Indy 500 : We We're Kung Fu Fighting!!!

In the Spring of 1974, I was in the middle of my second semester of my Freshman year at Limestone High School. So much had happened in the past few months. I had met Steve Suits after I walked off stage the previous September from our performance at the 1973 Variety Show. I had been asked to join a group of Seniors who included Ramone Medina and Larry Brewer. We practiced in my parents living room a few times and my head was spinning for the chance to play with older musicians. I remember Larry walking up to me one morning before class. I had only been at Limestone a few weeks but he had heard I played guitar. He asked If I'd join them in the Variety show the following month!!! I said sure!

Even though I'd never met these guys, they were very nice and treated me as an equal. We played I Need You by America and for the life of me I honestly can't remember what else we played. I know it was an acoustic thing and I used one of Larry's acoustic guitars. Why they asked me I'll never know. They were good, but we didn't win as I remember!!!!

However, coming off stage right, I ran into this guy in a denim cap who wanted to know if I wanted to join a band with him. It must have been meant to be. I told him about my friend Darin and with that, CHANCES ARE and later, FIREHOUSE was born.

Most of my time was spent getting average grades, playing guitar, working hard in the Limestone Marching band and of course, listening to WIRL in my Orange Room.

It was during this period, I was waiting patiently for the radio to play the new Wings single Band On The Run. I loved the different sections and I had to buy this single 45. I remember buying the 45 and Led Zeppelin IV at the Northwood mall the night my Dad asked if I'd like to go with him to the Indianapolis 500 the following month. "Of course" I said.

My Dad worked for the Illinois National Guard and they had been trying out a new piece of equipment called the melter dryer. It was a giant tractor kind of thing that had HUGE flame heaters underneath the vehicle that reminded me of the burners on an Apollo Mission rocket ship. These big bad boys were supposed to melt any moisture on a runway at any airport. To test its effectiveness, The Indy 500 said the Guard could bring it to the time trials to see how it worked.

The day of the time trials, sure enough, it rained hard and steady. I was with my Dad and several of the Air National Guard members, while staff cars and of course the giant melter dryer began doing laps on the speedway track. I rode in a staff car behind the colossal moisture evaporating THINGY!!!!! The crowd was packed in the stands, THOUSANDS of people all waiving and cheering as the announcer explained what the United States Air Force was trying to accomplish!!!! They cheered loudly knowing that the rain delay was going to be shorted by this monstrous beast provided by the US Military!!! I waved out the window to the thousands of appreciative fans and pretended that I was a famous ROCK STAR getting ready to play a show for them. LOL It was great innocent fun!!!! THANK YOU!!! Yes...THANK YOU !!!!! It's GREAT TO BE HERE!!!! I was milking the opportunity.

After about an hour, the track was dry and we pulled into GASOLINE ALLEY. Before I knew it, a familiar face popped his head into our staff car....it was Mario Andretti and he saluted everyone sarcastically in mock appreciation. Al Unser was next but he was very nice and said thanks to the Guard for their help. Last was A J Foyt!!!! He also said thank you and I was completely blown away!!!!

Later that night, all of us got cleaned up and decided we would walk across this muddy field and have dinner at a Bonanza next to the Motel. Well, it was 1974, and the KUNG FU TV show was all the rage!!!! I began my Kung Fu kicks and jumps slowly at first... then began singing the hit song KUNG FU FIGHTING as I I leaped and executed my highest kung fu kick yet!!!!

With a loud ”Heee Yaaaa.....a LARGE hunk of MUD and grass flew off my tennis shoe at hit one of the guardsmen squarely all over the front of his freshly pressed WHITE PANTS!!!! SPLAT!!!!!! OMG!!!!

Mr. Denson turned seven different colors of red before he seriously began to chase me!!! I'm certain he wanted to do me bodily harm!!!! I hid behind the Master Sargents including my Dad and they gave me enough cover to get to the restaurant in one piece! Once there, Don did his best to clean his soiled white pants in the restroom but it was a lost effort. The only thing that kept me alive was his hunger and several beers. After dinner, all was well. He even laughed....a little.

Later that week, in the cozy confines of the Orange Room, I chuckled at the sight of me kicking mud onto future Major Denson. Everybody was KUNG FU FIGHTING. and yes, THOSE CATS WERE FAST AS LIGHTING!!!!!

The 182nd. Dad on the far left. My Kung Fu target second from the right.

That's me on the far right.