By
Tom Avenengo
Racin'
Stuff:
First things, first:
Something
quite different to start off this week’s column. Something that should concern all or most of
those that read my “stuff”. Health Insurance.
Yep, lots being said about our President and his attempt to get some
form of national health insurance for all of us. Towards the end of this column, in the “Other
(non racing) news section”, is an e-mail I received the other day. After reading it, I immediately put it into
my column. Then I had second thoughts,
since it seemed to me that those that don’t have health insurance are mostly
“blue collar” workers – those that don’t have insurance through their jobs,
and/or those that just can’t plain afford it, due to the high cost. Then, in my local paper today, Wednesday,
there was an article about those that don’t have and can’t afford it. Well, actually two articles, really.
Here are links to those two articles:
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090722/NEWS/307229929/-1/NEWS
And, in a way, what I received in another e-mail kind of makes sense, too, as to why it cost so much – today:
“I think that our main problems with the high cost of medical care now are two-fold, both government caused. One is the forced treatment of everyone in our emergency wards --- and the illegals know it and use it for the slightest cough or fever, and the other is the defensive medicine that doctors have to practice in order to shield themselves from malpractice lawsuits. The lawyers that run our country won't do anything about tort reform that causes the exorbatant awards. Consequently, doctors have to pay huge bucks for malpractice insurance, and one thing leads to another.”
So, might a national health plan work? For now, who really knows? But I’m willing to bet that if it ever comes to be, it’s going to cost someone some pretty amount of dollars, and I kinda think it will be the blue class folks that will be hurt the most.
And this, from Yahoo! News, on Wednesday:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090722/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_health_care_overhaul
And what about “Illegals” that are in our hospitals and can’t afford to pay – especially if they’ve been in the hospital for an extended period of time? What then? Might this, below, be a solution?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090723/ap_on_re_us/us_hospital_deportation
And I received a link to this, below, to an audio, in another e-mail. It’s about the proposed health program:
Might this be true? I don’t know, since I have not been able to read this proposal.
Some of my thoughts – part I:
Safety in racing – something we all are concerned with,
I’d imagine? I know I get a little
anxious when someone I know or who might be related to me, is on the track
competing. At times, accidents do
happen. There was a fatal accident the
other day in racing. A young man, all of
18 years old, Henry Surtees, the son of Former World Driving Champion, John
Surtees, was fatally injured in a Formula II race in
Another car had gone off the track and when it hit a wall, the rear wind and one of the rear wheels, with the tire on it, were torn from the car and careened back across the track. The wheel/tire piece hit the young man directly on his helmet – in basically the only spot it could hit him, to cause damage, the way the cars are made, today. That hit proved to be fatal. Various questions and comments came out in a thread on the Track Forum on this. Questions like: Were there “tethers” on the wheel? There was.
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126196
As hard as we try to make things safer today, accidents do and will continue to happen. Heck, when I look back at what kind of “safety” measures there were when I first started attending races, and even for some years after that, I’m still amazed that more drivers and fans weren’t fatally injured, in conditions that we all felt were “safe” - at the time.
Going
back, in time:
On
July 23rd in:
1936:
Dave MacDonald ... Born ... MacDonald became noted on the West
Coast for his performance in the sports car circuits. He competed in seven
NASCAR Grand National races, finishing second in one race each in both 1963 and
1964. He was one of two drivers killed during the 1964
1950:
Duane Carter won the AAA Sprint Car race at the Dayton Speedway,
Pete Folse won the IMCA Sprint Car race at the Plant Field,
1952:
Jimmy Bryan won the AAA Midget race at the Memphis Speedbowl
(1/4d),
1954:
Art Cross won the AAA Midget race at the
1955:
Len Duncan won the ARDC Midget race at the Old Dominion Speedway,
1960:
Bobby Hersh won the Super Modified race at the Lincoln Speedway,
Hanover,PA.
