January 28, 2014
Legendtorial
"You just never really know what to expect"
The title of this Legendtorial could apply to thousands of races that have been run on the short tracks around the country and many of the races run in NASCAR circles. You truly never know what to expect in any situation. Each morning when you get out of bed, the future is as uncertain as the constant weather forecasts with which television stations enjoy inundating us. They call for sunshine and it's already raining. Or, as is the case in usually sunny South Carolina, as I write this on Monday afternoon, the forecast calls for up to 8 inches of snow in Columbia Tuesday night. Several years ago, one of our local weather experts did a Sunday night forecast predicting snow and shortly thereafter it was announced that all schools would be closed Monday due to the snow. Monday dawned bright and sunny, although cold, and nary a snowflake was seen anywhere in South Carolina.
I guess my life has unfolded over the past four or five years in ways I never would have expected. I never expected to become "The Legend" no matter how contrived that title may be, but because it allows me to interact with race fans several times a year, I am very happy Jeff allows me to represent the site in such a manner. I know it works for me, and I hope it works for RacersReunion. I have met many, many fine people through the site and my role as The Legend, but then after all, most, and I repeat MOST race fans and race people are pretty fine individuals. But, tonight, please allow me to take you on a little trip along with me over the past few weeks.
I don't recall exactly when I met Todd Morris, but it was when he was working so hard on the movie "Red Dirt Rising". From the first meeting, I have both respected and admired Todd for his professionalism and his love and dedication to the sport as well as his tremendous talents. Todd has not once, in the four or so years I have known him, said anything to me that he hasn't done and done above and beyond. I have learned to accept Todd's statements as his solid word and these days, that speaks volumes of the kind of man is Todd Morris.
A couple of years ago, thanks to Bob Hissom, another individual for whom I have deep respect and friendship, arranged to have me participate in the Stocks for Tots program in Mooresville in December. Through this endeavor and I able to meet Don Miller for the first time and over the course of these past three years I am pleased to say that Don and I have become good friends and share our love of racing when we get together. I have to admit, however, that when I'm around Don, if he is talking, I am listening. Unusual for me I admit, but the wealth of knowledge in his head can't be ignored or taken for granted. What a privilege and honor it is to be in his world at the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
It was through my participation in the Stocks for Tots event that I ended up seated next to Bill Blair two years ago. I was somewhat in awe of the fact that I was sitting next to a guy from a family that had contributed so much to stock car racing and as we sat there for almost 3 hours it was another time I listened more than I talked. Bill may deny that is the case, but let me tell you, when Bill Blair speaks, if you're a race fan, you listen, and I was surely into every word he spoke. I learned things that night I had never known about the sport and since that night I have had several occasions to spend time will Bill and each and every time is an education. Now, get this. After that first meeting at the Stocks for Tots, I received one of the nicest e-mails I have ever gotten. It was from Bill and he was thanking ME for the time. Totally unbelievable to me but, that's the kind of guy Bill Blair is.
Ok, am I "name dropping" here? You bet your STP I am. I am extremely proud, and humbled at the same time, with all the things that have happened to me because of these individuals named. And it just keeps on getting better. As we talked about a couple weeks ago, Bill Blair is involved in an effort to recognize "Our Racing Heroes" and is working hard to accomplish his goals. Doing an excellent job. Bill called me about coming up and doing a video interview for the site so I did that, along with Leon Phillips, my personal GPS, a couple of weeks ago. It was a cold and rainy North Carolina day in Thomasville, but we spent the day in Bill's shop and recorded a 30 minute video with Todd Morris, and that video should be up and online soon. I can't wait to see it because, if nothing else, it legitimized the fact that I actually know Bill Blair! There are those out there who would rather take issue with the fact that such a thing is possible. All I can say to that is "watch the video".
I know there are those of you wondering what this is all about, blowing my own horn so to speak. I'm sure there will be negative comments but please allow me to continue what I'm saying here. A year or more ago, I wrote a Forum post here on the site about what an honor it was for me to sit next to Rex White at an autograph signing in Augusta, Georgia. The post was intended to honor what a fine gentleman is Rex White in sharing that afternoon with me. The post hadn't been up 20 minutes before a very negative comment was posted about how conceited I was to have "bragged" about such a thing. I removed the Forum post immediately and never really responded to the "lady" who chose to make thosecomments. But I have learned much since that time. Tonight I'm going to take the opportunity to "blow my own horn" with the appropriate thanks and acknowledgements to Bill Blair, Todd Morris and Don Miller.
