What is your favorite part about Best In The Desert?
When I first moved down I was eager to learn about off-road racing and Casey wanted me to like it so much. Since it really isn’t my sport I knew I had to learn to like something about it and for me it’s the people. I’m a people person anyway, and a pretty social person so it was easy for me to get to know people. I learned early on that if you don’t connect with people what’s the point. I love the people that race with Best In The Desert and a lot of the racers have become our friends. I know most of our racers wives (or husbands) and their kids, and what they are up to throughout the year. That’s the fun part for me. It’s a family oriented sport and I like that. The hard part is when someone stops racing, you lose contact and really, you lose a friend, that part’s been difficult. Another fun part of the job is calling racers, because they will drop anything to talk about racing. When you tell someone it’s “Best In The Desert” calling you can hear the excitement over the phone, it’s really fun just to hear that response. I love that people love racing and live for the next race. That’s actually what keeps Casey going, knowing how much people appreciate what he does. There are so many difficult aspects of the business and it wears on Casey, when he gets just one phone call from someone telling him that he loved the race or thank you, just a small thank you keeps him going and he knows it’s worth the daily battle.
I’m sure people are curious what it’s like for you and Casey to both work together and to live together, can you give us some insight into that?
So you want to know how much valium I take a day, is that what you are asking? Ok, all kidding aside I’ll try to answer that question but I have to give it some thought! Well, let’s see, some people call me a saint and some people call me crazy, take your pick. Actually, it’s a little crazy but it seems to work for us; I think because we are both workaholics. I have a strong work ethic and I’ve always worked hard, whether it was in school, or catering or coordinating races. Casey is the hardest working person I know and I’m right behind him, so that’s one reason it works. As I mentioned before we both live and breathe Best In The Desert, I don’t think it would work if I hadn’t poured myself into this. He actually has a lot more energy than I do and I probably need more down time than he does, but he goes out of town a lot and then I stare at the walls and babble. In fact, we call Casey the energizer bunny, it’s exhausting to watch him. Casey works a year out, you have to submit the permit applications to the BLM one year out and Casey is always thinking about the next race. I’m the one that tries to keep us grounded and to focus on the here and now. We get testy with each other sometimes but it’s a good balance and it works for us. As far as our home life, we live really well together, we love our home and it’s our sanctuary and our peace and quiet time. I’m there to plug Casey into the wall every night to recharge him and then he’s ready to go the next morning, seriously!
Thanks for sharing some of your life with us Diane. We’ll catch up with you (or try to keep up!) at the next race.
A special thanks to our photo contributors
A special thanks to our photo contributors
Without the help from these dedicated and talented professionals, production of this program wouldn’t be possible.
Bink Designs DFC Photos
Dirk Nasland Photography
DurkaDurkaPhoto.com Event Photo - Kodak HighRev Photography Linda’s DezPix
MikesRacePhoto.com mwilsonphoto.com Photo Ahead
KC HiLiTES Photography Trackside Photo
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