I was asked through an email to detail our film project before they'd put the casting up on their website. While I don't mind giving a short outline , I will not give the intimate details, no film maker will or would, in the words of many you'll just have to watch the movie. The crux of making a film, of our organization aka the Club, aka the Knytes-of-Dixie/Hazzard County Knytes, came just after Howard Stern did his movie Private Parts, detailing his rise from obscurity, to a super star in and on radio. However we also wanted to show that just because you wear a biker vest or cut, with a patch, your not an outlaw out killing people and such activities as TV series's like our beloved SOA did. Sure SOA could have left that out, and yes many of us do follow in those footsteps, in loyalty tests, and membership brethren and sisters, and yes our membership is of such as we consider all our members, their families , wives and all as one big family watched over by us all.
From the Club's inception we have always been the organization that did the impossible with little resources, but still got it done. If it wasn't there already we helped or completely created it.
Example in the early days of satellite TV. Long before Dish Network, and DirecTV, you bought this huge webbed dish, with a small rotator, that aimed at the sky and watched cable tv channels even where cable wasn't. So one of our club members took a big hub cap, assembled a rough looking array antenna, and hooked it up to a cable converter box. It worked. So the Club went to our local cable company, in Jerome Idaho, and then Twin Falls , now Cable One, showed them what we did, and in due course, you came to know a service called PrimeStar. The Club collected some royalties, but now we could watch cable TV even where no cable wire went. Sure we had our rowdy parties, yes we got girls, some that became wives, more became groupies , but we loved women, women loved us because we built rides that went fast and were built at home on guts and scrap metal, not always store bought major brand speed parts. Who else even at the ages of 10 or even a bit younger, took a Sears pedal bike, extended the forks , transplanted a lawn mower engine to make a mini bike? Then repainted it? Who else took a major make mini bike and installed a bigger engine , with a sissy bar? We did. By 1993 when everyone was digging on CB radios, and Smokey and the Bandit, amongst other films of the time, many thought this was the way ALL owner/operator truckers were. We said lets change that. Let's get us tweens and teens behind the wheel of 10 and 18 wheels, and educate other teens on the reality of trucking. So in 1974 the JR-14 CB Club and us got together and created the TeenAge Truckers Association that is still operational as our youngster education outreach organization, but it was a 4-H club as well. This could get long here, but the idea of the movie is to educate and entertain, oh so many who don't know our organization as to just who we are, where we came from, how we started and the history of our organization, to the formation of the radio network, to our radio stations, and evolving to our upcoming satellite TV network. We want to show in our movie how 10 teens in Utah, and 15 teens and near 20 something rural gear heads, met in an old Malt shop in a tiny town of 800 at the time, and built a nearly silent, organization built on two premises. One of building a ride be it two wheeled, or 18 wheeled, with a full tank of gas or diesel, the love of the open road living life on your own terms, succeeding on your own or failing on your own terms, but working towards a goal. Showing that just because it ain't there, don't mean it can't be. Being the ones that answer the call, when the question is asked; "Why here?" We respond, " Why not here?" The other premise of the film is that while America is suffering from political trauma, the true saving grace is our southern ancestors. That just because you say, ya'll, or usedtacould, that your not stupid or can't do intelligent thinking.
I hope that answers the person that inquired's question.
More tonight on our radio show being streamed at www.livestream.com/cooterscoast2coastfm
TTYLY
Over a days activities I will check on my Facebook newsfeed, to see if something came across either for my own tow and bike business or something I can glean for the radio show. What I see is the same sewage just a different hour. A few postings of videos swiped from somewhere else. Funny when I use something, like a prerecorded clip, I have to get permission to use it, or have to pony up serious money to use it. Guess Facebook protects its subscribers against copyright infringements, like YouTube does. Don't think so, upload something with a known song or presentation and watch your email inbox and see if there's not a message that says the someone filed a claim. Its all money. The thing is I guess it depends if its a mainstream viewer and/or a broadcaster. Thing is the organization pays out just over $600k, each year to the various clearing services to make sure we're in compliance. But its the same thing I see in my inbox on my email. I'll see one big article rewritten but the same thing, on at least 6 of my news briefs, from trade publications. Even copied from one to another of the same publisher. Why not just write one article, or write something new. Or don't repeat it 10 damn times. Of course Facebook is the same thing. Even worse. So many dorks placing the same junk 20 damn times and yet once was enough for many of those.
Speaking of that. If you live where I do, you might have seen KSL TV talking about their A-Team. Guess what? Who the hell besides the exact TV show, it was our group that came up with the AyreWolf ATeam, nearly 10 years ago. Hey KSL pony up you ripped something from us. But that's not just KSL doing that, I remember back several years ago, our crew at A1 responded to a heavy truck accident. We reported on it on our early edition of HazzardAyre. Guess what ? KMVT 11 not only copied the news story, but reported it word, by word, from what I had said and wrote. Did anyone say, this information courtesy of HazzardAyre ? Nope. It's not that I need the cash that bad or that we should be gave a slap on the back saying job well done all the time, but an occassional, nod in our direction would be nice. These TV news outfits will bitch to high Heaven if we ask them to do up a story on motorists crowding us out when we are doing a tow or recovery job, or rescuing a stranded motorist, yet they can't even give OUR News crew or reporters, a nod when they swipe something from us.
