I am stunned. Just another move by BZF to remove NASCAR from it's "redneck" past. I would very much like for Winston Kelley to show that video to Bud Moore, Ned Jarrett, and David Pearson at tomorrow's Hall of Fame Ceremonies and elict their comments. I feel a "COUNTRY SONG TITLE COMING ON". Something like "Headed Down the Back Straight to Oblivion". I'll work on the lyrics. After all, thanks to JAck Redd, I do have a Nashville connection.
Tim
I always heard that times moves more quickly the older you get and I can certainly attest to that. Here it is May 21st and it slipped up on me so quickly I can't believe it. I guess by the time I'm 70 I'll just keep the Christmas Tree up all year.
Today is Armed Forces Day. That's right, a day set aside to honor those men and women in uniform who protect the United States of America. I received two photos yesterday of my young nephew who just joined the Army and had all his hair cut off so, as if I needed a reminder, today was "brought home to me" in a special way. In reality, however, should not EVERY day be Armed Forces Day?
From October, 1942, my Daddy craweled through island jungle after island jungle and fought with the Army all the way into Japan. My grandfathers and great grandfathers fought in WWI and one even in the Spanish-American war. I go to church with men who fought WWII and I have heard stories that should be in books about The Battle of the Bulge, or the bombing runs on Germany, about the Bataan Death March and so much more from the men to lived it. Do you know what a "Disney Bomb" is? It is NOT a lousy movie from the Disney studios, it is an actual bomb used in WWII. If you want to know, ask me. I was given quite an education by a bomber pilot who dropped them on Germany.
I am so proud of Racers Reunion Radio and Zeus Radio Network because at the end of each of our radio shows Jeff, or the host, will always thank the men and women in the Armed Forces who "do what they do so we can do what we do". I love that. I have heard the saying, as well, that "Some gave all and all gave some". I agree with the first part of that statement but I can attest, and many of you can back me up with this, that there are many out there who give nothing, but that's a political statement which I will not pursue at this time. I only mention it to magnify the "some gave all" portion.
There is an e-mail running rampant on the web which has been forwared to me several times which gives information as to America's fighting forces and is quite interesting. I can't locate it this morning but it seems that the average age of today's military is like 20 years old. Interesting to me. Having, only last year, made a few visits to Fort Jackson in Columbia, I have noticed that the men and women I see in basic training there are young and the ones I've met are well educated and choose to do what they do to serve their country.
I could go on and on with this Forum because of the deep pride I have in my country, a pride that is shared by most all here on Racers Reunion. We have many members here who currently served and many, many more who served at some point. Today is the day to honor the Armed Forces. Next weekend is the weekend to honor those who DID give all. If you encounter someone in uniform today, speak, say thanks for their service. I do this to all the people in uniform I meet and it is almost a 100% certainty that the response will be a somewhat shy "thank you". Weird how that works. Just shows why we have such a great country and the freedoms we have. There is one saying that always runs around with which I can agree 100%:"Freedom isn't free".
Tim
To all and anyone who plans to watch the Camping World Truck Race from Charlotte this Friday night, a member of Racers Reunion and a few of his fratenity brothers from Lander University will sing the National Anthem. Brian Creswell, a member here at Racers Reunion and a faithful attendee at The Love Chevrolet Columbia Speedway Racers Reunion each year, auditioned his team and was selected. Brian graduated from Lander with degrees in different areas of music (I am not familiar with all) and is an accomplished muscian on several instrutments. He performs all over the area in different musical talent capacities and is very active in the music program at his local church. Brian and his "brothers" are very excited about the opportunity to perform The National Anthem and having gotten to know Brian over the past three years, I expect the performance this Friday will rival the best you may ever have heard. I'm proud of Brian and his group and proud that Racers Reunion can claim him as our own. Oh, and for the record, he withholds comment on my singing the The Anthem at The Festival this April, but I'll forgive him for that!!!
Tim
This is very exciting Jeff. Just what we need to expose so much of the history we are so afraid of losing. Sounds like he and Perry Wood should hook up. Unfortunately, Ann doesn't know how to work the recorder and I won't be home until 6:00. But I'll hear all about it on the show.
Thanks, Jeff.
Tim
Thank you Randy. You are a man of your word. I will make one or more, either Concord, Hickory or Rockingham. I appreciate you doing this.
Tim
William Horrell, that is a most excellent post and contains very true and valid points, all of which I considered before posting my Forum and all of which I consider each time I open my big mouth or pound away on the keyboard. I try to be considerate of others and I really do like people. I enjoy sharing racing thoughts and comments here and enjoy all the people who join in whether they agree with me or not. I love your analysis in the next to the last paragraph of your post and absolutely LOVE the last paragraph and couldn't agree more.
Having said that, I will assure you of this, and I do not make a habit of bragging on myself and do not wish my statement to come across that way. But, if I were there on FOX, there would be no "deer in the headlight" look. And there would be no Larry Mac. If FOX were smart enough to hire me, they would listen to what I had to say about the person with whom I would share the booth and it would NOT be Larry Mac. However, as I did not win 84 races, in fact, not even one, I do not have the required credentials to be employed by FOX. I did, however, announce at the local track for three seasons, very successfully I might add. I am rarely at a loss for words and I enjoy talking about racing anywhere, anytime. Join us tonight on Racers Reunion Radio at 7:00 p.m. Eastern for Racing Through History and you'll get to hear a little bit of me.
I don't take lightly my attacks on D.W. nor my dislike of him because it goes against my grain. But I don't tolerate what I consider an ownership of the sports he thinks he has just because he is D.W. I would meet him face-to-face, in any K-Mart parking lot of his choosing, to discuss what I feel are his determinental actions to the overall acceptance of the sport by potential new fans and the total turn off he generates to the older fans. I do not think better of myself than I should, I don't believe, and it is rare that I go off on a tangent bragging about myself, but since this thread pertains to D.W., I guess I'm entitled.
Thanks for you addition to the post and I hope you will continue to participate in the activities of Racers Reunion. We need people like you.
Tim
I actually e-mailed FOX Sports today. Very nice e-mail, no bad words. The e-mail address promised a response within two hours. It's been 12 and still nothing.
Tim
Watching the race from Dover today, a realization came to me. I wish I knew as much as Darrell Waltrip THINKS he knows. If so, there would be world peace, no hunger, no floods, no sickness, no cancer, nothing but all things good.
I cannot figure out how D.W. ever lost a race. He can so adequately describe what each car is doing, what each crew is going to do, AND exactly what each driver is thinking.I just never realized all these things were possible in someone from Owensboro, KY.
Oh well, I'm going to walk Ann's cat. At least I can feel a little intelligent when I'm with that cat.
Tim
