I'm a huge fan of John Wayne, and as we are approaching his birthday, May 26, I felt an article on one of my heroes was in order.
Most of you know of his film legacy, but many may not know of his political life. In college at USC, he was said to be a self-proclaimed socialist. He voted and campaigned for FDR in 1936. By the time he left USC. his beliefs had changed. He became a big mover in the anti-communist movement. So much so that Joseph Stalin ordered him assassinated. He became a proud republican and campaigned for Nixon in 1960. He also campaigned for Reagan as governor of California in 1966 and 1970.
He was practically begged to run for president in 1968 by the republican national committee. He was quoted as saying, "the public wouldn't seriously consider an actor in the White House".
In a famous interview in 1971 with Playboy magazine on the subject of welfare, he said, "I don't believe a fella should be able to sit on his backside and collect welfare. I believe in a welfare work program. I'd like to know why well educated idiots keep apologizing for lazy and complaining people who think the world owes them a living".
He didn't always agree with the Republicans though. He sided with Jimmy Carter on the Panama Canal issue in the 1970's. He felt that it should be run and operated by the Panamanians.
In 1956, the film "The Conqueror" was filmed near St. George,Utah. Of the 220 cast and crew on set, 91 eventually died of cancer, including John. Unbeknownst to them, the area was used in the 1940's as a nuclear test site.
The Duke will always be larger than life. In his films, in politics, and in person. I met him once as a very young boy, and remember thinking he was a giant. My granddad used to haul John's cattle every year from Red River to Eager, AZ. Grandpa later told me that John was pretty much just like you saw in his films. Just a straight shooting, plain spoken, good ole boy.
Just some facts you may not have known.
Until next time, safe travels.
How many of you out there today have driven a cabover? I remember my first truck I drove was a 1978 International Transstar Cabover. Had a 335 Cummins and a 13sod. I drove that ole truck all over Arizona and California.
To me there's nothing finer looking than an ol' cabover Pete or a KW all dressed up. I love them old trucks.
I still like an old A Model W9 as well. I guess you could say I just like em old. I got the chance to see the historic truck show up in Newton, KS at Newell's a few years ago. I was in heaven. I saw old bubblenose KW's and Freightshakers. Even El Turbo was there. For those of you who don't know, El Turbo is a pretty famous truck out of California. It's a 49 Pete 351 with a big custom sleeper on it. It's a real beauty even today.
I learned to drive in my dads old 76 KW A model. It had a 1693 Cat with a 5x4. We hauled cows out of Arizona over to California.
Sure, them old trucks didn't have all the bells and whistles of the trucks we have today, but they sure held up a lot better. The trucks today are all plastic and fiberglass. They fall apart a lot quicker than they used to.
Maybe I'm just nostalgic, but I sure would take an old cabover with a big bunk if it was offered.
Just the opinion of an old road dog. You all take care.
Until next time, safe travels.
Whatever happened to professional courtesy in the trucking industry? I remember when I was growing up, riding with my dad and grandpa, drivers helped one another all the time. If you needed help, you gave a shout out on the CB and in a matter of moments help was there. From roadside breakdowns to sliding tandems help was never far away.
Driving around 4 wheelers was much more of a concern than driving around other trucks. This is no longer the norm. Nowadays, I see truckers doing more stupid moves on the highway than 4 wheelers. Not to mention, you may die of old age waiting for someone to stop and help you on the roadside.
I started driving trucks myself in 1992; I believe that was about the same time things started changing. It seems everyone started being all for themselves and to heck with anyone else. And if anyone ever did offer any help they wanted to know how much you were gonna pay them first.
I think it's a crying shame how drivers have become these days. I see drivers every day that I wouldn't let ride my lawn mower let alone drive my truck. They have no business on the highways in my opinion. I have had drivers from the same outfit I was with sit in their truck and watch me roll tarps on a 110 degree day. They would wait until I got finished, then have the nerve to come up and want to shoot the breeze. I would just tell them I have nothing to say to them. It's not that I needed help, don't get me wrong here, but it would have been nice.
