Auto Enthusiast Network

I got to take a ride in Skulzilla with Rod Bollini today around the grounds of the Street Machine Nationals Du Quoin for apparently the last time. There is NOTHING like driving/riding in a blown vehicle through a show!

It's a bittersweet time for many of us who have supported this show and the smal town of Du Quoin, IL off and on for 40 years. There are many people I only see once a year at this show. I haven't taken hardly any pictures at the show; I've just been soaking in time with friends who I may never see again because we are so spread across the country. I understand that times change and this show isn't what it once was, but for many of us, this was THE SHOW. One of the greatest parts was the ability to cruise around the grounds. It wasn't a stodgy event where everyone just sat around in lawn chairs all day; there was always a constant parade of cars for you if you so chose, but the ability to see, hear, and smell these cars was a major part of the draw inside the fairgrounds. Everyone always wanted DQ to be like it was, but it was never going to be the same. Some couldn't accept it, and never came back.

Unfortunately, the current promoters wanted it out of the town, so they could rebuild it, but I for one think they could have done so many things and listened to so many people in the car community to make it a better show that could draw people again, but they chose the easy route of doing nothing long enough that they were justified in moving it. I've seen more social media from SMN in the last week than I've seen in all other years combined since Bonnier made the announcement that it is the last run in DQ. It's too bad they didn't take advice from industry legends who gave them some amazing ideas to improve things, but here we are - the Birthplace of Pro Street and the sight of so many major print magazine car features will move on to a bigger city with more amenities to supposedly attract more people and sponsors. However, you can put lipstick on a pig and it's still a pig. Bonnier needs to learn who it's customers are and listen to them. The decision on where it goes is a big one if they want to keep Pro Street as an attraction...only time will tell.

To the people of Du Quoin; thank you to the ones who came out all weekend (even if you kept baiting us to do burnouts with cops sitting 1/2 block away). The folks I've talked to, especially the small business owners, are truly sad to see the show go. Du Quoin has been hit hard in the past few years, and I wish them all the best of luck. This town epitomizes the battle for all American small towns.

I wasn't a fan of Kyle Busch in the early years (nor Dale Earnhardt, for that matter), but it wasn't until I was allowed to see them as actual humans that I started to appreciate them. Watching Kyle race with Brexton, and listening to Brexton doing play-by-play at the Chili Bowl, opened up my eyes to the fact that there were two different personas to Kyle: 1- a fierce, win-at-all-costs competitor, and 2- a loving father, who wanted to see his son surpass everything he ever accomplished if he so chose. I think FloRacing did a fantastic job on this tribute from Matt Dilner, showing you both sides of Rowdy. It makes your soul ache to know the heartbreak that must be going through that family and the RCR camp right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and RCR team. Godspeed, Kyle, you left us too soon, but God has greater things he needs you for.