Mixed Reviews From 2010 Start

Inside Booth at the Fishing Expo

2010 really got its start this past weekend with the Fishing Expo at Richmond Raceway. This is our third year doing this show and the first where we had decent weather. At least on Friday and Saturday. Sunday was rainy and nasty but at least it wasn’t brutely cold like the past two years.

We all got to welcome a new member to the Big Red family as Adam Brewer, Kaitlyn’s boyfriend, worked on Friday and Saturday. Tyler, one of their friends who had worked for us at one of the Richmond races, helped  on Sunday. Kaitlyn ran our booth inside, Tank and I cooked on Big Red outside.

While it wasn’t the best show we’ve done, it wasn’t bad.  A nice solid effort. Our ribeye sales were down from last year and that caused us not to have a great show. But still it is the kind of show I’d like to do every week.

Tank Cooking Steaks Inside Big Red

Plus, I love the staff and promoters. Les and his guys are great to work with.

You can check them out at ncboatshows.com.

With the economy as it is, many of the shows are downsizing. That has caused us to lose a couple of shows we had scheduled in the next month or so which has caused me to do some mad scrambling trying to replace them on my calendar. Couple that with the lousy sales at our basketball games lessons the success of the year’s start.

One the plus side of the equation, we are definitely adding three tracks to our racing schedule for 2010. We will be in Michigan twice, Watkins Glen twice and Kansas once. Because of that, I have to add some more equipment so my research is on going looking for the best deal I can find for some major purchases.

I still don’t have the final word on the national tour but hope that will fall in place shortly as I have a lot of work to do if we’re going to pull it off.

All in all, I’m very excited about the New Year and can’t wait for March to get here when everything starts rolling big time.

Huge Lines at Winterfest

My sincere apologies to both my avid readers for not posting anything for the past month. There are many reasons why: extreme laziness, and not much happening in the Funnel Cake world are near the top of the list.

Another reason is my heartfelt position as one of the ultimate Bah Humbug guys in the world. I just don’t care for the holidays, all of the shopping in horrible crowds, decorations on everything. It’s an emotional drain and I’d like to move it all to July. Maybe I’d get more in the spirit of things then.

Actually, there are a couple of valid reasons beyond my being a curmudgeon. I get pulled from a bunch of directions needing to be at the farm, at Peggy’s, doing Christmas with mom at the nursing home. Goodness knows, I’d love to make a Kentucky trip to see Grant, Katie, Nancy and that other fat boy in the Falls clan during the holidays.

But, I end up running up and down the road just trying to keep everybody happy.

Kagen: A Rock Start in the Making

My other problem is caused by my horrible lack of financial planning. Because December is my worst month of the year, I never have enough money to do the holidays like I’d prefer. July would be a much better month for me and maybe with more money at my disposal, I could be more like my sister: a Christmas nut.

Basketball at Liberty has been horrible so far and I’m barely covering my expenses. Winterfest was OK but nothing like it was three years ago when we rocked.

Today, I put 2009 to bed. Well, except for tax time. And, it’s been a pretty good year.

During a year where the economy has been awful to say the least, my business was up by over 25%. Most of that was from  the races at Richmond and Martinsville, and my very successful season with the Potomac Nationals.  Football was down slightly due mainly to neither Liberty nor JMU making the playoffs and the additional games. The regular season games did well and some new records were set.

Big Red also ventured out of state for the first time doing shows in Maryland and Kentucky.

Balance that with the loss of my Walmart fund raisers and Belvedere Plantation the whole month of October due to them doing concessions themselves, I certainly can’t complain. 

Brat the Cat: "What are You Fools Doing?"

2010 looks like another year of increases. While it’s not definite yet, we’re probably adding at least two new tracks for races. Big Red’s national tour is still in the final planning stages. At this point, all I know for sure is it will end in Austin, TX for the huge SXSW Conferences. Not sure where I’ll be going or what I’ll be doing before we get there, but that announcement should be forthcoming by mid-January. Our contract with the Nationals has been renewed for the year and we still have a bunch of dates for shows at Richmond Raceway. There are also proposals on the table for another region of Americrown (which could add even more races) and for several larger arenas. I hope to hear from them this week.

