Forum Activity for @tim-leeming

OUR OWN SLIM SHADY, ONE OF THE TRULY GREAT ONES

Administrative

Just an update for all the Slim Shady fans. I was reading the "back chat" earlier and saw that Slim's grandson, Wade Logan said that Slim is doing much better than the news that came out yesterday. Today Slim was up and walking around, albeit it gingerly as he is "numb" on the right side. I also understand, although somewhat limited in what I could read, that Slim is talking very limited.

Everyone please keep Slim and his family in your prayers. Slim is a HUGE part of Racers Reunion and someone I am honored to call friend. He is truly one of the great ones.

I do not have an address yet to send cards, but we are working on that.

Thanks,

Tim

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

Carls antics in Pheonix

Current NASCAR

He did the same thing after his Nationwide win Saturday. It is his effort to endear himself, once again, to the fans he has spent two years alienating. But that's just my take.

JUST A COMMENT ABOUT A MEMBER

General

Yesterday I traveled to Sumter Speedway at the invitation of my good friend, Robbie Solesbee. I always enjoy my trips there and the people I meet there and Robbie is always most gracious in his hospitality, as are the owners of the track. But, I want to write this blog about another member about whom I want to comment.

I can't recall the first time I met Jimmy Johnson (please note the correct spelling of Jimmy), but believe it was at The Memory Lane Musuem in Mooresville in March, 2009. At my age, my memory seems to have difficulty in recalling dates of recent happenings although what I was doing on June 23, 1956, is readily accessible. Since that first encounter, I have had the occassion to be in the company and presence of Jimmy many times at many different events and venues. Many of our current members are here because they encountered Jimmy at some point in time, as is in evidenced by the number of members indicating Jimmy is the one who told them about Racers Reunion.

When I got to Sumter yesterday, the first person I saw was Mr. Johnson in front of his motorhome offering his racing products and souverniers for sale. As soon as he saw me, that Jimmy Johnson patented "half smile" appeared and his hand went up in the air. We engaged in conversation to catch up with things since our last encounter at Rockingham in early October. Jimmy relays his adventures in form worthy of short stories to be read with relish, anticipating the next event as something half out of fiction, but always in truth. I love listening to Jimmy Johnson.

I guess I may have known this already, but if so I had forgotten. I don't think Jimmy will mind me sharing the fact of his age. Oh, wait, on second thought, I haven't asked him so I'll leave that alone. What I will say, though, is that Jimmy looks and acts at least 20 years younger than his actual years. He is an amazing ball of energy, even for a 25 year old guy. Simply put, "amazing" sums it up.

I think this may be the first time I've written anything on here about a member, but I just felt like doing it about Jimmy Johnson today. He is a man whose friendship I value greatly and whom I have watched, time and again, go beyong "the call of duty" to bring a smile to the face of a child. He interacts with all fans as a most positive person and is exceptional at spreading the word about the history of racing and about Racers Reunion. Jimmy Johnson is just one of those special people you are most fortunate to encounter from time to time.

I often speak of the great friendships I've made through this site and there are many of you included in that statement. I'm just singling out Jimmy today because I especially enjoy the camaradie with someone who has such an extensive background in racing and who so willingly shares it.

God bless you Jimmy Johnson (even if YOU haven't won four consecutive Cup Championships).

Tim

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

Veteran's Day Tribute

General

PattyKay, we had to learn that poem in elementary school, "by heart" as they used to say. At the time it was just words for me because, being not yet even a teen, I didn't realize what it was talking about. For years now, that poem has meant so much to me. I remember the hurt of burying a close friend who grew up just down the street from me, with whom I played every day, after we was killed in Nam. Shortly afterwards, I received word that one of my close high school friends was killed in Nam. I couldn't attend his funeral as my ship was out to sea. Within a couple weeks more, another high school friend was killed and they never recovered the body as his jet was lost over sea just off the coast of Nam. Six months after that, a very good friend of mine on my ship, a guy with whom I was really close, lost his identical twin brother in Nam. Now I have watched the news as many from my home state have been killed in the wars in the middle east. Seems as though there will never be an end to the wars. Never a "war to end all wars" just wars leaving something else to be fought over. I bought a poppy yesterday from the VFW for disabled veterans. My Daddy always had one wrapped around the sunvisor in his vehicle and I do mean ALWAYS. Now there is one wrapped around the sunvisor in my vehicle. As I have said, Veterans Day is a very emotional day for me.Tim

Veteran's Day Tribute

General

Thanks Jerry! Great statement.

YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY, SO THEY SAY

Administrative

I am almost embarrassed to write this one, but I think it's worth educating those of you who don't know (and I didn't know until today).

I am always very emotional on Veteran's Day. I get that from my Daddy who fought the Japs from October 1942 until they surrendered in August, 1945, and from my brother Gary who passed away in February, 2006, at age 51 from cancer. Gary was a Marine and until the day he died, that was his second proudest achievement, the first being his daughter Melissa. I served my time in the Navy, but I never sacrificed like my Daddy and Gary.

This is what I learned today by going to the Veteran's Day parade in Columbia. Did you know that the hat I wear (which is copied by that dude called The King) is pretty much the same type hat worn by the Airborne Rangers from the Viet Nam era? I didn't. As I stood on the parade route cheering the Veterans and current troops going by, I was saluted over and over. I returned the salutes, of course, out of courtesy, but it was not until talking with the Mayor that I learned I was being mistaken for Airborne! While I would certainly be proud to have served in such a capacity, I never did that. At least now I know. Next year I'll not wear The Legend hat.

One other thing I learned that absolutely amazed me and leaves me, even now, almost in shock. Columbia is home to Fort Jackson, the largest training base for the U.S. Army in the world. Consequently, there were over 2,000 troops marching in the parade from Fort Jackson. As I watched these troops go by I was in shock that the OLDEST looking one in the group appeared to be maybe 20. Some looked so young I thought they could be classmates to my 14 year old grandson Andrew. Our country is being protect by KIDS.

I know we often talk about the importance of educating young race fans about the history of the sport so it will survive the efforts of some to kill off the history. We also need to be talking about the importance of the YOUNG people, men and women, or maybe more appropriately, boys and girls, in protecting the freedom we enjoy in this country. Truly the young people of this country are taking the obligation of maintaining freedom very seriously. I think we older folks need to start taking these younger folks more seriously. God, I am so proud to be an American.

Ok, yep, I know this wasn't necessarily related to racing, but without these armed forces, what we have wouldn't exist.

Tim

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

STOCK CAR RACING WAS NEVER MENTIONED

General

Harlow!!! Desmond T.Doss was a medic in my Daddy's Division, the 77th, Statute of Liberty Division. I met Desmond at a reunion weekend with my father at Fort Jackson several years ago. I have never forgotten that meeting although I don't recall Desmond having the medal around his neck when I met him. I'm proud of you for that Harlow (as if I wasn't already). That is so awesome and, once again, proves the "small world" theory.

STOCK CAR RACING WAS NEVER MENTIONED

General

Thanks to Cody Dinsmore, I have been able to touch the actual Winston Cup won by Bill Elliott (hope you don't get in touble Cody) when I visited the Georgia Auto Racing Hall of Fame as Cody's guest. I have touched many race trophies, even presented a few, held all kinds of awards but, until today, I had never even SEEN a Congressional Medal of Honor except on TV and in books. Today, at the Veterans' Day Parade in Columbia, SC (one of the largest such parades in the country) I actually saw, and touched, that Congressional Medal of Honor hung around the neck of Colonel Charles P. Murray, US Army retired.

He and I never mentioned stock car racing and, frankly, he wouldn't say much about the medal, only that he was very happy to be at the parade and to be honored as the Grand Marshall of that parade. He was the absolute epitome of a gentleman and humble beyond words. I've always heard true heros are like that. Being the curious guy that I am, I couldn't let it rest. I had to know how and when he won this medal. I was finally able to get my hands on one of the programs limited the the VIPs in the reviewing stand.

