Mmmm, mmm, Florida bbq and ale

Today I had lunch and such at a local place called the Smokehouse with friends.

It just so happens the Smokehouse is running a special this week due to their 1 year anniversary in business. Entrees were buy one, get one free and their proprietary Route 46 dunkelweisen(dark wheat) ale was 46 cents a pint! Yowsa!

So Champ Pilot Jim and I each had the smoked turkey plate which included a heaping mound of smoked gobbler and a side of sweet potato fries and cole slaw. Along with this we each had 3 pints of Route 46 ale. Total for the both of us? $12.58!!!

Champ Pilot Jim is shown below sporting one of his many flannel shirts as it was a brisk Florida day with temps only in the low 70's.

Also below is a receipt for 6 pints of Route 46 ale which our friends had. $2.96!! WOWEEEE!

Cracked up

My friend Scott the Canadian was over the other day and we were working on a project in my garage. Unfortunately the Canuck took some liberties with attempting to relocate my Moto Guzzi Breva motorcycle to another part of the garage and had a mishap, causing the Breva handlebar end to smash through one of the taillights on my Alfa Romeo 164L sedan, crushing the taillight to bits.

I attempted to glue it back together so I could still drive the car without incurring a ticket and then ordered a used replacement taillight.

I received the replacement taillight recently and here are a few pics of before and after!

Play ball!

Major league baseball spring training time has arrived here in Florida. I have tickets to see the New York Mets vs. the Detroit Tigers this Saturday (2/28) in Lakeland, Florida at Joker Marchant Stadium, spring training home of the Detroit Tigers.

Joker Marchant Stadium info

Click pic below to enlarge

Grand Funk tune o' the day

Today's Grand Funk tune is a rocking version of the Rolling Stone's GIMME SHELTER. So turn up your speakers, kick back and listen to the drum pounding, bass thumping, guitar wailing sounds of Grand Funk Railroad, circa 1971...

NOTE: The video does contain some images which are disturbing.

Sweet 'n' supple bump absorbing joy

A week or so ago I asked my friend Champ Pilot Jim (renowned for piloting skills in his 1946 Aeronca Champ airplane) if he had any desire to replace the front struts on my 1991 Alfa Romeo 164L Executive Touring Saloon (sedan).

CPJ agreed to undertake said task. So I dropped off the car and he took off like a gd bat out of the hot place replacing the struts. For those who have made it this far into this boring tale and wondering what struts are, they are essentially shock absorbers.

Anyway, CPJ has been so very kind as to document this task utilizing fine photography speckled with witty repartee.

So please, grab a cold beverage and some freshly popped corn. I present to you tonight's feature presentation:

CPJ vs. La sospensione Italiano

NASCAR Camping World 300

Today I went to my first NASCAR auto race, the Camping World 300 at Daytona International Speedway.

It was a great time as I hung out with my friends Bob and Rob (Rob supplied the FREE tickets and parking pass!) We had AWESOME seats right behind the pits. Mere YARDS from the action...WOW! By the way, NASCAR races are VERY LOUD!! :=)

Here is a link to pics as well as a video from the day....

CAMPING WORLD 300 PICS HERE!!

Heading to Daytona Speedway today!

My friend and motorcycle riding buddy Rob Johnston works for FORD Motor Company as a regional sales manager. Last night he called saying he had some free tickets to see today's NASCAR Nationwide series auto race at the Daytona International Speedway and asked would I be interested.

HECK YEAH! I have never been to a NASCAR race so this will be very cool. I will be pulling for Carl Edward's in the Scott's FORD FUSION. Myself and another friend/fellow riding buddy Bob are going to the race!

Not only that, but then Rob called back a while later saying he was going to give Bob and I an "upgrade", which means we will be watching the race from a special FORD employee area, which means we will have a view of the racing pit area and the finish line! WOOHOO! THANKS A LOT ROB!

2009 Cars for the Cure car show

This morning I met up with some of the folks in the Mid Florida Alfa Romeo club to visit the Cars for the Cure auto show.

'Twas a beautiful Florida day with lots of really neat cars. Below is a link to my pics on Kodak Photo gallery.

CARS FOR THE CURE 2009 PICS CLICK HERE!

The late, great Del Shannon

Del Shannon was one of the big rock n roll stars of the 1960's, performing a lot of hit records.

On February 8, 1990, Del Shannon was found dead in his home, a victim of taking his own life.

This is some of the last footage of him, performing a song which appeared on his last album, the posthumously released "Rock On" album (1990).

It was a really good album and this tune is called Walk Away. Take a listen....