From Everett, Monday evening, following my first visit to THE LAKES..........
Mutha Mary, I was impressed and humbled: FINALLY.... after my dear friend , Peter Kier, from LA told me about going to the lakes in 1952.
I have been to Bonneville 126 times since 1963. Little did I know the heritage of the elegance and prestige of B'ville. Racing on
the lake beds of California was the dirty beginning of LSR. The accomplishments of the early racers was beyond belief. As Dickie Milne drove
across the edge of the lake bed, Marlo Treit told me of his first experience there. Long ago, Cook Neilsen labeled me The Old Softie. It
really hit home as we entered the home of racing when it was at it's infancy. I recalled some of the stories that I heard at Gas Up. I could
relate to how basic racing was in the 1930's and following WWII. I held the video camera out the window and recorded, with no narration
because I wasn't qualified to comment. I was allowed to experience a situation that was way beyond "my poor power to add or detract".
Silence and moist eyes compelled me. Words failed me. Silence kept me from revealing what a compelling world I had entered. It was
better to remain silent than to open my mouth have my emotion silence me.
My tour guide, Stan Beck, helped me find some of the people for whom I looked. He wasn't able to help me find Desotoman, the Langlo's
and several others to whom I had dedicated this trip. I was blessed when Scott Stites came up to me and introduced himself. I am so
impressed with the dedication of his wife and her unselfish dedication and bringing their Oh SO Young daughter to the dirt. She had other
obligations this week but she brings their child to the "home of hotrodding." And sometimes we worry about the basis for continuing
this sport. Just BELIEVE. Our children and wives DO UNDERSTAND.
Dan Warner, the Gold Coast Roadster and Racing Club that have gone way beyond anything I could ever expect in including me in their
club and group, Rochlitzer, Matt Williams, Adam. Wes and the Raspberry Rocket, Jim Jensen and the Holy Starting Area, John Noonan and
Michelle, Robbie Cohn, the disciples of Phil Freuidger, another example of the siblings extending their Fathers love for racing............. the
LeFevers, Kennedy, Waters, Wilson, Mike Manghelli,
The El Mirage Woman's Group, Judie and Joanne, Calloway's wife, who shall remain nameless because of my case of CRS.....
It's 11:25 PM. At 9 AM today I received a warm hug from Tom Bryant in Redding. My day is too full to describe.
Add all of the humbling experiences that I have had this weekend and I am wasted, but I have recorded a promise to my self: I will return
to El Mirage and if I get lost, without any humility I will ask the Mayor for Guidance. For those that shared with me and I didn't mention you,
I'm sorry. Please accept my apologies.
Thank you to the racers of the past for the heritage and to the racers of the present.......THANK YOU for perpetuating it.
The Old Softie,
FREUD
AND to Glen Barrett for escorting me thru Georges "Walk thru Time, on the other side of the fence.
And Fast Freddie leaving a message on Kepner's cell fone, after he endured the harrassment called Bret's Greeting.
double D A M N
