Formula VEE Competitors /  by Dave Hileman

Abby, who I wrote about earlier, was not the only woman driver, there were several, These two campaign across the country in Formula VEE, a VW engine based open wheel series. They were quite fast on the track, especially Emily in her distinctive Bumble Bee VEE!. Enjoyed meeting and talking to both of them in the paddock. Emily also motored around in a vintage pink Vespa. Cool.

Emily

Lauren

The Bumble Bee VEE at speed

Automotive Art /  by Dave Hileman

This hood ornament is from a 1931 Lincoln Model K 202A, Sport Phaeton. It is found in the Frick Museum Car and Carriage Shed and was purchased by Frick’s widow who bought this new the year she died at the estate. This sprinting greyhound is part of the radiator cap - sometimes called a Murphy cap. It was designed at the request of Edsel Ford in 1927 and used on the Lincolns for four years. Then as an option on a deluxe version Ford for one or two years. The depression ended its run. They were lost wax castings and there are many “fake” ones on the market. The real ones are much more accurate sculptures, note the ribs, and have spaces between the tail. This is from the era where cars were much more than appliances and the amazement people felt driving a hundred miles in a day was hard to believe. It was an exuberant time.

Another View /  by Dave Hileman

We are looking back from the flight path of Flight 93 as it descended. One of the small details of the monument is that the concrete walls of the Memorial are impressed with the bark pattern of the hickory trees that we still standing near where the impact of the plane occurred.

LBJ Memorial Grove (NPS #317 -Two Lane Touring) /  by Dave Hileman

File the under the “really” category. That there exists a monument to Johnson and, just for one example, none for John Adams, is baffling. LBJ was a character, an adapt politician, a gruff and profane man who became president unexpectedly and did such a job he lasted one term, but there is in DC a memorial to him. Appropriately it is not in the main stream of DC nor is it an imposing edifice. There is a small marina and park along the George Washington Parkway near the Pentagon that honors Lady Bird Johnson - the marina and LBJ - small grove of trees with a stone. Not a statue and not even a plaque to tell you about the stone. The best thing about the grove is the view of DC from the lone picnic table. Doing all the parks brings serendipitous finds and, occasionally, some you wonder who thought this was a good idea.

That is the Old Post Office peeking out from the most well-known of DC’s monuments.

A Neat New Place /  by Dave Hileman

The city of Raleigh just opened the Wooten Meadow Park a short distance from my house. There are four small ponds, lots of greens and flowers, a large open grass space and a wooded area behind and between some housing. Still it has promise as a wildflower and birding spot. We shall watch.

Just missing a frog or an emergent prince.

Behind the Street /  by Dave Hileman

A lot of people travel to Colonial Williamsburg, buy their ticket and tour the main streets and open buildings. If you have time, or make some if you don’t, go behind the buildings on any of the streets and wonder among the garden paths. You will find flower, herb and formal gardens, small spaces to sit, nice views, architectural gems and cool(ish) green spaces. Follow an alley or walkway off the street tp discover CW.

One More Time /  by Dave Hileman

Another of the orchids from the Longwood Gardens near Chadd’s Ford, PA. One characteristic that all orchids share is that they are symmetrical. Hard to imagine given some of the elaborate shapes, but they are.

Dwight D. Eisenhower ( NPS #316 Two Lane Touring) /  by Dave Hileman

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial is one of the newer of the National Park units, established in 2000 it opened to the public in September of 2020. It is a large plaza with two statue groupings one as the Commander of the unified forces that defeated Germany and the other as President. There is a swath of grass diagonally along the block long plaza bordered by Kansas prairie grasses and flanked by two tall towers with his highest military rank and civilian achievements inscribed on them. The Memorial is located on Independence across the street from the Air and Space of the Smithsonian. Towering over the entire memorial is a 60 foot by 440 foot metal tapestry of the Pointe du Hoc cliffs at Normandy. It is illuminated at night - during the day is it difficult to view the whole scene. There is a small VC and audio tours are free.

Inspiring a new generation?

Memorial /  by Dave Hileman

This unique memorial is on the campus of William and Mary in Willimasburg, Virginia. The structure is just off Jamestown Road near the intersection of Richmond Road. It is near the original Indian school location. It has the names, if known, on raised bricks of the enslaved people who worked on the building of the campus from the late 1600’s. It is designed to resemble an open hearth where many enslaved worked and where they could congregate and talk. It is connected to a walk that leads to a small sculpture dedicated to the first black students who integrated W&M in 1967.

The students names are on the lower left side of the pillar and the bird represents an African proverb.

Honor /  by Dave Hileman

This morning we are attending the burial service at Arlington National Cemetery for our good friend, Tom Light. We arrived in Arlington yesterday to be here for the 8 am arrival time. In Philippians chapter two Paul commends a faithful believer who has worked hard with these words, “Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve.” We do that for Tom even as his country honors him for his long service. When John Glenn lifted off in Friendship 7 he inspired a young man on a journey that led to military aviation and to this sacred place and so we echo the words to Glenn on that morning in 1962, Godspeed, Lt. Col. Thomas Light.

One of the many National Cemeteries.

"Just Like My Mom Had" /  by Dave Hileman

You do not often see a race car - or today nearly any car, with whitewall tires. I asked the owner/driver of this 60’s era A.H. Sprite about the tires. He replied that his mother bought a Sprite in 1962 and immediately changed the tires for whitewalls. So he does this as a remembrance of her.

"Take me home.... /  by Dave Hileman

…country roads” Thanks to John Denver. I find this setting a great delight and always feel more at ease and relaxed. Not to mention the food and ice cream helps. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.