What has Dave Fulton done now????????
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Dave, that shoulder-length hair is visible in the shot of me sitting on the hood of the Gatorade car in Victory Lane at Talladega. lol
Forum Activity for @tim-leeming
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What has Dave Fulton done now????????
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After my youngest brother, Gary, died in 2006, we were cleaning out the "old home place" where he had been living since my Mama passed away in 1998. Gary's daughter and I were in the attic and found several old home movie reels which my Daddy had spliced together. Some were 8MM and some were Super 8, but the two projectors he had both had burned out bulbs. I made an attempt to secure replacement bulbs from on-line suppliers as there is simply no "brick and mortar" place around that sells such merchandise.
The first company shipped me two bulbs, one of which was actually bigger than the projector for which the company indicated was the right one. The other bulb may possibly have worked in a night light, but not a projector.Let me be clear that I gave the company the exact model numbers of each projectors and even the writing off the burned out bulbs themselves. I returned those two and had a long conversation with a nice gentleman on the phone who agreed to send what he thought would be the correct bulbs.
When the new bulbs were received, both would actually fit the projectors, but would not work for reasons I cannot explain and neither could the gentleman with the bulb company. I returned those for credit and had to pay a "re-stocking charge" because it was my second return. The guy then told me they couldn't help me so there were apparently no replacement bulbs available for the 8mm or Super 8 projectors I have.
I explored the possibility of having these films converted to DVDs as I was told that was possible. I talked with one company here in Columbia that does that type work and after showing them just one reel of the five I have, I knew that was cost prohibitive for me. I exhausted every avenue I could think of to see what was on those reels.
Enter our own Dave Fulton. Not quite sure how Dave became aware of the situation but he told me one day that he had a projector stored somewhere that would handle both 8mm and Super 8. He promised he would "dig it out" and check out the bulb situation.
Being the man of his word that he is, Dave showed up at the RacersReunion Hall of Fame trip with the projector. After a quick lesson in operation held in the parking garage at the Hall of Fame, I headed home with the intention of watching some home movies, most of which I was sure would include racing footage as that's what my family did most of the time.
It took me a couple of weeks before I had time to sit down and fire up the projector for the first time. Over the past two days I have watched over 3 hours of home movies, most of which contain racing footage. The earliest race I can identify is one of the 1970 races from Darlington. We have racing footage from Darlington, Daytona, Rockingham, and Atlanta, which includes shots from in the pits and garage area where we were allowed because of press credentials. We have several family trips to the mountains. We have my brothers in their teenage and early 20s. We have shots of me with the shoulder length hair of the seventies. We have probably 40 minutes of Historic Columbia Speedway footage, including some of a race my Daddy tried to film at night so you can imagine how that went, but there are some really good shots of the speedway and cars in action.
There is footage of the very first motorhome my parents bought when we were at both Darlington and Rockingham. There are so many memories for me on those reels that it is difficult to explain just how much these films can mean to me. There is one part where King Richard had won at Rockingham and was brought around to the grandstand entrance for a trip up to the press box for the post race interview. As he is getting out of the station wagon, my Mama is standing right there. She is hugging Richard and Richard is smiling an hugging her back and they talk for a few seconds. There is no sound to these films so I don't know what was said, but from the smiles on both faces, it must have been good.
Finally, one last thing. Not exactly sure when he filmed this as my Daddy, bless his heart, just spliced the things together without regard to chronological order, but it appears to be 1968 or 1969. It had snowed here in Columbia and several of us were having a snowball fight in the woods across the street from my parent's home. There I am, cowboy boots and cowboy hat in place, throwing snowballs! Remember what I've been saying about that race driver that dresses that way? Who is the original here???????
Thank you, Dave Fulton, for allowing me a chance to travel down a very special memory lane! I have three very small rolls of 8mm left to watch and I'll do that today. Then I'll repackage your projector for safe keeping until I can return it to you. Maybe now I'll take out a second mortgage to see if I can get these films on DVD.
updated by @tim-leeming: 01/08/17 07:59:35PM
Embrace the Present
Administrative
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future.
That "tag" line was included on the more than 330 Racing History Minutes posted on this site from April 5, 2013, through April 5, 2014. We've already posted a comment as to why we feel it is important to "honor the past". In fact, that particular post would have been far more in depth but a I was typing it someone hit me on the chat line at the same time and I lost the entire post. What appears for "Honor the Past" is only a small part of what had been written, but enough, I think, to get the point across as to why it is so important that we honor the past of this sport and honor those men and women who build the sport.
Today, I will attempt to explain "embrace the present". I'll steer clear of the well known verses such as "today is a gift, that's why it's called the 'present'". But, in reality, every day is a gift and we should enjoy it to the fullest. It is a far better adventure in living to have a happy day versus a dreadful day. Duh! Maybe this is a little philosophical, but what we do with today determines, to a degree, what tomorrow (the future) will be like. But, today is today, and is ours to use as we see fit. Hope most of us see fit to use it as a day to be thankful for what we have and to be kind to everyone (although there are some who make it difficult to be kind to).
