Lee High School - Huntsville Alabama Alumni

Low Flying Sixty -

The Ultimate 60th Birthday Present

by George (Lehman) Williams

Class of '64

It is no secret to 1964 Lee High graduates that I ("The Lehman Express" Williams) had a lead foot. So it was appropriate that my son gave me the Rookie Racing Experience from Petty Racing at Fontana Raceway in California.

We arrived at the track around 9:00 a.m. and after going through orientation and getting our fire suits, we headed to the track. Yes, my son also gave himself a present and let me know that he was going to kick my ass (on the track). After going over the car to make sure we knew what we were doing, we had pictures taken and then got fitted for a seat belt harness and helmets.

Now the cost was $400 each but you could spend an extra $100 each and ride with a professional driver for three laps prior to you driving the car. This is highly recommended because you only get eight laps alone, two laps to get up to speed, one is your cool down lap, so that leaves five laps of actual driving. If you don't do the ride-a-long first, it takes you about five laps to convince yourself that the car will hold in the turn at 145 mph without you letting off the gas, so most people average 20 mph faster if they do the ride-a-long first, so obviously I had to go faster.

The moment of truth arrives. It's my turn and guess what, I get the "Coors Lite" car. Go figure. Each car follows a lead car so they can control the track. You must stay in-line behind the lead car and no passing (this was very hard for me). To get the lead car to go faster, you get closer to their back bumper, they waive you off and then speed up. They said that if you did not get waived off at least three times, you were not aggressive enough and your speeds would be down. I got waived off five times.

After my son and I finished our runs, of course they had our pictures on a wall plaque that you could purchase for $75 each, we go two. Then we got debriefed and received our certificates and lap times. My top average lap speed was 145 mph with a top speed of 155 mph. I could have gone faster if my lead driver wasn't such a wimp. And yes, my times were faster than my son's. We then left the track and headed for a late lunch with my wife, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Of course I paid for lunch, the ride-a-longs and the pictures for me and my son.

So my Birthday present just cost me about $450, but the experience was priceless. Next year we will go to the next level at 18 laps at $800 each either at Las Vegas Speedway or maybe Talladega.

If you love racing and fast cars, can still drive a four speed with 650 hp under the hood and don't have to ask for "permission" to leave the house, treat yourself to the experience of a lifetime before it is to late. IT WAS AWESOME!

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Subject:Birthday Catastrophe

Jane Parks

Teacher

Tommy...Just like a mother, when Lee's Traveller wasn't delivered yesterday or earlier today, I thought the worst. "He's in jail after "peeling off" at the wrong place and at the wrong time...or, he's in the hospital recovering from a plane crash." Whew, so glad you're all right and had a memorable 60th birthday .

(Editor's Note: Isn't it ironic that this same teacher who tought of me as a nice quiet high school senior, should wait until I turn 60 to worry about me getting arrested for driving crazy or killed doing some fool hardy stunt! What a life!)

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Subject:60th Birthday Plans

Woody Beck

Class of 65

The Plan: Go to Montana or Idaho and take a three-day course in mountain/back county flying — where you learn to fly into hilly, crooked, short, high altitude airstrips in box canyons.

The Reality: Accompanied my 91 year old father-in-law to a reunion at his Albany, Georgia church.

Bottom Line: Learned that is easy to feel young again when surrounded by 90 year olds.

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Subject:Hair Story

Susie Wohlschlaeger Schlette

Class of '66

Glad you had such a wonderful 60th birthday. Many, many more.

Sarajane's story made me remember my own experience with the idea of a bleached streak in my hair. I too thought Carmen was the coolest person on Bandstand and imagined that one of those streaks in my hair would be just what I needed to make me popular. I was looking at the bleach in the drug store just in case I got the nerve to do it and I guess my mother told on me to my dad. His solution, however, was that....if I wanted blonde hair, I could have it but I had to have it professionally done at a beauty shop and no streaks. Sounds crazy today, but that's what he thought. That's how I ended up blonde. I still thought the streak was cooler. Dad did hold the line on contact lenses and ear piercing. No trashy holes in HIS daughter's ears and he wasn't about to let me blind myself with those contacts. Amazing how times change. I am NOT sorry, though, that we don't have to suffer through fixing our hair with those brush rollers and bonnet hair dryers any longer.

And, just a note to Sarajane.......I was surprised when I read the very nice article about Niles Prestage that, in his large list of pivotal moment in his life, he didn't mention the day at the last reunion when he had to admit to you that you were right and he was wrong about something. I thought sure that would have been in there. Hmmm, mabye that slipped his mind.

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Subject:Class of '66 Reunion

Valerie Hinkley Ranney

Class of '66

Do you still have the website for the Traveller? Are there any reunions for the class of 66 this summer?

