Pharmacy Fizzes in N.C.-- Part 2: Ashworth Drugs and Smith Drugs

ASHWORTH DRUGS in Cary

The future Ashworth Drugs, Adams Rexall Drugs, opened in 1931 and was bought by Ralph Ashworth in 1957.  His son, Paul, took over in 1992.   Cary has grown from 2,000 to 150,000 population in the meantime.  But their soda fountain remains.

SMITH DRUGS in Forest City

J.M. Smith opened it in 1939.  Featuring the legendary cherry soda called the Pink Lady and Orangeade.  You can also order a livermush.

I'll Have a Livermush and a Pink Lady.  --RoadDog

Pharmacy Fizzes in N.C.-- Part 1: Five Places You Can Go in North Carolina for Your Pharmacy Drink Fix

From the June 2016 Our State Magazine.

"It's an old-fashioned business model, the combination of drugstore and soda fountain, dating back to when pharmacists had to compound each prescription, and food counters and soda fountains offered patrons something to do while they waited,

"The ritual has largely disappeared, yielding to 24-hour drugstores and drive-through pharmacies,

"But here in North Carolina, five local drugstores continue that tradition.  Each has its own flavor; each serves simply prepared fare: grilled cheese, tuna salad, hot dogs.

"And the prize, freshly squeezed fruit 'ades."  You're in for a treat if you've never had one of these before.

Got me to Thinking.  --RoadDog

Drinking in North Carolina

From the June 2016, Our State magazine (North Carolina)  "Southern Sips."

"Icy, fizzy, fruity, sweetened, bottled, brewed.  When the mercury rises in North Carolina (like this week), we reach for something liquid, something local.

"Pepsi, Cheerwine, even Sun Drop:  We can claim 'em all.  Pop a top, squeeze a lemon, stick in a straw.

"Feel  that summer fizz?"

What?  No sweet tea?

Cheerwine Me.  --  RoadDog

Gold in Them Thar Tarheel Hills

From the June 2016, Our State Magazine (North Carolina) "Striking Gold" by Alan Hodge.

The first documented discovery of gold in the United States took place in 1799 on John Reed's farm in Cabbarus County, N.C., when his son pulled a 17 pound gold nugget out of Little Meadow Creek.

In the first half of the 19th century, North Carolina was the country's leading gold producing statewith more than 50 mines employing 25,000 workers.  That, however, changed in 1849 with the start of the California Gold Rush.

A branch of the U.S. Mint was completed in Charlotte in 1837 and made coins from locally mined gold.  In 1901, Thomas Edison experimented there with a process for separating gold from ore using electricity.

--RoadGold

Tennessee's Walton Road-- Part 2: You Can Still Follow It

Spencer's Mountain at Crab Orchard in Cumberland County was the most dangerous and talked about point on the Walton Road.  Construction of I-40 destroyed the side of the mountain, but Spencer's Rock still marks the path the road made up the mountain.

U.S. 70 and the railroad followed the same path as Walton Road to descend into Rowan County.

Walton Road served travelers into the twentieth century, providing the foundation for newer roads until the construction of Interstate 40.

One way to trace the old road today is by locating the abandoned railroad bed.  US 70N, built in the 1920s, followed Walton Road and was even built on top of parts of the road in Putnam County and eastern Smith County.

--RoadDog

Tennessee's Walton Road-- Part 1: Opening Up Tennessee to Settlement

From the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History & Culture.

This road played a major role in the settlement of Tennessee in the area from the Cumberland Plateau and the Cumberland River,  It was not the first road through the area, but followed older paths at several points. It provided an adequate and relatively secure path to the west for early American settlers in the region.

The road was named for William Walton of Carthage, one of its surveyors and builders. In 1795, Walton, anticipating profits from the promotion of travel along the route, secured permission from Governor William Blount for the construction of the first section of the road which ran from North Carolina into Tennessee.