I had a message on my cell phone two weeks ago from a young man identifying himself as Pete McCormack with HBO television, Canada. He said that HBO is doing a series called "Sports on Fire" and that they had already done the episode on "Facing Ali" in which Muhammed Ali was featured. The show had also completed an episode called "I Am Bruce Lee", also a part of the "Sports on Fire" series. Pete said he would call back to talk with me about a project on the history of stock car racing for the series. A few days later I received that call and Pete and I were on the phone for almost an hour discussing what he envisioned for the stock car racing show. Pete may be from Canada and a huge hockey fan, but he had done his research! He was talking as if he had been a race fan for decades. Of course, it was through Bill Blair that Pete contacted me because Bill and Todd were to be a part of the series and Bill had told Pete to call me.
This past Sunday, I traveled to the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame and had a truly "Hall of Fame" day watching and listening as Pete and his crew of sound and camera technicians and a guy named Kev who seemed to know how to do everything and seemed to enjoy explaining what he was doing to me, worked for hours inteviewing and changing lighting and settings.
First interview up was Ryan Newman. Ryan showed with his dog which he called "Fat Fred". Fred and I got along really well but I guess that's because we have the same weight problems. Ryan spent some time hanging around afterwards and was really great to have some time in such a setting. Next up was Bill Blair. Bill's interview was "on the north side of two hours" (HBO Canada terminology) and I listened to most of it. To say that it was remarkable, outstanding, unsurpassable, or any other such complimentary adjectives would still lack full description. Bill lived it, loves, and can tell the true story of how it was.
After moving lighting and cameras, it was Don Miller's turn in the chair. Listening to his interview was educational for sure, even to someone like me who had been around the sport for 60 plus years but not in the inside capacity such as Don was. It was absolutely fascinating to listen to him. I came away from the day with a copy of his book "Miller's Time" in which he inscribed a very personal autograph note in the front. The kind of thing, if you're me, that money can't buy.
Last in "the chair" was yours truly. By now it was approaching 7:00 p.m. and these HBO guys had been on it since 10:00 a.m. non stop. I assumed my turn would last about 5 minutes and I was prepared to answer a couple of questions Pete would ask. WRONG. The conversation went on for much longer and when it was finally over, what had seemed like 2 minutes to me came closer to an hour. We really talked about a lot of history in that time.
When it was all over and the cameras shut down, all the guys with the crew were shaking MY hand and thanking ME for being there and giving the interview. I didn't dare tell them "Hey Dudes, even if I end up on the cutting room floor, I have been interviewed by HBO Canada for a "Sports on Fire" episode on the history of stock car racing. " To quote one of my grandsons, "how cool is that". Well, to me it was pretty dog-gone cool.
The HBO crew is working with Bill Blair, Rex White and Buddy Baker a couple days this week, then a quick trip home to Canada before departing for Europe for segments on the 1972 Olympics tragedy and the 1936 Olympics in Germany when American Jessie Owens so aggravated Adolf Hitler. That is a great bunch of guys and I sincerely appreciate their professionalism during the entire day Sunday. Pete McCormack, you and your folks are the best!
One final thing here while I'm on the subject of Legend Adventures. Tomorrow night, weather permitting, I will be at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Banquet and the Induction Ceremony as the VIP guest of NASCAR and the family of Fireball Roberts. I owe that honor to Matthew McDaniel, the grandson of the first superstar of the sport, who invited me to join his family at the Fireball Roberts table tomorrow night. I haven't met Matt face-to-face yet, but he and I have enjoyed many conversations both online and on the phone since I first encountered him over a year ago. I am really looking forward to meeting him at last. Thank you Matt, for allowing me to share in this special night with a special family. It is going to be a memory of amazing adventures to add to my life story. Man, I'm just going to have to write that book! I've held off because so much of my life is absolutely unbelievable, but thanks to Bill, Todd, Jeff, Don, and Matt., I have chapters to add which can be supported with irrefutable proof! Thank all you guys.
To my new friends from Canada, I wish you safety on your trips. Thank you for allowing me to share my memories of the early days. Wow! I can't even believe all the things that have happened to me recently and I have reasons to believe it will only get better. I'm working for a good cause with a bunch of good people. I'm working on preserving the true and honest history of this wonderful sport of stock car racing.
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What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:57PM
