Monday, October 26, 2026

Readers Digest used to have a section for stuff like this, something about humor on the job


Rene Vincent (one of my favorites) for Renault



for the extensive collection of his impressive advertising art: https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/Rene%20Vincent

helmet he wore aboard the USS Conflict during the Vietnam War. Found on the M1 Helmet and History Study Room Facebook page


1962 Oldsmobile Convertible Coupe

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10239246969331623&set=gm.4081990242102260&idorvanity=1781866218781352

this is a good idea



https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1607084887577996&set=gm.29078290531783082&idorvanity=413414438697407

it's rare to see a no expense spared Maverick


Contractors in Wausau, WI, uncovered a hand-painted mid-century Pepsi mural while removing old siding during a home renovation this week.

Radwood


 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122254391972043098&set=pcb.122254393214043098

From brochure 1959 Aston Martin


Ordered new in 1911 by a flamboyant 21-year old Italian Count, he had it delivered to the Grand Hotel in Nice, and then took part in the second edition of the Monte Carlo Rally, finishing 4th overall. His grand daughter inherited it




so you're out partridge hunting, and come across this wheel... do you bring it home for yard art?


incredible helmet find... Brody went to the recycle place, and there was his great grandfathers helmet... verified to be that exact one




my grandfather had one just like it

ever heard of Radatron gauges? I've never seen one until just now







https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1142940931508130&set=gm.4835724383371468&idorvanity=2695731877370740

A well built tool is a thing of beauty, but I can't figure out how these were assembled, the “Stanley everlasting” in production between 1910s and early 1940s


the medical evac in a C9 after the Marine Barracks in Beirut were blown up by Hezbollah (with findings also tying the attack to Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) Oct 23rd, 1983



Sunday morning, 23 October 1983, Susan woke me up early with a phone call from the squadron. I was told I was on "pre-departure crew rest" for an impending alert.
Unusual, because crew rest was 12 hrs and I wasn't scheduled for alert. I asked what was going on and was told, "its classified, but turn on the news". 
Ten minutes later, I was alerted for a C-141 AE mission to Beirut to pick up injured Marine from the USMC Peacekeeping Force barracks bombing. 
Tom Fisher, Susan Rothfuss, Joe Bunker, and others were already there picking up the first 24 injured.

 We loaded the Starlifter with as much IV fluids and bandages and supplies and equipment, closed the doors and headed to the active runway at Frankfurt IAP (FRF) in Germany with priority for take off.

 With the jet lined up for take off, the sound of the spun up engines cut back and my C-9A crew (2 Flight Nurses and 3 aeromedical evacuation technicians) were taken off the 141, with our bags and medications
That 141 went on to return another 24 patients and a number of KIA in body bags. 
Our commander, Colonel Tony Trezza had been a USMC Embassy Guard at Rome Italy when he was a young Marine. This mission held a spot deep in his heart and he made sure we had enough crew and supplies to help the Marines. I went back and remained on alert for any other activity. later I did get some of the Marines back to the States on my scheduled C-141 missions. 
 These photos are the only photo documentation of that mission, taken by then Captain Sue Rothfuss and the one of Col Trezza was taken by me on a routine C-9A mission. Semper Fi, Marines.




Lest we forget  ( I had to wait after the anniversary (when I typically post about the Beirut bombing) for these photos, I bet you understand why it was worth the wait)

Sunday, October 25, 2026

good photo I saw on Daily Timewaster - a site I look at every day


it's remarkable how life can change directions


Dr. Carl Allamby, 53, is an emergency medicine doctor at the Cleveland Clinic, which is especially inspiring once you learn that he only became a doctor when he was 51.

For 25 years, Allamby worked as an automotive technician and a small business owner, a career he tells PEOPLE began out of “desperation," but led to a lot of success.

Still, even after building two additional locations and creating other related business, including a towing service and a used car company, Allamby realized he was searching for a more fulfilling career.

Colton police officers recovered 350 boxes of Hot Wheels cars, worth an estimated $54,000, that were stolen in a recent train heist, fromn one of the latest train burglaries across the Inland Empire.


1990 Renault Alpine V6 Turbo, Grand Tourisme Alpine, or GTA (rear mounted engine)


1990 Renault Alpine V6 Turbo, what looks like a blend of Mustang 5.0, Porsche 928, and Mitsubishi Starion design. 

The car debuted in 1985 as Alpine’s first model under Renault ownership, conceived to push avant garde technology into Porsche’s face. It rides on a central backbone chassis derived from Lotus, with a fiberglass and polyester body keeping weight near 1,200 kilograms.

 The turbocharged version was named the Grand Tourisme Alpine, or GTA, and glass C pillars cured the old car’s blind spots, and a drag coefficient under .30 helped the 200 HP V6 Turbo reach 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, and hit 150 mph.

 Hand assembly limited output to about three cars a day, under 7,500 in total.





https://petrolicious.com/blogs/articles/the-renault-alpine-gta-was-france-s-answer-to-porsches-in-the-80s

this helmet in 1953 preceded the modern biking helmet by 30-40 years

 



Michelin driving open top vans through the Mille Miglia pits for a publicity stunt with an inflated Bibendum




Alfa Romeo factory, 1953


OSCA factory, 1953