Bottom line here is that embracing the present gives us the opportunity to make memories of our "past" worth honoring that past, our own past as well as that of the sport we love. So, as you read this today, or whatever day you may happen upon it, remember this is YOUR day to make a beautiful memory for your past. If it were a race day, we would have an event which would be certain to remain a part of our memories, but would be embraced as a part of our life as we experience it.
I really think that this part of the "tag line" is the most difficult to explain. It is, however, something I want to be able to do each and every day. Now I can't wait to get to the "dream for the future" because I do that quite well. Seems like I'm still a teenager when I'm thinking (dreaming) of the future. That will be coming your way soon if you care to read it.
As for now, go out and have yourself a good day. Embrace it, enjoy it, and make a memory or two worth looking back on.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:57PM
J. B. Day Event
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Harvey, please let us know when it is. And, is it by invitation only? I was verbally invited by J.B., but I got the impression it is open to anyone who wants to attend. Let me know and thank you.
J. B. Day Event
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Usually J. B. has his event on the first Sunday in June, which, this year, would be June 1st. J. B. mentioned this to me at the HOF Ceremony but he either didn't tell me the date or I have forgotten it (no surprise there since I didn't write it down). If someone knows, please provide the information so we can post it here. Thinking it would make a good RR outing for a Sunday afternoon.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:57PM
LABOR DAY RACE RETURN TO DARLINGTON?
Current NASCAR
I agree Harvey. It would make a great night race although there is something about running Darlington in the brutal South Carolina Pee Dee heat and humidity of a Labor Day. But then, with this "climate change" situation where we have the heat on this morning, on April 19th, I wonder if we would need heavy coats for a Labor Day race?????
LABOR DAY RACE RETURN TO DARLINGTON?
Current NASCAR
Atlanta, in the original configuration, was an awesome track. Bruton moved in and ruined it. I hate to see it gone from all the memories I have from being at all the races there from 1963 through 1995, but when I think of the traffic situation and the incredibly rude law enforcement officers around that area, I'm just as happy not to go back over there. I will miss it if it's gone, but with Bruton, he took Wilkesboro and The Rock. If he takes Atlanta, someone should check his background to see if he's related to William T. Sherman.
HE PLAYED TO A FULL HOUSE TONITE
Current NASCAR
Johnny, I have banged that drum since Darlington lost Labor Day weekend. Just did in last week's Legendtorial. One can only hope.
HE PLAYED TO A FULL HOUSE TONITE
Current NASCAR
I thought it was a good race and I enjoyed watching every lap. I noticed the "full house" as well as the huge number of fans for the Nationwide race. Both audiences were treated to some really good racing. I also noticed, in both events, the fans were standing, cheering, and waving flags and caps in the last laps. A return to the time when it was really exciting to be there in the stands. Of course, the weather was as good as it could get for race day, but considering the Masters was being played about 120 miles to the west, USC had its spring game 70 miles to the west, Clemson had its spring game wherever that cow pasture college is located, and there were at least 10 special events going on within 100 miles of the track, it was great to know that Darlington could still fill the seats. Must be something to this "tradition" thing after all, even if it's not Labor Day. BUT WAIT!!!! I heard this morning that Mike Helton is not ruling out a return to Labor Day weekend for the Southern 500 AND, Darlington Raceway has set up an e-mail account to receive stories and memories from fans. Interesting that the email address is darlington1950@darlingtonraceway.com. Wonder if they were listening to The Goat Rodeo Tuesday night?
Honor the past
Stock Car Racing History
'When we started the "Racing History Minute" segment, I wanted an unique "tag line" to add to each post. I came up with "Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future" which I assume is original, although with all the reading I do, I could have retained that from some great writer of the past.
Yesterday, someone I hike with asked me what I meant by that phrase. While I answered the question for him, the thought stayed on my mind for the evening, even while watching the Nationwide race on the circuit's oldest superspeedway. Perhaps it was watching that race that inspired me to write this short piece this morning.
By "Honor the past" I want to convey to the new fans that there is a history to this sport that goes back further than 1979, further than NASCAR, and before WWII. The men and women who build this sport, though many are not remembered today for their contributions, deserve to be honored by those of us who are stock car racing fans. Many names are not known to many fans, some not easily recalled by those of us who have been around the sport a long time, but all gave so much of themselves, some even their lives, to build the sport from the backwood stills making moonshine to the sport it is today.
Beware of those who seek to capitalize on a contrived history of the sport with their books, videos and internet sites. Many of those are presented by folks with either no history at all around the sport, or only the history of watching by television and maybe attending a handful of races over the years. Just be careful what you read, watch, and from where you obtain the information.
Groups such as The Augusta International Raceway Preservation Society, The Historic Speedway Group, Memory Lane Museum, and The North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame accurately present a "liveable, touchable" history of the sport. The group known as Our Racing Heroes is now making an effort to recognize and honor the early pioneers who may otherwise be overlooked.
I will not attempt to start naming those who should be "honored" for their contributions, but just look over this web site and you will find many of those names. Indeed, almost every name contained in the historic pictures, videos and writings here deserve the honor of recognition for their contributions.
Tour the site, look at the pictures, read the articles. You will then, at least, have an idea why I use the word "honor".I will cover the remainder of my "tag" line in later posts.
Honor the past, embrace the present, dream for the future
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM