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THE RACERS THAT TAKE UP THE RIGHT SIDE SEATS

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                                                                       THE RACERS THAT TAKE UP THE RIGHT SIDE SEATS  There is, in my type of race truck, a racer that occupies a second seat known as the co-driver That racer has a special talent, not just to help the driver stay on course but the ability to withstand the punishment they get from a rough ride. here's what I mean: the driver flies a whoop- de- do landing with his hand on the wheel, feet firmly on the floor, knows when he's going to land, the wheels hit the ground and we're off.  No so for for your co-driver, who, after the wheels touch drown, feels the jolt after we land. I tried that seat for three races, it ain't easy,  that was enough for me. No thanks! Rod Hall, Willie Stroppe, Jamie Martiniz, Joel Silverstien, Bob Bower, have all sit next to me. That these racers trusted me to get us home safely is quite an honor. Here are some others: The brothers Hummel, Steve and Jim. Steve is kind of a quiet guy, a
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Life at Halfway Junction

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Life At Halfway Junction  Short Stories From A Roadside Café On The Way To Las Vegas  CHRISTMAS AND THE GANG  It’s Christmas Eve I’ve just turned off the cafés outside lights. one by one my crew coming the  door, all slicked up. The tree is in corner the corner next to the jukebox, all covered with tinsel  and lights. I close the place once a year, beginning at 10 PM Christmas Eve, and open for  another year-December 26 at 6 AM. Folks that are used to us being open 24-7, are out of luck  this night. As granddad used to say, “If you got to use Christmas to make a buck, time to give  it up.” Although not a church going guy, he told me that Christmas was His birthday and should  be so honored.” So, I’m here to carry on that tradition. Hello, here come the ladies, Opal, Jewel,  Ruby, and Pearl, waitress crew each look quite pretty all gussied up. They live in the cabins  next to the café. Each one of these ladies was hired by my grandfather about 10 years ago, just  after the war, and alth
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Gale Pike and His 1973 Stroppe Race Bronco

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                                                    Gale Pike and His 1973 Stroppe Race Bronco                               The Original 1966 Baja Bronco                                                     (plus a little off road racing history, as I remember it)                                                                                                     Part 1 This past year has been quite a boot for me watching all these high buck Bronco ( 67-75) restorations driving   up and down the Coast Highway. The last time I saw anything like what is going on today was in   Victorville, Ca. 2006. That year folks that do those things, got together some dozen ex Bronco racer drivers to celebrate forty years of off-road racing and the Bronco that was it’s spotlight vehicle. In 1968,   the first ‘Baja 1000’ race,( which   had its beginnings in 1967 with a 68 car and bike rally, 31 finishers) had   Larry Minor, Rod Hall, in a 1968 Stroppe built Bronco   win 1 st over all, beating all t
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