Perhaps the biggest change in all of this is losing Peggy. She’s been my right arm thru these past six years going back to the days of selling funnel cakes as a little parttime venture for my retirement so we could take a cruise every year. Her son Todd heads for basic training in the Army on January 11, and Peggy will take over fulltime care of Kagen while he’s gone.

Now that the holidays are over, I’m getting excited about my outlook for the year and there should be much news forthcoming.

To all of you, my best for the New Year.

Dukes Marching Band Enter for Final Game

Unfortunately, football season came to an end for Big Red last Saturday as JMU closed out its home season. Even though the Dukes won, they didn’t make the playoffs as was expected before the season started.  Due to that, I had to hold three weekends open in case of home playoff games like last year.  So, I’ve been scrambling for bookings.

Liberty’s season ended a couple of weeks ago without a playoff invitation either.

Lines for Funnel Cakes during Final Game

Both schools are undergoing stadium construction projects over the next three years increasing seating considerably.  It’s very likely Big Red will need to expand to two locations at both in the future to keep up with demand from more fans.  Needless to say, my planning for next fall has started already.

JMU’s last game was decent but not a record setter.  Of course, attendance was down from the earlier sellouts since they weren’t in the playoff hunt. But, we were still pretty busy.

I let Chuck handle all of the cooking for the first time and he did a great job.  My thinking is that when we go to two locations for a game, he needs to be ready to handle the high volume at one of the locations.  He’s ready.

Peggy Sets Up Booth Inside Vines Center

Basketball season started at Liberty which features a little bit different set up.  I have to cook outside in Big Red and use runners to our booth inside.  So far, the games haven’t gone all that well although we had a fair game for the ESPN televised game against Clemson which was nearly a sell out for the Vines Center.

This week there are four games at Vines so I’ll be busy all week,  Shortly after that, the kids go home for Christmas which will give us almost a month with no games.  Our only big event coming up is Winterfest at Liberty over New Years eve and New Year Day.  We’ve done really well there in the past.

Big Red Outside Vines Center

This weekend, I put in a couple of days at Royal in Harrisonburg but it was a waste of time.  Despite every effort I could make trying to draw folks in using both Twitter and Facebook, I did little more than break even.

Oh, well.  Can’t win them all.

Mixing Stuff

Hi. My name is Kagen Conner and I’m 2 1/2 years old. My ‘Oompa” is the fat guy that cooks funnel cakes for everybody and my grandma is Peggy that works for him most of the time.

This year was my third Thanksgiving but I don’t remember much about the first two because I was so little. Since I’m now a big boy, my grandma lets me help in the kitchen and this year, I got to fix a pecan pie.

First, you had to put a bunch of stuff in a pan and stir it up with this whirley-gig thingy. I think it’s called an egg beater but I just use a fork when I make my scrambled eggs. Then, when you get all that stuff mixed up, you have to start on the pie crust. I like that part best.

Making Dough

You measure out the flour and put it in the big mixer with butter and some other stuff my grandma added. Then you turn on the mixer and watch go round and round.

Then you take the dough and plop it on the counter, sprinkle some more flour on it and roll it with the rolling pin.  My grandma said something about using the rolling pin on my “Oompa” but I didn’t understand what she meant.

Rolling the Dough

After you get the dough really thin, you put it in the pie pan without sticking your fingers thru it. Then pour all of the other junk from the pan in the pie and throw some pecans on top.

Then it goes in the oven but you have to be really careful ’cause its really hot.

After an hour or so, the pie comes out and sits on the dining room table to cool.  But you can’t eat it until after you eat all that turkey and stuff the next day.

Kagen's Pie in Oven

I did find out that you can’t run your cars in the leftover dough.  They get all yucky and I had to sneak them in the dishwasher so the wheels would turn again.

My pecan pie was really good even though Grandma forgot to get the white stuff that goes on top.

