I was watching the GRC global rally cross and had a thought!

An off shoot of the x-games rally cross which provides a stadium course that simulates the terrain of the worlds rally courses.  Does this idea sound familiar ?  Mickey Thompson did the same thing back in the 70's.  First in the Santa Ana river bed near Van Buren Blvd..  He then moved the races to the Riverside Raceway.   These races were a huge success and I believe they were the last actual spectator race at the closed track.  While doing these races Mickey was developing the stadium style races which premiered at the Los Angeles Coliseum. 

Today, Robby Gordon is promoting stadium races for off road trucks and buggies.  

Ascot Speedway in Gardena, CA also had weekly off road races during the '70s.  Internet searches for these subjects will provide you with loads of stories, pictures, and videos if you want to learn more.

Where have you been?

I have no excuses for my lack of posting.  It's not like I have much else to do for a few minutes every two or three days.  So this one is just a note to say that I am back and hope to hit the keyboard more often than ever in the coming weeks.

Check out this little fella I found in my back yard.  A desert Tortoise.  I have not seen him after letting him down off the block wall.

Father's Day 2013

So today is Father's Day.  A day that always brings forth both happy and sad feelings.  Sad for the loss of loved ones and happiness for all your dad has done to shape who you are today.  For those of us who grew up in the 40's and 50's our fathers were very much like the famous fathers of the television sitcoms.  The bread winners who came home to dinner with the whole family at the dinner table.  Dad's who had survived the depression of the 30's and WWII in the 40's.  Dad's who had a job that had a future and the hope of something better for their kids.  My father provided all of this plus a strict hand in his discipline for misbehavior.  A guy that worked hard and sacrificed to provide the best that the time could offer. 
 

The house that Dad built and the pine tree planted at the beginning of construction are seen in this photo taken at Christmas with Joe Kerr, Dorothy Kerr and sons Jerry and Terry with their new red wagons.  This was always a favorite gift from my Dad.  He loved giving wagons to kids for presents and cast iron skillets to newly weds.  Oh how that neighborhood changed over the years.

For me, I really appreciated the major sacrifices he would make to provide vacations that we have never forgotten.   From Jeep runs over a weekend, or holiday trips to the Salton Sea, or the 52 day cross country trip, we always had interesting and educational experiences..  Not sure how much of a "vacation" they were for him,  Often, he would work extra jobs prior to the trip to earn enough money so we could go.  If that failed, he would borrow from the bank just for the trip and then work extra to pay off the loan.  This was his way of making sure that we had the opportunity to see all we could about our great country.



One of my favorite Dad moments was this one in 1969 when Dad brought his 14 month old grandson Jason his little red wagon. Jason's bib overalls and Dad's playful look always brings a smile to my face. 

Dad, I hope these photos and our memories of these times brings a smile to your face too.

Let's go to Iowa

Interweb searches for my maternal relatives around the time of the Civil War seem to focus on Iowa.  In particular, Marshall County Iowa.

My great grandmother Lura Weatherly Nye was born there in 1874.  Her grand father is John Calvin Weatherly.  Pictured here around 1895.

John is listed as a resident of Liscomb Township in a book titled "The History of Marshall County Iowa.  His brothers George and Timothy are also listed.  All three are listed as farmers, but Timothy seems to have a more prominent status in the community.  He has a biography listing rather than a single line.  Maybe he married into a more political family?

In 1851 John married Mary Magdalene Fulk in Owen County Indiana.  By 1855 they were established in Marshall County Iowa. 

I have yet to find documentation that John served in the Civil War.  His brother Timothy's biography shows him as serving in an Iowa militia. 

It is always nice to find little bits of information that support your personal ideals.  Like your 3rd great grandfather was a Republican, a successful farmer (considered to be rich by his peers), and a member of the Liscomb Christian church.  Today he would be branded a Christian Conservative Rich Republican enemy of the progressive government.    Way to go Grandpa John C.

He and Mary had a total of 9 children.  5 boys and 4 girls.  There oldest son is my 2nd great grandfather James W Weatherly.  John died in 1906 at the age of 75.

