A positive post...

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Yes, I have something positive to post about...Nothing to do with politics or religion, just Americana at it's finest.... This past Sunday Betty and I jumped into the car and went up to St. Johns Pa, which is the foothills of the Pocono Mountains. Now I'm sure most if all of you know just how much I detest professional sports and the damage they are in my opinion doing to our nation and the understanding of sportsmanship and priorities to our youth... but there is a sport I do enjoy though far from being professional... We went to Mountain Speedway, a 1/3 mile race track which is basically an auto track where the locals can get together and build cars to compete in one of five different divisions. These races are not won by the person with the best sponsors or the one that puts the most money into their car...The races are won by men and women that work on their car a couple nights a week after getting home from a regular day job....Unlike Nascar, people with families can actually afford to attend these races.... Adult $12.00, Seniors and children age 12 or under $9.00 and children under 6 Free... The racing and competition is really great BUT even better is to see entire families sitting in the bleachers laughing, pointing, teaching learning and sharing the experience together....Much as my family did when I was 5 years old in Morristown New Jersey.... And for certain I still have wonderful memories of those days... Yes it loud, and even exciting, lots of racing, lots of wrecks... even some drama but you know the families that do attend are drawn together... A day or evening of watching these locals racers in a field of 20+ cars racing on a third mile asphalt track is both fun and exciting... I've often heard people tell me how unappealing the idea of going to races is to them, yet their entire judgment was formed based on watching big tracks where big money, big names and teams get all the coverage....Those same people once I've dragged them to a track in most cases have returned time and time again...Take your kids, drag out your family and partners... They can tell you about there really not interested... but in all reality if they don't go you may well end up sitting at home just watching tv.... You know the people that have prejudged the activity, the same kind of people that will tell you that they know Janis music and it's just not what they are into because they have heard "At 17" and/or "Societys Child" ...But then from any two songs (or even single full CD) can a person really know the sound of Janis? I don't think so...

This is a day out with friends or loved ones that you will find rewarding if for no other reason then just sharing a special day in the sunlight or moonlight seeing something different and watching the joy of a six year old running along the track full of crazed enthusism.... Sometimes the best show isn't always on the track... Sometimes it's seeing a family enjoying a true family experice based on an Americana tradition... The same applies to Canada, Tracks like Merritsville just outside of Fonthill, Ontario and whatever other nations all have some thing similar I think...

Just a suggestion of a unique day or night out that you might REALLY enjoy.... At least I hope so....

Our best to you all.... Esopecially Janis/Staff and the UK Rudies and of course CHET :)

R. from Pa

[Rkitko]

Did you grow up in Morristown, Randy? I was born and raised a stone's throw away in Newton, NJ. Ever been up to or heard of the Port Royal, PA (Juniata County) race track? I haven't, but I was curious if anyone else had heard of that backwoods town ;)

[Denise]

Randy, when my husband and I moved into our first house in South Texas, our next-door neighbors had a car that they worked on and raced in exactly the same kind of track. Our first thoughts were "oh man, we're going to have all this noise and crap next door while they are revving up the engine...." etc..
Well, my husband was soon on the "pit crew", the car in OUR driveway, and we were at the races EVERY Saturday night! And it was a blast, met a lot of wonderful people, who we still are in contact with after 20+ years... and you are right about lots of families sharing the races together.
Glad you enjoyed it!!!!

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Good morning Rkitko, I was born in Morristown, but lived in Morris Plains... until age 8.... I used to go to Morristown Speedway (Actually Sorrano's Speedway)

Betty and I were up in Newton (not far from Knowlton) last fall while on one of our infamously notorious lets jump in the car and see where we end up rides... I'd guess that to be only about 30 miles or so from here...

Though over the years I have been to most of the tracks within a couple hundred miles as yet we've not made it to Port Royal, though through Area Auto Racing News we are familiar with the track...

Denise, Denise, Denise..... That sounds vaguely familar.... Motorhead/racer wakes up and sees biker type moving in next door and says "there goes the neighborhood"....Biker type looks out the window and says Damn thats a motorhead/racer type next door... "there goes the neighborhood..." Exactly one cold beer and a conversation later a life long friendship is born.... Ain't it grand :)

As to the wonderful people you've met, we experience that nearly everytime we go to the races though over the past few years we go far less then we once did.... I hope this posts gnaws at you and the Rock Denise and makes you run out to a local (and maybe forgotton) local track for a night at the races... Both the tracks and our families need each other....

:)

Best to all

R. from Pa

[Denise]

Randy...circa 1982 in our driveway in Corpus Christi, Texas!

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d74/mrsrock82/04-12-2006093723AM.jpg

(The pic is awful small for some reason but oh well, you can still see our precious race car back in the days....)

[folkrocks]

Anyone from West Virginia? I'm orginally from Mannington, West Virginia, attended Fairmont State and University of Northern Colorado. Have taught in Parkersburg, WVA. , Bradenton, Florida and Prince William County Virginia. I'm glad that I didn't stay in one place. But now I have to teach two more years to make up for all of the moving around. Teaching has changed so much the last thirty years. I'm so glad that I grew up in the 50's and 60's. I graduated from high school in 1966. You could leave your car and house unlocked. You had drive in movies not drive by shootings. It was a great time. :) The other day we had a hispanic kid tear down the American flag and stomp on it. I was taken back by that action. I don't like a lot of things going on in education today. This no child left behind is a bunch of bull. As a teacher I find that we are required to teach to the test, to hell with a kids ability to reason and analyze. Teach to the test. The federal government needs to stay out of the educational system. Bush has made such a mess of things. I'll be so glad when he's out of office.
Just sharing....Sue:confused: