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 The Grands in Louisville, KY
The Weather:
Overcast Friday, Sunny Sat and Sun - hot and humid.
The Track: 
As usual, the track was BIG, downhill, and fast!
Tom Ritz did a fine job, the track was immaculately groomed - smooth and hard-packed.
The jumps had gulp factor, but no lips and could be speed-jumped, manualled or boosted.
I believe this makes for good, exciting racing.
Pro-section was big, but not monstrous like in 2003.
Wind was not an issue, so pro-section was mandatory for Elite men. Big Air!
The Music:
I am not sure what the deal was with the music played over the weekend, did the announcers spun-wot-they-brung, or were the CDs carefully selected by the NBL, but one word to describe it was; diverse!
We had every gendre’ covered: Metal, Salsa, Rap, Pop, and of course, Country (hey, we were 100 miles north of Nashville, TN!)
Practice session:
The new practice format worked great! Thank you, NBL.
A Supergirl, Rachel Smith jumped (and cleared) the Pro section. I hope she heard the roar of the crowd, we were impressed. Can I have your autograph, a date - I love your pioneering spirit!
Saw a couple of back-flips and a 360 during Pro-practice. Gnarly Dudes!
Race time:
First round, 480+ motos, 2700+ riders.
Almost all of the PTC track riders transferred to the quarter-finals.
Probably 50 percent of PTC track riders made their Main event and came away with that BIG trophy we all dream and scheme about.
Methinks the PTC track is great for preparing racers for this huge event.
Great job PTC riders!
Side-shows: 
Who won the banner competition?
I thought we had a chance, some of the other track banners did not have the sponsors logos, isn't that an instant DQ?
Next year...
Notice to judges: that banner is a chick-magnet!
Louisville is into their horse statues just like Chicago is into their cow statues.
I saw Pegasus and 2 other brightly painted equine statues. Is that considered art, civilized graffiti, or advertizing for the Kentucky Derby? I like 'em, it shows that Louisville has a sense of humor! 
Two enterprising young men had "Free Hugs" written on their t-shirts.
I saw them get hugs from at least 2 pretty young ladies. Now why didn’t I think of that?
Tourist time:
On most BMX weekends we roar down the highway to and from our destination, stopping only for gas, food and restrooms.
This trip we visited Mammoth caves and took a 2 hour tour thru part of the caves on the way home.
It’s one of the seven natural wonders of the world and it is about 10 miles off I-65, think about it.
Drive time:
On the drive home after the conversation slowed and everyone went quiet, I started to recap the weekend.
It was intense, there was joy, there was disappointment, bad luck, smart tactics, talented riding and some great racing.
The song "The First Cut is the Deepest" had played during a break in the Mains and remained imprinted in my brain, I couldn’t remember the singer.
No it wasn’t Rod Stewart (Atlantic Crossing album), it was Sheryl Crow, I relaxed now that the mystery has been solved, loaded the Cat Stevens Greatest Hits CD and a couple of songs later I hear the words again, (the song is basically about things not going your way, accepting it and trying again. It deals specifically with love, but fits BMX racing too - you race, you fall, you get up, you complete the lap, you look to the next race.)
I resolve that I will be back at the "Grands" next year. Fitter, faster, and better prepared.
"Yeah, I’ll be back."
Anthony 35+ Novice
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They were handing out this sticker at the finish line.