After we finished, I had to take a good bath because I had flour in my hair and behind my ears. And, Grandma had to run the vacuum to get the flour off the floors. I don’t know how that could have happened.

Flour Everywhere

On Thanksgiving Day, my “Oompa” fried the turkey outside and I got to watch only he kept yelling at me to stay back. Grandma made a bunch of other stuff in the house too.

Then all of these people started coming, we had to put the cats in the basement, and before long the house was full. I think they are all relatives of mine, only I don’t really know what that means. Then we got to eat.

Turkey Cooking Merrily Away

I missed my Auntie Allie this year because she had to go somewhere with her boyfriend and his family. I don’t understand that boyfriend business but my daddy says I will soon enough.  I did get to wear a new outfit Auntie Allie got me and “Oompa’ said I looked like a jock.  I don’t really know what that means either.

I guess I have a lot to learn about Thanksgiving, huh?

Liberty’s home football season came to an end last night with a substantial win over VMI and, more importantly, a huge win in the fictitious second semi-annual Funnel Cake Bowl against JMU.  And, it wasn’t even close.

Miranda, our New Cashier at JMU

The day started with Peggy, Chuck and I at JMU, joined by Miranda, a new cashier from Aramark, on a perfect football afternoon.  Only, because JMU is having a terrible year compared to their lofty standards set during recent seasons, attendace was off considerably.  While I didn’t get actual numbers, there were empty seats in the stands and that is unusual for JMU games.

Still, we had a good game, but not a great game.  Lemonade sales were better than I thought, and as always, corn dogs did very well.  But, we were off several hundred from the record setting games of earlier in the season.  I was able to let Chuck do more of the cooking and he is getting good enough to handle an operation on his own.  Something to consider in the future.  Who knows?  Maybe by next year we can look at two locations at each game covering both sides of the field.

We still have one home game left at JMU on November 21.

Meanwhile, Tank, the future Mrs. Tank, and Jean got slammed as soon as the gates opened at Liberty at 5PM and stayed slammed most of the night.  Despite it getting pretty cold by the end of the game, it was our best game of the year there, short of our record games at JMU, but still a great outing for Big Red’s crew.

Liberty won the Bowl by over $250.

My thanks to Jeff and Pat at Sodexho and to Kevin and crew at LU.  It was a good season for us despite the two awful rain games, and with the stadium construction project getting started, I’m already excited about next year.

Last night doesn’t end things at LU for us this year as basketball season starts this weekend, and barring any difficulties with a meeting early in the week, Big Red will be there for the first tip off.  More about that in future posts.

PMA8PU9GPZXY

The Rose Bowl, the Orange Bowl, the Papa Johns Bowl, the Toilet Bowl: None have anything on the bowl game that counts.  The second semi-annual

Tank at Work

 Funnel Cake Bowl is Saturday.  And, for Big Red, that is THE Bowl Game.

If you remember from a couple of weeks back, the first semi-annual Funnel Cake Bowl was won by Liberty as it downed JMU handily revenging its football loss to the Dukes earlier in the year. Saturday offers the rematch between the two Virginia schools as both will be playing home games simultaneously with the Big Red Crews at both locations.  The final score of the games means little or nothing.  It’s who buys the most funnel cakes, corn dogs and lemonade that counts.

Start of Liberty Game

Despite its victory in the first Funnel Cake Bowl, Liberty is once again an underdog as JMU has been given the nod by Vegas bookmakers and is a $47.50 favorite to take the game.  Most of the difference is because Big Red will be at JMU, while Tank, the future Mrs. Tank and sister, Jean, will be toiling from our tent set up.

Peggy, Chuck and I will handle things from Big Red  at JMU.

A detailed report on the outcome, which may not make ESPN News, will be available on these pages by Sunday night (after I get home from Harrisonburg).

Grant Jason Watch Japanese Chef

This week, I made a quick trip to Louisville to take Nancy out for a belated birthday dinner, to spoil the grand kids a bit, and to have an adult beverage or two with Jason.  I got back in time to set up Big Red at Liberty for a Saturday afternoon game.  We started off really well, then by early in the second quarter, the rains came and we, unfortunately, were closed by shortly after halftime.  Not a good game, but at least better than the JMU-Liberty game (the real one) which was a total disaster.

