Slinging Dirt Saturday Night In Oregon

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(captainblowdri file photo)

Last Saturday night found ol Captain Blowdri again at Madras Speedway in Central Oregon.  The program included wingless sprint cars, modifieds, and the screaming dwarf cars.

For the last four weekends I have had the opportunity to sample some local dirt track racing at a few tracks in Oregon, like Cottage Grove, Coos Bay, and Madras.  Even though the car counts at Coos Bay and Madras were not as robust as they could  be, the racing surface at each track, and the program organization was excellent.  I also noticed that at all three tracks there was a conducive family atmosphere.  Something that I think will keep these tracks in business in the future.

Touring the various race tracks that have been close to where we have parked our RV’s has been a lot of fun for me this summer. This summertime RV caravan consists of me, solo in my Fleetwood Expedition, and one of my brothers, Jim and his wife Edie, in their Fleetwood Revolution, and for the last month, my cousin Richard and his wife Carole, in their Monaco.

For the last four weekends, going to the various Saturday night racing venues has brought back great memories of 50 years ago when, both Jim and another brother Jerry were young teenagers, and they would take me to race tracks when I was just a very little boy.  It has been a great time enjoying the local Saturday night venues, watching the locals and their families having some quality time, as well as, hanging out with one of my older brothers, reminiscing about “the good old times”, as well as, enjoying a good ol Saturday night race!  (You know that you are getting older when you are referencing things that happened 50 years ago!)

Now that nearly all of the “traveling caravan” has pulled up stakes and headed up to Washington for some salmon fishing last Friday, I am, however, hanging out in La Pine by myself, waiting here til Labor Day.  On that day I, too, will be pulling up stakes, heading the ol RV South for Chico, CA, and you guessed it, camping out for some outstanding Sprint Car and Midget racing at Silver Dollar Speedway located at the fairgrounds at Chico.  I will be in Chico from Monday-Sunday morning, Sept 5-11th.  (Naturally, I will still be working on my redneck!)

At Chico I will be hooking up with a couple of good racing fans friends, Dan and Bernie Clapp.  Additionally, I will get together with Tim and Dorothy Donohue, my old EAL/UAL friends of 31 years, having some lunch and catching up on all things that are important to us.

SO FOR NOW, THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING, ROGER WILCO, OVER, AND OUT!

 

 

Dirt Trackin’ In The Northwest

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( a late model race car: captainblowdri file photo)

For the last three Saturday nights I have enjoyed watching races at three different dirt tracks in Oregon.  Three weeks ago I had the opportunity to partake in some great racing at Cottage Grove Speedway in Cottage Grove, Oregon.

On that particular night the show consisted of wingless sprint cars, late models, and the mighty midgets toting the mail on the high banked 1/4 mile clay oval.  The wingless sprinters put on a great show.  However the class of the night was the late models.  It was a very fast and extremely competitive race with the winner taking the lead on the very last lap!

The following Saturday night I took in some races at the Coos Bay Speedway in Coos Bay, Oregon.  On that Saturday night their program consisted of wingless sprint cars, late models, an outlaw 4 cylinder race class, and some street stockers.

The Coos Bay facility is a banked 3/8 mile track that on that Saturday night was in great shape and was lightening fast!  Once again the best race was the late models.

Last Saturday night I ventured up to Madras, Oregon to check out what kind of show that the promoter was putting together.  On the banked 1/4 mile track at Madras was modifieds, mini trucks, street stockers, and super stocks/late models.

These three venues have showcased their local drivers, and each facility has put on quite a good local Saturday night program.  However, I was most impressed with the organized quickness at Madras Speedway that was the underlying theme.  The races there started at 6:30 sharp and were concluded at 9:30pm!

It is great to watch a local short track facility put on a good show and get it done in a reasonable amount of time!

SO TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

 

An Open Letter To Dad

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(The Hammack brood at Mom’s 93rd birthday)

July 21st would be your 99th birthday!  “Can you feature that”!

There has been a lot going on since we last celebrated a birthday with you 16 years ago.  All five of us have retired from our respective careers, our children have grown up, and some have families of their own now.

Let me tell you about the last 16 years of my life.

In the summer of 1996 I finally accomplished my ultimate career goal of becoming an airline captain.  In September of 1996 I checked out as a United Airlines B-737 Captain!  It only took 17 years from the time I got out of the Air Force and was first was hired at Eastern Airlines!  But at the ripe old age of 45, I had made it to the top of the airline world.  And whether you knew it or not, from that point on you were with me, in the cockpit, on every trip that I flew at United.

