrestled for 1/2 hour on his way in! The awesome staff at a little local restaurant stored some of our fish and prepared it 7 different ways for dinner that night. The rest of the time we did some whale watching, snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding and mostly relaxed pool side and on the beach. I’m already trying to figure out when we can go back!

So, as I’m writing this blog, I’m also working on some last minute details for my big 4-0 celebration. I’ll be treating my best girlfriends and 2 favorite sister-in-laws for a few days in the Big Apple. I can’t wait to celebrate with them and hopefully I’ll have some good stories to tell when I get back!

Once upon a time...

The Other Connie is Connie Worsham, wife of DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car driver Del Worsham. Del competes in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series for Kalitta Motorsports, owned by drag racing icon and pioneer Conrad “Connie” Kalitta.

So, since my last blog, Del and I celebrated our 14 year anniversary. And, just as we do every year, we spent it in Phoenix at Firebird Raceway! 1999 seemed to be a popular year for a group of us to get married. Here’s a little bit of useless trivia...within a six week span, Larry and Ali Dixon, Robert & Adria Hight, Tony & Cara Schumacher and Del and I all tied the knot!

I get asked all the time how I met Del and if I knew anything about drag racing when I met him. So this is how the story goes;

Once upon a time, what feels like a long, long, time ago,  I was living in Santa Monica, but thinking about moving to Orange County for a change. I was spending a lot of time at my friend Jennifer’s place in Costa Mesa while I was searching out an new place. Jen had two room mates, a very lovely girl named Susan and Susan’s brother, a guy named Del who was never, ever home. All I thought was I had to find myself a room mate like him. He paid his portion of the rent, they collected his mail, but he had never even bothered to unpack most of his stuff since he spent most of his time on the road.

New Year’s Eve 1997: The girls and I had made plans to go out, when Susan asked if it would be ok if her brother Del came along. I had just come out of a relationship and was looking forward to some girl time, so I can’t say I was all that excited, but nevertheless, he joined us. There weren’t any fireworks, it wasn’t love at first sight, and actually I think he was interested in our friend Amy, too. We had a few drinks, shared a few laughs (mostly me, about his dancing) and that was the beginning of our story.

I didn’t have any idea what he did, other than he was gone a lot. I honestly thought they were a bunch of guys racing on a dirt road for a trophy and thought he better get his act together and get a real job soon! Little did I know...

He brought me out to my very first race, the 1998 Winternationals. I was in absolute awe. I was hooked, but I had no idea what I was getting into. Back then, Del drove his own transporter from race to race. He flew home whenever he could, or I’d save up my vacation time to meet him wherever he was racing. We sometimes went weeks at a time without seeing each other. It was tough. I can’t say that I didn’t almost call it quits a couple of times, but I’m glad we somehow stuck it out.

We were engaged by Christmas, and quickly set a date for the following February. As any racing wife can attest to, you plan your life around the racing schedule. Weddings, Birthday Parties, Showers, they are all planned according to where our men are. I figured out early on that, as Del likes to say,  I picked a bad time to be born, if I didn’t want to spend every birthday in Houston!

Since I had no control over my birth, I could have made a better choice in when it came to where we would be spending every anniversary. Somewhere warm and tropical on a beautiful sandy beach would have been perfect.

Damn, I really should have thought that one through!

A New Chapter Begins!

The Other Connie is Connie Worsham, wife of DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car driver Del Worsham. Del competes in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series for Kalitta Motorsports, owned by drag racing icon and pioneer Conrad “Connie” Kalitta.

A New Chapter Begins!

Well, we just finished up the start of the 2013 season at the Winternationals here in our hometown and I want to say how much I appreciate all of the positive feedback that I heard from so many fans who took the time to seek me out and tell me how excited they were to see Del back in the seat. The number one question that everyone asked was how I felt about the change, and my answer has always been the same... It’s somehow a little easier for me to watch him drive than it was to support him in his role as a Crew Chief.

Don’t get me wrong, I will support him in whatever decision he makes for himself and for the family as a whole, but when I met Del he had 8 years of driving under his belt. Even though I knew nothing about the sport of Drag Racing, I could see that he was a talented driver, felt that he had the respect of his peers, and fed off of his enthusiasm for his job. Fast-forward 13 years, 2 sponsors, 31 wins and 1 Top Fuel Championship later, he tells me that he wants to try his hand at tuning and that an opportunity has presented itself that he feels is too good to pass up.

So, yes, if you’ve heard Del tell the story, it’s true... I did cry. And so did our girls. We never knew Del to be anything but a driver, so it was a big adjustment for us all. It’s very different watching your husband, strapped in behind the wheel and having confidence in his driving abilities than standing beside him watching him send someone down the track. My concern was always for Alexis’ safety first, then of course, for the win.

So there I was, finally adjusting to his new role. We’re finishing up the 2012 season, Alexis, Del and the whole crew have wrapped up a successful year together, and bam! we’re told that the Kalitta organization is making some changes and they want him behind the wheel of a Funny Car again. You guessed it, I cried (again)! I had come to love the team, the crew, Alexis and her family and here we are, making changes once again.

Fortunately for me, the Kalitta organization is truly a family. I’m really excited about this year and what’s in store for us. They have put together a talented group of guys (and girls) that work really well together in every capacity. I’m super excited that Del gets to compete as a driver for that coveted Funny Car Championship.

So, with this new blog, I’ll keep you posted on the goings-on of our family life at and away from the track. You can also follow me on twitter:  @connieworsham or if you have any questions, e-mail me : the_other_connie@live.com