Pictures of both (Louisville and Liberty) are posted on Flickr.  Just click on the thingy to the right.

Good luck to both Liberty and JMU in the second semi-annual Funnel Cake Bowl.

Please forgive this somewhat abbreviated report from Martinsville Speedway but I’m a little antsy to get on the road to Louisville.  I’m going to spend a couple of days spoiling the grand kids and taking Nancy out for a belated birthday dinner.  I’ll be back at the farm Thursday night in time to get everything ready for our next Liberty football game on Saturday.

Green Flag

Big Red’s racing season came to an end Sunday after a mixed weekend.  Our outside stand on vendor row in the merchandise area was a complete waste.  They sold a decent amount of bottled drinks but their food sales were horrible.  And, I’m not sure why.

Inside, at our stand under the Turn 1 Grandstands, we had a great day on Sunday after disastrous days on Friday for practice and qualifying and the truck race on Saturday.  Two reason for the poor showing on the first two days:  Rain, rain and more rain; and it was a terrible location as the stands nearest us were closed for the smaller crowds.  Sunday for the Cup Race when everything was open, we rocked.  Peggy and Jean worked the front, Ryan sugared, Oswaldo, who I borrowed from Salim in Richmond, and I cooked and Chuck kept us in batter and handled the corn dogs.

Oswaldo Pours Funnel Cake

A great crew and probably the best service we’ve ever given at a major event.  We were cranking out 8 funnel cakes per minute so our lines never got out of hand.

At least we made a decent recovery on Sunday.  Hopefully, Danny and Todd from Americrown and I can make an adjustment or two before the next race in March so that we don’t lose the Saturday sales.

I’m off to Louisville.

Linda Tries To Stay Warm During Pregame

Big Red has never run two college football games simultaneously until Saturday.  Liberty drubbed somebody by about 100-7, while Villanova snuffed out the last chances of JMU making the playoffs by some silly score like 28-0.

Tank and Laura were handling the Liberty game and had a great game, while Peggy, Chuck and I, with Linda once again serving as the cashier, froze to death in the rain and cold at JMU.

Because of all of that, I’ve dubbed the day as the first semi-annual Funnel Cake Bowl.  The second installation of the Bowl will be in a couple of weeks when both schools play at the same time again.

Rolling Pretty Well Early at JMU

Liberty, who lost a heart breaker to the Dukes several weeks ago in the pouring rain when the two schools met in Lynchburg, got some sweet revenge yesterday. Not only did they record another win on the gridiron, they beat JMU in the Funnel Cake Bowl.  After two record setting games at JMU earlier this season, another record was within sight as it was Homecoming and another sellout crowd.  But, with the cold rains starting during the second quarter, and JMU playing one of the worst games they’ve played in recent years, the crowd was mostly gone by halftime.  While it wasn’t a total disaster, our sales were off by almost $700 from the last game.

At the same time, Liberty had its best game of the year for us by $200 or so and Tank even elicited some help of a couple of 6th graders at halftime.  One kept his batter pitchers filled, the other sugared the cakes to help Laura handle the serving.

It worked and the First Semi-Annual Funnel Cake Bowl Title goes to Liberty in a huge upset.

This week we all go to Martinsville for the NASCAR races.  I’ll be setting up both locations on Thursday, will be open on Friday during practice and qualifying, and have full crews in place for the truck race on Saturday and the Cup race on Sunday. 

A huge weekend is expected.

I’ve been doing football games at JMU and several other college campuses for four years now.  And, by now, you’d think I would have a pretty good idea about what I’m doing.

Sell Out Crowd for JMU-Richmond Game

Three weeks ago, I was stunned when we broke our old football game record by over $500 at the JMU home opener.  Yesterday, the weather was too cool for us to have a great lemonade day, and yet not cold enough for us to have a huge corn dogs day.  So, one would think a new record was out of the question.