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Subject:2006 Reunion

LaWanda Brasher Broadus

Class of '66

I was wondering if there was going to be a class reunion in 2006 or if it has already taken place? The last one I attended was 20 years ago and I never received anymore announcements about any other reunions. Thanks for any information you could give me.

(Editor's Note: As I e-mailed LaWanda, the Class of '66 joined the Classes of '64 and '65 last year for a combined reunion. This group reunion, (based on the anniversary of the Class of '65) was held together in 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005. I would think that it will be the same in 2010. But, for those interested in getting together with old friends, read on!)

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Subject:60th Birthday Reunion

Judy "Fedrowisch" Kincaid

Class of '66

We have the large pavilion on Monte Sano rented for Sunday October 8th. I have sent them a check for the $85.00 charge. The park is open from sun-up to sun-down. The pavilion is ours all day. The pavilion has two large fireplaces. The lady I talked with does not think that wood is furnished for them, but if the weather calls for it maybe we can bring our own.

The park now charges an admission - normally $3.00 for adults ($1.50 62 & over). But (at this time)the lady said that since we are renting the pavilion just any "donation" would be appreciated.

Do we want to try and maybe reserve Mullins backroom for Saturday night also? Or just stick with the covered dish picnic on Sunday.

I don't seem to have a good "working" reunion committee address book, so please look at the addresses on this e-mail and forward it to whoever I missed.

Tommy, I'm glad your birthday celebration was a success!!! Looking forward to seeing everyone again!!!

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Subject:Birthday on the Mount

Annette McCraney

Class of '64

Hi Tommy. Belated Happy Birthday!!! Pix of the plane were awesome!

As far as our "Birthday on the Mount", I will be happy to donate 10 lbs (20 if necessary) of chicken leg quarters and a 10 lb bag of charcoal. Have any more plans been made? Is there anything else I can do to help? Just point me in the right direction!!!

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Subject:Happy Belated Birthday

Jim McBride

Class of '65

Happy belated B'day Tommy. You were just a paint job away from looking like the Red Baron. Take it easy.

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Jeff Fussell, Class of '66 - You've stumped me on the mystery photo. The art on the box is vaguely familiar and reminiscent of "Colorforms", but I sure can't tell you what the contents are. Looks like markers of some kind. Guess I'll find out Monday.

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Escoe German Beatty, Class of '65 - "Winky Dink and you, Winky Dink and you, da da da, da da, da da, da daaa, da, Winky Dink and you...." wish I could remember how that went! I had begun to think that ole Winky was a figment of my imigination. This was the first 'color' TV we ever had! The green film stuck to the screen and you used the special markers to help WD out of trouble or to add color that was needed! The erasing cloth cleaned the green film and you were ready for another adventure!! I don't know how long I had to beg for the quarter (or whatever it cost) to be able to send off and get the set but it was a prized possession...I did love Winky Dink...thanks for the memory!! Do you think that Winky was an older cousin to Tom Terific!!??!

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Jennifer White Bannecke, Class of '66 - I may be way off but I think the mystery photo is something you you put on your black & white TV to color with Captain Kangaroo. You had a piece of green peel off paper that you put on the screen and you would follow directions from Captain Kangaroo. I remember that I thought it was the greatest and loved using it when the show came on. All you had to do was wipe it off and use it again next time. I had it at my grandmothers house and I think we mailed in to order it.

(If this is not the item you have pictured here I want someone who remembers what I am talking about to write in and help me remember what it was).

(Editor's Note - Right idea Jennifer, just wrong person. It was not Captain Kangaroo who gave you instructions on what to draw on the TV screen (You did put the plastic film on first didn't you?). Winky-Dink and You originally ran at 10:00am Saturday mornings from October 10, 1953 until April 27, 1957 on the CBS network. It was a man named Jack Barry who helped us sing:

Winky Dink, and you

Winky Dink, and me

Always have a lot of fun together

Winky Dink, and You

Winky Dink, and me

We'll be pals in fair or stormy weather.

All the kids who heard

Winky's magic words

Make a wish and then they all shout Winko

What a big surprise

Right before their eyes

Wishes do come true from saying Winko

Presto, Chango that's a thing of the past

Winko, Winko works twice as fast

Winky Dink, and you

Winky Dink, and me

Always have a lot of fun together

Winky Dink, and You

Winky Dink, and me

We'll be pals in fair or stormy weather

If you have RealPlayer installed on your Windows PC, then click on the link below to see how we were instructed to order a Winky Dink Kit.

http://www.tvparty.com/g2/WINKYDINK.ram

If you just want to read about the TV show, then click below:

http://www.tvparty.com/requested2.html

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