Forum Activity for @tim-leeming

"Secret" NASCAR Announcer and Driver Interview Instructions Found & Made Public

General

To Jim Reep. I am in complete agreement. I am no English major by any stretch, but I learned proper English very well from my High School English Teacher who made us all excel. I try really hard but I realize I have my lapses. However, I have real issues with those like D.W. and Larry Mac who are always "hisselfing" and "done this" and all those awful butchering phrases they use. My teacher would have had D.W. in detention until he was 101 years old. Too bad she's not around any longer.

"Secret" NASCAR Announcer and Driver Interview Instructions Found & Made Public

General

Wish I had written that. That writer should be up for the Pull-it-zer prize.

AIRPS Change leadership.

Vintage Oval and Road Course Racing

Best wishes on the surgery Harvey. Please keep us advised.

HOF Inductees on Speed

General

I did get to see most of those two bios and they were great, I guess mostly because they were so nostalgic for me. It was great hearing Jay Sellers sing about Cale. Has to make him proud.

Kurt Busch

General

Jay, I agree with very little you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. This is America and we all have that right. This is also Racers Reunion and as Jeff has said repeatedly, the Forums are OPEN to all opinions and well worded statements such as yours are to be respected. I am a very strongly opinionated person which many times gets me into trouble, but regardless of my opinions, I try to respect those which differ with mine. All it all, the differences makes it an interesting world and a very interesting website here. I hope you will NOT stop visiting but, instead, come in again and again with expressions of what you think and feel. I admit I have been very rough on both Busch boys. I do not like them, I will never like them, and I frankly don't care if they can do things with a car that even Cole Trickle can't do, they are both the bottom of the scum barrell for me. I had the greatest respect for Joe Gibbs for years and believe me it is respect from actually encountering the man on several occassions on a personal basis. However, after his handling of the Kyle Busch matter, I have lost all respect for him and the entire JGR operation. That's the way I roll. What I like, I strongly like,. what I dislike is just as intense. I like the fact you spoke your mind, I like the way you spoke it and I want more of that from you, please.

Dale, Jr. Loses New Popularity Poll (but so does Richard Petty)

General

I know we can't talk politics here but I will make this statement anyway: Billy Graham is an excellent choice and most folks here will have no problem with that. I find it very interesting, however, that Obama carried North Carolina in the last election. That seems very contrary to me.

Coming Up on Our Four Year Anniversary

Stock Car Racing History

I have expressed, in several Legendtorials on Tuesday nights, how I feel about this site. In reality, however, I don't think I can ever truly express what it means to me to be allowed here.I have met the most wondeful folks here, been a part of so many wonderful events because of this site, viewed so many incredible photos here that I would never have seen otherwise, and had so many other wonderful experiences because of Racers Reunion. Ann has taken an active part here as well and she will be the first to tell you she doesn't know much of anything about racing but she enjoys what she has found here. What we all derive from this site depends upon how each of us, individually, view the material. We are blessed with Ray Lamm and Ed Sanseverino, two of the finest photographers I've ever encountered to record the events we hold and to have posted countless pictures of history before us. We have contibutors like Dave Fulton and PattyKay and so many others who put a great deal of time into calling forth memories of days past as well as making us think about what is going on today. I usually don't like naming folks because I don't want to slight anyone and there are so many fine contributors here. The four I named seem to be the most regular contributors, thus the easy recall.

As for Jeff and Dustin and what they have done, I can only sit back and marvel that all of this exists because of their efforts. Every conversation I've ever had with Dustin is so upbeat and positive that it's hard to be down when Big D is on the job. His technical knowledge absolutely blows me away but I guess that shouldn't impress me that much since I have NONE at all. Jeff. What can I say about the man? He has taken Paul Lewis' idea to the next century and is making all us old fans remember the best days of racing, and hopefully, convincing some younger fans that what was onceupon a time was great and it is up to them to make it that way again. After last night at Stocks for Tots, I know there are an awful lot of young folks who like the historic perspective. I was there. I talked to them and I listened to them. I sat next to Cecil Gordon at the autograph table and it amazed me at the number of teens and early twenties guys who not only recognized him on sight, but had hero cards of his from when he drove in the 70s. I could tell Cecil was having a great time.

