Olinthropology

© 2006 Bill Ott

Part I

*Nice work - If you can get it...

And you can get it,

If you try*

I like to write about things I like. People I like, places I like, and Tequila. And, oh yeah... drag racing. I also like being free to chase after those things that I like. But then again, who wouldn’t?

Which brings us to today’s first topic…

- - Freedom of Movement - -

Article I: Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution states - "The Congress shall have the power to... regulate commerce among the several States and Tribes(!); and post Roads"... which got us the best highway system in the world... in spite of The Congress. Maybe not the smoothest... ever been driving anywhere in Louisiana and try to let go of the wheel? And who can forget that real rough stretch in Bristol? But aside from those few bumps in the road, getting from point A to point B is easy.

That is... easy until the ‘pandemic’ hits. That’s when the Federales say there will have to be limits placed on travel. Therefore, I’m getting in all of travel I can before everyone starts coughing and I can’t leave the ranch because of the ‘bird flu’. Which brings to mind a quote from the immortal Jim Morrison...

"I don’t know about you... but I’m gonna get my kicks... before the whole *#% *house goes up in flames!" Which brings us back full circle to…

- - Freedom of Movement - -

We left the Motorplex sometime between the Semis and the Finals hoping to beat the rush to the Main Gate and the crush at the eateries over in Waxahachie. It was a good move too... in about fifteen minutes we arrived at a nearly deserted Don Jose’s Mexican Restaurant. We could have sat at any table, but opted instead for the bar. Me and Olin Davis decided it was time to sit and enjoy a cold one before dinner.

Willie the Bartender must have recognized us from the past two nights. You see, me and Good Ol' Olin have a real tough time getting past Don Jose’s whenever we’re out this way. The cheese enchiladas with the red sauce are killer! I’ve probably eaten there about six or so times by now... and the enchiladas are all I’ve ever ordered. Killer!

But enough about Mexican cuisine, we’re here to talk drag racing. And so was Willie. As soon as we ordered two drafts, Willie wanted to know how the races went. Guess our Tee Shirts gave us away.

But that was all that Olin needed to get all wound up. So as he was pontificating about the past, current, and future state of the drags, I looked around and noticed the place was empty except for some guy sitting alone a few seats from us. Willie had made his way to the other end of the bar and was pulling our drafts when Olin yelled to him "Hey Willie... ya hear the one about the NHRA Official?"

About that time, the guy sitting at the other end of the bar chimed in with "Hey... watch it... I’m an NHRA Official." Olin gave him a quick glance and said in that Texas drawl... "Well then... guess I’ll have to talk real slow and clear."

And that pretty near sums up what these past few days have been like. One joke or comic story after another. During the weekend of April 28 thru 30 the Texas Motorplex hosted a Divisional Meet (Division IV) and track owner Billy Meyer and event coordinator Trey Capps let a few of us open up the Museum again. The response from last year at the O’Reilly Nationals was great. Check out...

www.draglist.com/artman/publish/article_001393.shtml

This weekend we wound up with a few early Division IV hitters parked in the food court across from the Museum. Don Ross brought his re-do of the ‘Scorpion I’ that made Bobby Langley famous. Or... made famous by Bobby Langley, depending, of course, on whether you think that glass was half-full or half empty. Buddy Anderson’s ‘Widdle White Wabbit’ Fiat coupe was here too, as well as Floyd Head’s beautiful ‘69 Frank Huzar built AA/Fuel Dragster. Floyd’s digger was originally painted and driven by John Cox. These days, Nick Polson takes the controls when the Hemi ‘Cackles’ and that original paint still sparkles, John.

There was a real decent turnout of racers and fans here too. After attending a few Divisional Meets at Maple Grove (PA) and seeing all of the empty seats in the stands, the turnout of spectators here all weekend caught me by surprise. And then, the racers put on one hell of a show, too.

I haven’t been to a Divisional Meet in a while, and during the ‘Big Show,’ I usually manage to watch only the ‘Proze.’ Guess it’s a NITRO thing. So imagine my surprise when it turned out that no less than ten cars were entered in the Top Alcohol Dragster class... all of ‘em unblown NITRO cars. Yep, all ten of them, not a single blown alcohol car in sight. Heard there’s only one left in all of Div. IV and they ain’t racing anymore. Next logical step? Unblown NITRO Funny Cars. How about it NHRA? And hey... while we’re discussing changes... how about liberalizing the rules for the inter-team boxing bouts between rounds? I mean... 16oz. Gloves? C’mon.

Which reminds me of Jessie. Now, Jessie wasn’t no fighter. Nope. Jessie worked for the City of Dallas. Or so they thought. Olin and I got to discussing Jessie over a plate of steaming hot cheese enchiladas. He reached for his wallet and took out a faded piece of paper that was folded in half and pushed it across the table to right under my nose.

I’m gonna let Good Ol' Olin tell you the rest... in his own words and his own way.

"He was a dog catcher for the City of Dallas. Him and Jim Davis teamed up on something like... a B Gas Dragster that Jessie drove. He just helped Jim do anything. He would leave out from the Dog Pound ever’ mornin’ and maybe he’d make two or three complaints ‘n pickups... and he’d be through for the day by eleven o’clock. And then from there on... ‘til four thirty quittin’ time... the Dog Catcher Truck would be sittin’ down at Jim’s shop at Corinth Industrial Center downtown."

"After Jim left and went to Walnut Creek it just broke Jessie’s heart cause, ya know, his best friend went and moved to California. Then when Jim put this deal together and got to buildin’ chassis, why he sent all the poop to Jessie... and then Jessie typed in that he was a dealer on Jim’s brochure. In fact, I don’t know... he might’a sold some chassis. But anyway, Jessie quit the Dog Pound and teamed up with somebody else on an over the road nationwide truckin’ eighteen-wheeler deal. And he was up in the sleeper and they crashed and burned. It killed him... I believe in Kansas."

"I’ve wanted to send that brochure to some friends... but my ol' ‘puter cain’t send photos. We gonna fix that someday. But there, way back some time ago... I just sent some of those ridiculous low prices. So, sometime... when ‘ya get time... and things get slow just pass this along if you would?

So that’s what I’m doing... just passin’ some things along from a friend.

Me and Olin spent the next few days either riding around Dallas or sitting in his and Anne’s dining room. Did a lot of talking (actually... I did a lot of listening) about some of Olin’s old friends and racing acquaintances. I was gonna jot down as much of it as I could remember, but it got a little hard to keep up. Damn glad I had the cassette recorder turned on most of the time. Now I’m gonna get busy converting all of that stuff over to print. I like to write about things I like.

More old B.S. later

BADCO

Forward advise, rebuttals, and death threats to

badco@elp.rr.com

* © 1937 "Nice work - If you can get it"

Words and Music by Ira and George Gershwin

Originally recorded by Fred Astaire for the

soundtrack of the film ‘A Damsel in Distress’

I relied on the vibes from a later version by

Sarah Vaughan recorded in 1950 from an album

titled "Sarah Vaughan in Hi-Fi" (Columbia Records)

and a double of Corazon ‘Resposito’ for inspiration.

Thanks once again to all the ‘regulars’ as well Buddy, Floyd (for the great photos), Don Ross, Glenn and Robbie Cupit, Don C. Breithaupt, and the Chris Holley A/Fuel team for the chute packing primer.

THANKS BUD