Ryan Newman....or Danica Patrick

      By now you have heard Ryan Newman won the NASCAR race at the Brickyard 400 this past Sunday. Newman, a native Indianian, had grown up dreaming of winning a race at the Indianapolis Speedway, so you can image how emotional it was for him and his family. The win also put him back in contention for the Chase for the Championship this season.
   Now here is the problem....Team owner Tony Stewart has already told Newman that his services will not be needed after this season. A driver with thirteen years experience at the top level of NASCAR, and two of the most prestigious victories (Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400) to his credit, now finds himself looking for employment in 2014.
    Stewart-Haas Racing has another driver joining the team next year as Kevin Harvick comes over after thirteen years with Richard Childress Racing. There is a third driver employed at Stewart-Haas, and that driver is Danica Patrick.

      Danica is a good looking woman, no doubt....but is she a good enough driver to cast aside someone of Newman's talent?  This season is the first for Danica as a full-time Sprint Cup driver, but she has experience at the Nationwide and Indy Car facilities. Lets make a little comparison to see just where we stand.
    Newman is thirty-five years of age, and Danica is thirty-one. He has 424 starts in thirteen years of Sprint Cup racing, Danica has started thirty races. She won the pole position for the Daytona 500 this past February..

     She also became the first woman to ever lead a lap at the Daytona 500, and she also has led at the Indianapolis 500, and finish fourth there among the Indy Cars. 
   Newman, on the other hand, has won the pole position on fifty occasions, including for the Sunday race at the Brickyard.

      If I was Tony Stewart (..and thank God I am not) I would be looking for a good return on my investment. Remember this is Danica's first year at the Sprint Cup level, but she has banked around eight hundred thousand dollars so far this season. Newman has raked in six million dollars over his career, with Sunday's win being his seventeenth at the Cup level. If you move the catagory to Top Ten finishes, Newman has 175 finishes among this top tier.  Danica has an average starting spot of 33rd among the forty-three starting cars each week, and her average finish is 27th.
   So if she has not shown an ability to compete with the big boys of the Sprint Cup level, what is it that makes her such a valuable commodity for Tony Stewart, and NASCAR in general?

      Being a red-blooded American male, I definitely can see the attraction of Ms Patrick. She is being used as a commercial attraction for the sport and sponsors. That is purrrr-fectly okay with me if she wants to compete with Kate, Cameron, and Angelique, but so far she has shown no talent worthy of a NASCAR driver. If Stewart-Haas wants someone to start the races and survive with a finish somewhere in the back of the pack, so be it.
   Ryan Newman raised some eyebrows with his win at the Brickyard on Sunday. He will have no trouble finding a ride for the 2014 season, but I fear it will not be with a car capable of running in the lead pack.

     Newman could have used the forum to sound off about losing his ride at Stewart-Haas, but he was cool and professional as he thanked his sponsors and fans for their support. I can only imagine how Tony Stewart felt as he made his way to Victory Lane to congratulation Newman on the win. Stewart made some lame comments to the TV cameras about how they are still friends but you could see on his face how awkward he felt about the duplicitous moment.
   While the TV cameras scampered back in the garage to get Danica's comments on her thirtieth-place finish, Newman and his family gathered at the finish line to continue the tradition of the race winner 'kissing the bricks.'

      Newman, his wife Krissie, and daughters Brooklyn and Ashley, were dominately displayed for the cameras to show Newman as the perfect family man. It will be hard for him to find a quality job next year, but with Harvick leaving RCR, this will definitely give Richard Childress something to think about.

 

 

Denison House Fire

     Few things touch your heart more than seeing someone's house go up in flames. That was the case Saturday afternoon when I heard sirens close by our house. I went to the door and the smell of smoke was extremely strong, so I knew it had to be nearby. I grabbed my trusty camera and headed for the sirens.

      The burning house was on the corner of Woodard and Maurice in Denison. Three fire trucks and two ambulances were already on the scene when I arrived. The temperature was in the 90's so the firemen were fighting the blaze in shifts. One group would attack the burning house while others found some shade and a bottle of water.

     The fire apparently started due to smoking in bed. The lady of the house is a semi-invalid and was seen smoking before taking a nap. The family had a collection of pets, including an iguana lizard, and they all perished in the blaze. At first I thought it was fairly minor, but as you can see, the fire has taken out some of the interior before it became apparent from the outside.