Pop, you probably think how could I fly with you on every trip that you flew as Captain?  Well, the explanation is very simple.  Shortly after God called you home, and quite frankly I am still upset that he didn’t at least ask me my opinion on that subject, I found this poem that expressed all my unspoken feelings about your death.  So I made a copy of that poem and put in my uniform shirt pocket.  I made a point of making sure that I ALWAYS had it in my uniform pocket before I left on my trips!  So, Pop, you accumulated about 12,000 hours of flying in B-737, A-320, B-757, and B-767 in the last 15 years!  Let me tell you there were some times that I relied upon your life’s experiences to pull me out of some rather hairy flying predicaments.  The last “hairy flying predicament”, a cockpit fire in my B-757, triggered some medical issues with my heart that caused the FAA to medically ground me, putting an end to my flying career 5 years prematurely.  If the truth be known, I believe that it was you who was looking out for your youngest son that fateful evening of May 16, 2010 and guided me to safety!

Remember back in November of 1973 when my life changed so dramatically by becoming a father, and you witnessed that?  Well, October 19, 2002, immeasurably changed my life once again.  Pop, that was the day that your youngest son became a GRANDFATHER, and my son, Jeremy, became a father !  Again, “can you feature that”?  Dad, I have four grandchildren.  Unfortunately, the pair of twins that were born after Cole, came into this world prematurely, and failed to survive 24 hours.  But Cole, age 8 1/2, has a little sister, Hannah who is five.  She starts kindergarten this fall.  Just a note, Cole is nothing more than little Jeremy 25 years removed!

Pop, those two children are the apple of my eye!

Now, at age 60, I better understand just how you felt about all of your grandchildren, the joy that you took being surrounded by them, the pride you felt when they succeeded.  I am now experiencing some of those feelings with Cole and Hannah!

And speaking of feelings, I still have difficulty dealing with your death.  At times there is an emptiness that I have a hard time explaining.  They say that times heals all.  However, I beg to differ with that old adage!

Time does not heal all!  Time may help you to deal with a lose or a tragedy, however, it does not heal all!

And I have to disagree with one of you favorite sayings, as well.  You would say that it will be as good as new in a week or ten days.  Well it has been 15 1/2 years since your death and I am not as good as new!

The hole is still there!

So on July 21st, your 99th birthday, I will be thinking of you, missing you, and wishing that you were still walking on this Earth!

This video expresses my feelings in a nutshell!

 

 

Oregon Wine Tasting

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(Nehalem Bay Winery)

 

Today we made a pit stop at a local Nehalem Bay winery, namely the Nehalem Bay Winery.

 

I was impressed with their red wines. The Merlot was uncharacteristically smooth. There was no biting after taste associated with the Merlot.

 

Both the Pinot Noir and the Cabernet Sauvignon were equally full flavored and smooth, as well!

 

Although this is not the Napa, Sonoma, or Mendicino Valley, the Nehalem Wimery wines are very flavorful and full bodied!

 

Til next time, ROGER, WILCO, OVER, and OUT!

 

Sent from Leon Hammack’s smoking’ iPhone!

Posted via email from captainblowdri’s posterous

Tillamook Cheese Factory

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Today we paid a visit to this very famous cheese place, the Tillamook Cheese Factor in Tillamook, Oregon.  It was fascinating watching the processes for making their cheese and ice cream there.  Yes, they make ice cream as well!

When we entered the building, we went to the cheese tasting area.  From the tasting area we progressed into the display area and loaded up on some their fantastic cheeses.  I went directly to the Habanero Jack Cheese, the Garlic Red Pepper Cheddar, the Extra Sharp Cheddar, and the Pepper Jack cheese to put into my shopping basket.

Then we proceeded to grab an ice cream!  The Tillamook ice cream, I had a double scoop of their old fashion vanilla, was very tasty and very smooth!  I have been known to be considered an ice cream connoisseur by people in the know!

(Today I chose not to be a diabetic!)

Even though Tillamook distributes their product throughout the USA, there were a few of their cheeses that I have not seen in my local supermarket.  Therefore, I slipped a couple of the cheeses that I tested in the tasting room into my shopping basket.

If you have never tried their Habanero Jack Cheese or their Garlic Red Pepper Cheddar, you will do yourself a favor by gabbing some and put it on some Triscuit Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil crackers.  It will be some mighty fine snacks!

