Old Cars and Memories June 29, 2008
Posted by Todd in Life.Tags: Cars, Classic Cars, Hot Rods, Life
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Last night, Bob, Nancy (Bob’s wife), Daren and I went to the Historic Hastings
(Minnesota) Downtown Saturday Night Cruise-In. Hastings holds this event 10 times a year, May through October. On Saturday nights the downtown streets are blocked off at 5pm and classic and custom cars take over. It is a fantastic event full of food , music , and of course – great cars. Cars on both sides of the street and a row of cars down the center of the street. While walking through the show there are cars parading up and down the street displaying their “stuff’” including the low rumble of massive horsepower.
Seeing these cars brought back great memories. The ‘63 Corvette Stingray brought me back to my father teaching me how to drive a 4-speed in his ‘63 Corvette. I remember giving both of us multiple cases of whiplash jerking the car forward learning to drive in a school parking lot. I remember dad taking me on the street with his ‘63 Corvette and coming to my first stop light. I was petrified because I was the first car at the stop light. “Just give it a little more gas this time,” so I pushed down on the accelerator one inch, popped the clutch and hit 30 mph before I crossed the intersection. I saw my life flash before me for what I just did to his Corvette, but Dad turned his head, smiled and said, “A little less gas next time.” The ‘63 Corvette was sold just before I turned 16. With a family of four boys the insurance would have bankrupted my dad.
Seeing a 1966 Mustang reminded me of my first car – a 1966 Mustang with a straight 6 engine. That car
took me to Montana for a few years and introduced me to a lot of new friends. Seeing the cars in Hastings that night reminded me of old friends and the cars they had. Friends that I haven’t seen in a while and friends that I need to connect with again. It also reminded me of a song that Michael Johnson used to sing. The song was written by Thom Schuyler and titled “My Old Yellow Car.”
An American boy with his hands on the wheel
Of a dream that was made with American steel
Though the seats had the smell of a nickel cigar
I really was something in my old yellow carSomewhere in a pile of rubber and steel
There’s a rusty old shell of an automobile
And if engines could run on desire alone
That old yellow car would be driving me home
Pictures from the show can be seen on my Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/4guys/sets/72157605879847228/
Anchors Away! June 16, 2008
Posted by Todd in Guitar, Mandolin, Music.Tags: Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin
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The Rhythm Anchors are at it again. Another night of music and mischief. Mandolin by Jeff Wachter and acoustic guitar by Bob Martin. In the words of the great Lenny Breau, “No matter what you play, you’re only one fret away from a good note.”
When: Wednesday, June 18th, 2008
Time: 7-10pm
Location: The Sage Market and Wine Bar
730 Main Street (Hwy 110 & Dodd Road)
Mendota Heights, MN
Please call 651.452.7000 or check out the Sage Market’s web site for more information: http://thesagemarket.us/index2.html
A little mandolin and guitar music… June 6, 2008
Posted by Todd in Guitar, Mandolin, Music.Tags: Acoustic Guitar, Doyle Dykes, Haley Dykes, Mandolin
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I received my latest and last issue of the Guitar College Video Magazine sometime this past week from Rich Severson’s Guitar College. On the DVD cover is Doyle and Haley Dykes. Some of us 4 guys saw Haley, Holly and Doyle perform at the 1999 CAAS convention in Nashville, Tennessee. They were pretty awesome. On this DVD is a nice interview with Doyle and then there is a nice video of Doyle and Haley playing a song that Haley wrote called “Here in the Middle”. I can’t show you the DVD but I did find a fairly good clip of the song on YouTube. So sit back, crank up the volume and enjoy Doyle Dykes on guitar and his youngest daughter Haley on mandolin.
Breakfast with Karl, Number 29, a Hero June 1, 2008
Posted by Todd in Life.Tags: Faith, Friendship, Humor, Life
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A couple of Saturdays ago, the 4 guys were having breakfast at a local bagel shop. It started as one of our typical Saturday mornings discussing life, theology, politics, music and anything significant that happened in our lives over the prior week. After a while in strolled Karl in his wheelchair. We invited him to join us at our table. Karl came over and introduced himself, “Hi, I’m Karl Kassulke, number 29.” We talked about the Vikings, life and golf. Bob said he’s not good at golf – he just digs the club into the dirt. Jeph said he has a hard time with the windmills – trying to get it just right. We laughed and shared some time together. Before long we all had to leave to get back to our Saturday duties.
We first met Karl a couple of years ago some time in the fall. It was in the same bagel shop in Minnesota. He came in wearing an NFL jacket and with the Minnesota Vikings doing so poorly, we made some light-hearted comments. Karl said he use to play with the Minnesota Vikings. Before he could say his name, I realized who he is – Karl Kassulke – defensive safety for the Minnesota Vikings from 1963 to 1972. I tried not to look like a bumbling, star struck idiot. Karl played for the Vikings at a time when the defense was known as the Purple People Eaters. They were amazing to watch. In 1973 on the way to Vikings training camp Karl was in a motorcycle accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
After meeting Karl the first time I searched for a copy of his book. It has been out of print for a while but I finally found a copy at the local library. The book is simply titled “KASSULKE .” The first part of the book talks about the hilarious antics at the Vikings training camp. I laughed out loud reading this part. The second part of the book is about the motorcycle accident, how he married his nurse and his journey to faith in Christ. Ten years after the motorcycle accident, Karl was quoted as saying: “Honest to God, I’m in this wheelchair, but I finally found what life is about, and I’m content … I said content, and I’m serious! Playing football and raising the roof kept me going, but every night now, before I go to sleep, I remember how glad I am to be where I am today. You see, being in a wheelchair is just an inconvenience, but not knowing God is a handicap.” Karl is my hero.
Driving home from breakfast that morning I had a smile on my face. I completely forgot to go to the bank. When I got home I called my mom, who considers herself the #1 Viking fan, and told her who I just had breakfast with – Karl Kassulke, number 29.
Todd
Daren
Bob
jeph
