Remembering the Intimidator

I am the first to admit that I am not a racing fan, but my past is linked to many racing greats.  Among them is Dale Earnhardt, or as many fondly referred to him, "the Intimidator."  I only met him twice.  Both happened way back in 1991 at Heartland Park Topeka (HPT).
The new $20 million track was trying to get a footing in the racing business.  It really wanted to draw Nascar to town with its sprawling road course so management booked an ARCA event--the Wendy's Big Classic 100.  Fans flocked from around the Midwest to watch it because HTP signed Kenny Schrader, Darrell Waltrip and Earnhardt to race in the minor circuit event.  (Earnhardt got a $50,000 appearance fee.)

I met Earnhardt earlier in the week as his crew set up shop on pit row.  I found him to be very welcoming in a "good old boy" kind of way.  He was friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating.  An interesting story people don't know about that week is since he had other mid-week commitments, Earnhardt could not stay with his team to qualify for the race.  Instead, he left everything in the hands of his 15 year old son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and had Schrader look after him. 

Heartland Park Topeka during a drag racing event

Heartland Park Topeka road course

When race day rolled around on Sunday, the Intimidator lived up to his nickname is more ways than one.  Because he did not qualify, he started dead last in the pack of 35 drivers.  Earnhardt needed only 13 laps to roar through the field from 35th place to third.  While the throng of media was in the media tower monitoring the race, I was with my photographer on the infield documenting the sights and sounds.  Then we got word that Earnhardt ran his car off the track on the back part of the course.  Almost immediately, one of the HPT trucks dropped him off right by us.  When I say he was angry, I mean he was really, really angry.  As he walked across the infield in front of the jammed grandstand, I was about a half step behind him off to one side.  After about 30 yards or so he turned to me and said something like "Well, do you have a question to ask, or what?!"  I asked him what happened.  From what I could hear over the roar of the engines, he said something about being too aggressive and losing control.  I also asked him if the crash would bring him  back to try to put the track "in its place."  Again, he was pretty angry, said something like "You never know," and that was it.  Then a car pulled up, he climbed in, and he drove out of the infield, past pit row, and straight to the airport where he flew out of town.  By then the throng of media came running toward us from the media tower a couple of hundred yards away.  "Where did he go?" they asked.  "I guess he's gone," I said.  "What did he say?" they asked.  "You'll have to watch tonight at ten," I told them.



Schrader collides with Earnhardt at Daytona

Ten years later, Dale Earnhardt died after crashing hard into the wall at Daytona International Speedway.  Ironically, Kenny Schrader was also involved in that crash and Darrell Waltrip was in the broadcast booth announcing it.  The day was February 18, 2001--11 years ago today.  I'd say "rest in peace" Dale Earnhardt, but something tells me the Intimidator would rather look for another competition to conquer.        

My "Happiest Place on Earth"

I have a beef with Walt Disney.  His Disneyland and Disney World theme resorts proudly proclaim themselves as the "happiest place on earth."  I took my family to both places in the past.  Don't get me wrong, they're great, but in my opinion, they do not compare to my "happiest place on earth."

Mine is called Spring Hollow, but in my family we simply call it "the crevice."  It's a narrow opening cut out of sandstone cliffs in the Virgin River Valley of southern Utah.  It's located on private land just south of the small town of Glendale on Highway 89.  We took family vacations to that area every year of my childhood and it seems we always headed up the crevice.  We returned there again this summer, but this time as a big group including three generations of Holyoaks.




Hiking in to Spring Hollow

The trailhead begins at 5,700 feet.  The trail meanders along the bottom of a wash, also known as Spring Hollow Creek, although there's rarely any water in it during the summer. The farther you go, the closer the two sides of the canyon press in on you.  The hike ends in a box canyon of sorts about a quarter mile later after a total elevation gain of only 300 feet.  The sizzling southern Utah sun no longer beats down on you as you enter the suddenly cooler and shaded chamber.  When the season is right, or after a recent rainfall, you see water trickling over a natural waterfall down a wall of horizontal, thin-layered strata into a deep pool.  And what's really neat is when you look around, you see carvings in the sandstone that not only date back decades, but some of them date back to the 1800s.

The Holyoak gang arrives at the Crevice

Then the real fun starts. 

Aubrey, Kenny & Lacey start the climb

It's time to head up the crevice. 

Lacey & Aubrey on the left...my nieces Lindsey, Zoe & Emily on the right

Simply put, you put your back on one wall and your feet on the other and you shimmy straight up about 15 to 20 yards. 

Mark nearing the top...Emily, Kathrine & Kerry near the bottom

Once on top, you'll find the Holyoak Wall.  It's a slab of rock where we carved our names over the years.  If your name is already there, then you carve the date you returned.  Dates on the Holyoak Wall go back decades.  

Holyoak Wall

I took my wife up the crevice just weeks after we got married so she could chisel her name into the wall.  Each of my four kids also hiked the crevice to carve their names.  My youngest and my son-in-law just added their names on this most recent trip (so now they're "officially" Holyoaks).  

Looking down from on high...Jace already up there

Once on top, you can then drop back down 10 feet or so into another wash that leads to another natural waterfall about 40 yards away.  On this particular day, we came across something I'd never seen on the hike--a small rattlesnake. (We actually saw two rattlers that day.)

"Don't tread on me"

There aren't as many carvings up top, but there are many more places to climb, pose and take photos.  (Is this a great playground or what?) 

"Working out" 15 feet above the floor below (far waterfall in background)

There are no crowds, no lines, no Matterhorn, no Star Tours, no Jungle Cruise, no Pirates of the Caribbean, and (thank goodness) no Small, Small World. 

It's a long way up

Every time I hike in Spring Hollow, I always hate to eventually leave because I just don't know when I'll return. 

Updating the wall

I do know it's a place that will live on forever in Holyoak lore. 

The hiking Holyoaks
(Hallie, Lacey, Lori, Mark, Jace, Aubrey & Kenny)

During this visit, my son carved out his own Holyoak Wall in a different place.  He said years from now, it will be there for his wife and kids.  If that didn't put a smile on my face, I don't what will.  The tradition continues.

The original hiking Holyoaks (Mark & his folks)

Spring Hollow--the happiest place on earth.