I posted this on our little automotive photography "Rat Pack" list and I thought I'd post it here as well:
There are a whole buncha video clips, etc about Land Speed Racing going WAY back when on this HAMB post:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=382723I've just started lookin in to 'em....there's a VERY kool article about John Cobb's Railton with 2 Napier Lion motors that ran almost 370 mph in 1939. It wasn't until 1960 that Mickey Thompson broke the 400 mph "barrier." The cutaway drawings and the accompanying text are worth the visit and there's a whole lot more.
And just cuz I'm irked at the PC phrase, "winter holiday" (that's what it originally was in many places...called "Yule"...a "pagan" celebration) I'll wish everyone a Merry Christmas again.
A little more on Christmas/Yule/Saturnalia: I couldn't find anything on the web about something I've been told more than once: The allegation that the Pagan/Roman celebration of Yule/Saturnalia was co-opted by the early Christians (3rd or 4th century...AD, obviously) to bring the non-Christians into the fold, so to speak while allowing them to have their winter solstice holy day. I don't know how much (if any) truth is in this, but it made sense to me when I first heard it and still does. The concept that Christianity (read that as the Catholic church) was attempting to allow Pagans a chance to retain their holy days while easing them into the Catholic (Christian) faith seems like a pretty good way of "saving souls" as well as increasing the influx of tithes into the church coffers: "Hey guys, why don't you come celebrate your winter feast day with us because we also celebrate it...just with a different name...and we can consume mass quantities of mead, ale and wine. We're gonna have a great time. Just bring a little cash or donations of a few sacrificial lambs or something like that and we'll give you a bath while we're at it."
Take it with a flat of salt. Personally, I don't celebrate Christmas because of the commercialism and "Santafication" of something that had an entirely different concept at its roots. The Winter Solstice, on the other hand, is a nice day to celebrate if for no other reason than the days start getting longer (well, the bright part of 'em) and nights grow shorter...sorta like a "Hard Day's Night." :)
I hope all of you have a wonderful day, no matter how ya celebrate it. RtR Rules: Please play nicely with others. -List members page (text & pic links): http://www.myelcamino.net/eclist.htm -List members page (all pics): http://www.myelcamino.net/ec_list.htm