In 1799, he and two others were appointed to establish a new east-west road by Tennessee's General Assembly.  They completed it in 1801 and it was officially designated the Cumberland Turnpike, but popularly was called the Walton Road.

It went 100 miles to Carthage and was 15 feet wide, free of stumps, leveled on the side of hills and with bridges or causeways built over streams.  Mile markers were carved into trees every three miles.  Tollgates and stands (inns) were established along the route.

--RoadDog

A Dozen Recipes Every North Carolinian Should Know-- Part 6: Calabash Shrimp-- "Goodnight Mrs. Calabash"

Although there is some disagreement on which family opened the first fish camp at Calabash, we know that at least a pair of sisters ran such camps, starting with outdoor oyster roasts.  Over time, the operations moved indoors and offered their now-famous version of fried seafood.

The restaurant run by one of the sisters, Mrs. Coleman, was frequented by the entertainer Jimmy Durante, who is said to have jokingly called her Mrs. Calabash.  The story goes that she was the origin of the tagline he used to close his performances"  "Goodnight, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are."

Good Night Road Dog, Where Ever Ye Be?  --RoadDog

A Dozen Recipes Every North Carolinian Should Know-- Part 5: Calabash Shrimp

CALABASH SHRIMP

Calabash is a tiny fishing town in Brunswick County, right on the South Carolina border.  Only about 2,000 people call Calabash home, but they boast they are "The Seafood Capital of the World."

And, there seems to be almost a fish restaurant for everyone of the inhabitants.

Calabash-style means perfectly fried seafood with a light, crisp, ethereal battered crust.  It's the crust that makes it so good.  For many vacationers to the Wilmington area and Myrtle Beach, no vacation is complete without a trip to Calabash.  Plus, many seafood restaurants in both area s offer calabash-style seafood (especially shrimp).  And, of course, you also need a plate of piping hot hushpuppies.

And, there's more to come.

My Favorite Type of Shrimp.  --RoadDog

A Dozen Recipes Every North Carolinian Should Know-- Part 4: Fish Muddle

7.  FISH MUDDLE

Southerners, especially in N.C., have their fish muddle which is essentially fish stew made from the catch-of-the-day, seafood and shellfish.  The thick stew includes basic vegetables and simple seasonings

The more stuff in the pot, the better.

A defining characteristic of muddle is that it is garnished with eggs, which can be poached in the savory broth, scrambled and swirled into the pot like egg drop soup.  To make it even better, ladle the muddle onto hot grits or rice.

OK, I have to admit that I had never heard of the term "muddle" before.  Now I know.

Mud Me One.  --RoadDog

Shadows of Knight-- Part 2: On You Tube

This You Tube is a great source to hear oldies music.  I use it often, especially when doing the WLS Top 40 Silver Dollar Surveys when there are a lot of song I'm not familiar with or just want to hear again.

When I got back from Antioch and posted the blog, I listened to a whole lot of Shadows of Knight music on You Tube including:

I'm Gonna Make You Mine--  1966
Gloria
Shadows of Knight Live With Wolfman Jack "Gloria" and "Shake" from 1989
Live Footage from a 1966 concert filmed in 8 mm
Bad Little Woman
Got My Mojo Working

They really blended garage rock with the blues.

--RoadDog

The Shadows of Knight-- Part 1 "Bad Little Woman"

From Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1993.

THE SHADOWS OF KNIGHT

Chicago-area garage band:  Jim Sohns (lead singer), Joe Kelley (lead guitarist), Warren Rogers (Bass), Jerry McGeorge (rhythm guitar) and Tom Schiffour (drums).

Debut Date/ peak position/ weeks on chart

3/9/66--  10--  12--  Gloria (written by Van Morrison and originally sung by Them)
6/4/66--  39--  6--  Oh Yeah
6/10/66--   91--  2--  Bad Little Woman
12/24/66--  90--1--  I'm Gonna Make You Mine
10-26-68--  46--  8    Shake

Those Great Chicago 60s Bands.  --RoadDog

The Shadows of the Morning and "Oh Well"

One of the members of the group, remarking on their early start, at noon, said they used to be the Shadows of Knight and played at night.  But, with this early start, they could now be referred to as The Shadows of Morning.