FOR NOW, ROGER, WILCO, OVER, AND OUT!

 

Life At 93!

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(Mom on her 93rd birthday)

 

On June 12th our family came together in Fresno to celebrate the 93 years of Mom’s life.  On June 13, 1918 in Sayre, OK, our Mom made her entry into this world.  Think about it, not that many families can gather together to celebrate 93 years of a parent’s life!

Nevertheless, that is just what we did.  All of my siblings, most of our children, a couple of cousins, and some friends gathered for some good food, great stories, fellowship, and just had a wonderful afternoon.

We had good eats.  There was 29 lbs of succulent Tri-Tip, skillfully grilled by the “Grill-master”, my brother Jerry.  My sister and two sisters-in-law whipped up their magic in the kitchen with some great side dishes that accompanied the Tri-Tip.

After everyone consumed their fill of the absolutely delicious food that was on hand for the occasion, my nephew, Scott, set up his equipment to show the video he had compiled for this event.  The video, accompanied with very cool audio, included pictures that encompassed the 77 years since our parents first married in 1934.

The video included pictures of Mom and Dad, both from their early years, good times and bad, as well as a few pictures that spanned their almost 62 years of marriage, including the very last picture that I took of Mom and Dad together.  The picture was part of a day trip up to Mt. Evans, when I lived in Colorado.  That particular picture of Mom and Dad was taken with the backdrop of golden aspen leaves and the strikingly beautiful blue spruce, as well as the majestic Colorado Rocky Mountains.

That photograph will forever be etched in my memory bank!

Scott also included various pictures of all five of us kids at different times in our lives, in conjunction with early family pictures.  Some of those pictures in the video were both sentimental and humorous, it also reflected the wackiness and struggles our early beginnings.

For me, the video was a very reflective and an emotional stroll down the street that we all know very well, Memory Lane!  It reminded me of just how far the five of us children have come on our own life’s journey!  Our father would be very proud of how his children turned out, I do believe.

The family gathering was a simply wonderful afternoon of celebration for Mom’s 93rd birthday.  I am not sure who enjoyed the day more, Mom or all the rest of the family!  But rest assured, it was an afternoon that we all will remember forever!

It was, after all, a celebration of life, and a time to honor our Mom.  It was a very special day in my life!

As a side note, how many parents live long enough to see all of their children retire?  Well Mom has done just that!

Mom you can rest easy. Your job is finally done!

We all made it!

 

Flat Track Motorcycle Races

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Well it has been about 33 years since I have been to some AMA flat track motorcycle races, and tonight I am at the Petaluma Speedway taking in some bike races!

It is really cool to watch the riders lay their bikes, and let the foot pegs drag. The boys were handle bar to handle bar and really “twisting the wick”!

So far this summer vacation has been extremely fun, as well as relaxing.

For now it’s Roger, Wilco, Over, and Out!

Sent from Leon Hammack’s smoking’ iPhone!

Posted via email from captainblowdri’s posterous

 

Wine Tasting In The Russian River Valley

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(all that’s missing is you!)

We stopped at the Russian River Winery Friday. We tried some of their wines, both white and red. What I found to be intriguing was that their Red Zinfandel was quite intriguing!

This area is known for it’s pinot noir and chardonnay grapes, however, this particular winery produces a very flavorful Red Zinfandel.

It is a 2009 vintage sold under the label of “Chester” Zinfandel:
Redwood Valley with a price tag of $23. This product is named after the “winery pooch”. The label has his picture, Chester, on it!!

More to come about the Russian River Valley and the associated wineries in the area!

Sent from Leon Hammack’s smoking’ iPhone!

Posted via email from captainblowdri’s posterous

 

They Stood The Watch

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(photo courtesy Leon Hammack)

This weekend, the Memorial holiday weekend, marks the traditional beginning of the American summer.  It signals to most to dust off the grill, clean the boat, get a new swimming suit, re-condition the waters skis, work on your sun tan, and for some work on your basal cell carcinomas, but mostly just enjoy the freedom of the outdoors.  Yes it is a time for friends and family to have fun.

This weekend most families will gather in backyard, the beach, the lake, the river, at their relatives houses, having fun, grilling, and enjoying their freedom.