I'll be on the air at midnight and then at 06:00 in the morning.
TTYLY
On 12, off 12, so as I enjoy my 12 hours off getting a few things done. It's nice to find those in business whether leasing or buying a facility no matter the gender and I think men are better at it than women, but even if its a feminintile that a refreshing and sweet voice that projects knowledge of product is quite refreshing. The lady who except for a few dots and crosses that sold us on our offices in Utah, for HazzardAyre/SouthernSteele Media is just such a lady. I had no problem being awakened at 09:30 with such a voice. No foreplay or lunches or anything just here it is, what it is and for how much.
Okay all night I had some of the strangest dreams, and they were so real, I really had to awaken, and look around to see if in fact I was in this mud pit called Evanston. I was dreaming that I had already moved back to the big homestead near Hazzard, with my gal Shelly, and was going to that coppertop refridadeezer for breakfast. Even though obviously I was here, the dream was so vivid that I could really smell the green early morning grass and feed grass outside my old bedroom window, hear Hazzard Creek, just over the cliff, and going downstairs to my home office, and all of that. Of course this made me have a wet dream, until I realized that unfortunately I was still here in this stinky arm pit of America called Evanston Wyoming.
Was the dream a preme dream of something to happen? Or one of just wishful dreaming and wishing? I can remember the words of Annette Funicello of the Mouse club who said, a dream is a wish your heart makes. Is this wish so needed and desired that maybe the house itself telling me telepathically that it is open, unoccupied and could be had? Needless to say come the first of the month I'm taking a trip, leakey power steering hose and all. I am so sick and hurt by Etown that it really hurts. I remember too, and it was right after I had regained my mind after Monkee and I finally burried it, that I sat out on those old back stairs at that house of ours asking myself, Did Evanston and all that then really happen? If so, I'm sure glad its over.
I grew up in the REAL Hazzard, Idaho. I remember thinking of fire suppression, of the old fire house. Ain't there any more, its part of the parking lot of a medium sized food market. Not quite the size of Smith's here in Etown, but close. In a rural town. The old fire trucks, one old 56 or 57 Chevy 5 ton with a big tank, that always leaked, an old ford tanker that Jimmy and I painted and wired, Jimmy painted, I wired. And tuned. I can remember the QRU that we in the Knytes started as a part BSA Explorer project, no one ever gave us credit for it, but they know what I say there is true. Some very old Times News stories will verify that. It wasn't so much the people there, some liked me as well as the Club, some didn't, but being out really in the sticks, you made your old fun. You didn't rely on electronic gadgets to get you in a mood, you grabbed tools, hot footed it out to the shop, and built something. I remember the first thing I built was a 3 legged table. Must have had half dozen nails in all three corners, but I finished it, applied Varathane on it, and was proud of it. I remember my first car, a 56 Merc Montclair with a 6 volt electrical system, 312 Y Block V8, slush box tranny, and power seats. One of only a very few that had a self lubricating front end. There was this cannister under the hood, it ran with vaccum preasure through some lines that attached where grease zerks would be. A small blue light next to the clock, and a silver button next to the all powerful Philco Ford AM radio. That old Merc was nearly a rolling tank, I rebuilt most of it, redid the electrical system myself, from 6 to 12 volts, and drove that car until the seals in the brake booster for power brakes went out. Never could find a rebuild kit. Still can't. Sold the car to my cousin Judy's husband, but my that old Blue Merc ran like a dream. Wasn't much off the line, but once you got er going look out. Which is why for years my CB handle was the Blue Merc. As in Mercury. But that's what you did, you didn't fart around with gizmos you used your damn brain, and braun. Today its all computers doing our thinking. I'm getting to thinking that the days of Lost In Space a space odessy are coming, sooner than you think.
Should be on air this eve and in the early morning.
TTYLY
As I get ready to shove off and depart my mortal coil for another day, I watched the speech from Ted Cruise from the Republican National Convention on YouTube. While the speech was interesting enough, what was even more so was the chat going on along with the speech on PBS's YouTube channel. I'll bet you a root beer that there wasn't more than two people there over the age of maybe 23 on that chat. Able to vote, but have no idea of what they're doing. As for me I'm remaining on the fence about Trump, and all. I was all near leaning towards Trump, but his Vee-Pee running mate from Indiana, does not impress me any, and in fact I'm a bit spooked by him. While Trump is okay and might make a purtty good President, if preytell but if something should happen to the Don, that idiot from Indiana would be President, and if that happens, many of you will pray to get old Obama back.
But then I wondered too, what age bracket or demographic is the target of the cyber highway and/or YouTube? I'd again I say and I'll buy you a root beer if I'm wrong, but I say no older than 50 and that's stretching it a bit. Plan on being on air on Livestream with Coast2coast fm, just depends on if my body will take it. Been busting balls on a wildfire and putting in days at the shop, and while the body says yes the mind, and in consideration of my immediate neighbors am staying quiet overnight.
