[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Simple Man

He also used to do a column in Popular Science, I believe.

Yes, it was called "Say, Smokey..." Every issue of Popular Science is on Google Books, you can go back through the issues and read them (along with the Gus Wilson mechanic stories.) https://books.google.com/books/about...d=MC0DAAAAMBAJ I'm not sure of the exact dates Smokey's column ran, but it was in there at least from the mid 1960s to the mid 1970s.

[Scott Roberts]

Originally Posted by gtohurstjudge

I met Smokey at the 1997 POCI convention.....very nice guy....
I have his autograph inside the glove box door of my GTO, next to the signatures of John Delorean and Jim Wangers.

That's very cool!! That door is a solid piece of history.
Like to see a picture if u get a chance

[JSchmitz]

Originally Posted by Simple Man

Years ago, I read, when Smokey was racing Chevys in NASCAR, he would install obvious rule violations, so the inspectors wouldn't catch the not so obvious ones.

Smokey was a genius untrained engineer.

I have a saying at work that is about the same as philosophy in quote above. When you have an audit, you need to give them some "low hanging fruit". Give them something to be proud of right away. Otherwise they dig deeper.

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by Scott Roberts

Small addition after doing a little research to what Tom said about Smokey..
He flew a B-17 over Europe..his plane "Smokey and his firemen" flew 50 missions.
Not debating he told Tom about flying out of Florida, but his biggest role in the war was in the European campaign

After the Americans basically took over Europe, there were several German Submarines who were beating a path for Argentina to avoid war crimes carrying **** members. Since Peron was pro German during the war, the Americans were still looking for Officers after Hitler committed suicide. Smokey told me he was hunting for Subs, I believe him. He did not give a time frame.

So I would agree with both pieces of information.
You don't get to be a Captain on a Bomber by being stupid.
And he most likely was being modest about his European service.

Tom V.

[mzbk2l]

Originally Posted by Simple Man

He also used to do a column in Popular Science, I believe.

And in Circle Track magazine.... incredible the amount of knowledge he had!

[sdbob]

Still have Popular Science mags with his column.

[Tom Vaught]

Extremely smart man. A College piece of paper would have meant little to him.
BUT if he talked to you, and what he heard, he agreed with, he was a very interesting
person to know.

Tom V.