Talk about a trip down memory lane. Bill, I seem to remember a Strick's Automotive as a race team in the late 60's or early 70's as a very competetive team either in Super Stock or early funny cars. Help me out here..Here's a great link to my old racing days. There are some great photos for you racing guy's.www.doverdragstrip.com

Francis - As I pointed out in a prior post, no one really knows the original derivation of "the Whole Nine Yards". We do know though that a belt of .50 MG ammunition is not 9 yards long. Not that Wikipedia is the ultimate resource, but they point out (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_whole_nine_yards) that the phrase didn't become popular until the 50's - after WW II.

Look up Don Roberts on any drag racing website and you'll find pictures my old friend Don in various rails and funny cars up and down the East Coast. He broke many records 'in the day' one of which was 175 mph in the 1/8 mile at Norwood Ma. back in the 70's. His racing career (and it was a colorful one) ended when he had a horrific crash and as a result, lost a leg. Look up "famous quotes of drag racers" and you'll find Don's quote made sometime after that crash where he states "After the third flip I lost control."
He and I worked at the same Shell station in the mid-sixties - I had a '65 GTO and he had a 305 Honda Scrambler. We would swap vehicles often... Kathy rode with me on/in both - Great days those were.

Dean, You're not gonna believe this...but my first job was in a Shell station!...in the 60's. They were stock car guy's.

http://images.tolmol.com/images/modi...7218781m9v.jpgOriginally posted by Dean Romig: ... I had a '65 GTO ...

I loved that car Jack! What a muscle car! I should have died in that car several times.... the stories I could tell :cool:

You got that right Dean..and I,m sure us "Ol" hot rodders have a few stories of our own to tell..I know I do. Not to worry though remember "only the good die young" and you're way to old to worry about that now....:biglaugh:

Does anyone here remember seeing the Art Afrons & his brothers brothers and their "Green Monster" drag cars?

George

Didn't Art build one of the first jet-powered dragsters?

Personally I don't mind off subject forms there fun. We all love r shotguns but we run out of things 2 say about them sometimes. The fellow who is a typing perfectionist who grips about charlies typing get over it its not that hard to read. I'm sure theres things you don't do perfect, maby not. Abought the wheat price i hope it goes way up might get me another Parker or get wood made 4 my lifter. Fact is i need to put it back together so i can. check whole corn prices it might b cheeper than wheat 4 bate 4 your deer charlie. good day 2 all ch

Art Arfons went on to set the land speed record several times in his "Green Monster" series of cars. Was also involved in a tragic wreck at a drag strip resulting in the death of 3 spectators

In the process of googling around about this thread, I found that there are many websites and chat rooms around the country where old racers trade pictures, videos, and stories about the old days. One local forum is restricted to Virginia drag racing history. Oddly, although it discusses activities that went on just down the road from me, I hardly recognized any names. We Maryland racers didn't get out much since we had many strips here and in Delaware and only the big money guys who got appearance money spent any time in Virginia. I am surprised how many tracks are still operating. Our local 75-80 Dragaway reopened recently because the land development planned for the property went on the back burner because of the collapse of the real estate market. A group of history buffs on one of the chat rooms made a trip to the closed Aquasco Speedway in Charles County, MD and found that it is now a hunt club, whatever that means. I used to hunt quail around Aquasco in the sixties. It was a depressed area at the time where you could walk across twenty properties in a day and never cross a fence. No one could afford livestock and there was hardly any cultivated ground because there was very little modern planting or harvesting equipment. Tobacco was still cultivated, but in very small tracts. There were deer hanging in every outbuilding, in season and out. There was very little law in Charles and St. Marys Counties, slots were legal and other gambling was tolerated. We would never walk through the same field twice in a day of hunting, raised a covey in almost every field, and found it very hard to find singles that could be shot because of the heavy growth in the woods. This is even with great dogs and young legs. I had always hunted with a 12 gauge before, but switched to my VH 28 gauge after some experience with long days in thick brush in Charles County. My host for those hunts shot a 16 gauge Sterlingworth that had long ago been cut off to about 23 or 24 inches. He was the best quail shot I have ever seen before or since. He was only a couple of years older than I was but had probably shot thousands of quail. Only years later did he give up the setters and become a waterfowler. I remember one covey at which we both shot. His dog brought a bird to him and he claimed it. I protested that I had shot the bird in question. He was so used to success that he stuck to his guns. We sent the dog back out, with us following. We found a second dead bird within a couple of feet of where the pup picked up the first bird.

