Hey Guys,
From the pictures and updates, it looks like a good time was had by all. All the competitors at least. My question: When a Challenge is finally done for the year, what is the general feeling around the office? Is it like the day after Christmas? Or do you feel like you're out of prison until next time? Are you sad because the event you planned for months and executed finally is all over? Or are you happy to see it disappear?
bluej
HalfDork
10/6/08 1:57 p.m.
i'm guessing the answer is, "yes"
Per Schroeder
Technical Editor/Advertising Director
10/6/08 2:00 p.m.
We all work very hard on the Challenge and we're very glad that it came off so well this year (nice weather, nice competitors, nice cars) but yea, it's a little sigh of relief, because we can get back to our regularly scheduled three-week production cycle—well, at least until the next event.
I got half a day off yesterday. I spent a few hours trying to get the Neon running so that Tom can take it to Rallycross nats.
Yeah, pretty much back to business as usual. We had a quickie post-Challenge meeting this morning and discussed the event some during lunch--who had cool cars, who was "that guy." Personally, I got back home late Saturday and spent Sunday editing stories. Today is pretty much a normal day at the office.
kcbhiw
Reader
10/6/08 2:10 p.m.
David S. Wallens wrote: , who was "that guy."
I would have loved to be present for that conversation.
I spent all day yesterday traveling. No rest for the wicked here. Still, awesome Challenge. I really enjoyed meeting the competitors and seeing what they built.
It was fantastic to be able to attend the Challenge again this year after missing it for 2 years in a row. (Petite Lemans)
The cars are fantastic, but the people are even better. It's great to have such a hard-core group of gearheads all in one place. Every Challenge build has a cool story to go along with it, and they are all fun to hear. It was also great to see the "regulars" again, although there is nothing regular about these guys.
Thanks to all that made it.
i'd love to see the transcript of the "that guy" meeting -- names removed, of course....
Tom Heath
Production Editor
10/7/08 10:34 a.m.
Yeah, what Joe, Per, and David said. It's vaguely post-coital; folks seem to be generally in a good mood and happy, but tired. Finishing off an issue of Classic and starting the next issue of GRM keeps us hopping.
Gotta say the feeling was extra good this year, I think this was the best challenge I've been to in my years with the magazine. Because Tim and Margie are on their Tiger tour, we won't have our big post-Challenge meeting till sometime next week, I suspect.
Respeck knuckles to all who attended this year, I had fun talking to my share of folks (the odd-numbered cars, mostly) and learning bits and pieces of your build stories.