Introduction
Greetings and Salutations and welcome to my initial blog! Thanks to In the Pits (ITP) for asking me to blog, this is my first blog experience and I am honored to be part of the ITP community. I will do my best to make the blogs worth reading. Your feedback will help me!
I actually did a little research about blogging. The only thing I really knew about blogging from hearing other people was, “what not to do.” In my research, what not to do was a frequently mentioned subject regarding blogs. I learned that BLOG is short for Web Log, so, the old saying “you learn something everyday” held true! Did any of you know this, or am I the last one to find this out?
I have often been told I am too serious, so I am going to attempt to stay light-hearted while blogging, please forgive me if I stray! I will try not to write too much but I will warn you in advance, this first blog violates the keep it simple and short policy! I absolutely love writing and this initial blog is long, 893 words according to the word counter, yikes! Haters, stop reading here, I warned you! ~LOL~
Now, a little about me; Sam Stoecklin is my name, (pretend the O is not there in my last name when pronouncing), or just make it easy and call me SamOnTheMic (SOTM). I currently call Warrensburg, Missouri my hometown; however, I am originally from Pocahontas, Illinois, a little town off of I-70 about 45 minutes from St. Louis. Pocahontas is home to Zach Daum, who recently made some Chili Bowl headlines, way to go Zach! Oh yeah, Gretchen Wilson also calls Pocahontas home, not bad for population 840, SAAAALUTE!!! Any of you remember Hee-Haw?
I am currently a short time away from finishing my degree in Organizational Management. Being involved with the racing community has truly helped me with my degree progress. My research papers have frequently been about the racing industry and many of my courses have gone hand-in-hand with my race experiences. I am blessed with this and it makes writing papers much easier. I am currently unemployed since my November retirement from the Air Force after 22 years of service. I would love to be involved in the racing industry full time but the people in the positions I am interested in do not generally retire or move on too often so it is hard to break in! I am an administrator, human relations, and office manager by trade.
I grew up watching races at Highland Speedway in Highland, Illinois. I also enjoyed attending races at Belle-Claire Speedway in Belleville, IL and I-55 Speedway in Pevely, Missouri. Whenever I can, I make it back to the old stomping grounds to take in some action. I enjoy following the news from back in my old stomping grounds and have also enjoyed learning about the Kansas City racing scene since moving here in 2001. My favorite races are the World 100, the Tom Wilson CMS Races, and the UMP Summer Nationals.
I am married, 21 years so far! I have two beautiful teenage daughters that make me extremely nervous; have you ever heard the country song that goes something like, “come on in boy, sit on down and tell me ‘bout yourself.” Well, while the guy is singing the song he is conveniently cleaning out the shot gun at the same time. Life is full of surprises and these next few years will probably peg out my fun meter!
I am passionate about dirt racing. Besides that, I collect vinyl albums as a hobby and enjoy family life. I am a 42-year old head banger! My favorite bands are Iron Maiden, Slayer, and Black Sabbath but I do like a wide range of music, mostly the heavier stuff, classic, and southern rock … Skynyrd, Rush, Kansas, 70s Journey, 70s REO Speedwagon, 80s Ozzy, Thin Lizzy, Triumph, Molly Hatchet, and so on. In future blogs we will have to talk some music stuff, I love music trivia so go ahead and challenge me!
Why did I get selected to do a blog? Well, I am not certain myself but my connections to racing are: Announcer and Public Relations (PR) at Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) in Warrensburg since 2005. I am a United Late Model Association (ULMA) board member and more recently I took on another announcing and PR gig at the soon to reopen Missouri State Fair Speedway in Sedalia, Missouri. I also announced at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Missouri for two years (07/08). I have been lucky enough to have had a few articles published in racing journals and along with my CMS co-announcer, Alan ‘the Steeler’ Miller I am on KOKO AM 1450 from Warrensburg on Monday evenings at 5 p.m. during the race season with a weekly race show. According to one “expert” in the Kansas City racing industry, “I am involved with too much,” I’m sure my wife agrees! ~LOL~
Well as suspected, I have already rambled on and on, see, I told you I love to write! A little trivia for you, at CMS I always start the night out with “Greetings & Salutations,” this comes from one of my favorite movies of all time, anyone know the movie? There are actually two movies that feature this line, think of the later one. Until blog #2, take care!
V/R,
SOTM