Official Dad: Father Time Out

With Father’s Day fast approaching, talking to the one and only Father Time Out could not be more appropriate. Though only one of us is lucky enough to claim him as a biological father, we all have the privilege of being Father Time Out’s derby daughters. A trip to the penalty box isn’t quite so bad when we get to hang out with him. He even gives us all roses for Valentine’s Day! Here he tells us just how he became the official dad of the Atlanta Rollergirls.

Father Time Out and Cobra Camanda
Photo: Tim Moxley

My introduction into the world of derby was in the fall of 2007, when my daughter, Cobra Camanda, was Fresh Meat for the Atlanta Rollergirls. Cobra had been nagging me for months to come out and see a game, and I finally relented and attended the championship bout that year. It was the Shocks vs. the Sakes. I sat on the floor in the suicide seats, even though Cobra told me to sit in a chair because I have bad knees. I was hooked, and when it was over I could not wait for the next one! I asked Cobra when that would be, and she sourly told me that because I waited so long to attend a game, there would not be another one in Atlanta until March.

Well, we found a scrimmage-a-thon to attend in Carolina in January, and drove through the snow to get there! We traveled to many of the away games in 2008, including bouts in Panama City Beach and Raleigh. We even drove all the way to Philly for ECE, where Demi Gore gave me my derby name (I was honored). I have not looked back since!

I love so many things about my derby lifestyle. On bout day, Cobra, Hurtin’, and I always eat brunch at Java Jive. Then I usually end the night by shutting down the After Party! I meet Cobra at her work on Wednesdays and then we head over to scrimmage practice. When we travel for games, we fit in side trips to see lighthouses and covered bridges.

Derby came along and filled a void in my life that I did not realize was even there. I retired as an engineer at Lockheed Martin in the spring of 2005, after working there for over 35 years. My beloved wife passed away in November of that year after battling cancer for 6 years. My three adult children had moved out, and my house was empty. Derby gave me a renewed purpose, something to do every week. It got me out of the house, gave me some exercise, and the best part – it gave me a huge new family. How many dads can say that they have 70 wonderful daughters?

What did you think when your daughter told you she was going to play roller derby? I was amazed that I was going to not only get to see derby on a regular basis, but also see my daughter play. The game had changed so much since I saw my first game in 2007 until she was drafted in 2009. It was a lot harder and more athletic and I was glad Cobra had a year with the refs to improve her skills before she bouted.

How did you feel when you saw your daughter play? At first I was a bit sad not to have her as a spectator or a fellow ref with me, but then it was exciting to see her play. I liked watching her skate with the Sakes; I didn’t really worry about her getting hurt out there when she was with her team. I think my wife would have loved it – she would have been the one yelling, “Hit some bitches!”

The men have a derby team now (Atlanta Men’s Roller Derby). Could they interest you in lacing up some skates? Only if I could skate ref and call penalties on them! I would love to be able to learn to skate and get Pearl Reckless to teach me her hip checks!