There were a lot of older folks in attendance, people in their 60s-70s like us.  And, there was a time when we were young, oh so much younger.  One couple were straight out of the Hippy Days, complete with tye-dies and long gray hair.  A man sitting near us overheard me saying that the Cryan Shames and Ides of March were on the July 15, 1966, WLS Silver Dollar Survey, fifty years ago.  he turned and said that Jim Peterik of the Ides of March and Survivor was his cousin.

Yesterday, we went to Hickory Lodge in McCullom Lake, Illinois, for pizza and told the bartender that we had seen the Shadows of Knight on Saturday.  She said, "Who?"  We said, "The Shadows of Knight."  She said, "Who?"  We said, "The Shadows of Knight, you know 'Gloria.'"

She said, "Who?"  Even singing "G-L-O-R-IA" didn't help.

Oh, Well.  --RoadDog

Just Got Back from Seeing the Shadows of Knight at Antioch's Taste of Summer

Antioch, Illinois.

Liz and I went to Antioch earlier this afternoon and saw Jimmy Sohns and the Shadows of Knight.  This was his first time on stage since he suffered a stroke several months ago.  He's had a long and hard battle to get back on his feet.  Sadly, his voice is not the same, but he sure gives it the old high school try.

They played a lot of 60s songs and some from the 70s and even 80s in their two-hour long show.  Two of the members of his current Shadows of Knight band were with other great 60s Chicago bands. The drummer was with the New Colony Six and the bass player was with the Cryan' Shames.  They played the New Colony Six's "I Could Never Lie to You" and the Cryan' Shames' "Sugar & Spice."

Shadows of Knight songs they played were "Oh Yeah," "Dark Side," "Boom Boom," "Shake" and "Gloria" twice.

Sohns, despite the stroke, is still a great front man.  And watching videos on You Tube, he was really great back in his prime.

The band formed in 1964 when the members were students at Prospect High School in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago.  Sohns was just 16 at the time.

It was a real trip back to the 60s and the Cellar in Arlington Heights for Liz and me.

Talking 'Bout My Generation Here.  --RoadDog

A Dozen Recipes Every North Carolinian Should Know-- Part 3: Pork Chops With Apples and Crook's Corner Shrimp and Grits

And a recipe comes with each and everyone of this dozen.

5.  PORK CHOPS WITH APPLES

Most would agree that North Carolinians love their pork, even if not barbecue.  But apples have played a role in past and present.   North Carolina consistently ranks in the top ten of this country's apple producers.

At one time as many as 1500 different varieties of apples were grown in the state, but today more than half of those are lost to history. But there are still plenty of heirloom and antique varieties.  century Farm orchards in Richardson County grows more than 400 varieties.

6.  CROOK'SCORNER SHRIMP AND GRITS

No one is sure who invented shrimp and grits.  Over the years this food became popular in Southern restaurants.  Perhaps no version is better renowned than the one that he late Bill Neal created for the landmark place called Crook's Corner in Chapel Hill.  They've been serving it now for more than 25 years.

How About Shrimp and Apples?  --RoadDog

A Dozen Recipes Every North Carolinian Should Know-- Part 2:Sweet Potato Biscuits with Country Ham and Cabbage Collards and Potlikker with Cornmeal Dumplings

As if reading about these things was enough to get you starving, they had pictures of each one accompany the articles.  That was really mean.

3.  SWEET POTATO BISCUITS WITH COUNTRY HAM

Wow, I love anything sweet potato and never thought of sweet potato biscuits.  They suggest you make the biscuits if you make them a day or two ahead of time.  And, it gets even better when you pile that good old N.C. country ham in it.  Red-eye gravy anybody?