I'm appalled at the nerve of some of our truck drivers out here. I see them everyday riding the bumpers of 4 wheelers, cutting off other cars and trucks on the highway, speeding through work zones, and then giving people the finger for not getting out of their way. Then, they wonder why the general public has a bad view of our industry.
One of my friends had an incident recently where a driver ran out of fuel within yards from a truck stop and not a single person would help until my friends happened along. They got him to the pumps and the driver was grateful. Now we could say, "Oh it was his own fault for running his fuel so low." So what! It happens on occasion. To those who would judge I ask "when was the last time you made a mistake"? We all make them now and then. So kudos to my friends for standing on "old fashioned values" and helping out a fellow driver.
I don't see it ever getting better. But as someone who comes from a long line of truckers, I will continue to always be the exception to the norm.
Until next time, safe travels.
Most of us have lost a loved one, or know someone who has, to cancer. Today, it is the second deadliest disease behind only heart disease. I have a theory as to why it is so widespread today.
Forty to fifty years ago, this disease was near the bottom of killer diseases. In that time, most rural folks lived on a family farm. They grew their own fruits and vegetables, and raised their own stock. Then, the family farms started to dwindle away and in came the mega producers. To meet the demands of a growing population they began using pesticides and other enhancing chemicals to make the crops produce faster and make bigger produce. They injected hormones into cattle and other stock to mature faster and to produce more milk faster.
All these things also made their way into our water supply. I believe all these things combined to bring forth cancer. It is a by-product of our growing population and, now, way of life.
I have lost loved ones to this growing epidemic. I watch two of my aunts suffer and wither away. It was heart wrenching to watch this happen and know I could do nothing to save them.
With all of our medical advancements, why can we not find a cure? If a new string of flu arises, they have a vaccine within weeks. They can clone most anything now from DNA, but can't cure cancer. Something just don't seem right about that. I hope I have given you all something to think about. I don't know how to reverse this way of doing things or even if its possible at all. Maybe it's just one of those things that we will have to endure.
Until next time, safe travels.
I didn't plan on doing another article on a NASCAR based theme, but at the time of this writing, Jan. 26, the sport has lost one of its pioneers.
Today we lost Dr. Joe Mattioli, the founder and owner of Pocono Raceway. You would be hard pressed to find a better man than Doc. Always the grand host, for over 40 years, he lived to ensure guests had a pleasurable experience at his track. From fans, to drivers, to owners, and media members; he made sure all were comfortable and cared for.
Doc served in WWII as a naval medic in the South Pacific Theatre. Afterwards, he went to Temple University and received his doctorate in dentistry. He opened his practice in Philidelphia and kept his office open from 7 a.m. till 11 p.m., 7 days a week. Due to that, and saving his money, as well as good investments, he became a millionaire by the age of 35.
His wife of 63 years, Rose, was a podiatrist. It was an ongoing joke in the early years that people called them "the hoof and mouth" family.
Doc and some other investors built Pocono Raceway in 1967. He eventually bought out his partners before the track was completed and became sole owner. It was a difficult start. The very first event became rained out and the second saw the death of a driver. This did not deter Doc. He pressed on and it is now one of the nations finest racing facilities.
Pocono has been host to many racing events including USAC and IRL races. NASCAR began their run at the track in 1974. And later when Bill France Sr asked Doc to take a second race at the track, Doc didn't want it. But he eventually gave in, and there has been two races in Pocono every year since.
Since those early days, there has been a great bond between the Mattioli family and the France family of NASCAR. Pocono is the only track on the circuit that's still family owned and operated. It's unique 2.5 mile triangular shape makes it one of a kind.
Many including Speedway Motorsports, Inc owner Bruton Smith have tried to buy the track but Doc would never budge. He eventually set the track up in a trust to ensure that it could never be sold and would stay in the family. He was quoted as saying about his children and grandchildren, "They'll either run the SOB or they'll starve".
Last year Doc finally decided to retire at the age of 85, handing over the reins to his grandson. He had been in declining health for several years.