Earl Halaquist won the URC Sprint Car race over Al Chamberlain,
Beau Clerke, Hal Rettberg and Eddie Gallione at the Selinsgrove
1961:
Parnelli Jones, in the # 1 Fike Plumbing Special, won the USAC
Sprint Car race over A.J. Foyt, Bud Tingelstad, Elmer George and Leon Clum at
the Dayton Speedway,
Johnny Mackison won the Super Modified race at the Williams Grove
Speedway, Williams Grove,PA. Dick Tobias was second
followed by Leroy Felty, Freddy Adam and Bobby Hersh.
Roger Sowers won the Super Modified race at the Susquehanna
Speedway,
1963:
Parnelli Jones won the USAC Midget race at the Lebanon Valley
Speedway,
1965:
Jimmy Davies won the USAC Midget race at the Santa Fe Speedway,
Jud Larson won the USAC Sprint Car race over Scratch Daniels, Carl
Williams, Roger McCluskey and Don Branson at the Lakeside Speedway (1/2d),
Dutch Schaefer won the ARDC Midget race at the Kauneonga Speedway,
Bobby Hogle won the CRA
Sprint Car race over Paul Jones, Jim Roessler, Chuck Allen and Frank Secrist at
the Riverside International Raceway,
Note: Was that on the road
course? I guess not. I received this info from another Yahoo! Race
History Group member:
“Tom,
Ray Tilley won the Super Modified race over Mitch Smith, Johnny
Crawford, Dizzy Dean and Leroy Felty at the Williams Grove Speedway, Williams
Grove,PA.
Rags Carter won the Modified Stock Car race at the Reading
Fairgrounds,
Bob Malzahn won the Stock Car race at the East Windsor Speedway,
Frankie Schneider won the Modified Stock Car race at the Harmony
Speedway, Harmony, NJ
1966:
Johnny Mann won the ARDC Midget race at the Islip Speedway,
Lynn Paxton won the Super Modified race at the Lincoln Speedway,
Hanover,PA.
Ralph Quarterson won the Sprint Car race over Lou Blaney and Bill
Banick at the Mercer Raceway Park, Mercer, PA.
1967:
Mario Andretti drove his Dean Van Lines Ford powered Brawner-Hawk
to victory in the 150 mile USAC Championship race on the Indianapolis Raceway
Park 1.875 Mile Paved road course. Al Unser was second followed by Bobby Unser,
Jim McElreath and Arnie Knepper.
Gerald Chamberlain won the Super Modified race at the Hagerstown
Speedway,
Jimmy Caruthers won the ARDC Midget race at the Nazareth Raceway,
1971:
Hank Rogers Jr. won the ATQMRA Midget race at the Pine Brook
Speedway,
Ralph Quarterson won the Sprint Car race at the Lernerville
Speedway,
Jan Opperman won the Super Sprint Car race at the Williams Grove
Speedway,
Gerry Chamberlain won the Modified Stock Car race at the Reading
Fairgrounds,
Lou Lazzaro won the Modified Stock Car race at the Albany-Saratoga
Speedway, Malta, NY.
1973:
Eddie Rickenbacker ... Died ... An American fighter ace in World
War I and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver and
automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters and a pioneer
in air transportation. Rickenbacker raced in the 1912, 1914, 1915 and 1916
1978:
Rick Mears won the Gould Twin Dixie 150 mile USAC Championship
race on the 1.522 Mile Paved Oval Atlanta Motor Speedway. Johnny Rutherford was
second followed by Bobby Unser, A.J. Foyt and Steve Krisiloff.
1989:
Bill Elliott won the NASCAR Winston Cup AC Spark Plug 500 over
Rusty Wallace at the Pocono Raceway,
Racing on TV:
Check out what’s on TV, racing wise, here: http://www.racefantv.com/USTV.htm
Other
forums/message boards and websites:
From
the Track Forum - http://www.trackforum.com/forums/
Quite
an interesting thread on the TF about NASCAR, the IRL, sponsorship, drivers
going to NASCAR from Open Wheel and vice/versa.
