Friday, May 30, 2008
No. 3
So, as I was zoom-zooming to work this mornin' in my new Baby Car, I glanced down and noticed that the coffee cup I'd fetched from the cabinet was none other than the one commemoratin' the late great Dale Earnhardt's No. 3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet.And I thought, what would Dale think of me and my little Baby Car? So, I asked him.
See, awhile after he died, one day when in the spirit, I felt Dale thump me in the chest and tell me all but audibly, "Hey. I'm OK."
And at that moment, on Northeast 63rd Street just east of Outabounds Lane, in Oklahoma City, I laughed out loud and let go of my part of the grief that had beset and besotted the ER clan from the instant we saw Dale hit the wall and die at Daytona.
We all cried that day and for days afterward, me, Dr. ER and Bird -- and we don't give a damn who gets it and who doesn't, but I swear it was as if we all lost a close uncle or cousin or something. People called us from all over the country to express condolenses. I almost expected the doorbell to ring and to find somebody on the porch bearing fried chicken and potato salad or something in a Crock Pot. But I digress.
What would Dale think of the Baby Car? I think he'd approve.
The little thing does zoom-zoom-zoom to have a four-cylinder, 2.3-liter engine, and it handles well. Put 10 or a dozen or 43 Mazda 3's in a race and it'd be fun. I can see Dale grippin' the wheel, zoom-zoom-zooming along. Racin' is racin -- and compared to my lumbering old truck, the Baby Car seems like a racecar.
That it's a Mazda "3" -- with a 3 on the back, and a 3 on each front floorboard -- makes me think ol' Dale might like to drive it.
But I know he'd prefer his Chevrolet.
'Cause he wadn't the jet set.
He was the old Chevrolet set.
And, as the song says, "Ain't we got love?"
I loved Dale. I love my Big Old Truck. And I love my new Baby Car.
Makes me feel dang near multicultural.
--ER
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I imagine that The Intimidator would look funny behind a Mazda, and prob'ly scratch it up real good. 'cause rubbin's racin', ya know.
The old Busch series looked to me kinda like putting a bunch of Mazdas out there, with those narrow wheel bases, and higher pitched engines.
The old Busch series looked to me kinda like putting a bunch of Mazdas out there, with those narrow wheel bases, and higher pitched engines.
So, this is only tangentially related to this post, but I'm sure you folks can educate me. I've always wondered, how does one pick a person to root for in auto racing? And I don't mean that in the "I'm a gay liberal elitist and NASCAR is for stupid rednecks" sort of way. (Though I am indeed a gay liberal elitist.)
I mean, football seems obvious, you root for the college you went to, or the pro team from a nearby city, etc. Same with baseball or basketball. (I'm assuming here, since I couldn't care less about any of them either.)
But auto racing? How does one decide? Best looking car?
Just wondering.
I mean, football seems obvious, you root for the college you went to, or the pro team from a nearby city, etc. Same with baseball or basketball. (I'm assuming here, since I couldn't care less about any of them either.)
But auto racing? How does one decide? Best looking car?
Just wondering.
ER,
Dale tapped me on the shoulder a moment ago and said, "Hey, ER's OK, but he drives a woman's car."
In jest, my friend. In jest.
Dale tapped me on the shoulder a moment ago and said, "Hey, ER's OK, but he drives a woman's car."
In jest, my friend. In jest.
Alan: For about a year in the late 90's I lived next door to a group of construction workers from Georgia, all of whom were very into NASCAR. Granted that it's a small sample (about ten guys), but they fell into two basic categories: 1) rooted for the same guy their dad rooted for, or 2) rooted for the guy their dad didn't like. Except that they uniformly couldn't stand Jeff Gordon.
Alan: To make a long story short ...
