[ponyakr]

I've already tody ya'll that we decided to take a break after I wont the big race at tyler in '79. T.J. was really a cowgirl at heart and had rode and loved horses since grammar school. In '72 my dad offered to let her ride a horse he had if she could. We had a strange little neighbor named Mr. Beach. I remember how he'd tella joke and then slap his knee and say "I have my fun." He was a real comical little character. Well, my dad had bought this young mare from him, which he swore was a good plow horse - he lied. she obviously ha never even been hitched up to a plow. But T.J. started riding her and they were great pas for nearly 20 years. In 1980 she got an Appaloosa colt which she had wanted for many years. She trained his herself, and they had a 20 year friendship. Now she ha a full blood leapard spotted appy with lots of chrome. We'll post a pic when we can. So in early 80's she was content to stay home and be a cowfirl. But after a few years I got that old itch to do it a little bit more. That's when "Cotton" entered my life. If you haven't read it, scroll back on this thread to "pickin' Cotton." He was a sharp young man who taught himself to be a purty good country shade tree mechanic. When I learned that he was interested in hot rods, I offered to help him build a car and go racin with me. He accepted, so for the year 1983 it was just me & cotton. He learned real quick and before you know it he was winning the biggest race of the year. We didn't try to keep up the hectic schedule that me and T.J. had. We just went to 1 race a week on Sat. nite. It was a real pleasure for me t watch Cotton learn and progress as a racer. And he was real EZ to work with. He wasn't a know-it-all like many young men are. But he was quick to listen and eager to learn. And after geting past the inevitable rookie mistakes he was a competitive racer. I crunched some number that me and Cotton compiled that year. 19 races attended - 1 rainout . 5 wins, 5 RU's, 5 Semi's and gobs of Qrt-finals.Not a record, but not too shabby and much better than most of our competition that year. We won over $2000, whch doesn't sound like much today, but figure int he inflation factor and it's a decent amount. and once again, we covered all expenses with some left over. We had a lot of fun, won some races an lifted up the Pont. banner. Just as with T.J. and I, me and Cotton were usually the only Pontiac racers there. But that was alright with me. By now I was used to it. To me that just added to the pleasure.