Interested in reading it? As of
Monday it was up to three pages.
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126220
And
then there is a thread about why you are not a NASCAR fan. Wow!
Some real interesting stuff said on that one, and it’s up to 4 pages as
of Monday!
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126216
What
might have happened if a certain CART car owner (Penske?) said “Yes” to Jeff
Gordon, about his wanting to run an Indy car?
I found this:
http://espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/columns/story?columnist=blount_terry&id=4349839
From
Jayski - http://www.jayski.com/
F1 Champ
Note: In a way, I don’t think he’ll race any US Series.
Danica says no
to F1 try:
During a visit to Los Angeles to attend the ESPY Awards, Danica Patrick also
talked about her recent visit to Tony Stewart's NASCAR shop, the prospects of
her moving to the Formula One series and other topics in a question-and-answer
session: Have you at least narrowed down the series where you would drive next
year? "I'd say it's probably not F1." You don't have any interest in
this new
Note: Well, from what I’ve seen, Danica is better
on ovals. Is she improving on road
courses – maybe.
But I believe she’s far from F-1 material.
McGriff makes
history, starts NASCAR race at 81, finishes 13th: Ever the gentleman, Hershel
McGriff was good-natured about finishing 13th in a national NASCAR series race
at age 81. "My competition was faster," he deadpanned. Although he
certainly would have taken a victory, McGriff seemed nevertheless pleased with
his showing in the Bi-Mart Salute to the Troops 125 on the road course at
Portland International Raceway, part of the NASCAR Camping World West Series.
Jim Inglebright of
Note: I’ve always admired Hershel, but methinks
that maybe he should give some serious thought about leaving the sport to the
young ones.
NASCAR
to meet with Nationwide teams about COT: NASCAR will host Nationwide
Series owners and drivers at a meeting at its research and development center
in
Note: Another chance for NASCAR to continue to ruin
racing. There for a while, there was
quite a lot of talk about the Nationwide Series going to “Pony” cars, like
Camaros, etc etc. Wish that had
happened.
Chitwood
leaves Indy and joins ISC: Indianapolis Motor Speedway President and Chief Operating Officer Joie
Chitwood announced July 20 he was stepping down from his position after this
week’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and returning to his home state of
Note: There is a lot being said about Chitwood
leaving IMS on the Track Forum, and as of Tuesday AM, it’s up to 7 pages
already.
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126233
Changing Indy
500 start time not being discussed: For those hoping that the
Note: Somehow it seems to me that the Indy 500 was
around way before the Coca-Cola 600, so why can’t they change the day that the
600 runs? But, if it took scheduling the
500 a little earlier and if that would help bring some of the NASCAR drivers to
Indy, then I guess I’d be all for it.
However, I doubt that any/many drivers would attempt it. It’s been proven that there has been no
NASCAR drivers that have gone racing with Indy cars
and have never won an Indy car race.
However, on the other foot – there have been more than a few Open
Wheelers that went to NASCAR and have managed to get to the finish line
first. Whether the down force that the
current Indy cars have would be a help (I believe it would) to any NASCAR
drivers attempting Open Wheel racing remains to be seen – IF any even do
attempt it, I’d be surprised.
Humpy
Wheeler to Indy? Former Lowe's Motor Speedway president H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler
was at the
Note: Somehow I think that Mr. Wheeler will end up in some capacity with Indy/Open Wheel racing. Good? Bad? I’m not really sure at this time. If anything, it could open up some more possible oval tracks for the Indycar Series, although they really seem to be going more towards tracks other than ovals, which this writer is completely against.