And slowly the bow of the USS Parker points to windward, and the land of all things shotgun and hunting related!:)

A bit too abruptly I think.... Murphy didn't even mention his 454 powered Surburban.... :shock:

Dean, the times I was discussing were before I got my first job with my Uncle. I was in the bitter end of high school and the first part of college, 1964 to 1968 or so. My uncle called me in the last part of 1967 and I never hunted birds in Southern Maryland again.

Uncle dragged you out of college to work in the family business?? :shock:

What happened to your student deferment?

That is sad. It sounds like a wonderful place to hunt quail.

Dean, this was the time of the "lottery". I can't even remember whether a 2-S trumped a low lottery number. However, it didn't make a lot of difference. When they told me I would be going "some day", I foolishly asked, "How about today?" They were quite agreeable.

Bill, regardless of the circumstance, the how, the why, or the when; “Volunteer” is still a proud title to hold and one that not all may claim.

Easy to tell - your Army serial number began with "RA", rather than "US"

I was drafted not once, not twice but three times. I was the last group from Michigan to get called. The numbers went to 90 and mine was 87.

The first time Uncle called I was in college. I had taken a summer course so when the regular semester rolled around I didn't have enough credits so I took an Archery class. I was drafted as soon as class was over and left for Basic Training 12/26. I shot well and was again drafted into Special Forces, needless to say this youngster was :shock:,:cuss:.

Looking back on it I think the "draft" should be reinstated as a lot of our youth is rather misguided.

I couldn't agree more!! And "misguided" is much too kind. So many of them have no direction at all and couldn't care less.

Not to paint with a broad brush.... There are a lot of kids who make us very proud who know exactly where they're going in life.

THANKS servicemen for your duty. You all done good. Wish people in this country had a clue. Seen a picture of the president with some commanders in dress uniforms they were all saluting his hands were hanging together seems like he should of had his hand on heart or saluting but I don't know the sercumstances. But it seems he's disreceptable to our flag and country. Lot of things make me sad anymore. ch The kids are misguided parents stoped telling there kids to quit acting like an idiot so they never stopped and now it seems theres a lot of idiots. thank God my Dad helped me told me right from wrong. And I'M far from perfect but at least i no right from wrong.

Do tell !!

Most GTO fans will know the Italian language vocabulary behind GTO but rumour has it that the design team had to come up with that version because the real version was thought to possibly be slightly over the top for the competition, as well as Sunday school teachers. As I recall, possibly in a dream but who knows, DeLorean, Gee, Wangers and Collins had put in an all nighter one Saturday, when they should have been home tending to the BBQs. On Sunday, old Alfred P. Sloan happened to wander in, which was unusual given his age but he still loved the company. He happened upon the team who, by then, were fatigued. Drawings were all over the place and Sloan picked up one and said "Who's idea is this?? Amazing! ". One by one, the team peered through bleary eyes and not one of them could recall the drawing. Finally, DeLorean spoke up and said "Don't know Alfred, I guess God Took Over. And so, it is rumored, was born the acronym GTO, which the legal department quckly determined had to be re-worked to Gran Turismo Omologato. Now come on, who can say that and why is legal so intent on getting God out of everything anyway? I have been a long time Mopar fan but have a soft spot for the somewhat heavenly early GTOs.

