Category Archives: Texas

Good Guys Car Show, Texas Motor Speedway

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Saturday afternoon, we headed over to Texas Motor Speedway to check out the Good Guys car show. I was pretty excited about going (if you have seen my previous posts, this would be apparent). I have this infatuation with old trucks. I love them. I love them. I want one. Oh pretty please! Yes, this was Diana envy.
The air had cooled down the night before. I think the high on Saturday was in the 50’s (this is cold for Texas) and the wind was blowing (hence my hair). The wind makes it feel a little chilly but it’s just a good reason to wear vests and hats! It’s also a whole lot nicer than sweating in the sun.
Neither one of us had been to TMS in the past, let alone been inside the track. It was pretty neat being able to walk down to where the trucks / cars drive down and then walk underneath the race track. When we first got there, they had this extended race car that was giving rides around the track. It even stopped at the top of the track (see the pic below) to give the riders a glimpse of the angle the track sits on. Looked pretty fun but I’d rather be in a real race car going around. Wheeeee!
Our first view when walking inside the track. I can only imagine what it’s like on an actual race day with 40,000+ fans in the seats and the sound of the cars going around the track. I didn’t realize it but when the race cars go around, the sound doesn’t catch up to them until they’re on the other side of the track.
Speaking of sounds. The Fort Worth Alliance Air Show was going on just down the road. We got the best of both worlds. A few planes kept flying over (pretty low) and giving us all a show (or maybe they just wanted to check out the cars)!
Speaking of checking out cars, here are a few that we saw…
If this guy didn’t have his hat and eye wear, I don’t think I would’ve loved it as much (although the bell does win him extra points).
Then, there were some particularly unique vehicles…
Then a American favorite…
Then our favorites…
This was Sy’s…
This was mine.
It was the perfect shade of green! Matched my shoes!
Oh wait, a few more that we could race down the street in.
A few alternate methods of getting around the car show. Yes, these people definitely just looked like they were having fun on these before they got off for their pit stop.
This ride, actually looked like a whole lotta fun!
If only I was rich, could I travel across North America checking everything out and sharing it with all of you! (Maybe someday, here’s to hoping!)
Overall, the event was a lot of fun. We went in the late afternoon and actually got a cut on the price of admission (which was super because it was $18/person). There is also a flea market section and business area. Lots of cars, autographing opportunity and the cars even drive around the track twice a day. If you love car shows or hot rods, this is an event that I would recommend checking out at least once!

Do you have a favorite?

Alliance Airshow

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There’s quite a few events going on in the DFW area this weekend. Oktoberfest in Southlake, Good Guys Car Show at Texas Motor Speedway (that I plan on attending this weekend), Pantego Fest, the Texas State Fair and the Alliance Airshow. That’s just to name a few – I’m sure there’s plenty more.
We had a chance to go to the Fort Worth Alliance Airshow a couple years ago. Personally, I love air shows (the crowd not so much) but the planes are fantastic to watch and check out! I love how some of them swoop down and almost touch the ground but just go whizzing by only a couple feet off the runway! Whoohoo!The best part is that it is FREE!

It’s also really nice to see the autographs for the kids! There were many pilots on site to talk to everyone about their planes. (Obviously, someone had to fly them there!)
This is a seat I’m good with never being in. It’s almost already sitting too high off the ground for me.
Sy and his Ft. Worth plane.
 I’m good with never being on this one either. I think I’ll just stay on the ground.
You couldn’t pay me a million bucks….
You can tour the big ones!
“It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a plane!”
You see everything! This guy flew right off the top of the camper!

 

Alliance Airport has a really nice Memorial walking in. Be sure to swing by and check it out. Many of the planes are military. It’s very honorable what these men and women do for our country everyday.
The event can get a bit crowded so if you’d like a spot where you can park a chair and get a good view, I’d suggest getting there early. After we left the airport, we also saw cars parked along the side of the highway so I guess that is always an option (if it’s legal?). The event was a lot of fun to go to so I would suggest checking it out, especially if you have little kids (or grown men who are like kids when it comes to this).
Have you ever been to an airshow? How’d you like it?

H3 Ranch

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On Saturday, I talked Sy into taking me out to Fort Worth for dinner. Lure a man with steak and he’ll take you anywhere. We headed over to H3 Ranch in the Stockyards. Back in June, my parents were in town and my dad had made one request – he wanted a steak. H3 Ranch was recommended as a place to get a great steak that wasn’t incredibly expensive. They were absolutely right. My dad claimed it to be the best steak he’s ever had. Upon visit number two, we weren’t disappointed.

The atmosphere in a restaurant is a huge portion on how your visit goes, isn’t it? Think about it for a second. When I think steak, I automatically associate it with ranches, cowboys, beef and rustic charm. All things I love about Texas. Well H3 Ranch is located in the prime location, The Stockyards. Outside the restaurant you will find a brick street, a saloon, live music coming from the bars nearby, cowboys walking to and from with their tight jeans, cowboy hats and cowboy boots. There is a rodeo next door and Billy Bob’s is right down the way and twice a day there is a cattle drive right down the street. Now if that doesn’t hit country in the city like a nail on the head, I don’t know what will. H3 Ranch is also connected to the Stockyard Hotel. I would love to check this place out at some point as well.

Now, walking into H3 Ranch, take everything that you just saw outside, kick it up a notch and it’s what you have inside. The chairs are wooden with leather trim. You can watch them cook your steak and corn on the cob while you sit at your table. In the bar area, instead of a normal stool, you sit on a saddle. It’s fantastic.

(Above) The heads on one side of the wall.
(Below) The back half on the other.

There are a lot of steak houses that will charge you $40+ for a piece of steak without any sides. This isn’t one of them. For between $20-$30 you can have a steak of your choice (there are many options), a side salad and choice of potato and the steak is still just as good, if not better than those $40 steaks. In this economy, who can pay that anyway. All meals also come with a loaf of bread right out of the oven that is super tasty as well. Steak and carbs! Some of our favorite things!

I opted for the Moped Steak. This is what my dad got last time and he wasn’t kidding when he said it was good. It was delicious and melted in your mouth. The Moped Steak is a 12 oz. Sirloin Steak grilled with mop sauce. I also had a side salad and scalloped potatoes. We’re going to pretend these potatoes are good for you as they’re chopped and cooked with bacon.

Sy opted for what I had the first go around – Smoked Sirloin Steak. This steak is smoked and is oh so good. It’s so good that you want to just finish-eating-whatever-is-on-your-plate-even-though-your-full kind of good. His meal also came with a side salad, scalloped potatoes and ear of corn. I’m going to make a note here that if you do happen to have a chance to get the corn, PLEASE do so! It’s some of the best corn I’ve had and they cook it on the open flame right in front of you!

Disclaimer: H3 Ranch has no idea who we are except a couple patrons that enjoyed a couple steaks on Saturday night. I have not been paid or influenced to write this post.