There is that word again, freedom!  That word is one of just a few that continuously seems to find its way into the vocabulary of American culture.  We have the freedom to go where ever we so desire.  We have the basic freedom of speech.  We enjoy freedom of religion, or freedom not to participate in an organized a religion.  We have the freedom of the press to print all the news that is fit to be the news, without fear of recrimination!

It would appear that we have it all, and we do.

Notwithstanding, all those freedoms that we, as Americans, have the privileges of enjoying, comes with a very high price tag.  Someone must provide those freedoms by defending our culture and way of life when necessary.  Those defenders are none other than some of “us”.  The “us” that I am talking about comes from our finest young men and women this country has to offer.  These defenders are our sons and daughters, our moms and dads, our aunts and uncles, our brothers and sisters.

It is odd that we call upon our youth to defend our principles, our culture, and our way of life.  We call upon these people to train as warriors in order to defend our freedom by fighting aggression, terrorism, and tyranny worldwide.  Unfortunately, these fine young people sometimes to pay the ultimate price for our freedom by giving their life!  As we all know, there is a very huge price for our way of life.

There are two very important principals to remember this weekend:

1.  Freedom is never free!

2.  These are ordinary folks doing extraordinary things!

 

Together, across the years of our nation’s history, they answered the call.

They stood the watch.

They looked neither left nor right.

They did not search for an exit.

They walked steadily and unafraid into mortal danger, knowing all the risks and all the costs.

SEMPER FIDELIS!

This weekend is a holiday designed to recognize the men and women in our military.  However, it is really a time to honor those who have paid the ultimate price for freedom, laying down their life so that our way of life will continue to thrive.

To all my family and friends who have served in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard, I salute you!

To all those who have lost loved ones while defending our country, your loved ones will never be forgotten!  I salute you as well!

I will leave you with this from John 15:13

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his country/family/brothers/friends”

I hope that you will listen to the words of this chilling song by Trace Atkins and the West Point Choir.

Say a prayer for peace for our daughters and our sons!

THEY STOOD THE WATCH!

 

 

 

 

A Promise Made, A Promise Kept!

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The 9/11 attacks

(UAL Flt 175 prior to impacting The World Trade Center Bldg.)

On September 11, 2001, we suffered the worst terrorist attack in the history of the USA.  It was a moment that reverberated around the world instantly.  Within just a few days our government issued a promise that “we would do whatever it takes to bring the individual(s) to justice”.

The USA put into a plan, worldwide, to hunt down, apprehend, and bring the individual(s) to justice.

As the days turned into weeks, the weeks turned into months, and the months turned into years, the idea of keeping that promise seemed to fade into the distant past.  It appeared that the Taliban and Saddam Hussein had replaced Osama bin Laden as the prime focus in our war on terrorism over the past nine and one half years.  Rarely would the name of Osama bin Laden come up on newscasts or in newsprint.

However, out of the clear blue, on Sunday night May 1, 2011, Osama bin Laden’s name re-appeared front and center in the news like a bolt of lightening.  On that evening the news organizations, worldwide, initially reported that the USA had found, captured, and killed Osama bin Laden in a city not far from the Pakistan capital city of Islamabad! It now appears that bin Laden had lived in that compound for the last 5-6 years!

How can it happen that the world’s most wanted terrorist could live, without any detection, in a large city in Pakistan, an ally of the USA?  The city of Abbottabad, Pakistan has a large military presence, both active duty and retired, living in this city.  As a matter of fact, Osama binLaden’s compound was situated less than 10 minutes from Pakistan’s equivalent of West Point Military Academy! Is that incredulous or what?

I find it inconceivable that the world’s most wanted terrorist could hideout within plain sight of thousands of people!

Nevertheless, to the people who died on September 11, 2001, in the World Trade Center buildings, FDNY firefighters, the NYPD, innocent bystanders on the ground, and all the flight crewmembers, May 1, 2011, has culminated in the death of the orchestrator of that devilish terrorist plot that has defined the first decade of the 21st century.

Notwithstanding, the threat of terrorism still rages on worldwide!  However, the USA has delivered a huge blow to terrorism with the elimination of Osama bin Laden!

So to my friend and coworker, Captain Jason Dahl, and to all his crew on UAL flight 93 that crashed in a field in PA, to the crewmembers of UAL flight 175 that crashed into the World Trade Center, and lastly to the crewmembers of both AA flights 11 and 77……..

A PROMISE MADE, A PROMISE KEPT!

REST PEACEFUL MY FRIENDS, WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR SACRIFICE!

FINALLY, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!