4.  CABBAGE COLLARDS AND POTLIKKER WITH CORNMEAL DUMPLINGS

Most North Carolinians have had collards, but the mild, tender, leafy, pale cabbage collards Down East are not as well-known.

In case you were wondering (I had to look it up).  Potlikker is also called collard liquor or pot liquor.  It is the liquid left behind after you boil greens (collard, mustard or turnip).  I do not think it has any alcoholic properties.

I Can Just barely Take Collards, However. Maybe These Are Better.  --RoadDog

A Dozen Recipes Every North Carolinian Should Know-- Part 1 "All the Way" Dogs and Cheerwine BBQ Chicken

From the April 2016 Our state magazine.

Some of these are barely-known outside of their home towns, but, they are all very, very tasty.

CAROLINA DOGS--  All the Way for a Carolina hot dog means topped with chili, slaw, onions and mustard.  (They are also great on a Carolina burger.)

CHEERWINE BARBECUED CHICKEN--  Carolinians can be really picky about their 'cue.  And don't even think about getting them started on barbecue pork.  But,the state devotion to Cheerwine goes back to 1917 when L.D. Peeler created Cheerwine in Salisbury.

Bright crimson with a wild cherry flavor, people have been known to tote cases out-of-state.  I know I always stock up with 5-6 two-liter bottles before I come home.

It just does something to the sauce.

Give It a Try.  --RoadDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 25: Big Ol' Trophy

121.  THE BORG WARNER TROPHY RAN OUT OF ROOM FOR PORTRAITS IN 1986.

A base was added for the '87 race.

122.  Bobby Rahal was the last driver to grace the original trophy when he won in 1986.

123.  The only portrait on the trophy not of a driver is that of track owner Tony Hulman.  It was added in 1987.

124.  The new base added nearly 13 inches to the trophy's height, which now stands atfive feet, 4.75 inches.

125.  It now weighs in at 110 pounds.

Big Ol' Trophy.  --RoadDog

Sweet As Honey: N.C. Taste Treats

From the April 2016, Our State magazine (North Carolina) by Lynn Wells.

"Here's the buzz: a selection of recipes using our favorite natural sweetener.  Now make a beeline for the local honey section of your grocery or farmer's market."

Besides mouthwatering photos of each, she has the the recipe.

Honey Buns

Smoked Honey-Roasted Peanuts (well, it is N.C.)

Vanilla Honey Cake  (Gets my vote.)

Honey-Ginger Chicken

Didn't Do Me Any Good, However.  I Can't Cook.  --RoadDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 25: The Borg Warner Victory Wreath

118.  THE BORG WARNER VICTORY WREATH FIRST APPEARED IN 1960.

The wreath is constructed using a round 24-inch Styrofoam base.  On the base you will find 30 feet of red white and blue stripped ribbon, 70 feet of green floral tape, 60 small checkered flags, 250 steel picks, a pound of hot glue, hand-crafted letters spelling Borg Warner, 33 white orchids representing the 33 drivers in the field and 33 small tubes filled with water for the flowers.

--RoadDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 24: The Borg Warner Trophy

THE TROPHIES

113.  THE BORG WARNER TROPHY WAS INTRODUCED IN 1936.  Crafted out of sterling silver by Spaulding-Gorham of Chicago, it was unveiled at a dinner in New York in February 1936, featuring bas relief sculptures of every Indy 500 winner up until that time.

114.  THE TROPHY IDENTIFIES THE RACE AS THE "INDIANAPOLIS 500-MILE RACE."

Even though at the time it was called the "International Sweepstakes."

115.  The trophy was commissioned by the Borg-Warner Automotive Company, now known as BorgWarner.

116.  At that time, it stood four feet, four inches.

117.  THE ORIGINAL VALUE OF IT WAS $10,000.  Today it is worth well over $1 million.

Win the Race, Get Nice Trophy  --RoadDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 23: Fewest Cars at End of the Race Was 7, Most Was 26

99.  Go with the Number 3.  That number has won the race eleven times.

100.  The most cars running at the finish ever was 26.  (They start with 33 usually.)  That happened in 1911 and 2013.

101.  The fewest cars in the race at the end was 7 in 1966.

106.  One  million miles have been run by racers at the Indy 500, actually 1,060,930.  That's enough to circle the planet 42 times.

