Mississippi Thunder Speedway Season Opener

On Friday I covered an event I had the pleasure of covering last year, the 2013 Mississippi Thunder Speedway Season Opener in Fountain City, Wis. 

I spent quite a bit of time out at the dirt track races last summer, just about every Friday I found myself headed that direction.

Covering the races were always a bit of a challenge because of our 9:30 p.m. deadline, and the heat races don't even start until 7. Not to mention the A-Mod and B-Mod heat races are usually toward the end of the heats and that's usually what we're looking to cover most. 

This year was quite a bit different than last year. First off, the weather was much nicer, believe it or not, and secondly my photography has improved significantly. I made some photographs this year that I probably would have never thought to get. It was interesting to cover something that I covered so much last summer, and to notice in what ways I have grown as a photographer.

Not to mention that after a summer of covering the races at MTS, my knowledge of the track and how to cover it had greatly improved.

Anyways, here are some of my favorites from the night. Enjoy.

©Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News

A Weekend Full of Cool Assignments

This weekend was full of cool assignments.

Although Friday I wasn't technically "working" I brought my camera to Ed's (No Name) Bar during Mid West Music Fest. I knew that if I didn't bring my camera I would regret it later. And boy, would I have regretted it. I photographed two awesome bands, Caroline Smith & the Good Night Sleeps and Chastity Brown. Both of them were AMAZING. More photos from Mid West Music Fest can be found here.

Saturday I was actually working.

My day started off at the Winona Earth Day celebration at Levee Park, which was full of cool things. Including a chalk drawing contest, slack line booth and live music. More photos from the celebration can be found here.

After the Earth Day celebration I went to a high school baseball game. It was my first baseball game of the season, so it was a nice change. There was also some good light for the game. More photos from the game can be found here.

And finally today I photographed the Winona Figure Skating Club's 18th annual Ice Show, which was cool. It's always fun to photograph things in interesting stage lighting.  More of those photos can be seen here.

Thanks for looking.

All photos ©Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News

Blake Asbury, of Mankato, Minn., does a flip on a slackline at the Minnesota State University, Mankato Slackline Club booth Saturday, April 20, 2013, during the Winona Earth Day Celebration at Levee Park. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Seamus McRaven, 3, of Rushford, Minn., throws a bean bag Saturday, April 20, 2013, during the Winona Earth Day Celebration at Levee Park. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Mark Lorisch, left, looks on as his kids Bethany Lorisch, center, 4, and Benjamin, 5, all of Winona, work on a chalk drawings Saturday, April 20, 2013, during the Winona Earth Day Celebration at Levee Park. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Sarah Johnson, of Winona, works on her chalk drawing during the Chalk On! event Saturday, April 20, 2013, during the Winona Earth Day Celebration at Levee Park. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Brianna Klapperich, of Winona, works on her chalk drawing during the Chalk On! event Saturday, April 20, 2013, during the Winona Earth Day Celebration at Levee Park. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Leslie Eaton, of Winona, waits for customers at the Psychic Palm Tarot Astrology booth Saturday, April 20, 2013, during the Winona Earth Day Celebration at Levee Park. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Winona's Jeff Schultz (16) scores the winning run in extra innings as his teammates react during a Big Nine Conference game against Austin Saturday, April 20, 2013, in Winona. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Winona's Jeff Schultz leads off second base during a Big Nine Conference game against Austin Saturday, April 20, 2013, in Winona. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Melissa Jackels, left, and Gretchen Luek perform during the Winona Figure Skating Club's 18th Annual Ice Show Skatin' up the Charts Sunday, April 21, 2013, at Saint Mary's University in Winona. "I've been involved with the show for five years, and I can honestly say this is one of the best ones," said Holly Jacobs, ice show co-coordinator. "From the music, to the set, to the costumes, the whole thing has been really fun," Jacobs said. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Gretchen Luek laces up her skates before her Senior Solo performance during the Winona Figure Skating Club's 18th Annual Ice Show Skatin' up the Charts Sunday, April 21, 2013, at Saint Mary's University in Winona. Luek's Senior Solo was her final performance with the Winona Figure Skating Club. "It's been pretty emotional," Luek said. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Gretchen Luek performs her Senior Solo during the Winona Figure Skating Club's 18th Annual Ice Show Skatin' up the Charts Sunday, April 21, 2013, at Saint Mary's University in Winona. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps performs Friday, April 19, 2013, night during the Mid West Music Fest at Ed's No Name Bar in Winona. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps performs Friday, April 19, 2013, night during the Mid West Music Fest at Ed's No Name Bar in Winona. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps performs Friday, April 19, 2013, night during the Mid West Music Fest at Ed's No Name Bar in Winona. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