Wrong.

We had a great lemonade day, a great corn dogs day and an even better funnel cake day.  The end result, a new record surpassing the previous record by almost $100.  That’s right folks, so far this year, we’ve increased our football game record by over $600.

Chuck Cooking Funnel Cakes

The only thing negative about yesterday was I’ve been battling a case of bronchitis and was a bit off my game.  But, Chuck and Peggy were just awesome.  Especially Chuck, you handled the majority of cooking which I normally do.  And, it went so smoothly that we never had a line with more than 20 people which is nothing for a sporting event.

Once again, Linda handled the cashier duties and did a fine job under difficult circumstances. Not only does she handle the cash and credit cards but she has to communicate to us in Big Red what is needed.  It all went super smooth.

Smooth Day Kept Lines Short

This week is another challenge for the Big Red Crew.  Peggy, Chuck, Linda and I will be at JMU for another game from the trailer.  At the same time, Tank and Laura, with a couple of Laura’s friends, will be at Liberty working from our tent set up.  I’ll spend a good bit of the week between the two getting everything ready, restocked and set up.  Hopefully, the weather will cooperate.

Next week, it’s back to Martinsville Speedway for the truck race on Saturday and the Cup race on Sunday. That will end our racing season for this year but we’re looking at increasing our race schedule for next year to add as many as four tracks.  More to come on that in the near future.

Stand Located Under the Grandstands Near Start/Finish line

Every now and then, something happens in this goofy business that makes all of the work and all of the travel worthwhile.  Something far grander than earning a living and supporting the folks that work for you.  One of those things happened to Peggy and I this weekend at Martinsville Speedway during the Bailey’s 300.

A little lad, about 8 years old, stood in line with his father for a funnel cake.  After I cooked it, Peggy served it to him and said,” Thank you.  I hope you enjoy it.”

The boy beamed and turned to his father and said, “Dad, I heard the lady. I really heard her. She wants me to enjoy this.”

Peggy was stunned.

1st Qualifying Heat on Sunday

The father explained that his son had just been through a Coaklier implant and was just starting to hear things.  Hearing and understanding Peggy was a  first.

The weekend was solid for Big Red.

Saturday, Jean, Laura and Tank had a great game at Liberty.  Laura, who is still fairly new at this, basically took Peggy’s normal position and made lemonade until she thought she would turn into a lemon.  What a difference a week makes from a total disaster last Saturday to a great game this weekend.

Fat Funnel Cake Guy Waiting for Crowds

Meanwhile, Peggy and I were at Martinsville Speedway for the Bailey’s 300.  We knew going in that this would not be like a Cup Race but a pretty good crowd was expected on Sunday.  So, I opted for trying to do the race with just the two of us to save on labor and an extra motel room since I don’t have contacts in Martinsville yet.  Plus, we had only a 10×10 space rather than our usual 15×15  like at Richmond Raceway. An extra couple of people in that space would have been pretty cramped.

As it turned out, Saturday was nothing for practice and qualifying, but Sunday, I could have used another person.  I also underestimated things and ran out of corn dogs and powdered sugar with nearly half of the race left.  I shut down for a few minutes and made a mad dash for the nearest Food Lion to replenish supplies and finish the race.

Race Fans Party at the Motel

Still, a great outing and things look really strong for the NASCAR races there in three weeks.  We’ll have two locations then:  One inside between turns 1 and 2, and one outside in the vendor row with all of  the merchandise trailers.

This week, Peggy, Chuck and I will do another JMU football game and try to eclipse our new record we set a couple of weeks ago.  Should be another great game.

On a sad note, last Sunday Big Red lost one of its most ardent followers.  Bill Spruell passed away rather suddenly even though he’d had health problems for the past few years.  Bill and I went back to my wholesale floral days and he was a regular at my warehouse and at the farm.  His wife, Betty and her sister, went on one of our cruises, and she and Bill went to Mexico once with my sister.  He was a fabulous guy and will be really missed.

Rest in peace, Bill.