And, while I hesitate to mention this, I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation to Jeff for making me "The Legend". When I was growing up, I dreamed of being a star in racing. As the record shows, that never happened. I fought Jeff, at first, with The Legend title but when I understood the reasoning behind it, I accepted the role. For these past three years it has been an incredible ride for me. To be able to sit next to guys like Rex White, Bobby Allison, Cecil Gordon, Gene Hobby, Paul Lewis, Johnny Mallonee and so many other TRUE Legends and sign autographs is like some surreal dream that I have come to enjoy beyond words. So, Jeff, thank you for that, and to all of you who allow me to be called The Legend, thank you for that as well.

"A DATE THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY"

Administrative

So spoke President FDR to Congress on December 8, 1941. The "date" was the day before, December 7, 1941. So what does this have to do with racing? Plenty actually if you go through the rolls of our esteemed pioneers in this sport and find the names of those who fought in the war either in Europe, North Africa or the Pacific Theaters. Although there was stock car racing BEFORE the war, as is so often documented on the Tuesday night radio show here by our own Cody Dinsmore, what happened to the sport AFTER the war was largely due to the never give up attitudes of the individuals who pioneered the sport. The same never give up attitudes that prevent us from pledging allegence to the flag of the rising sun or saluting the maniac from Germany.

But, I want to point out that the "Date that will live in infamy" if fading in the pages of history. I heard a news reporter, young guy, on the early news this morning, tell how the "Japanese JETS" blazed from the sky to attack Pearl Harbor. There were no Jets then. That report was followed by an interview with a 91 year old Pearl Harbor survivor who actually choked up as he said this will be THE LAST YEAR that the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association will meet in Pearl Harbor on this date. There are few remaining survivors, but as that man pointed out, the history books in our schools now devote less than a half page to the attack and half of that half page is a picture of the U.S.S. Arizona just before she sank. The vet was with a teenager at the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor and the kid had absolutely NO IDEA of why that monument was there.

I was not around on December 7, 1941, but my father, then a 19 year old in upstate New York, joined the U.S. Army the next day which brought him to Ft. Jackson, SC (then Camp Jackson) for basic training where he met my mother, a local Columbia girl, and they married before he left to fight in the Pacific from September, 1942, until the end of the war.

So, folks, as this day unfolds before us, along about 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time today, remember that it was 70 years ago then that the Japs dove from the skies in a "deliberate attack upon the air and naval forces of the United States" and our country was at war. Remember all the men and women who fought to preserve our freedom and those who continue that fight today. Truly, December 7, 1941, should live in infamy and in the memories of all Americans who treasure our freedom.

God Bless America.

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:57PM

STOCKS FOR TOTS

Administrative

Tonight, Tuesday, December 6th, NASCAR Technical Institute, Mooresville, NC. 5-9 p.m. Many NASCAR Legends will be there to sign autographs and meet all the folks who want to help with seeing an end to child abuse. This charity was organized by Don Miller and Rusty Wallace in 1989. Go to the Stocks for Tots Web site to see the list of children who died at the hands of their care givers just this year in the area. This is more than insuring the childrenwill have something to look forward to under a Christmas Tree. It is much more than that. With all the current news of child abuse permeating newspapers and television news, it is more important than ever to recognize the need for what Stocks for Tots is all about. I am so honored to have been asked to be a very small part of this year's event. Jeff will be there doing Racin' Through History live and in person. I will be there and I'm really looking forward to it. If you're anywhere in the area, come visit. I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas in person!

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:57PM

Remembering Jim Paschal

Stock Car Racing History

TMC, I was very fortunate to have been around Jim many times, mostly, at first, because he drove for Petty Enterprises but even when he was driving for Friedken, I would still encounter him at every opportunity. He was truly one of the great pioneers of the sport but just like the '64 World 600 win was overshadowed, it seems like every acccomplishment Jim had was overshadowed or overlooked. Sad because he was a great driver and an even greater man. Thanks for the post.