DeWalt will not
return to the #17 team in 2010: Roush Fenway Racing was informed today that DeWalt Power Tools will not
renew its sponsorship of Matt Kenseth and the #17 team for the 2010 NASCAR
season. “We would like to thank DeWalt for serving as a great partner for the
past 10 years,” said Roush Fenway President Geoff Smith. “During that time we
have seen great success for both their company and marketing program, as well
as with Matt on the race track. They will always be remembered and honored as
the sponsor of Jack Roush’s first Sprint Cup Championship team. Despite this
success – in the face of the significant world-wide economic decline in the
construction industry – DeWalt’s decision to not return is not a great surprise
to us. Fortunately, we have several great companies interested in taking over
and we expect to begin finalizing those sponsorship arrangements in the very
near future. All of us at Roush Fenway Racing remain committed to keeping the
#17 DeWalt car running up front, winning races and to put them in a position to
contend for a second championship this season.”(Roush Fenway Racing)(7-23-2009)
Note: I expect that that there will be many more
sponsors opting out of sponsoring race cars – especially once this present
season comes to an end.
Ganassi
to Gibbs? The latest rumor is that Chip Ganassi somehow will merge his
Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing team [Chevy's w/#1-Truex Jr. (leaves end of 2009) and
#42-Montoya] with Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota's w/#18-Busch, #11-Hamlin,
#20-Logano], possibly eliminating another owner.(SPEEDtv/Jimmy
Spencer)(7-23-2009)
Note: Hmm, another merger? More and more I think that NASCAR will end
up with a certain amount of teams that will be franchises.
TMS president
Eddie Gossage fighting cancer: Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage has
been absent from TMS because he has been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed
form of cancer. Gossage, 50, was diagnosed with cancer early last fall and
began treatment this spring. Gossage, who oversaw the construction of the track
and was the general manager for its first race in 1997, declined to be
interviewed. A statement from TMS vice president of media relations Mike Zizzo
said Gossage "would like to keep his illness private and does not plan to
discuss it publicly." Gossage was informed by doctors in February that
treatment needed to begin, and it was done around the Samsung 500 in April and
the Bombardier Learjet 550 in June. He was at the track for the IndyCar Series
race in June and looked thinner than he did at the Sprint Cup event in April.
He hasn't appeared at any TMS public functions since the June race as he has undergone
more intense treatments over the last month. Gossage is hoping to return to
work next month. "I've been talking to him almost every day either by
phone or text," Zizzo said. "His brain is in overdrive. If it were up
to him, he'd be back tomorrow." Zizzo said Gossage doesn't want to talk
about his illness because he doesn't want that to be what people identify him
with. Gossage's father, H.L., died of lung cancer in 1998. "He's trying to
keep it under the radar and keep it as low-key as possible," Zizzo said.(Dallas
Morning News)(7-23-2009)
Note: I’ve never met Mr. Gossage, but I’ve read a
lot about him, and most of what I’ve read has been quite positive. Let’s all pray for him to overcome this
obstacle.
The continuance of the Jeremy Mayfield saga:
Mayfield
Attorneys: NASCAR hasn't proved case: UPDATE: Attorneys for Jeremy Mayfield filed papers
on Monday arguing NASCAR has not shown sufficient reason that the court should
overturn the decision to lift the Sprint Cup driver's suspension for violating
the substance-abuse policy. The papers filed in U.S. District Court are a
counter to NASCAR's request on Wednesday asking for an immediate stay of the
injunction after Mayfield tested positive for methamphetamine for a second
time. The counterclaim did not address the second test. Mayfield has since
claimed the governing body spiked the July 6 test to get the desired results.
His attorney, John Buric, released results of another test taken on the same
day but performed by LabCorp, an independent laboratory not hired by NASCAR, that came up negative for methamphetamines and
amphetamines. NASCAR officials argue that the LabCorp test should not be recognized
because there is no evidence that the sample is legitimate or that proper
procedure was used. Asked for specifics about the test, such as whether
Mayfield was directly observed giving the sample, Bill Bonello of LabCorp said,
"LabCorp does not comment on drug testing results."(see full story ESPN)(7-21-2009)
UPDATE: An independent drug test on Jeremy Mayfield was negative for
methamphetamines, contradicting the results of a NASCAR test taken 40 minutes
earlier, the driver claimed in court documents filed Tuesday. In response to
NASCAR's claim that Mayfield again tested positive for methamphetamines on July
6, Mayfield submitted an affidavit to the U.S. District Court that said he
traveled to
Note: Round and round it goes, where it will end,
no one really knows.
Dirt Track
Digest’s forum: http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/forum/index.php
Check it out and
see what everyone is saying, and check out race results, too.
http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/
I believe that Jeff Johnson, who is in charge of this website, had Gall Bladder surgery done this past Monday. Wishing him the best, and for a speedy recovery! Here’s hoping he can have the “minimal” surgical procedure done and not the major one. Been there – done that on the major one. Worst week in my life, I believe.
Quite an interesting thread started by Ernie Saxton about whether midgets and sprint cars should have starters on them.
http://theboard.southjerseydirtracing.com/DisplayMsg.asp?ForumID=27&Msgid=1090970&page=1
OCFS
- http://www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net/
The fair opens up today, Thursday July 23rd. For any on track events during the week – the drive-in will be closed. No, I have no idea as to why, unless it’s because they use the drive in for parking for the fair goers. Parking, during the fair, is at a premium, for sure. I, for one, would love to go see the 100 lap Sportsman race that’s scheduled for Wednesday, July 29th, but with basically no parking, well, my bad legs tell me to stay at home. Same goes for Saturday racing during the fair – the lack of parking keeps me away. I wonder how many fans feel the same way?
From what I’ve been
hearing,
Hamlin
Something
rather puzzling – I notice Kart counts are not like they used to be – at least
at Hamlin and OVRP’s Dirt Oval, too.
Still, the other bigger classes, such as Slingshots and Micro Sprints
seem to be increasing.
Accord
- http://www.accordspeedway.com/
For
Accord, another Friday night got beat up on by “Mother Nature”. The Joe Winne Memorial race that was
scheduled for last Friday, has now been re-scheduled
for July 31st. As for the
curfewed out races from two weeks ago – from lap 14 on with the modified
feature, and the entire Spec Sportsman feature, the Accord website doesn’t
actually say that both will be held this coming Friday. Somehow, I think there’s still a Pro Stock
feature to be run from a previous Friday, too?
OVRP’s
Dirt Oval - http://www.ovrpdirtoval.com/
What
are these rumors I’m hearing about OVRP being sold – the whole place, but still
remaining as OVRP?
Former
OVRP Dirt Oval runners:
At
At
Selinsgrove, Davie Franek was 8th in the 358 sprint car feature
At
At
the Sundance Vacation Speedway, in the 100 lap modified feature, Nick Pecko was
9th.
RJ
Tufano was 3rd in the Quad 4 feature and 6th in the Mini
Sprint feature.
At
Danny
Creeden was 9th in the Big Block modified feature at OCFS, while
Billy VanInwegen was a DNQ. In the Small
Block feature, Danny was 8th and Clinton Mills 17th. In the held over Sportsman feature, Rich
Coons was 2nd, Matt Janiak 4th, Joe Conklin 6th,
Mike Ruggiero 8th, Matt Hitchcock 9th, Anthony Perrego 14th,
Doc Young 20th and Bobby Hassenmayer was a DNQ. In the regular nights feature, Matt Hitchcock
was 1st, Hassenmayer 5th, Coons 6th, Conklin 7th,
Janiak 15th, Perroego 20th, Ruggiero 21st,
while Young was a DNQ.
At
Wyalusing, in the 270 Micro Sprints, Jacob (Jake) Hendershot was 2nd.
Johnny
Guarino was 15th in the modified feature at New Egypt.
Rick
Casario was 7th in the 270 feature at Hamlin. In the 600’s Brittany Tresch was 4th,
Molly Chambers 22nd and Cait Chambers 24th.
Nick
Cottone was the Micro Stock feature winner – again – at Wall Stadium. Tom Ervin was 2nd, Dennis Hiddemen
3rd, Bill Kreigner, Sr. was 4th
and Bill Kreigner, Jr. 5th.
Down
in
Last
night – Wednesday, at Utica Rome, in the CRSA feature, Chuck Alessi was 9th,
Anthony Brennan 15th and Billy VanInwegen 21st.
Note: Sorry if I missed anyone!
Family
members in racing:
Nothing new to
report on Brett, except that it looks like Hamlin will be next on the list –
wingless, then maybe Wyalusing after that.
This coming Saturday, it’s another graduation party, with no racing –
competing, or attending, on the schedule.
As
for John, down in
Other racin’ stuff:
Looking at the entrants for the up-coming
weekend for NASCAR, and I find, as of Tuesday, that the Truck Series has only
33 entrants for their race at ORP, while the Nationwide Series has 48 entrants
for ORP. USAC will also be there with
their Midgets and Silver Crown cars, with 44 Midgets and 30 Silver Crown cars
entered. I see that Ryan Newman is
entered in the SC race. Of course neither the SC race or the Midget race are on live TV. I also doubt that they’ll be on tape delay,
either.
Meanwhile, for the Brickyard 400, at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, I see only 47 entrants. Might last years fiasco turned some entrants
away? Uh oh, it is now down to 46, with
the # 64 car pulling out.
And, as usual, a lot of TV coverage for the
NASCAR events, while there is very little coverage for the Indycar events. Heck, even in my local paper, when they put
in “racing news” it’s almost 95% NASCAR stuff.
More racin’ stuff:
Sarah Fisher – she’s
one of the few women in Indycar racing, but the only one that came up by
running midgets and sprint cars, will return to her “roots” and run a midget.
This is on the
internet:
Fisher
will return to the sport when she races in the Kenyon Midget Series, Kenyon
Midget Division, on Wed., July 22, 2009 at 8 p.m. EDT. She will be racing on
the same night as her brother-in-law, Kyle O'Gara, 14, who has been racing for
SFR in the Ford Focus Midget Series.
The
owner of Anderson Speedway, Rick Dawson, rarely lends the track to other promoters,
but says that Don Kenyon and DK Promotions, who are hosting the event, are the
exception to the rule.
"Don's
integrity and dedication to midget racing is unsurpassed in the industry,"
said
Fresh
out of high school, people really began to take notice of Fisher as a viable
force in driving, through midget racing. She won five midget features, beating
some of the best midget drivers in the country. She gained wins at smaller
tracks, such as Flat Rock near
"Helping
to bring awareness to local racers and the invaluable experience drivers attain
on these short tracks is something I'm glad to be a part of," said Fisher.
"This is the foundation of my career as a professional racecar driver and
this is where you can really get a glimpse at the future of the sport. I hope
to help Kyle [O'Gara] in his goals towards a racing career and to share with
him my experiences in the sport."
To
return to the sport as such an established driver gives Fisher the chance to
reflect on the days when owning her own race team was just a glimmer in her
eye.
"I
have great memories of midget racing with my dad," said Fisher. "This
is where I really fell in love with racing and had some of my first big
wins."
It
was the
Now
at age 28, Fisher owns her own race team, Sarah Fisher Racing, just competed in
her eighth Indianapolis 500, marking the most number of starts for a woman in
the 93-year history of the race, gaining her national recognition and
appearances on such platforms as, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, LIVE! with Regis & Kelly and The Today Show. She credits her
success to the experience she gained racing in midget and sprint cars: the
foundations of professional racing.
Fisher's return to the
sport on Wed. marks a nostalgic nod to the first time she raced the No. 67.
Whoever said you can't go back home?
Note: With me holding off until Thursday morning to
sending this column in, I’m hoping to have some news as to how she did.
Well, as of 2:30 PM on
Thursday, this is all I’ve been able to find:
“Nothing definite, just this comment from her on Facebook:
"Not a bad race back had a few issues with the car but all my crew guys came out to support. Thanks guys!"
