Dispatch: Lubbock, TX

The State Troopers who escorted us out of Gallup, NM stayed with us for a couple of hours. When they finally waved our caravan on we were traveling somewhere beyond 100 mph. I have no expectation that I will receive such a friendly gesture the next time a State Trooper catches me traveling somewhere on the far side of 100 mph. I drove the Camaro today and John and I won this phase of the Fireball Run. We were greeted by city officials and other well wishers at the Overton Hotel, our check in point. One of our missions was to purchase non perishable food items for a local food bank. I believe that more than 3,500 items were ultimately tallied up.

If I were to do another road rally, I would definitely put in some serious training. The competition gets frenzied and exhausting the closer we get to the finish line each day, with competitors foot racing to various check points and upon completion of bonus adventures. This friendly but fierce competition is where the real fun is. Certain vehicles seem to always be on the leader board and it is becoming apparent who the eventual winners are going to be. Hopefully, John and I will make the cut.

This part of America tends to be flat and the roads seem to extend beyond the horizon. The Lamborghinis take advantage of this opportunity to open up their throttles. They are awe inspiring as they leave our lesser vehicles in their dust. Makes you wonder why the first five cars to the finish line today were three Camaro’s, one Vette and a rented Dodge Charger.

It was not a good night. JJ and I got into it yet again and seem to be as compatible as oil and water. I doubt that KlaasKids will participate in the next Fireball Run. Hopefully, things will tone down as we move deeper into the competition. I know that he is trying very hard, but believe that his organization is understaffed, leaving too many details unattended.

Seriously, why are the American cars running circles against million dollar Lamborghinis? Has the quality of the American automobile evolved so quickly? I know that our stock Camaro is a beautiful machine that has an unsurpassed head turning capability.

Dispatch: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

I am awed and humbled. The early arrival reception was held on a terrace at the Lowes Resort overlooking Lake Las Vegas. The sun set as drinks were poured, hors d’oeuvres were served and the full moon rose over the Black Mountains. Fireball Run participants and Henderson Chamber of Commerce representatives circulated during the official meet and greet. Inevitably, as I shook hands and introduced myself to my fellow travelers, they launched into monologues about the missing kids that they represent. Many had contacted the families and/or local law enforcement agencies to get case updates. Many had distributed press releases about the cases and some received recognition in local newspapers, television and radio stations. It is good to see that otherwise dormant cases are receiving attention.

We went to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this morning for our Fireball Run orientation. Things started slowly as more participants straggled in, forms were filled out, decals were attached to the vehicles and copious amounts of water were consumed as the heat on the tarmac surged toward triple digits. The schedule became a memory as the time trials began and we threaded the cone track. At the end of the day our screaming Camaro LT had the third best time on the cone track. Not bad for a couple of rookies competing against Lamborghini’s, tricked out Mustang’s and a very peculiar but cool 1909 Model T. I doubt that we will win many races, but nobody will forget our intensely awesome lime green chariot.

In the Bay Area a hot day is anything over 80-degrees F., so standing on the Speedway tarmac, in the Vegas desert on a sunny September day is a lesson in real heat management. Copious amounts of water are consumed, shade is a luxury and a convenient toilet is a necessity.

Is the lesson of the Fireball Run going to be about the convenience of the Men’s Room? I sure hope not, because as much as I love my Camaro, there is no bathroom in the back seat.

Dispatch: Lake Las Vegas

The Fireball Run is finally coming together. I arrived at the Lowes Lake Las VegasResort and checked in without a hitch. The first person I ran into was my new friend Paul Nigh, who is driving the Fireball Run in his Back to the Future Delorean. Does the fact that he has a flex capacitor put the rest of us at a disadvantage? Well I hardly think so, because I am picking up my cousin and team mate John Klaas at the Hard Rock Hotel early tomorrow morning in a lime green 2010 Camaro LT that has been generously donated by General Motors. From there we drive to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway when the game will be on.

This evening there is a reception where we will all meet and greet one another as we prepare for the competition which will begin at the Speedway. All told, there are 35-teams, all representing a missing child from their hometown community. As we roll across America each team will be tasked with handing out missing child flyers to everybody they meet along the way, so this truly is the Race to Recover America’s Missing Children.

Team Polly is representing little Hasanni Campbell. Hasanni was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt and gray pants at approximately 4:15p.m. on August 10, 2009. Hasanni, who has cerebral palsy, was reported by Louis Ross as missing from a car outside a shoe store in Oakland's Rockridge district. Oakland police have indicated the disappearance may be homicide. Both of Hassani's foster parents were arrested in connection with the case but the district attorney declined to file charges due to lack of evidence. I doubt that Hasanni will be found alive or that Louis Ross will be held accountable for “disappearing” the little boy, but he does deserve to come home and maybe the awareness that we raise will assist in that effort.

The one dark cloud hanging over Team Polly’s head is the very poor health of close and elderly relatives. John’s mother in law is suffering from an advanced form of cancer and my 90 year old father has taken too many trips to the emergency room these past months for the prognosis to be anything but bleak. Well, we will pray for their health, wish them comfort and hope that they overcome the long odds that seem to be stacked against them.

After all, wasn’t Las Vegas premised on beating the odds in the first place?