TTYLY
Just about there. Got most of the electronics in LexiBelle today, scrounged all around Etown for PL-239 connectors. Found some at the Pilot, but way overpriced but bought em any way. Squirted some rattle can primer on the right side, and some on the left of the bed. Now that we have water can get some aircraft paint remover and finish the doors, front fenders and then its the hood. Might be done by winter this year. But she's getting there,
It's nice to have my own shop, to get things done. Everything she needed she's getting done now, too bad some short sided so called partners never saw last year. Except for Rick, the rest of the bumbling idiots couldn't figure out LexiBelle is what pays for operating the shop.
Caught this friendship request from some gal named Tina, who says she knows Gary, funny though, not much of a bio, and if you ask for it FB asks why you want to know. I don't need her pedigree but it'd be nice to know who it is that want's to be my FB friend.
Of course I saw some new postings today on my FB newsfeed. When I see that few if anybody on there has way too much time on their hands and just makes me grateful that I have a shop, and a career.
Wonder if this Tina wants to be a model for the Club, but wants to feel me out before she asks.
Okay the Don has the nomination, but can he carry the ball, and should we let him? Don't get me wrong the Don has the stuff, alright, but when you need to start retracting your words or the words of your staffers might be a time to open our eyes, a bit and know just who the hell we're voting for. I might remind a few of our rebel brethren, the great South voted Democrat as the Northern Union was under the rear end of old Abe, who was R-E-P-U-B-L-I-C-A-N !!
Lil Wolf goes under the knife next, stay tuned for pics.
TTYLY
So here I am, busting my knuckles trying to refit a switch panal on old LexiBelle, and who starts calling? Shelly. It was that way from the very early parts of the morning. I groove on the early morning good morning thing, but after awhile and always running the battery in my phone exchanging texts and all it gets to be a bit much. Then there's always the thing about me doing the wyld thing with some other gal here, yea like that's really going to happen. Ain't interested to begin with, ain't in the mood for it in the second, and third, who the hell here in Etown, wants this old, tired , chubby body of mine any how? She just don't understand even the most simple of concepts, especially ones in an adult scene. She doesn't get a grip, that I'm going through some heavy duty stuff right now, and I'm busting my ass at this shop from near sun up, to sun down.
She doesn't understand and most likely no woman could, understand, that LexiBelle is, will be and into the future is the main love in my life. That old tow truck embodies everything I hold dear and sacred on Earth, it holds in it, what's left of a mini empire of my family, my Mom and Dad, and has been everywhere and done everything I do. Of course Heavenly Father and the USMC and my USMC unit are the first and second things or what I hold dear, but LexiBelle is everything to me. Only a combat fighter pilot, or a long haul over the road trucker could understand. The old rig that has carried me over more mountains and bridges my past with my present and future, is one thing at least to me worth preserving, no matter the cost.
But this goes beyond that. Shelly lives in one of the largest cities in Florida, she lives in the backyard of her Aunt and Uncles, and she doesn't have many if any real friends. She's often pushed back out of the way into a corner and kind of like the family dog, told to just go lay down and quit barking is the normal. So she gets on the one thing she loves that being her damn cell phone, and texts me nearly from sun up to sun down. After awhile, I just need to say shut the fuck up, I need peace and quiet. Sometimes like this evening I just have to shut off my cell phone. And hope who ever is on Sheriff dispatch knows to call one of my landlines to get me going towing. Beyond that I don't want to hear that damn phone.
So I went to Arby's here in ETown, and wouldn't you know it, the crap crew was working. Seems no matter the business here in Etown, that there is that one crew.
Now I could see a goof up on a slightly more complicated order, but a BLT? Burned bacon, wilted rabbit food, tomato sour, the curly fries undercooked. Of course I understand , here are people who are barely getting minimum wage, are not to intelligent to begin with, and have all but the right attitude. It's good I don't run the place, I'd give all the boot. Okay I know theres heavy shit going on in the world and all, but can't any of these young ones even get a simple fast food order right? Same thing that I encountered at McDonalds this morning. Up to today they have had a great morning crew, even this one rather hot gal, at the front counter. Good mood, likes to chat, and gets the order right. Not this morning, had a bunch of beaners both male and female working along with a Mexicali manager. Guess one needs to speak Mexican to get a food order in right, copy?
I don't know what's to become of Shelly and I, she's a laugh a minute most of the time. Fun as hell to tease and all, but she's running on a severe stripped timing chain, and that concerns me. Of course I'll end up with her again, but long after she pays her debt to the Knytes, and way before I say I do, she's going in for a mental tune up.
She's got to get off this jealousy trip, like I said, besides her, who the hell wants to be up close and personal with me? I ain't nothing special. I'm a reassigned Marine combat pilot, with a High school diploma , that is a fair shade tree mechanic. The fact that I do just about everything outlaw, and am a none conformist, anti establishment and fight the system at every turn don't make me special or even a celebrity. Although I do a radio show that's online. What I do know is how to tow and I tow well. That's me, so why would any woman be jealous of that?
TTYLY