      The house has a huge storage building behind the house, but luckily the fire did not approach it. The left half of the domicile suffered serious damage. The smell of smoke was strong for about three blocks around the scene of the fire. 

      In the above photo you can see the damage extends right through the house to the backside. The second floor balcony is also seriously damaged by the fire.

        Kudos to the Denison Fire Department as they were on the scene moments after being notified of the fire. The house is only four blocks from Central Fire Station and trucks from the Morton Street Station also responded to the fire. Thanks go out for their quick action....as usual.

Walther PPK (James Bond's Gun)

     The mystique of this pistol dates back to the fictional character of British novelist Ian Fleming and his super-secret government agent, James Bond. According to Fleming, an agent with the 00 designation was licensed to kill to accomplish his mission and Bond was Agent 007, and his weapon of choice was the German made Walther PPK.
     I came across mine at a gun show in Tyler, Texas in 1997. It is a 1996 model of the famed pistol in the 380 caliber. At the time the favored model was stainless steel, as seen in the photo on the manual, but I have always preferred the all black look.

     The three holes you see in the target are the only shots ever fired from this pistol, and they were fired at the factory to verify its functionality. I have loaded one of the magazines, but that is as far as I have ever come to shooting it. I am holding this pistol as an investment for the future. I have a good friend who also owns a PPK and he purchased his for around two hundred dollars in the 1960's. I coughed up $325 for this one in 1997 and as of six months ago I was offered $450 for this one.

     Naturally, the ones manufactured in Germany are worth more than the ones made in the USA, but I am quite pleased with the one I own. Interarms Firearms of Virginia has the American rights to this pistol and most of their output is in this caliber. German examples also come in .32 and .22 calibers. During World War II the sidearm issued to German officers was the Luger, but some officers also carried the Walther P-38 as well as the PPK. Because of its small size and concealability, the PPK was an obvious choice of the Gestapo (secret police). 

      Mine is actually a PPKs.. meaning it carries one more bullet than the standard PPK. The magazine holds seven, plus one in the chamber, for a total of eight. In addition to its small size, one of the things I like about Walther pistols is the ability to carry it cocked with the safety on. Should the need arise, you only have to release the safety and it is ready to do business.

      Walther was the first to use part of the magazine as a part of the grip for those with larger hands. Having smaller hands, I have no problem with the size and when women friends ask about pistols, the PPK or a cheaper copy, is always my first recommendation. Walther PPK and P38 are both single action AND double action. A single action pistol forces you to pull back the hammer before the first shot can be fired, but the double action feature allows you to fire the pistol without having to pull back the hammer. After the first round is fired the blow-back feature will automatically cock the pistol and place another round in the chamber. Either way you can carry it with a round in the chamber with the safety on.
    In Europe this particular caliber is commonly called nine millimer, but in the USA it is a 380 automatic. The difference is miniscule, but as I said, this pistol is put away for the future. I might be tempted to sell it when the bids get over $500.... but then what would I say if James Bond stopped by???




    

Wednesday Bike Run for Lunch

    All through the summer months Texoma Harley-Davidson is sponsoring a 'luncheon run.' Riders are encouraged to meet at the dealership at eleven o'clock on Wednesdays and the group will ride to a different eating spot each week.
    Momma and I joined the group yesterday to satisfy our daily habit of eating,..and to enjoy the company of fellow riders..
This would be the first time we would take the Shadow on any kind of ride outside the city limits since acquiring the bike one month ago.

  
   Last week we showed up at 11:02 and the riders had already left, so yesterday we were there at 10:45, just in case. The Honda passenger seat is not really built for the comfort of a second rider, but Momma knew that when I purchased the Shadow. I was also interested on how the bike would keep up with the Harley's, but I am proud to say I did not present a stumbling block for the other riders.

   
  After leaving the dealership, we headed west on Highway 82 to Sadler,...turned north on 901 and it carried us to US 377...and it would take us across the Willis Bridge into Oklahoma.

     
  Just south of Madill, we turned east on highway 32 and it ran us into US70 at Kingston, Oklahoma.. then into Durant about fifteen miles later.

   
  Momma had never been across the Roosevelt Bridge as we passed the Texoma Lodge and rode over a leg of Lake Texoma. We passed another two-wheeler about halfway across the bridge.

    Ceviche's is a new restaurant in Durant,...it is right on Main Street about a mile east of the main entrance to Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The owner is a former cook at 'The Mansion on Turtle Creek' in Dallas and finally has a place of his own. They have a luncheon menu that was extremely reasonable, but when we descended on them without warning we had to wait for a table for a group of seven.

   Momma had some kind of shrimp lovers dish and I stuck with chicken tacos, rice, and beans.... Yummy. The chips and salsa was pretty good too, and I usually fill up on that and can't eat the main course. It was a fun trip and is a weekly event. Just remember to show up around eleven o'clock on Wednesdays throughout the summer... You might want to make sure you have a full tank of gas so you don't have to worry about running out...

Bush Socks Obama

      If you haven't read one of my blog pages in the past you may not know I am a hard core Republican. While I usually judge presidential candidates on their individual accomplishments rather than their political standings, I do see myself as being on the Republican side of the isle. Having said that, you will understand how I am such a follower of former President George Bush..  George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st President of this country,...but so much more. Born to an affluent family, Bush had the opportunity to sit out World War II in one of his father's many businesses, but he volunteered for the Navy.

    
       On his 18th birthday he joined the Navy and became a pilot. He was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS San Jacinto and piloted an Avenger dive bomber. If you are unaware of this antiquated procedure, a dive bomber would attack from about ten thousand feet and dive straight down at their target before releasing their bombs and pull up just before plunging into the target or ocean. All the while, the target has multiple anti-aircraft guns firing up at you. I can think of no other job in the military that took more determination or dedication. Young Bush was shot down once and immediately flew the next mission the following day.

       This is the man that following the war took his chances on a job in the oil fields of West Texas and became a success on his own. He would be a Congressman, an Ambassador to the United Nations, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Vice-President to Ronald Reagan, and ultimately, President of the United States.
    If there is an idiosyncrasy of the former President, maybe it is his socks. He has always worn striped and wild patterned socks. Just this past February after he had been in the hospital with the flu, he visited the Houston Texan Cheerleaders to thank them for visiting him while he was hospitalized. His socks were on display for the entire world. 

   
  President Bush made a return to the White House this week..He joined current President Obama in recognizing the five thousandth person in the Points of Light program, started by Bush to initiate volunteer service. While at the White House, Mister Bush made a present of a pair of his socks to Obama.

  
   No, not the pair he was wearing, but a brand new pair. President Bush has been in a wheelchair for the past year as his 89 year old legs are giving out on him, but his mind is still alert. He remembered most of the White House staff by name, and enjoyed the smile his present brought to the current President.

  
   The responsibilities of the high office are more than one man can handle, so it is understandable for current Presidents to call and seek counsel from former Presidents. Mister Obama was quick to admit he had sought the advice of Mister Bush on more than one occasion. He also 'tweeted' his thanks for the socks later in the day. God Bless both men and guide them in these difficult days.


 

2005 Biker Bash at TMS

       It was 2005 and Momma & I decided to ride down to Texas Motor Speedway and take in a motorcycle show. Most of the big name builders were suppose to be there and we were expecting good results. It was a sunny day and the temperature in the mid 80's.

      Like any speedway on the NASCAR circuit, you have to drive through a tunnel to get to the inside of the facility. TMS has a long tunnel that really let the bikes echo as they made their way to the infield of the big track. I once heard Eddie Gossage (TMS President and General Manager) describe his track by saying four Texas Stadiums (home of Cowboys) could fit in the infield of TMS with room left over. The speedway is a one and a half mile track and one of the fastest on the NASCAR schedule.

     But this day the infield was packed with motorcycles of all types and shapes. A lot of vintage bikes were there just for the exhibition show, and I still marvel at the old Indians, Mustangs, and Cushman Eagles. The bikes did not fill the entire infield of TMS, but more than half of the area was jammed with every conceivable type bike. If license plates are any indication, some of the bikes on display came from far and wide. 

   
  Naturally, most of the attention was placed on the Open/Custom category of the judging. Rick Fairless is the owner of Stroker's in Dallas, and his shop has turned out some of the most beautiful machines to grace the streets. While I can't call him a friend, I have visited his establishment on several occasions. It is on Harry Hines Blvd in North Dallas and is well worth the trip.

