Motocross History...

I'm a vintage motorcycle nut. I'm thinking of starting a new kind of blog, one that would honor the guys who brought motocross to the US. I would put emphasis on the guys who brought America to the forefront, helped the US dominate the sport. I have tons of photos from my days of following World Championship MX, guys like Roger DeCoster, Gerritt Wolsink, Bad Brad Lackey, Magoo and Danny "the door" LaPorte.

Lackey was the first American to win an MX World Championship. Danny LaPorte followed, winning the 250cc World Championship just a few weekends later.

And, Danny "Magoo" Chandler led the American Team to wins in the team competition, Trophee des Nations and Motocross des Nations. Magoo was the first and only rider to ever win all four motos of the team competition.

I have maintained email contact with some of these Motocross Hall of Famers. It would be so cool if I could convince them to become a part of the blog, posting comments and sharing anecdotes.

I'll have to send a few emails. Invite them to take a look at how much fun it could be. I'm starting to get excited. Better step back and do some thinking. Any vintage mx fans out there with comments?

L8r

Support the Troops

Is "Support the Troops" just lip service? Following is an excerpt from an email to my congressman.

Dear Congressman:

I retired from the US Army in 1981. I was a healthy young man with little perception of how important the promised FREE healthcare would become. I was managing a hotel in Del Rio when I decided to take advantage of my benefits. That was in 1995. I was 54, and scheduled a physical at the nearby Laughlin Air Force Base Medical Facility. The physical resulted in some concern for an elevated PSA. Otherwise, my health was excellent. There was no charge for that visit.

In 1996, I learned that I would have to enroll in the Tricare Prime Program and pay a premium to continue receiving the same benefits, the benefits I had been promised during my years of military service. I resisted but finally succumbed to the pressure of aging and higher risk of needing healthcare services. My wife and I finally enrolled in the Tricare Prime Family Plan in 2000 at a cost of $460 per year. Note: I’m not certain of the premium in 2000.

Our Primary Care Physicians were at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. We had full access to the hospital facilities. I had emergency back surgery in 2001. I was also receiving care from a urologist there, undergoing a series of biopsies to determine the cause of the continued elevated PSA. Other than my annual $460 premium, it was free.

I was concerned about losing my access when becoming Medicare-eligible, but was assured by my physician that BAMC would continue providing my care. When I turned 65 in 2004, I was shocked to find that I was being transferred to Medicare. My wife, who turned 65 in January 2006, is also on Medicare.

I don’t blame my physician for the misleading information. She was as shocked as I to find that BAMC would be transferring older patients to Medicare. A lot of the reason must have been the war in Iraq. Many physicians were being transferred to Iraq. Others, especially the civilians contracted by the military, were leaving to establish their own practices.

I’m also not complaining about the care I receive. My current Medicare primary care physician is one of the doctors who left BAMC to establish his own practice. Both my wife and I see the same doctor. We are satisfied with our doctor. My complaint is about cost.

The 2007 Part B Medicare monthly premium will be $93.50 per month each for my wife and me. That is $187.00 per month; a total of $1,634 annually; almost $1200 per year more than my Tricare Premium.

What I would like to have explained is why I am paying so much for services that were promised me during my active duty years. Is SUPPORT THE TROOPS just a lip service paid to those currently in harms way? Do they know that our country’s commitments are so tenuous? Will they continue to serve when they realize the truth? Can you do anything to make commitments from our congress more creditable?

L8r

Hemmingway and Me

I fancy myself a writer. I was pretty good until I quit drinking. Something about mind altering substances that can't be overcome by imagination. It seems all the great writers have been heavy drinkers. Hemmingway's bawdy life was legendary. Minus the writing success, I was hanging right with my idol. I was pretty good (at drinking) but the negative effect on my family made my expertise counter productive.

I'm old now. I still enjoy writing, keeping a record of my thoughts and ideas, but the ambition to produce a novel is much less intense. It's sad. I feel as if life passed me by. There have been many opportunities. Adventures and explorations should be recorded as they occur. The futile on again off again effort to document my Vietnam experiences was lost when a hard disc crashed. My interest and enthusiasm crashed with it. The passion of my youth is no longer there. I miss the bravado of liquid courage. My attitude has turned to "Who cares?" I need a drink.

L8r

The Truth Hurts

Have you paid any attention to the Military Recruitment Commercials on TV? What is the big selling point? EDUCATION!!!

What John Kerry said was stupid. It certainly seemed to demean our troops. And he managed to provide much needed ammunition for the Republican effort. But what Kerry said was true. And, military recruiting standards continue to be lowered in an effort maintain force levels needed for the Bush Administration's policy of Damn the Diplomacy, Might is Right.

I'll spare you my long winded rant. Follow this link to what I probably would have said. Maybe with less intensity, but there's no need clogging the airways.

L8r