I notice well over 9 outa 10 freaks (and I count myself in this..) I rub up against who strive for a minimal footprint on Gaia are adament 'bout the need for motorpower to facilitate personal goals. That oblique enough? Urban guerillas notwithstanding, there is a finite level within which we can bike/walk/bus/pool within the current left coast econosocietal paradigm.

Amtrak is bitchin'- I've used it for thousands of miles over the years. Even the Dog is going more upscale--read: comfy at the long-term forecast of less affordability for those who need their service. Neither of these dealies has a great future assured. Sometimes, for example when I wanna drive to a dragstrip*, personal automotive transportation just works best.

I'll stop being a smartass for a sec. to mention a test-float I did last week of the Mercedes Smart Car. A bubble with a progressively more advanced cage (a mix of suburb lifestyle comfortable access blended with limb-security) encases more knees n' elbows room than my Econo 250! Couldn't believe I could easily factor in room for me, a galpal and a 135lb. newfie.
The performance--acceleration--can be reconfig'd as time goes on-play with the gearing and ratios to utilize the three-cyl. motorscooteresque turbo. At 1500lb. deadweight, this isn't as difficult as it could be. I envision placing these machines within megatowns like Seattle, LA, PDX which already have restricted top end speed needs, due to chronic jamups 24/7. I really like the quoted 8o mpg which I mentally adjusted to 55 mpg for harderscrabble lifestyle. Given that, you can fuel up for 5-600 miles, minimum. Playing with this on the Great Highway on up towards Eureka/Samoa Dragstrip comes to mind....Prices range well under 50K- still too steep for my budget, but attainable for someone who wants to plan for it. A housemate asked how I'd feel in my habitat of I-5 inside a Smart. Reletively (ie, it's not my old Kaw..), I could see it. Without visibility to Semis, there are issues. Maybe better we keep it on good ol US 99 and keep pushing the idea.

*-I pledge allegience to the philosophy...and idealism of the Brotherhood. Still, and yet, the news from the South Bay on the latest "psuedo-presentation" by Big Willie doesn't sound promising for a people's park in LA that street racers can utilize. Nothing new palipatates. Richard Heath will likely do another positive Press report as is his charge within the National and International. What I'd like to see, in writing, is something akin to "If not, then when and HOW"..Facilitating drag racing an hour away from metro areas is one thing...muffled tracks such as Portland Intr. and the Brotherhood Raceway are quite another...local tracks by and for people who can travel mere minutes to enjoy fellowship and scald some tires.

Given the access of what I write over here to those who live outside any performance interests, I want to document that Chris Karamesines accepted the help of a gaggle of mechanics who 'did it for love' in preparing his dragster for the finals of the major event held at New England Dragway. The mid-70's-yr.-old living godhead took his reassembled motor and made a valient attempt at defeating Bobby Lagana Jr. (another hero of mine for his low-budget ways..). A loose fuel fitting ended the attempt shortly off the starting line, but you non-racers who are reading this need to understand the tears that were shed weren't just from nitromethane fumes. The obvious respect and awe of Karamesines were transperant and a huge leap from the early '60's attitude which dis'd anyone over 30 still in the sport. This riff is about respect for the abilities of people who may be in the last pages of their story. For many, this event put another nail in the coffin of senior discrimination.

I expect fallout over Dave Wallace Jr.'s "I'm Done" remark re: NHRA national tour corporate whoring will continue through the winter 'silly season'. This season will be one of grasping at straws by the suits and a continuation of searching for more alternatives (ala the aformentioned New England meet) for racing in the light of day. I prefer racing safely in the light of day. Emotionally and counting round wins, It works better for me. There continues to be the last and ultimate solution out there..if sancioning bodies won't prioritize the needs of the working grass roots.

John Thun's memorial will be at the Pierce County Fairgrounds...needing as much space as possible to send this flyboy off in style--this Sat. noonish til 4ish.

Your homework this weekend for your audit of 21st Century Fastfreakin' is to access some returning 'burners'-ie, attendees of Burning Man. They tend to have disposable income to match their lil imaginations. Find out how plans are afoot to take playa concepts and drive them through the neighborhoods with those altvehicles that arrived in Black Rock on trailer...I want to see how burners are going to winter without Chevron Biofuel fillups. I am leaning towards optimism here......

I wrote a eulogy for John Thun, the pioneer of an airstrip/dragstrip located just south of what later became Puyallup Dragway. The 'maxdownload'upload..I dunno..thinger on Bill Pratt's site isn't running. Rather than try to save and upload it later, suffice it that Thun was a gentleman in how he raised his family and ran a safe place for young people to develop themselves, as well as a fun joint for old flyboys to screw around. He maintained his lust for life right up to the end at age 89.
While on Draglist, however, I ran across a Carl Olson retrospective of his fabled "last drag race" at Lions. It seems he's asked to do this nearly every year. We're at the point where we need him and the firsthand story to preserve our history. All I know is he keeps telling it, I keep reading it and keep being shaken every time. so...Go there and prepare to shed tears.
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