   
   This chopper is one of Fairless' bikes and this particular photo does not do justice to the detail of the machine. I believe it was called 'Purgatory'...and you have to get closer to understand why.

      It's like scenes from Dante's Inferno all over the bike. There were ballot boxes for the bikes being judged and this is the one that I voted for...but it did not win. Still, a great example of craftsmanship.

   
  Always plenty of pretty girls at activities like this. These two have solved the problem of finding the bathrooms... take it with you. It was a motorized potty each was riding, but I doubt if they were functional.

   
  This is another bike from the shop of Fairless...and this one is covered with celebrities of movies and TV. Great paint application on these machines and the airbrush time must have been immense.

   
  This particular bike was built by Joe Martin of Dallas... His Martin Brothers project won the biker build off on TV a few years back. Great looking bike and I am a sucker for those extended front ends. Hard to make a turn, but they sure do look good. 

   
   Momma and I wanted to get out of the sun for a while and look what I found.... a '23 T-Bucket Roadster. Nice looking car and as is the application here:...the best Fords have Chevy engines!

 
    Here is the overall winner of the voting. The Texas Star was really a well presented bike and lots of detail went into this machine. Note the Alamo on the back of the rear fender.

   
  All too soon it was time to go.. As I look at the above photo I am reminded of my Nightrain. At the time of this photo I had a LaPera seat on the bike and it does not provide much cushion for the passenger. When we got home Momma told me she felt like she had been straddling a fence post. Needless to say, I started shopping for a seat from a Softail Custom the next day.

2005 Honda Rebel (Momma's Bike)

       It was 2005 and Momma finally got up the gumption to tell me she was tired of riding behind me on the Gold Wing and wanted a bike of her own. While Yamaha and Kawasaki both make a similar version,..both are mere imitations of the Honda Rebel. It is a tried and true good bike for beginners to the motorcycling sport. So we made a trip to Plano to check out the inventory at Maxim Honda on highway 75.

  
   Naturally they had one right in front in a metallic red, and even I had to admit, it was a good looking bike. The Honda Rebel shown above is a 250cc engine, five speed transmission, bike with an obvious slant toward the cruiser market. Wide tire in back with a skinnier tire up front. This is a well thought out little bike. The Rebel was intended for the beginning class of rider, but in the earlier years it also could be ordered with an eleven hundred cc engine. I am fairly sure the 1100cc and 1300cc engines only come in the Shadow and VTX line of models and the Rebel is exclusively a 250cc bike. 

      The salesman was johnny-on-the-spot when he recognized Momma's desire for this particular bike. I made him a good offer on the bike and he went to finish up the paperwork while I had to load the Rebel in my pick-up without any assistance from the dealership. This Rebel was actually a demo bike with about 200 miles on the odometer and I got it for about fifteen hundred dollars less than a new one.

      We took it home and unloaded it with the help of a couple of two-by-fours. The garage now had three bikes in it as the Rebel had to share covered parking with my Gold Wing and the Vulcan Cruiser (both bikes covered in previous blogs). There is a shopping center about three blocks from our house, and after hours and Sundays we would take the Rebel there to let Momma learn to ride all by herself.

  
    Slowly at first,..with me running alongside her,..we would go from one end of the parking lot to the other. The first couple of days she never got out of first gear,..but she was able to keep the bike going in a straight line and seem to be enjoying herself (note the smile above). About the fourth or fifth time we went to practice, she was running pretty tight in first gear and we went to the shifting lesson. For some reason she insisted on watching her left foot make the shift. I told her NOT to do that and keep her eyes up and watching in front of the bike. She was doing well and I was comfortable with her progress to the extent I took my eyes off her for a moment. When I looked up she was going down the sidewalk in front of those plate glass windows in the photo above. Just as I shouted she ran into the brick wall in between the plate glass and stopped. She had ground her left hand into the wall and broke the little finger. Lesson over! She told me she did not ever want to ride alone again...but only behind me.

 
   I have a friend that drives one of the Wal-Mart moving vans (WM moves its management personnel around from store to store and their moving expenses are paid by the company). He had been looking for a small bike for his son and this Rebel fit the bill perfectly. I charged him the same price as a new Rebel. He had a credit problem and I let him pay it out in three installments. We loaded it up on the van for the trip home to Plainview, Texas.
    Momma has sit on bikes at the Harley dealership on occasions, but has never entertained the thought of riding without me again.