Colonel Murray's record would fill an entire blog with incredible, almost unbelieveable facts. He won so many awards and medals I'm sure he has to have Presidential permission not to wear them all for such a weight would cause critical health problems. But, the main focus of my curiousity, the Congressional Medal of Honor, came to light as follows, quoting now, from the VIP program:

" During World War II he served with the 3rd Infantry Division in Europe as rifle platoon leader, company executive officer and company Commander in Company C, 30th Infantry Regiment. He received the Medal of Honor for action in France on December 16, 1944. During that action, then 1st Lt. Murray was credited with almost singlehandedly breaking up a German Counterattack of almost 200 troops. In the process, he killed 20 of the enemy with small arms fire and wounded many others, captured 10 prisoners, received multiple wounds from an enemy hand grenade thrown at close range, completed his mission of establishing an advance position in enemy territory and saw that his men were properly deployed on the position before returning to the rear for medical aid".

Colonel Murray moves a little slowly now, but that comes with age as some of us know well. Nevertheless, I noticed that EVERY TIME our Stars and Stripes came by the reviewing stand he stood and saluted and there must have been a hundred such flags in that 90 minute parade. I spoke to him as the parade ended and he was so appreciative to have been given the honor of being the Grand Marshall.

So, this I know: The Winston Cup is impressive, but not quite what I thought it would be. The Congressional Medal of Honor is not nearly what I expected it would be to actually see it and touch it........or, maybe, that is just because it was hanging around the neck of a man whose bravery and sacrifice for his country make the medal, any medal, seem so inconsequential and small. I met a true American today, a true hero, but don't depend on HIM to tell you that. He never will. Let history tell you that.

God bless Colonel Charles M. Murray, US Army, retired, and God Bless the USA.

Tim

updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM

THANK YOU VETERANS

Administrative

For the tenth consecutive year I attended a Veterans' Day celebration at one of my grandsons' schools. My grandsons are spaced just right to have kept me in that position for these past 10 years and I anticipate maybe three more such years before Michael moves on to middle school. This all started when my oldest, now 14, called me one night when he was 4 and asked me could I "be his bet-er-ran" at school. Of course I said yes, having no idea what a "bet-er-ran" was until I realized Veterans' Day was coming up that week.

I admit that when I had my parents sign for me to join the Navy when I was 17, it was for the sole purpose of fulfilling my military obligations so I could race. The draft was in effect in those days and I couldn't start racing until I got my military service out of the way. After I was in, I allowed the Navy to educate me in their Accelerated "A" schools and actually served my country well, I think, but never realizing that all these years later it would mean so much to me be able to be the "bet-er-ran" for my grandsons, Andrew, Sam and Michael. I did my duty during the Viet Nam era but serving where I did in the Navy it was like a continuous Carribean cruise. I never felt quite comfortable accepting the accolades to Veterans until a pastor, who had been a Major in the U.S. Army Chaplain Corp. told me one time that anyone who served their country in the Armed Forces IS a Veteran and IS a hero for that service. Although I still deny the "hero" definition, I finally accept the Veteran or "bet-er-ran" designation proudly.

I am so proud that at the end of all our Racers Reunion Radio shows, someone, Sam, Jeff, Wally, Jerry or Patrick will always thank the Veterans for what they do. When I first started attending these elementary school celebrations, all the "Vets" were as old as me. The past few years, and especially today, I noticed there are many "Vets" in their late 20s or early 30s. Our Country can be proud of the young men and women produced to carry on the cause of freedom in our country and throughout the world. There are younger Vets but they don't have kids in school yet.

Stock car racing history is full of Veterans who served their country and three that quickly come to mind are Nelson Stacy, Bud Moore, and Harry Hyde. There are many, many more, just read the profile pages on Racers Reunion. Guess that's one reason why it seems to me that stock car racing fans appreciate the Vet more than the general public. Mike Sykes had a post on his Facebook page that he was in the Veterans' Parade in his city on Sunday and there were actually more participants in the parade than spectators along the route. That is a shame, but thanks, Mike, for your service. Speaking of which, Columbia has it's Veteran's Day Parade in two hours. I'm putting on my patriotic shirt and heading out to salute the Veterans in that parade.

May God continue to bless the United States, and especially bless all those men and women who serve to keep the freedom alive which we all enjoy.

Tim

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

Do you know the meaning of being Humilated in public

Current NASCAR

Johnny, it is quite a shock to hear what some have said. I agree with your thoughts of this. Ann expressed it very well too when she said how much that must have hurt the 48 guys. Sort of like if Jeff Gilder ever replaces the Legend with The Master I'm going to be deeply hurt! Or has he done what already??????