The Birthplace Of Speed Celebration At The Beach

So, after a series of eventful days filled with chasing cars parts, a fantastic shrimp dinner, a day with a good friend and another day in which this olelongrooffan was able to assist thejeepjunkie in a recovery effort, this olelongrooffan spent Monday, March 15, 2010, negotiating a truce between blogspot and Sprint over my ability to post images to By The Numbers.

Plus spent a few hours surfing these tubes to try and find gainful employment.

However, while out and about on the tubes this olelongrooffan did find something fun to do on Tuesday.

I am sure you Counters out there are wondering how you can have fun on a Tuesday.

In the words of The Great One, "Well I did."

Now Counters, this olelongrooffan has often referred to the fact that I reside in the Birthplace Of Speed and love it.

While out there in the world of these tubes that I seem to live in these days, this olelongroofan became aware of this event that to happen on Tuesday, March 16, 2010.

So, of course you know I had to scamper on down to the closest beach access to my beach from the Taj Mahal, yeah, Cardinal Street, and check out all the cool stuff to be seen that day.

Now, there were quite a few folks down there on that mid 60's temperature, wind blowing out of the north kind of day so some of the images have a bunch of people around the cars so, when this olelongrooffan walked by I just grabbed a shot of some of the car, only to come back later and find it available for a full on shot.

The lead car in that southward facing bunch was a 1906 Fiat. I listened as the Ormond Beach city employee was describing the car. It was a trophy winner at the Amelia Island Concours d' Elegance earlier this month.

It was chain driven and a real

nice work of Art in Automotive History.

I seem to remember it won a major Grand Prix race back in its day but it escapes the mind of this olelongrooffan at this moment and no amount of googling is able to locate that fact.

But for an Amelia Island award winning Owner to bring his priceless classic to my beach, this olelongrooffan can only offer a heart felt "Thank You, I Appreciate It."

And just walking northward along the beach

I encountered a bunch of nameless old open fender cars to share with you Counters.


This olelongrooffan did try to get all artsy fartsy so you Counters out there can see

some of the unique parts of these classic beauties.

Not one, not two, but three spares! Ahhh, I bet it was a challenge driving back in those days.

There was a unique variation of vehicles on the beach that windy day.

And the dude in the image below, I can, unequivocally, state the shirtless, flip-flop wearing dude checking out that Model A is not from around these parts, at least not on a permanent basis. Now, I know you Counters out there are wondering how this olelongrooffan can make such a pompous

comment? Well look at everyone else in that image. Yeah, sweat shirts, jackets and jeans were the norm. We know when it is cold in these here parts.

But I have this to say about that, cold or not, it was nice that day on the Beach.

And, again, with the influence of that artsy fartsy friend of mine, this olelongrooffan got this image of the old style engine crank

and this one of the brass headlight on that crank bearing automobile.

That trusty ole Polaroid ain't so bad. Thanks again Bus.

And then I spotted this cool ole themed Buick.

It was in original condition and had an excellent patina.

And the top was held together, NASCAR style. Yeah, black duct tape.

It is a veteran of at least one Birthplace of Speed Celebration.

It sported real wood wheels.

This is a pristine full restored Model T.

And a newer roadster.

This brilliant yellow and glossy black rumble seat equipped roadster was especially nice.

DOOOH!

The racecar sported a bright purple paint job.

I thought this shorty roadster was quite unique.

This is the boattail of the purple roadster shown a couple of images previously.

Another Model A rumble seat equipped roadster. This one is beige and brown.


The interior was pristine.

And, once again, going all artsy fartsy, this olelongrooffan got a shot of the step on the rear fender to use to get into the rumble seat.

And again, following with the mirror theme.

All in all, a great turnout on a windy, chilly day. That tower to the right is the Beach Patrol's lifeguard tower at Cardinal Street and the Beach.

The dude partially shown to the right is a photographer for the Daytona Beach News Journal. His version of this image showed up in Wednesday's edition.

This Ormond Beach employed dude is hold a dash plaque from the first Birthplace of Speed Celebration in 1959.