An earlier facebook post indicated she was running 2nd early in the race.”
The
History of the Sport:
At times, we’ve lost drivers while they were
competing on the speedways. Here, below,
is just a small, partial list of those that have perished while doing what they
loved to do - alphabetically from “J” through “K”. I imagine that you might recognize some of
the names listed. Later on, in future
columns, I’ll continue my way through the alphabet.
Don Jackson,
Ray Jackson,
Rebel Jackson, Sr.,
Bruce Jacobi,
Joe James,
Tony Jankowiak,
Charlie Jarzombek,
Nolan Johncock,
Cliff Johns,
Don Johns,
Julius "Slick" Johnson,
Van Johnson,
Blaine Johnson,
Mike Joseph,
Jimmy Joy,
Scott Kalitta,
Ken Kalla,
John Keating,
Ray Keech,
Ron Keister,
Al Keller,
Rusty Kelley,
Gerald Kennedy,
Rich Keppler,
Harry Kern,
Johnny Key,
Billy Kimmel,
Clyde King,
Steve King,
Mary Lou King,
Harold Kite,
Jimmy Knight,
Dave Kneisel,
Len Koenig,
Harry Kourafas, Jr.,
Jeff Krosnoff,
Lou Krouza,
Dee Dee Kruger
Note: Hey, I have no idea as to why the names are
underlined! Oh, and one other thing –
while “playing around” and checking out this column, I decided to click on one
of the names, above. Well I’ll be dam*ed
– by clicking on a name, it took me right to the Motorsports Memorial website
and right to info for that particular driver that I click on! That doesn’t work on other columns that have
this same info on them.
Video
time:
Again, something different this week. It’s kind of sad to see this happening in this country of ours, and I think it’s about time that it gets stopped. Yes, it is “political”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeuBB_mOFIA
Other (non racing)
news:
This past Tuesday, I
received the following via a forwarded e-mail.
Some of the things said, in a way, do make sense.
|
This, from an e-mail I
received:
“I think that our main
problems with the high cost of medical care now are two-fold, both government
caused. One is the forced treatment of everyone in our emergency
wards --- and the illegals know it and use it for the slightest cough or
fever, and the other is the defensive medicine
that doctors have to practice in order to shield themselves from malpractice
lawsuits. The lawyers that run our country won't do anything about tort reform that causes the exorbatant awards.
Consequently, doctors have to pay huge bucks for malpractice
insurance, and one thing leads to another”
And another e-mail had
this in it, below. Maybe it’s something
we should ask every politician that comes looking for our vote?
“The
way I feel Tom is that we have to throw everyone out and start fresh. I have a
list of questions that I ask every politician that comes to my door. Some of
them are:
Will
you vote to make English the official language of our State/Country
Will
you vote for term limits for all in Congress - if it's good enough for the
President it should be good enough for you.
Will
you vote to give up the cushy retirement plans and go on Social Security like we have to?
Will
you promise to read every word of every bill before you vote on it?
Will
you vote to repeal five old laws before you add one new one?”
And this isn’t a surprise – people giving up hope in their search for jobs.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/States-Where-the-Unemployed-usnews-3479448580.html?x=0
Closing with this:
A blonde reports for her university final exam which
consists of mainly true and false questions. She takes her seat in the
examination hall, stares at the question paper for five minutes, and then in a
fit of inspiration takes her purse out, removes a coin and starts tossing the
coin and marking the answer sheet: true for heads and false for tails. Within
thirty minutes she is all done, whereas the rest of the class is still working
furiously.
During the last few minutes, she is seen desperately throwing the coin,
swearing and sweating. The moderator, alarmed, approaches her and asks what is
happening.
"I finished the exam in a half hour," she replies. "Now I'm
rechecking my answers."
May “Guardian Angels” sit on the shoulders of all of
our race drivers and guide them safely around the tracks!
Drive safe!
As
usual, you can reach me at: ygordad@yahoo.com