In 1997 or 1998, the paper I was workin' for statted runnin' a full-page feature once a week calld That's racin, produced by the Charlotte Observer. That got me payin' attention to racin' again for the first time since I was a kid. Then, a local gas station made a big deal out of selling NASCAR collectibles, the first place in town to do so. I made some remark about that being a dangerous place for me to go. The soon-to-be Dr. Erudite Redneck, back when she was still Dr. Erudite Redhead (before we got married), bought me one of them little toy cars; it was a vintage back-in-the-day Dale Earnhardt car. I remembered him from back in the day! Then, she and I both rekindled out racin' hearts and started watchin' the races on TV. She has fond memories of going to the local track where she grew up in Texas. I have rawer memories of losing a fiancee over the time she spent working in the pits for her uncle, who had a car, at the local track where I grew up in eastern Oklahoma (I am not making that up). ... Anyway, we both got into it again, at least watchin' it on TV, and Dale was out man. And Dale Jr. Now, my favorite drivers are Junior and Kevin Harvick, who took over Earnhardt's ride after he died, racing his repainted white and renumbered 29 car hell for leather, but watching his mouth, doing so classily and totally respectfully of Earnhardt. I'll never forget that.
We like others, too, for different reasons. Mark Martin, I like because he's from Arkansas, and I'm halfway from Arkansas. I like any of the oldtimers, just about.
In 1997 or 1998, the paper I was workin' for statted runnin' a full-page feature once a week calld That's racin, produced by the Charlotte Observer. That got me payin' attention to racin' again for the first time since I was a kid. Then, a local gas station made a big deal out of selling NASCAR collectibles, the first place in town to do so. I made some remark about that being a dangerous place for me to go. The soon-to-be Dr. Erudite Redneck, back when she was still Dr. Erudite Redhead (before we got married), bought me one of them little toy cars; it was a vintage back-in-the-day Dale Earnhardt car. I remembered him from back in the day! Then, she and I both rekindled out racin' hearts and started watchin' the races on TV. She has fond memories of going to the local track where she grew up in Texas. I have rawer memories of losing a fiancee over the time she spent working in the pits for her uncle, who had a car, at the local track where I grew up in eastern Oklahoma (I am not making that up). ... Anyway, we both got into it again, at least watchin' it on TV, and Dale was out man. And Dale Jr. Now, my favorite drivers are Junior and Kevin Harvick, who took over Earnhardt's ride after he died, racing his repainted white and renumbered 29 car hell for leather, but watching his mouth, doing so classily and totally respectfully of Earnhardt. I'll never forget that.
We like others, too, for different reasons. Mark Martin, I like because he's from Arkansas, and I'm halfway from Arkansas. I like any of the oldtimers, just about.
OK, after an EXTREMELY long day today, I had to laugh heartily at your "multicultural" reference and at Teditor's comment. Thanks, both of ya guys. I needed that and I can just picture you two together again in the same room trading that kind of B.S. and making me laugh.
:-)
Ya kniw, I think we'd pick up right where we left off, 'cause we never left off, thanks to this contraption I'm pounding on! :-)
Ya kniw, I think we'd pick up right where we left off, 'cause we never left off, thanks to this contraption I'm pounding on! :-)
The big nimber three.......
Remember them Orisha (Loa) I talked about once. Sounds like maybe a new one has done taken up with you guys. He is probably an aspect of Ogun (also Ogoun, Ogum, Ogou) one of the three warriors.
Re: the number 3, iron and steel, competitor, warrior, never sleeps, driven personality, and volatile expressions. Colors flown are Black, with a little green and some red trim (some say it is red with black trim).
Yep, fit don't it.
Matter of fact that wheel you got is a dead on appropriate alter as well. Weird. Kinda makes you believe in spirits don't it.
Here are some aspects of Ogun which you may be interested:
"Ogun comes to mount people ( that means come into and influence) in various aspects of his character, and the people are quite familiar with each of them. Some of these aspects are:
Ogun the wounded warrior.
He assumes a Christ-figure pose which the people know well from their Christian associations.
Ogun Feraille.
He gives strength to the servitors by slapping them on the thighs or back. (chest poke maybe)
Ogun Badagris.
He may lift a person up and carry him or her around to indicate his special attention and patronage. To all the aspects of Ogoun there is the dominant theme of power and militancy.