As this olelongrooffan noticed, as I was walking back to my olestationbus, while I was on that beach in jeans and a sweatshirt, it is still Spring Break and suntans to many others.

Or maybe a pick up game of football.

Or just fishing in the surf.

But know this Counters, everyone on that beach that day, including this olelongrooffan, was able to

Celebrate Life.

Now, This olelongrooffan's Version Of WTF?

I don't remember getting all political on By The Numbers previously but, I mean, this is just total out and out rape of all of us taxpaying, yes, unemployed for nearly two years and this olelongrooffan owes $154 to the IRS, citizens.

As it stands right now, the oleragtop possibly needs a new transmission, definitely needs new shoes and my insurance is due!

Yet I am paying the IRS money I don't have to allow that crook, Alcee Hastings, D-Miami, an impeached Judge, and now, sadly, a member of the House of Representatives, $511 a month to lease a Lexus! And, although elected in 1992, and in every election since, his staff claims his lease price is because he can only commit to 2 year leases in case he is not re-elected.

Rep. Harry Teague, D-New Mexico, with a net worth of 36 million dollars, spends $1,279 of my money every month on a Chevy Malibu lease. Yeah, a Malibu. Harry, you possess some killer negotiating skills there buddy.

And it is not just the Democrats.

H*ll, Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, who is a staunch Republican, a deservedly decorated Veteran and a former Prisoner of War in Vietnam, collects $1,143 per month for his daily driver, and he was first elected in 1992 and often runs unopposed.

Although this olelongrooffan is not as political as some around these tubes, maybe my not having the ability to post images on blogspot might kick my *ss to start paying more attention to this cr*p.

And click on this link to see yet another reason, albeit car related, come November, 2010, this olelongrooffan will be voting the bastages out!!

And it is hoping you Counters out there agree that lets this olelongrooffan

Celebrate Life.

At The Daytona 380

So, I woke up Sunday morning around 6:30 am. Don't ask me why, I didn't mean to and, if I had my druthers, I would not have. But I did. So I gathered up the bike the Kid and thejeepjunkie have so graciously allowed the olelongrooffan to use, as they already have about 8 other bicycles in their garage and I got the oldest one...but all is good. So I took that old bike out to the beach. D*mn, am I out of shape. But still a fun ride along the beach at the Birthplace of Speed. I arrived back at the Taj Mahal about an hour later and served myself up a helping of soft boiled eggs, coffee and orange juice, sans vodka, in anticipation of a fun filled day out at the World Center of Racing for the Daytona 500.

So I headed out in the olestationbus going to the track and I called thejeepjunkie to see what was up. He was looking around for a long 1/2" socket extension so he could fix the Kid's CJ5's brake lights without removing the master cylinder. I mentioned I would whip a Uee in the olestationbus head back to the Taj Mahal and see if I had one. Well, of course, while I am sure I have had one of these in my past life, I don't have one now and informed thejeepjunkie of this. He was bummed but commiserated with me about that.

So I popped by Old Mill Run and realized that I had just barely escaped a total control freak in action.

Please understand, I am not perfect in my relations with members of the opposite sex and tend to have difficulty in any degree of success in my relations with them. All of my brothers and nephews have done significantly better than I have in my relations with members of the female persuasion. Crap, I can't even seem to get along with my sisters, but that is another blog, and probably a bunch of very expensive therapy sessions.

So, as it turns out, thejeepjunkie and the Kid realized that thesungoddess needed them to mow a winter lawn, clean a small pile of the neighbor's dog's poop out of the front yard all the while the Kid's sister was shooting hoops in the front yard and, when she missed a bucket, the ball bounced off the folded down windshield of thejeepjunkie's CJ2A.

As I have previously stated, I may not be the most successful at relationships, but DAMN!!

I will always work at getting better, but seriously, this is the Daytona 500 weekend. Can't the lawn wait until Monday, when the Kid and his sister will be off school for President's Day? But then, a whole lot about me is unemployed and maybe I just don't get it.

So I headed out to The Speedway, solo, and had me another look around. This was the third, out of four, days of racing so I thought I might have seen it all. Nope...not even close!!

One of the first things I noticed was all the paraphernalia the race commentators use when describing stuff about the NASCAR racecars, as well as the "Hollywood Hotel" which serves at the broadcast studio on the NASCAR circuit.

I then just strolled around the pits

watching all these guys prep for the race

and noticing it was a helluva lot more crowded at the Daytona 500 than any of the previous days of racing I attended this SpeedWeeks.

Oh yeah, there is one goofy f*ck in every crowd, and No, I do not know him.

I was able to get fairly close to the cars as Governor Charlie "I Am Not Gay" Christ told those boys to start em up.

and that was just after

these jets came cruising overhead. Always an awesome sight.

And you think your gas lines are long. I wonder how long these dudes had to wait to fuel up at one of only two Sunoco gas stations in the infield.

and I don't mind telling ya, it was nice to see the grandstands were packed. As the Daytona News Journal mentioned in their Sunday front page headline "Racing Stimulus".

And as the pace laps were run, I got a chance to see the two new Camaros in action.


And the race is underway!!! Look at all the spotters on the rooftop of those suites on top of the grandstands!!

And only for my family and friends in the Queen City of the Ozarks.

I guess in honor of GM offering up a couple Camaros for pace cars, I guess they do have a few bucks for marketing, after all, I will presume that Camaro was the featured marque at this year's 500.

Although I am not a huge fan,

I believe nearly

every generation

of this car was in this specially marked lot for these Camaros.

and then around the corner, down near our benefactor's, Goodyear, garage, I spotted this.

Now I have to tell you, this was parked just beside the NASCAR trailers, three semis that comprise the travelling road show I pay attention to. Well, if you Have Been Counting Along With Me, you know what I did. Pulled on that drivers door handle and opened it up to get you some shots of

new Generation

Camaros' interior.

Following is a shot of one of the two pace cars out on the pit road prior to the start of the race.


Although I did not get a shot of it I stopped by the Goodyear garage and asked one of the dudes working there, "where is the boss?", Center office, his name is Jim, was his reply. I stuck my head in the door and asked the two gentleman "which one is Jim" That would be me Jim replied. I mentioned thejeepjunkie and the fact we had gotten our tickets from someone at his organization and I just wanted to say Thanks. He stood up, shook my hand and said you are welcome young man! Then he laughed and said I even looked like my brother. I laughed and said I was better looking!! We shot the breeze for a few minutes and as I was getting ready to head out, the other dude asked me if I was hungry. Starving was my reply. He motioned to the other end of the garage and told me to go on down there, there is tons of food. So I said thanks again and went down and fixed me up a plate of grub and grabbed a diet coke! Thanks Goodyear! I did not tell thejeepjunkie about this until Monday nite. He laughed and said Yeah, I called Jim today to tell him thanks and he mentioned you had stopped in to say thanks. thejeepjunkie continued on, Yeah Jim told me to call him in June and remind him to put us on the credentials list for the July races in Daytona!! Yes!!

I then was just booking around the garages and got a shot of the 83 Red Bull garage

and some of their replacement stuff

prior to the scuffle between the 88 and the 83 cars.

Just a couple random shots

of the hauler and garage areas

Oh yeah, Baby!!! I want to drive the Big Brown Truck!!!----and the little one too. The roof is just long enough for me!!



And around the garages, I spotted this Golden Corral sponsored car up on jackstands in the garage.

I got these shots off just before NASCAR came over and told me to, basically, "Get the H*ll out of here!!" I just plead ignorance. One of the many areas I had gotten thrown out of that Sunday.

I mean, what the heck, there are a ton of guys there just looking on, what difference does one more make?

A while later, I headed out to the carnival like staging area just outside the old tunnel under turn 4. This is the original tunnel installed when the track was built in 1959. They are basically steel drainage pipes, approximately 12 feet in diameter that they have paved the base of and you drive on through. They are a bit clastrophobic, especially for me as I tend to have that problem...probably from my 420 influenced spelunking days of my late teen years in the Ozarks. Boy!!!! How the H*ll did those memories pop up?