107.  Drivers from 31 countries have competed.

Even I Could Keep Up With Just Seven Cars  --RoadDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 22: An Unser Here, An Unser There

76.  No One Has Won Three In a Row.  Al Unser, Sr. came close winning it in 1970 and 1971 and coming in second the next year.  Helio Castroneves did the same thing in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

77.  The Indy 500 has been won by  drivers from 20 different states.  Altogether, 49 have been from the U.S..

78.  Indiana has produced the most winning drivers with seven.

85.  The name "Unser" has been in the Indy 500 more than any other family name.  let's see, there were Jerry, Bobby, Al, Al jr., Johnny and Robby.  Louis Unser made it through several stages of the 1940 driver's test, but didn't make the final cut.

--RoadDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 21: Seven Have Won Three

71.  ANOTHER SEVEN HAVE WON THE INDY 500 THREE TIMES.

Louis Meyer, Wilbur Shaw, Nauri Rose, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser, Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti all have three wins.

73.  AND NINE HAVE WON IT TWICE.

Tommy Milton, Bill Vukovoch, Rodger Ward, Gordon Hancock, Emerson Fittipaldi, Al Unser Jr., Arie Leyendyk, Dan Wheldon and Juan Pablo Montoya have all won two championships.

75.  FIVE HAVE WON BACK-TO-BACK 500S.

Wilbur Shaw won it 1939-1940, Mauri Rose in '47 and '48, Bill Vuckovich took the checkered flag in '53 and '54 before dying in an accident at Indy 500 the following year, Al Unser, Sr. in 1970 and 1971 and Helio Castroneves in 2001 and 2002.

--RoadDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 20: Only Three Have Won Four

66.  SADLY 73 PEOPLE HAVE DIED AT THE IMS OVER THE YEARS.

42 of them were drivers, 13 riding mechanics, one motorcycle racer and 17 workers and spectators.

And, this includes the era even before the most rudimentary safety equipment had been introduced.

ALL TIME RECORDS

67.  ONLY THREE HAVE WON FOUR.

The only drivers to have won the Indy 500 four times are A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears.

68.  THE FIRST TO WIN FOUR WAS FOYT.

A.J. completed the feat in 1977.

69.  PENSKE HAS THE LOCK ON OWNERSHIP WINS.

They have won 16 Indy 500 victories.  Lou Moore's team from the 1930s and '40s is a distant second with five.

--RoadDog

500 Facts About Indy 500-- Part 19: About Those Flags Above the "Flying Wheel" Logo

63. THE FAMOUS FLAG LOGO IS A COUPLE FLAGS SHORT NOW.

 The "Flying Wheel" with its crown of seven flags features seven of them.  Green, white, blue, checkered, red, black and yellow.  Each means something.

There are also now two more that aren't on the logo: an alternating red and yellow striped and a black flag with a white cross.

64.  IMS ALSO BOASTS THE LARGEST SOLAR FARM OF ANY SPORTING FACILITY ANYWHERE.

In 2014, sixty-eight of the Speedway's acres were dedicated to being a solar farm.  Some 39,314 solar panels cover 41 acres and generate 9.0 megawatts of power.

--RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, June 2016 Big Texan, Totem Pole Park and McDonald's

JUNE 11--  The Big Texan in Amarillo to begin building its new complex by the fall.  Hopefully they will keep that great exterior on the existing building.  If that won't get you to want to stop in, I don't know what will.

It does say they will keep the current building.

JUNE 12--  The Totem Pole Festival will mark the restoration of Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park near Foyil, Oklahoma.  The 90-foot totem pole has been repainted.  Always a favorite stop for us.