His possessions can sometimes be violent. Those mounted (possessed) by him are known to wash their hands in flaming rum without suffering from it later. They dress up in green and black, wave a sabre or machete, chew a cigar and demand rum in an old phrase "Gren mwe fret" (my testicles are cold). Often this rum is poured on the ground then lit and the fumes pervade the peristyle. The sword, or much more commonly, the machete is his weapon and he often does strange feats of poking himself with it, or even sticking the handle in the ground, then mounting the blade without piercing his skin."
Now, have I freaked out the hard core Jesus people here? Say you don't own a machete do you? Ever do any blacksmithing?
Remember them Orisha (Loa) I talked about once. Sounds like maybe a new one has done taken up with you guys. He is probably an aspect of Ogun (also Ogoun, Ogum, Ogou) one of the three warriors.
Re: the number 3, iron and steel, competitor, warrior, never sleeps, driven personality, and volatile expressions. Colors flown are Black, with a little green and some red trim (some say it is red with black trim).
Yep, fit don't it.
Matter of fact that wheel you got is a dead on appropriate alter as well. Weird. Kinda makes you believe in spirits don't it.
Here are some aspects of Ogun which you may be interested:
"Ogun comes to mount people ( that means come into and influence) in various aspects of his character, and the people are quite familiar with each of them. Some of these aspects are:
Ogun the wounded warrior.
He assumes a Christ-figure pose which the people know well from their Christian associations.
Ogun Feraille.
He gives strength to the servitors by slapping them on the thighs or back. (chest poke maybe)
Ogun Badagris.
He may lift a person up and carry him or her around to indicate his special attention and patronage. To all the aspects of Ogoun there is the dominant theme of power and militancy.
His possessions can sometimes be violent. Those mounted (possessed) by him are known to wash their hands in flaming rum without suffering from it later. They dress up in green and black, wave a sabre or machete, chew a cigar and demand rum in an old phrase "Gren mwe fret" (my testicles are cold). Often this rum is poured on the ground then lit and the fumes pervade the peristyle. The sword, or much more commonly, the machete is his weapon and he often does strange feats of poking himself with it, or even sticking the handle in the ground, then mounting the blade without piercing his skin."
Now, have I freaked out the hard core Jesus people here? Say you don't own a machete do you? Ever do any blacksmithing?
"Gren mwe fret"
Didn't I hear you complaining once that you needed a drink because you balls were colder than a witch's something or other?
Didn't I hear you complaining once that you needed a drink because you balls were colder than a witch's something or other?
Yur correct it seems, galls me to have to say that. Orisha were mentioned on another blokes blogs.
So:
"An Orisha (also spelled Orixa and Orixá) is a spirit which reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare (God) in the Yoruba spiritual or religious system. This religion has found its way throughout the world and is now expressed in several varieties which include Anago, Oyotunji, Candomblé, Lucumí/Santería, and the Orisa religion of Trinidad, as well as some aspects of Umbanda, Winti, Obeah and Haitian Vodou, although these last two generally follow a non-Yoruban tradition."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orisha
Ogun: "In Haitian Vodou and Yoruba mythology, Ogun ... is a loa and orisha, who presides over fire, iron, hunting, politics and war. He is the patron of smiths and is usually displayed with his attributes: machete or sabre, rum and tobacco."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogoun
So:
"An Orisha (also spelled Orixa and Orixá) is a spirit which reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare (God) in the Yoruba spiritual or religious system. This religion has found its way throughout the world and is now expressed in several varieties which include Anago, Oyotunji, Candomblé, Lucumí/Santería, and the Orisa religion of Trinidad, as well as some aspects of Umbanda, Winti, Obeah and Haitian Vodou, although these last two generally follow a non-Yoruban tradition."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orisha
Ogun: "In Haitian Vodou and Yoruba mythology, Ogun ... is a loa and orisha, who presides over fire, iron, hunting, politics and war. He is the patron of smiths and is usually displayed with his attributes: machete or sabre, rum and tobacco."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogoun
Trixie,
I miss those times when we were all in the came place. I miss my friends, too.
Dr. Lobojo lost me at Orisha.
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I miss those times when we were all in the came place. I miss my friends, too.
Dr. Lobojo lost me at Orisha.
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