Beer Drinkin', Racin' 'n Football

[Leo Tanner]

It's a fine line when ya get inta messin with the power ta weight ratio.  Gotta have structural integrity an balance, but gotta fly too.  Them engineers have a helluva job. 

     Only reason the turtle won was cause the rabbit was over confident an took a nap.  Sounds familiar these days.


Leo

[Arcey]

I find myself in an odd position. Pullin' for the <spit> cowboys.

Only happens twice a year. When they play the <cough-gag> eagles.

Could prolly stomach the eagles if the media didn't go orgasmic every time they mention Mc Nabb.

[Texas Lawdog]

Arcey, this too will pass in due time.   I was at Darlington in my diapers watchin' that race. Ol' Johnny was drivin that flat head hot water 6 Plymouth. Them truck tires had harder rubber.

[Arcey]

It's done now. The eagles lost. I'm happy. Now I can hate 'em both again.

Some late funnies from the booth.

Dallas back out front. Eagles have the ball, 3rd 'n 8 at their 21. Brilliant announcer, 'They don't have to get it all now'.

Yanno, just a thought here. If they don't 'get it all now', it's 4th down, short of their own 29.........

Next possession. Eagles have the ball. They ain't in good shape, third 'n long. Brilliant announcer, 'It's no time to panic'. McNabb sacked.

Other announcer, 'Tell me when it's time to panic'.

LOL!!!!

Recall my Daddy's Darlington stories, he loved the place. Mantz tried the same thing the next year with some other off-the-wall car. At the blindin' seventy some odd miles per hour they ran back then, it blew up.

[Texas Lawdog]

I guess that game was a fitting tribute to the Monday Night Football games at Texas Stadium. The Eagles and the Redskins have been the Cowboys biggest rivals for years. No one expected that kind of game, including me. I didn't start watching it until about 4 minutes left.  There is something special about Darlington. I visited the track once and walked out on to the track at the finish line and looked up in the stands. I could hear the crowds and smell the smells of the cars.  I think I would feel the same it I ever visited Yankee Stadium. I've driven by there but never took a tour. Feeling the ghosts of the past.

[Arcey]

Win/loss aside, that was a good game I thought. I don't know who the announcer was. Got ready ta hit the mute button.

First time to Darlington I was 11 in '63. The old man 'n me rode with friends in a '61 Thunderbird. Left at O'Dark thirty. I was so amped I didn't sleep. Trip took forever. No interstates, all 17. Made the race easy. Remember gettin' in the car after the race. Next thing I knew I was wakin' up in my own bed back home. 

Back when I was young, Darlington, Charlotte 'n both Richmond races every year. Dover occasionally. Try'n hit a track we'd never been to before every year too.

Love to go to Lambeau Field. Doubt it'll ever happen.

[Texas Lawdog]

I flew into Dover one time to PU a prisoner up there somewhere. I drove by the track to see it,couldn't get inside though.  The California track is on the road to the new San Bernadino County slammer, so I got to see it real good.  The Chicago track is on the interstate going out to Midway Airport and I got to see it real well. Same way with Vegas.  Now, that I won't be doin' all that travel for free, I'm glad I got to see all the places I've been to.

[Arcey]

What stopped me was expenses. Mid-eighties it was gettin' big. Wasn't the tickets. The motels started jackin' the rates 'n made ya take two day reservations. Gas stations went nuts with the prices. Nice restaurants charged like five star excellent restaurants. Printed out 'Welcome Race Fans' menus.

All the races were on TV by then. I'd get home, rewind the VCR, hear 'n see things I didn't see live. Decided goin' wasn't such a good idea anymore.

L'il Darlington story then I'll shut up. Bunch of us took wives 'n girlfriends. Had most of the top row seats in the section, old front, almost to the first turn. Parked in someone's yard 'cross the road from the stands. Old homicide investigator, I'll leave it at Ralph, WWII vet, survived the attack on the Franklin, went onna three day drunk. Tried to jump a fence, tripped 'n passed out where he landed. We didn't get 'im up, wasn't with our bunch.

Someone cut up the startin' order 'n tossed the slips in a hat. I drew Waltrip 'n Earnhardt. Back then ya had ta keep them two separated. Hell, Waltrip was such an asshole then ya had ta keep him away from everybody. One on one with a fan, a nicer guy ya'd never meet.

Anyways. A couple three the wimmen what'd never been were sayin' they didn't think the cars were goin' all that fast. Under caution I walked a few of 'em to the wall. Green. They went by. Girls weren't impressed. Told 'em ta wait a few seconds. They come past under race speed 'n almost blew 'em over. They wanted back to their seats up top.

DW won. I made 'nuff off the bets to cover the motel. Wife got pissed at me cuz I wouldn't lug a 99 cent styrofoam cooler back ta the car. Got to the car 'n Ralph was still passed out in the folks' yard. Hadn't moved. They said he was ok. They'd kept a check on 'im.

[Leo Tanner]

That's a great story

I got ta watch em build the track north of Kansas City a few years back.  Was hopin ta see a race there but never did.  It's a good one, someday I'll have ta go back.


Leo

[Texas Lawdog]

Arcey, Ya gotta love those dinosaurs!   Wait a minute! Does that make me a Dinosaur too?

[Arcey]

Thankee, Leo. Ya always carried memories home from Darlington. Kansas is nice.

I'm sure ya knew some like 'im, Tex. Ralph was a character. Ran on his own set of rules.

Tex, mi amigo. This is from the heart. Ain't meant ta hurt. Ya been a dinosaur. So was I. We just didn't know it at the time is all. Yer gonna be just fine.

[Texas Lawdog]

Arcey, You're right! We be dinosaurs.  NYPD had dinosaur lapel pins at one time. I wish I could find us a couple. I sorta hope we've left some tracks for the young ones to follow.

[Texas Lawdog]

Now they're sayin that Frye is stayin' with Red Bull.  Everham was tryin' to buy BDR, Dodge is not happy about it. Dodge is sayin' that they are still commited to the Dodge Sprint Cup teams. They are just pullin' out of the Truck series.

[Arcey]

Happy ta hear 'bout Frye. Supposed ta hear 'bout 'Dinger by tomorrow.

Did ya find it curious that Dodge Motorsports made the denial announcement rather than someone from GEM? Covered Ganassi. PE 'n Penske too.     

[Texas Lawdog]

Sounds like that they be movin' out of the picture soon.

[Texas Lawdog]

Latest info: The deal between GEM and Robby Gordon is off.  Robby will be using Penske power at Kansas. Menard is considering leaving DEI after this year and possibly going to Yates to drive a third car. The Dinger might be going to Gnassi next year. Red Bull might put Scott Speed in the 84 .

[Arcey]

Makes ya wonder how much the lawyers made figgerin' out it was all a misunderstandin' Ya'd think that couldah been settled o'er a cup of coffee.

Gossips been fer awhile since ole man Menard 'n Teresa dissolved their status as an item he's been lookin' fer someplace else ta dump his money. Apart from that I don't blame 'im. Martin's haulin' hiney. Lookin' like the 01 is gone. Truex 'n BP prolly in their last year in '09. Almirola in the 8 is an also ran. Teresa cut DEI's throat when she let Junior get away.

Gettin' less 'n less optimistic for 'Dinger every day.

[Texas Lawdog]

I hate to see the Dinger go to Gnassi.  The Dodges are also-rans and Gnassi is more focused on the IPL than Nascar. It would be a shame if he did go to Gnassi.  A waste of good talent.

[Arcey]

Speakin' ah old men from 'nother thread. I'm an ole man. Wishin' SPEED'd put Wendy Venturini in a shirt two sizes too big. Fer my health ah course.

[Texas Lawdog]

Wendi is rather well-armed.  Looks like those button holes are strainin' a little.