JUNE 12--  McDonald's plans to build at the old Tropics property in Lincoln, Illinois.  At least it won't be a Walgreen's.

--RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, June 2016: Women of the Mother Road-- Illinois

Taken from the Route 66 News Site.

JUNE 10--  The Women on the Mother Road website is up and running.  The website and oral history projects features women from each state Route 66 went through.

For Illinois:

HAZEL FUNK--  Of Funk's Grove

LORETTA MARTEN-- Was 12-years-old when she had the Monument to the Virgin Mary built in Raymond, Illinois.  It is more commonly known as Our Lady of the Highways.
 
SALLY RAND--  burlesque pioneer who thrilled the guys at the Chicago World's Fair in 1932 with her famous "Fan Dance."

HELEEN and KATHRYN THANAS--  Owners of Lou Mitchell's in Chicago who purchased it from Uncle Lou.

--RoadDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 18: Things Are the Same Today As in 1909

60.  THE BANKING IN THE TURNS HAS NEVER CHANGED.

Nine degrees, 12 minutes-- from opening day 'til today.

61.  BUT THE BANK HAD AN EXTRA 'LIP' THAT WAS REMOVED IN '35.

The lip gave cars an even steeper angle at the outer edge to help diminish the effects of centrifugal force.

62.  ALL THE SPEEDWAY'S OTHER DIMENSIONS ARE JUST LIKE THEY WERE IN 1909.

The front and back straightaways are 5/8th of a mile each, with "short chute" straightaways between turns 1 and 2 (where we sit) and Turns 3 and 4 at 1/8 mile each.  Each of the four turns is 1/4 mile long.

--RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, June 2016: "Cars" Movie's 10th Anniversary

JUNE 6--  The giant Vess Soda bottle in St. Louis is being restored.  The 34-foot-tall, steel bottle will be getting a new paint job for the company's 100th anniversary.  It was originally installed in 1952.  I like this sort of thing, but have never seen it.  Maybe next time through town.

JUNE 9--  "Cars" movie marks its 10th anniversary after having grossed more than $460 million world wide.  I saw the movie three times (once at a drive-in in McHenry, Illinois).  Until this movie, I had very little use for animated movies.  Now I see them often.  I thought that it wouldn't be good, but was I ever wrong and it was great for Route 66 awareness.

JUNE 10--  Meramec caverns reopens today after being closed for three months because of cancer-causing fumes.

--RoadDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 17: Second-Biggest Hoosier City on Race Day

56.  THE OVAL'S SO BIG, YOU COULD FIT VATICAN CITY INSIDE-- TWICE.

In addition, it could also hold all of these at once time:  Vatican, White House, Churchill Downs, Rose Bowl, Statue of Liberty, Yankee Stadium, the Taj Mahal and the Roman Collisum.  They say there is a famous Google Earth image of it.

57.  IMS IS BIGGER THAN NEARLY ALL HOOSIER CITIES ON RACE DAY.

Attendance for the 500 makes the Speedway the second-largest Indiana city one day a year.  Only Indianapolis is bigger.

58.  THE TRACKS AMENITIES:

17 grandstand, 26 bridges, and six tunnels.

59.  ONE LAP AROUND THE OVAL IS EQUAL TO 2.5 MILES.

But, you knew that.

Road2.5Dog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 16: More Than 250,000 Seats

50.  THE FIRST PORTION OF THE "SAFER BARRIER" WENT IN IN 2002.

The impact-absorbing wall is one of many safety features introduced at IMS.

53.  THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY (IMS) HAS MORE THAN 250,000 PERMANENT SEATS.

However, the track never releases attendance figures.

54.  IF YOU TOOK THE SEATBOARDS FROM THE GRANDSTANDS AT IMS AND PLACED THEM END-ON-END, THEY'D COVER 99.5 MILES.

 That's roughly the distance between the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and French Lick, Indiana.  That's a lot of butt-space.