Cheers,,
Jack

John Dallas, those of us who "volunteered" by throwing ourselves on the grenade still maintained our US serial number prefix if we did not foolishly sign up for the third year before we had served a day of our obligatory two years. The only difference between a two year US and a three year RA was that we two year guys didn't get to choose our MOS. I remember being in a unit at Fort Lee, Virginia where returning Vietnam veterans were cursing the final year they had to serve stateside just because they were scared into the third year by being told they would die if they didn't sign the papers.

I guess that's what happened all those times I should have died in that car.

As far as Mopars are concerned, I beat out a few Hemi GTX's but I attribute that to driving (racing) skill rather than a fictitious superiority of a 389 over a 426 :nono:

Bill - I got my draft notice when I started the Wharton School for my MBA. I was able to get a deferment to let me finish the first semester and enroll in an OCS program. Including a year in Korea as an ammunition depot commander, my total time in was 2 years, 7 months. (I had an RA prefix until I was commisioned)

A salute is then in order, Sir
 

As I was a E-6, MOS 0311 (basic rifleman) and 2112 (Armorer). I think you may well be right, John about the "Whole Nine yards" But understand, if you will, my Lt. Col. USAF 'friend" from the two weeks UMCOR TDY tour in FL a while ago was the first one in my life to ever offer a logical explanation to that oft-heard phrase.

Furthermore, not only is he an Officer and a Gentleman, he is a Southern Gentleman, and I tend to rank those as highly as I do the late Gen. "Chesty" Puller. Case in point- we had some female volunteers on the job site crews, as well as doing the cooking and laundry for the crews- A sweet Lady from Waycross, GA was up with us on a roof (in FL any roof built over a 4/12 pitch is considered "steep") we were removing damaged shingles and plywood, she slipped and caught her backside on a nail point- Bob caught her and took off his shirt to cover her "wounded area" and to also protect her modesty- We had a First Aide tent nearby so she received proper medical care (and a new set of clothes) from them, and came right back up on the roof and resumed the work--

So, if Bob had told me that Ho Chi Minh played Ma Jong with 5 Trappist Monks on Fridays- I'd believe him- He also confirmed the aviators term "The Iron Compass" for me, NOT to be confused with the Iron Triangle of course--

But as a qualified Armorer who serviced and test fired a few "Ma-Deuce's" back in my day (now they have a Modified M2 with closed bolt firing, fixed headspacing, right or left hand feed options, and Stellite liners in the barrels for the SLAP specialized rounds- and usually our Uncle goofs up, but this new version will also take the std. barrel group that requires headspacing and the aircraft group with its lighter profile-- anyway, I took the armament specs for my favorite WW11 Allied fighter plane, the P-51D Mustang- 6 .50 MG's total rd. capacity of 1880- 2 sets at 400 rds each, 4 sets at 270 rds. each (Thanks to my Jayne's ref books) at an aprox. working width of .850" x 1880 equals 133.2 ft. for all SIX feed trays (Belts is a misnomer here- the 1919-A-1 Cal. 30 MG had a cloth belt, the M-2 .50, like the fine German M34 and later M43 LMG's had a frangible metal feed link- most common came linked 100 rds. in a attachable feed ammo box--

Our USMC legend- Gunny Carlos N. Hathcock about 1968 worked up a modification of the M-2 set for single rd. firing and scoped it and took out an enemy target of opportunity at almost 2000 yds- a "one shot confirmed kill" Now we have the Barrett and other .50 cal modified sniper weapons in "The sandbox" Little did John M. Browning know in 1921 that two of all his great military weapons he designed for the US would endure yet today- the 1911-A-1 .45 ACP pistol and the "Ma-Deuce" in all its useful variants.

Thank you for your service to Our Country in Korea, Lt. Dallas!!:bigbye:

Francis: Carlos Hathcock aka "White Feather" is also one of my true heroes. He also took out an expert enemy sniper at a somewhat shorter distance with a well placed round through the enemy' scope. Most of the grunts from there, be they Marine or Army, would tell you how much they counted on their .50 and would give their left testicle to get one if they didn't have one. 90 years later it is still a prized weapon today over in the "sandbox".