Anyway, out in that carnival, which I caught just at tear down, next year, I need to go during the full boat action, but in addition to the Dale Jr. Edition Camaro, I got to see something even better than anything I had seen thus far.

And that would be this ALMS Corvette.

It is a sweet ride and the only Corvette I have ever lusted after.

I am not sure if this is last year's model in GT1 or this year's model in GT2. You see, as there is only one current participant in the GT1 designation, GM decided to move to a reduced power GT2 category to compete with Ferrari, Lamborgini, Aston Martin and others, in an effort to provide a more marketable product differentiation. But trust me, it is a hot ass ride.

And, of course, one more look at the pace car with some hoon who didn't notice it was unlocked!! Guess I am the only guy who does that type of stuff. Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention, that uniformed officer was standing in that same spot when I opened that door earlier. I am certain GM needs to do anything it can to move a car or two. Even one that has been around for a couple years and still not released. Let Bob Lutz loose in the marketing field will ya?

I have no idea of why I shot the above image or the sequence of events but here it is anyway.

I do know why I shot this one though. First of all, those dudes looking through that window are out in the FanZone and I am in the garage area. THANKS JEEPJUNKIE!!!!!

Second, notice the two tire/wheel combinations closest to the racecar? I know the angle of the shot makes it difficult to ascertain, but they are smaller in diameter than the racing slick to the right. The reason for this smaller diameter tire/wheel is so the cars will fit in the upper deck of the transporter. I feel as if I have blogged this before...if so, and you remember, you have probably forgotten and if not, there is a bit of knowledge that I know will never earn me a dime!! But with three cars at the top of that transporter, it has got to be a handful to drive. Plus you have to be a chef. Well, I must say, I read a newspaper report about the fact that the NASCAR transport drivers are also the team chef but no matter how much I research news-journalonline.com, I cannot find a reference to them. But know, that most of the main transport drivers on the NASCAR teams are also the team chefs. Good luck on that Google search. But great homestyle recipes.

I spotted these Ford Fusion front end parts on a rack just outside one of the NASCAR haulers. Standing with my back to that hauler to take this shot, immediately after I got this, I saw Jack Roush whisk past me from inside that hauler with his daughter in tow!! I wanted to say something to him but he obviously had something on his mind and I doubt he wanted a nosy fan questioning him about his time in that hauler.

And, whatever you do, don't mess with Dale Jr.!!

They sure use up alot of metal Sawzall blades during the course of a week down here!

And this is Joey Logano's hauler headed out. Their race ended early and they bolted on out of dodge. Oddly enough, though, a little later over on pit row, I spotted their big pit box and a few other items in their now abandoned pit stall.

As I was walking down pit row, I looked over at Victory Lane and saw this and walked right through that open gate and went over and got this shot of that Harley Earl designed trophy! After I shot this, a woman approached me and asked if I was with the press and I responded in the negative. Then she told me I had to leave. Oh well, got the shot I wanted anyway and got thrown out of another spot at the track!

And then the rains started. This is a shot of Jack Roush's Carl Edwards pit box. Check out that big, custom tarp on the top of that thing.

And while there, I saw Jack Roush again, this time on his cell phone. You can see the cars parked on Pit Road due to the rain delay.

Shortly after I shot this image, as I was standing there in the drizzle, I saw Jack give the "cut the throat" motion to his team and they started gathering up equipment. I knew then that NASCAR racing had finished at Daytona Beach until July.

So, I headed out to catch a tram out to where I had parked and while I was riding on it, I saw the fireworks shot off near Lake Lloyd marking the end of the race and knew I had made the correct decision in getting on out of there.

And even though I was one of the first cars out of the lot, it still took me an hour to make the normal 20 minute drive back to the Taj Mahal.

All in all, a great day, a great week and wishing thejeepjunkie could have made it out with me but there is always July. I can't wait!!