55.   THE OLD PRESSLEY FARM IS A LOT BIGGER NOW.

The IMS covers 1,025 acres.  The infield covers 253 acres and the parking lots another 750 acres.

--RoadRaceDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 15: About That Pagoda

42.  GASOLINE ALLEY'S CURRENT GARAGES OPENED IN 1986.

The old wooden green-and-white buildings were replaced by a multi-million-dollar upgrade.

48.  THE CURRENT CLASS-AND-STEEL PAGODA WAS CONSTRUCTED AS PART OF AN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THAT RAN FROM 1998-2000.

The pagoda was one of the many improvements that were undertaken to get ready for F1 racing-- and to improve the Speedway's facilities in general.

the current building has ten levels and a flagpole that tops out at 199 feet.

--RoadDog

500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 14: "The Thumbs-Up" and Eighty Feet of Wall

Well, there won't actually be 500 facts, just the ones that are interest to me.

41.  AL UNDER JR. OWNS 80 FEET OF INDY WALL

In 1989, Emerson Fittipaldi and Al Unser, Jr. were battling it out.  Unser was able to pass with three laps to go.

With two laps to go, Unser approached slower traffic.  Fittipaldi closed in, and on the backstretch, pulled inside Unser.  Running side-by-side in turn three, Fittipaldi drifted slightly high and the cars touched wheels.  Unser spun around into the wall.

As the yellow flag came out for the last lap, Unser stepped out of his car unhurt and walked to the edge of the track to give Fittipaldi a thumbs-up as the pace car escorted Emerson to his first Indy 500 win.

When IMS replaed the walls, Unser asked if he could have a piece.  They offered better than that.  He got 80 feet of the track's historic wall -- including the section in Turn Three that he plowed into after touching wheels with Fittipaldi.

The wall now stands at the entrance to the Unser Racing museum in Albuquerque, a great reminder of the legacy of the Unser racing family.

Not Sure If I'd Have Given Him a Thumbs-Up.  --RoadDog

Why Go Elsewhere? 4th of July 2016-- Part 3: Watching the Fireworks From Our Driveway

SUNDAY, JULY 3:  Of course, in the morning I went back to July 3, 1976, right in that Bicentennial Year, with Bob Stroud on his Rock and Roll Roots Show on WDRV from 7 to 10 a.m..  I am listing the songs he played on my Down Da Road Blog.

I then went to the Fox Lake Historical Society's Ice Cream Social at the museum.  Great pie ala mode.

Later, we went to Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake and saw the excellent band Hooked on Sonics.  Last stop was at Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg.

Came home and enjoyed a bonfire on the Strand and the many fireworks neighbors were shooting off.

MONDAY, JULY 4:  This be the big day.  I went to the Spring Grove parade and they actually had floats that amounted to more than someone slapping some streamers and a sign on a truck or flatbed.  The Richmond-Burton High School Marching Band was also in it.  Spring grove being in the heart of agricultural area, there are always a lot of old tractors.

I enjoyed the festival for awhile., came home and sat out on the deck before we went to Sunnyside Tavern.  That Macy's Fireworks display in New York was really something as we watched on TV.

Came home and sat out by the end of the driveway and watched the Spring grove Fireworks.  At least three of our neighbors had expensive fireworks displays as well.

So We Got Our bang On for the 4th.  --RoadDog

Why Go Elsewhere? 4th of July 2016-- Part 2: A Parade, Band and a Party

FRIDAY, JULY 1:  We went to K.C.'s Cabin in Spring Grove, at the intersection of Il.-173 and Wilmot Road for their great breakfast (now bogo half price).  I had two more breakfasts off it.  Spent the day on the internet and working in the yard around the gazebo.

Later, met the Usual Suspects at the Legion.

SATURDAY, JULY 2:  More yardwork and watering.  We definitely need some rain.  I don't water my grass, but found out the hard way that I need to water the grass over the septic field.  When that grass dies from lack of water, it doesn't come back.

We had planned to go up to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for their parade and stops at Main Street and Donovan's, but decided no to do it.

I went to the Fox Lake, Illinois, parade instead at 2 p.m..  Liz and I then went to the Legion where we saw one of our favorite bands, 3 Aces, playing all those great oldies and country classics from 3 to 6 in the afternoon.

We then went to John and Sherry's house in Johnsburg for a party and great food.  We saw a lot of area fireworks on our way home.

Like I said, Why Go Anywhere Else?  --RoadDog

Why Go Elsewhere? 4th of July 2016-- Part 1: American Legion Baseball

People often ask me why I don't go many places on vacation during the summer.  Well, here's a partial reason why.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29:  Went to see our American Legion Baseball team play Lake Villa at Grant High School in Fox Lake.  We won 7-5.  Lake Villa was in first place, undefeated and we are now tied with them for first in the division.

Went to Hello Folks in Fox Lake and paid my buddy Rick to use his pier for the summer.  We're hoping to get the boat in tomorrow,.  We then ended up at the Legion.

THURSDAY, JUNE 30:  Went to Donovan's in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin and then to It's Thursday in Antioch, Illinois.  This is their weekly Thursday party with bands that goes on until mid-August.  We saw the bands Barstool Soldiers and R Gang.

You've got to love a band named Barstool Soldiers.

Good Times in the Area.  --RoadDog

An Unexpected Trip to N.C.-- Part 7: Ohio University

June 19, 2016, Sunday.

I forgot to mention that we got off US-33 in Ohio and drove through Athens to see the University of Ohio.  Somehow, we missed signs for the school and had to do some backtracking.  Athens is a pretty old town, but quite hilly.  Its brick streets are a real throwback, but they really need to level them.  That is one bumpy ride.

And, then, there was a lot of road construction and blocked streets.  At one point, we got close enough  to the university to see it.  However, getting to it was another situation.  We had to do some sidestepping before getting to it.

It lies along the Hocking River and was chartered in 1804, opening for students in 1809, making it considerably older than NIU (1895).  Some 23,000 students attend and the Bobcats are in the Mid-American Conference with Northern and have lately been giving us a hard time in sports.

Beautiful and wooded campus.

--RoadDog

Vote for Your Favorite Transportation Museum-- Part 3: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

14.  Museum of Transportation--  St. Louis  (A favorite of us Route 66 Roadies.)

15.  Museum of Flight--  Seattle

16.  Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum

17.  Mystic Seaport--  Mystic, Connecticut

18.  San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

19.  San Diego Air and Space Museum

20.  Crawford Auto Aviation Museum--  Cleveland

--RoadDog

Vote for Your Favorite Transportation Museum-- Part 2: National Museum of the Air Force

Of course, all of us being Roadies of sorts, we like transportation.  Go on line and vote.

USA Today 10 Best Site.

7.  Maritime Museum of San Diego

8.  Union Pacific Railroad Museum--  Council Bluffs, Iowa

9.  Colorado Railroad Museum--  Golden

10.  California State Railroad Museum--  Sacramento

11.  Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum--  Washington, D.C.

12.  National Museum of the U.S. Air Force--  Dayton, Ohio

13.  The Henry Ford--  Dearborn, Michigan

You Can vote Until the Middle of July.  --RoadDog

Vote for Your Favorite Transportation Museum-- Part 1: Illinois Railway Museum

From the USA Today Best Site.

And you have until the middle of July to vote, which you can do each day.

These are the current standings.

1.  Simeone Automotive Foundation Museum--  Philadelphia

2.  Lake Superior Railroad Museum--  Duluth, Minnesota

3.  Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania--  Strasburg, Pa.

4.  Peterson Automotive Museum--  Los Angeles

5.  Illinois Railway Museum--  Union, Ill.  (About 23 miles from me.)

6.  National Automotive Museum--  Reno, nevada

--RoadDog