Best Regards, George

Yes a hero Carlos pulled some fellows out of an burning a c p if I remember right. He saved a lot of lives a true honor to save somebody ch

well...this thread is all over the place. :corn:
so....I thought I had a pretty good appreciation for our troops....from all wars and conflicts. I had the excellent oppurtunity to spend the evening last night with an extrordinary young man of 19. He just got back fron Iraq. His dad is retired from Navy. His brother is in the marines. He is in the army.
They were doing a sweep of homes over there and came across a mother and child huddled together. The child was 8. They were hiding AK 47's. The 8 year old grabbed one and pumped 5 rounds into this young mans chest. Unbelievable. Broke the plate in the vest but did not pierce it. Is tough for me to even write what he had to do to survive. At 19 years old. \
Prayer works. Please pray for our guys over there. Thank you.

What a tough position to be in. Survival is a primal instinct and thankfully it takes over without thought. When it's you or them age, sex doesn't matter. I'm sure his family is glad to have him home all in one piece.

"Gunny" Hathcock did that indeed
 

A "Boot brown Bar" 2nd. Looie sent the column out on a unsecured road, the gooks had planted a delayed mine, the lead vehicle took the hit and Carlos pulled out and saved the lives of three Marines, suffered major burns himself, and was nominated for the Navy Cross- He told Captain Jim Land that they should receive the medal instead of him- three years to recuperate- In 1976 Gunny Carlos Norman Hathcock was selected to be the NCOIC of the newly designated USMC Scout/Sniper School in Quantico. The USMC, like the other branches of our Military, has its legends and heroes galore- Gunny "Long Tran" Stands alone- "There have been many other Expert Rifleman, many became Scout/Snipers, but there is only ONE Gy/Sgt. Carlos N. Hathcock"

Wow I'll sure be glad when this heat is over. It seems to always make people cranky and a little mad. It's like cabin fever without the snow and cold but with lots of sweat and mosquitos.

Mike

"Cranky" as in crankshafts perhaps?
 

Mike, IMO- one of the many great things about our PGCA Forum- we have many contributors who know so many things more than our beloved Old Reliables- Now a specific thread you might start- let's say on Parker ejectors, we should stay close to that topic, add what info and experience we can offer, and maybe not get into the weather or whether Brett or not will remain a Purple People eater this Fall-he will at 16.5 mil I just heard-man could afford a matched pair of BHE 28 gauges with that!

But when a member like Charlie starts his thread with an open question or two, say commodity prices- well then, the doors are opened a bit wider, and who can predict where the discussion will lead. I learned a lot from Messers Suponski, Romig and Murphy about performance cars, engines, race tracks out East- and as my late Granddad taught me to try to learn something new each and every day of my life, I am grateful for that info- But you are right about the hot and muggy weather-but cheer up- Fall is just around the corner- :bigbye:

Yup, very seldom can a PGCA thread on the price of a bag of wheat can go eight pages.

Thanks Francis! This is a good thread to read. It's helps in many ways to place personalities with people. White Feather was a hero in every sense. I've often wished I'd bought one of his autographed books. It's funny but my Dad never told me to never volunteer for anything until after I already had volunteered.;-))
My dream car is a '67 Camaro.

Mike

Mike, which do you prefer, the Z-28 the SS or the Rally?

_____________________________________________

Dean, I know exactly what you mean... There were many a night the VW Bus decisively trounced 427 Vettes, LS-6 Chevelles, 454 Suburbans, and Holley aspirated 460 Ford Country Squire wagons, which like yourself, I also attribute to above average driving (racing) skills...:D

CSL

70 1/2 Camaro 427 4 speed, my dream car. Don't care what it says on front fender. Jest so its got a spoiler package. ch My fun night un caped my headers and went to town bet a vett and out ran the hypo. 76 RS ran good 4 a 1976 era, musle was about gone by then.