WorkingStiff Lifestyle

21/12/2023

Firebird motor sports park.

21/12/2023

21/12/2023

We have submitted another magazine for print. This issue will feature the first half of the NJBA season, and is filled with lots of pictures and great coverage of the March, April and May events. Here is the new cover! If you would like a copy or additional copies, just give us a call at 918.473.3156 or visit us a www.dragboatreviewmag.com

20/12/2023

Firebird!

20/12/2023

19/12/2023

Firebird lake Chandler Arizona.

19/12/2023

Get the gift that gives all year long..every class every pass!
https://watch.rmgsports.net/products/2024-sdba-season-pass

19/12/2023

Help us celebrate launching into the SDBA's 50th Season of being the Fastest Show on Water, along with honoring our 2023 Season Champions and Runner Ups at our 2023 Awards Banquet. Banquet is on February 3, 2024 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Frisco, Texas.

Banquet invitations are being sent but get a headstart by purchasing them online at www.sdbaracing.com under merchandise. Tickets are $125 per person (please make SDBA aware if any allergies so we can accommodate or make changes to your meal). Tickets to be purchased by January 20, 2024.

General membership meeting will be held at 10:30am with membership services starting at 9:30am that Saturday, cocktail hour at 5pm and dinner served at 6pm. We will be having silent and live auctions during banquet. Donations can be brought to Stacey at membership meeting starting at 9:30am.

Below is link to reserve your room at the SDBA group rate of $169/night. Rooms needs to be booked by January 15th to guarantee group rate. Hotel is the Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Frisco Hotel, 7600 John Q Hammons Drive, Frisco, Texas
https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/rooms/?ctyhocn=DALFSES&arrivalDate=2024-02-02&departureDate=2024-02-04&groupCode=SSD&room1NumAdults=1&cid=OM%2CWW%2CHILTONLINK%2CEN%2CDirectLink

As always, we look forward to joining everyone in celebrating our champions & runner-up's and to kicking off the 2024 SDBA racing Season!

19/12/2023

“When I tell you I love you I don’t say it out of habit or make conversation. I say it to remind you that you are the Best thing that ever happened to me.”

Matt Thurston Kryptonite 238 - 6 week update

The blessings continue in abundance: What hasn’t changed since we have arrived home is all of you. We would totally understand if the reach outs and phone calls had a bit more space between them, you all have very full lives, others you are praying and caring for, but somewhere in your day… you find a moment to text, call or messenger us. Why we deserve you, I do not know….

Why God set us on this journey of inter woven blessings makes our cup overflow. Our circle is the real deal, our battle isn’t being won alone, but by God’s design. Thank you all for being such important part of the fabric of His story.

So a couple of big things since we last visited:
Matt finally was able to get an MRI on his right shoulder. He shredded 3 of the 4 major muscles that hold it all together. So once we have a neurosurgeon give him the ok to have surgery with a brain bleed, we are on it! Matt wants it fixed yesterday and that’s when it get’s hard. Right now, I’m thinking for 2 people. They say God only gives you what you can handle… If He wasn’t perfect, I would wonder why He has so much faith in me. I guess Love is enough and boy is that abundant. So, we are moving forward and “pushing” for decisions and dates so Matt can know his next step. That’s seems to help with overall recovery. Matt’s embracing his homework and I couldn’t be prouder.

Yesterday he went to see the boat and gear for the first time. Shawn, Matt’s brother has it out in Fallon a little over an hour away. Matt woke up early to get out there. That was promising…. Once we pulled up and parked in front of the shop, I won’t lie.. he made a B-line straight into the house. It surprised me but I thought maybe he wanted to visit first. Yes, that was true, but it was also fear, realization and possibly regret. Matt has been blaming himself for “where we are.” It truly breaks my heart. Not one time have I or anyone I know ever alluded to that or feel anything but love for him. I have struggled what to say or not say to him of his accident. 45 years he’s raced and yes had a few times of “whew, that was close” but not a wreck. My common sense says he needs to work through this and at the same time I want to save him. But I don’t, just encourage.
My brother-in-law is the real deal. He has so much in this story, but it’s his story. However, he spent a lot of time “after” cleaning up the mess. He didn’t want Matt to see what he saw. He did a beautiful job and got it about 90% back to normal.
Matt finally came out… watching him look… think…examine and touch, ripped my heart out. That beautiful man so fragile. But one thing you can count on with Matt is he’s reasonable. He remarked how good the boat looked and we only need to fix the windshield (his shin got that) and put a new steering wheel on. He held on to it like a bucking bull, but the steering wheel won. The tethers on the harness and parachute were ripped on the ends, clearly doing their job. Then he and Shawn examined the helmet and are so grateful for the job it did. We joked that it wasn’t that bad, we just bought it a few months ago and could probably go a few more rounds…haha.
Then the gear. Oh boy……………….as he picks through it……

So you may know about “anchors.” They are words, sounds, music, sights or smells that take you back to a certain time in your life and your body actually responds to that time. For Matt, he has no memory of that. But there was a smell, as hard as Shawn worked to get all of that off, I could smell it. Matt’s hair smelled like that for 5 days. It took my breathe away and I teared up, but only for a moment. As this is one of those gratitude times. We GET to do all of this together and I couldn’t be happier.

As for so many of us, we’ve been on the outside of these kind of tragedies. We care like they are a loved one but there’s this hidden barrier of where the concern stops a deeper engagement. Because you are you and this is your world, I have chosen to be completely transparent. Not saying the obvious is altering the truth and a confused mind says no. Who will that help? I realized pretty quickly that this needed to be handled with honesty, all or nothing. I choose All. What I hope from these posts is of course thankfulness, and updates. But I truly pray is that it helps all of you. That you find peace and answer your own questions. From where we sit, you are not on the outside of our tragedy. See with the love and kindness we have repeatedly received; we are getting better with all of you with us. Our circle, tribe.
If you do have questions and you think “maybe I shouldn’t ask that,” I hope you reconsider. It must be important. It might help.
Matt speaks often of sharing what he knows and what he would do differently and has a desire to share it at some point. This might be our story, but I know that I know… I could make one call or text and you would be here, find the solution or answer a request. So this is really all of our story. We truly appreciate sharing it with you.
We love racing and all of you.

19/12/2023

14/12/2023

2022 Drag Boat nationals.

14/12/2023

Tentative 2024 Race Schedule UPDATED 12/18/23

13/12/2023

2022 Drag Boat Nationals.

13/12/2023

12/12/2023

Firebird lake.

11/12/2023

2022 Drag Boat nationals.

09/12/2023

2 of my favorite people 🤘🏻

07/12/2023

07/12/2023

to this awesome picture by from the October . Going to be a long winter waiting to get back on the rope with our family and friends.

06/12/2023

concentrated. ▶️Follow Fast Loud Photography for more!

06/12/2023

06/12/2023

Come see Liquid Voodoo at PRI starting tomorrow! You can find us inside the Lucas Oil Stadium next to the eKarting track and the Pit Stop Cafe! Easy underground tunnel access from the Exhibit Halls! And don't forget to put the Southern Drag Boat Association booth #442 on your list. See y'all there!

06/12/2023

03/12/2023

Come see the Fastest Show on Water in 2024!

02/12/2023

29/11/2023