The Chastity Brown Band performs Friday, April 19, 2013, night during the Mid West Music Fest at Ed's No Name Bar in Winona. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

On Assignment: St. Charles High School Robotics

Back in February I had the opportunity to photograph St. Charles High School's first ever robotics team while they were working on their robot.

It was a pretty fun assignment to just hang out and be a fly on the wall while they went about their business building their robot, and it was cool watching them test different things out. The frisbee-throwing arm was probably my favorite.

The story and the photos finally ran in the paper, so I'm finally able to share my favorites here. The story ran in two parts: the first part, which was the part I photographed, of them building the robot, and the second part, which I didn't photograph, focused on the competition. The stories can be read here and here.  A larger gallery of my photos can be found here. Thanks for looking. 

All photos ©Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News

From left, Buck Mueller (cosest to camera), 17, Cole Sanders, 17, Daniel Dahl (in the distance), 16, and Brett Strand, 14, test the frisbee throwing arm of a robot that they are working on with other St. Charles High School students as a part of the school's first robotics team Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at St. Charles High School. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

From left, Erik Nielsen, 17, Daniel Dahl, 16, and St. Charles High School teacher and robotics coach Chuck Koestler work on a robot that they and other St. Charles High School students are working on as a part of the school's first robotics team Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at St. Charles High School. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Brett Strand, 14, uses a marker to mark where he needs to drill holes for brackets to hold a bumper for a robot that he and other St. Charles High School students are working on as a part of the school's first robotics team Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at St. Charles High School. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Levi Kittleson is helped by his dad Rod Kittleson, a software engineer at Benchmark Electronics who is helping mentor St. Charles High School Students, with some programming for a robot he and other St. Charles High School students are working on as a part of the school's first robotics team Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at St. Charles High School. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Brady Jones, 18, works on a robot that he and other St. Charles High School students are working on as a part of the school's first robotics team Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at St. Charles High School. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Kameron Bailey tests the frisbee throwing arm of a robot that him and other St. Charles High School students are working on as a part of the school's first robotics team Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at St. Charles High School. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Jayden Snitker, 18, works on some programming for a robot she and other St. Charles High School students are working on as a part of the school's first robotics team Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at St. Charles High School. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

Brett Strand (right), 14, works on a robot that he and other St. Charles High School students are working on as a part of the school's first robotics team while other students stand by Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at St. Charles High School. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

St. Charles High School teacher and robotics coach Chuck Koestler, right, looks at a part that Brady Jones, left, had been working on for a robot that Jones and other St. Charles High School students are working on as a part of the school's first robotics team Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at St. Charles High School. Jones was using a tap to make threads on the inside of the part when the tap broke off on the inside. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

From left, St. Charles High School teacher and robotics coach Chuck Koestler, Daniel Dahl, 16, and Brett Strand, 14, examine a robot that they and other St. Charles High School students are working on as a part of the school's first robotics team Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at St. Charles High School. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)

St. Charles High School students gather around as Levi Kittleson (orange shirt), 15, drives a robot they have all been working on as a part of the school's first robotics team Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at St. Charles High School. (Joe Ahlquist/Winona Daily News)