Memorial Day 2013

God Bless the United States of America.  Lord, today more than ever our country needs your blessing as we fight to promote your name even at home.  You inspired our founding fathers and many generations that followed but our leaders have lost their way in the name of political correctness and godless teachings.  Please help them to see the truth through your name.  Amen

As we honor those who have served our great nation, let us not forget that we must continue the fight against terrorism at home and abroad.

Previously I posted two men from our family who represented the "greatest generation" to us.  Now I post photos of others that fought the fight for freedom.

 This Marine is my Dad's oldest brother, Cecil Kerr.  Picture taken around 1923.

 My Uncle-in-law Carroll Reish who enlisted in the Army on September 28, 1942.















This picture was taken in September 1944 and represents the Hamilton military family at the time. L to R is my maternal grandfather and WWI Navy veteran, William Hamilton.  The tall fellow in the back is Richard Kimball, US Army and husband to my mother's sister Irene.  The Navy got both of the Hamilton boys.  Pictured is William Hamilton, Jr. and still in training was his brother Harold.  The other Army pfc is my dad Joe Kerr married to Dorothy Hamilton. 






This is Van Reish, my brother-in-law.  Photo taken in 1964.  He served most of his time guarding our gold at Fort Knox.














My thoughts and prayers are given out to those now serving and the difficult task they endure everyday.  God bless every one of them.

The Indy 500 and Coke a Cola 600 Auto races - The day before Memorial Day

This weekend we honor those who have served in our countries military.  Those serving today, those that served yesterday, and those that gave a part or all of themselves so I can become a couch potato on Sunday while watching cars run around on my TV screen.  

So today I wish to say thank you to those of you who have served and to your families for the sacrifices they endured while you served. 

1943 - Joe Kerr, Camp Hahn, California

I am fortunate to have two men in my family who served in WWII and continue to amaze me with their stories.  1st a call to my father, Joe Kerr (94 yrs old) who served in the Army and was based at Camp Hahn in Riverside County California.  It is gone today, but was located to the west of what is the remains of March Air Force Base.  Dad spent most of his time driving trucks and taking various Generals out into the desert training grounds and camps.  Obviously this influenced his love of the desert and joy in exploring it's depths.  The base was one of several POW camps for Germans.  He has told me about my mother bringing me to the base for a visit when I was just a few weeks old and that the prisoners were very pleased to see a woman and infant that gave them some memories of their loved ones.  Thanks Dad for serving and for your life teachings to your four boys.

31 year old - Major Dave Lower

Next may I present  Major Dave Lower who served in both WWII and the Korean War.  Dave is my uncle-in-law and at 94 continues to provide many stories about his service.  He is very active with many of his fellow servicemen an enjoys keeping his friends and family up to date on their activities.

This is part of his story about his arrival at radio operator school.  "When I arrived at Scott Field, Illinois radio operator school, a S/Sgt. and a Corporal had charge of Barracks #248 where I lived (stayed is a more proper term.). They had a soft job since after they got us up in the morning and got us off to school, they loafed all day in the service Club playing ping pong and shooting pool, With a shortage of manpower in the Air Corps right after Pearl Harbor these experienced men were sent to more important assignments and students governed themselves."  

Thank you Dave for your many years of service and for your friendship over the past 45 plus years.  No doubt you could still beat me at ping pong too!!

Lets go back to 1794 and the Samuel Lamb household

My 4th maternal great grandfather is Enoch Lamb.  Born in Groton Connecticut on July 17, 1794 to Samuel Lamb and Tabitha Wightman Lamb.  Our country is less than 20 years old and Enoch is born to grow with it.  The Louisiana Purchase and Louis and Clark explorations would soon open a whole new world for young Enoch.  As a young boy he worked in his father's business as an Apprentice Cooper.  He would continue this work for the remainder of his life.  What is a 'Cooper'?   I had to Google "Cooper" and I copied this from Wikipedia: "Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than breadth, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads. Examples of a cooper's work include but are not limited to casks, tubs, buckets, barrels, butter churns, and hogsheads."

In 1818 he married Priscilla Avery.  20 years later they and their 6 children are in Circleville Ohio.  In 1838 Enoch and Priscilla were among the hand full of residents who established the First Baptist Church in Circleville.  Like Enoch, his sons continued the family business as Coopers.  Enoch died in Jun 1851 and was laid to rest in the First Baptist Church cemetery.