The legacy of Dr. Joe Mattioli can be quite lenghy. He touched millions of people in his 86 years, and will always be remembered for his great baritone voice and his vice-like handshake. He was always humble and never forgot the fans that he served. He will be greatly missed. Through it all, he did things his own way and was rewarded for it more often than not.
Rest well Doc.
Until next week, safe travels.
By now, all the NASCAR haulers are headed to Daytona for pre-season testing. All eyes seem to be on Danica Patrick. All I hear on the talk shows is, "Can she make it in a man's sport?" or "She's got no business out there!" And let's not forget, "She's just doing this for publicity".
As an avid race fan, let me tell you, this gal is the real deal. I've watched her career from her days in the Toyota Atlantic Open Wheel Series. She nearly won the Indy 500 her rookie year racing for Bobby Rahal. Those who follow Indy car know that its very tough to win in that series unless your driving for Target Ganassi or Roger Penske.
This year she jumps to NASCAR Nationwide series full time after juggling a full time Indy and part time NASCAR schedule the last two seasons. In those two part time seasons I have watched her go from barely finishing races to coming a lap away from winning the Nationwide race at Daytona last year. She only continues to get better. Her crew chief Tony Eury Jr. says she is like a sponge, soaking up every bit of knowledge that she can. I think she will certainly be a contender for the Nationwide Championship this year.
In addition to running the full nationwide schedule with JR Motorsports, she will be racing in ten Sprint Cup races for Stewart-Haas Racing, including the Daytona 500.
I believe we need more women in the sport of auto racing. There are many out there in the local short track scene who, given the opportunity, I think could really do well.
There are those who say Danica only got a shot in NASCAR because of her looks. Well my view on that is if you've watched her career evolve like I have, you would see that this girl can wheel a car with the best of them. She is a true racer. It doesn't make a bit of difference that she is a female.
I, for one, will be rooting for her every step of the way.
Until next week, safe travels.
Friends, I would like to start things off by telling you about a serious health issue that affects many drivers today. It's been dubbed the silent killer and many have lost their lives to it. I'm talking about Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT.
I have been personally affected by this. Here is my story:
In August of 2007, I noticed swelling and redness in my right leg. Then, came a burning feeling from within. It took me two weeks to see a doctor. As fate would have it, my doctor was on vacation, so I had to see another one at the same clinic. He diagnosed it as torn muscle tissue, gave me some pain meds and anti-inflammatories, and sent me on my way.
About a week later, I was loading an excavator in Gulfport, MS and found myself getting short of breath. At the time, I was smoking about a pack and a half a day, so I just figured I was smoking to much. A day later I unloaded in Austin, TX and it had gotten worse. I went home for a day and my sweet wife tried to get me to go to the ER, but me being my stubborn self, I declined. I went to Ft. Worth and loaded some forklifts and that's when I admitted to myself something was wrong. I took those to Louisiana and then back over to Gulfport to load an oversize load bound for Virginia. That was September 8, 2007. The day my life changed forever.
I was preparing to secure my load and I had no breath. I remember feeling like I was sinking. And ill never forget this huge black man, nearly a full seven foot and probably 350lbs grabbed me under my arms and put me in a pickup truck. He reminded me of Michael Clarke Duncan from The Green Mile. He took me to a nearby hospital and I walked into the ER.
At first they said I had a heart attack, then I showed them my right leg. It was DVT, but worse. A clot broke loose from my leg and traveled through my heart and lodged in my lungs, which caused the shortness of breath. It was a pulmonary embolism. The cardiologist told me he had no medical explanation why I was still alive.
I have to take medication and wear compression stockings now for the rest of my life. If I would have listened to my wife and went to the ER when I was home, the PE probably wouldn't have happened.
So, my message here is if you see these symptoms; swelling, redness, or a burning feeling in the calves; please seek medical attention. It could mean life or death.
Additionally, I'd like to add I that I haven't had a cigarette since the day I went to the hospital. I also never found out the name of the big man who took me to the hospital and I've never seen him again. I will be forever grateful to him for being there and helping me when I needed it.
And men, listen to your wives.
Til next week, safe travels.
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