Real ales at the double for Scarisbrick military vehicle event

A WEST Lancashire pub has teamed up with a brewery and a brigade of military vehicle owners to create two beers specially for a celebration of wartime machines next month.

The owners of the Heatons Bridge, in Scarisbrick, told The Champion they are working with Burnley-based Moorhouses Brewery to create two beers specially for the Military Vehicle Invasion event being held there on April 12 and 14 in memory of Mark Lancaster, who spearheaded two similar events at the pub but passed away last year.

Two real ales will be on offer, including one called Just Jane, which is named after a restore Avro Lancaster bomber which now has a photo of Mark in the cockpit. A stronger real ale, called Tanked Up, will also be on offer and plays on the connection with the military vehicles being brought by members of the South Cumbria and North Lancashire military vehicle trusts to the pub.

Steve Winrow, landlord at the Heatons Bridge, said: “I'm hoping that these two beers will be a hit with visitors to the show, especially as they play on the pub's existing military connections, including our longstanding association with Lancaster Bomber bitter and the World War Two pillbox which we have on the site.

"We're also redesigning our food and drinks menu to have a bit of a military theme on the weekend - chicken nuggets and chips, for example, will be called muck and bullets. It's quite a poignant tribute to Mark, particularly the ‘Just Jane' beer and its connections to Mark and the Lancaster bomber."

Both real ales will be brewered by Burnley-based Moorhouses Brewery, which brews several of the beers already on offer at the West Lancashire pub, including the Lancaster bomber bitter.

While the range of military vehicles on display, ranging from Jeeps and Land Rovers to tanks and trucks, will remain similar the event will have an additional poignant touch, having been named the Mark Lancaster Memorial Weekend in tribute to the organiser of both of the previous military invasion events, who passed away last year.

The event, which takes place on Friday, April 12 through to Sunday, April 14, is free to visit. For more information send an email to pconnolly@btinternet.com or or call 01704 545786.

How many people who think they have seen a UFO flying saucer were looking at some US military prototype?

how crazy of a design is this? found on http://dieselpunk.livejournal.com/524428.html

It's been a couple years since I posted the best of Dieselpunk... so here's an update

 Russian, 1937

 Ever seen a tank tread like this? I haven't. It's an Imgoldby transporter

Lotsa engines, and a huge fuselage... Italian? Russian?
All found on the militant Steampunk style site.. . http://dieselpunk.livejournal.com

Hot Rod magazine and Mackeys Hot Rod Shop in Huntington Beach Ca are trying to win a contest and raise cash for the Semper Fi Fund

So.. why am I telling you about it? You can use this link :  http://www.builtfromebay.com/?utm_campaign=si_social&utm_medium=fb_post_hr&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=episode_01#episode1    and vote for the van, and when it wins the contest, and gets sold on Ebay, the money goes to the Semper Fi Fund http://www.semperfifund.org/ that assists recovering US Marines and their families while recovering from, or getting therapy for, debilitating loss of limbs, mobility, or other severe complications from roadside bombs, Al Queda bullets, rocket propelled grenades, etc etc and other rotten stuff that war inflicts on soldiers

http://blogs.hotrod.com/help-hot-rod-help-injured-marines-30639.html for the full story about the contest between magazines (you don't want a Porsche, El Camino, or Jeep winning, do you?) and http://mackeyshotrods.com/ for the shop that is doing the work, in case you like to help a little too (I bet pizza and beer are a great "Thank You" )
http://www.builtfromebay.com/?utm_campaign=si_social&utm_medium=fb_post_hr&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=episode_01#episode1 to vote for the van

That leaves Hot Rod. Our esteemed Publisher Jerry Pitt bought a 1968 Chevy van residing in Ohio from ebay, had it shipped to Mackey’s, and now you’re going to vote for it to win the competition. Build-up videos of the chaos, voting and more can be had at ebay, you know, that web site where great cars and parts are found that you never dreamed you wanted until you clicked onto them.

The van is only half-a-heap; and Mackey’s has a concept, a plan, the expertise, a wad of money, and six weeks build time to make our readers proud and our competition wish they were working for the winning team.

The winning Hot Rod van and three losing projects will be on display in all their glory at the 2012 SEMA Show in November. And the best part comes after the hoopla when the proceeds from the sale of the van will be donated to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund so go to http://www.builtfromebay.com/?utm_campaign=si_social&utm_medium=fb_post_hr&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=episode_01#episode1 to vote for the van, and the Semper Fi Fund!

The van is currently in 3rd, and needs a lot of votes to beat the others

Once you vote the bar turns gray... so I guess to vote more than once I have to do more than hit refresh (of course I'm trying to cheat... aren't you? For the Marines? Hell yes and hoo rah!)

A special Auto Week issue this past week had incredible features covering the wounded military vets and how they are coping with lost limbs and driving

http://www2.operationcomfort.org/


in San Antonio near Brooke Army Medical Center, Automotivation is a program that helps restore the spirits and skills of wounded American military members by getting them back into the garage and into an environment where they can reconnect with their automotive passions.

Created in 2006 by founder Janis Roznowski and her team at Operation Comfort, a nonprofit group that supports wounded military members,  retired Army Sgt. Chris Leverkuhn runs the program and knows about cars, pain and healing. An avid wrench-turner as a teen Indiana, he joined the Army in 2003 and deployed to Iraq. In 2004, he was hit by a roadside bomb while driving a fuel truck and became one of the war's early amputees, losing his right leg below the knee while sustaining multiple burns. 

This year, the program was forced to move unexpectedly from its previous donated shop. The group hopes to find a permanent home in a former General Motors warehouse in San Antonio if the funds can be raised to purchase the building and equipment donations are secured. The National Auto Body Council (NABC) has stepped up to lead the fundraising drive within the automotive industry. Sherwin-Williams has joined to help with the shop layout.

Read more http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120731/CARNEWS01/120739978

Operation Comfort was started by Janis Roznowski, an American Airlines flight attendant who was part of a team transporting soldiers to and from the Middle East. Janis says, "Having had the great experience of being in the presence of some of the bravest men and women I have eve met, makes me realize that we can never do enough for them. I believe that our military men and women are truly our nation’s National Treasure. Now that they are wounded, we must do what we can for them."
............................................................................................................................................

All of Keselowski's passengers had been instructed to clap their hands and say their names, to help with the editing of the in-car video that they'd get a copy of.

“Clap your hands and say your name loud, and we'll get going!” Keselowski said.

A brief pause. “I, uh, only have one hand,” Galloway said. Immediately, a crewman and Keselowski both held a hand up for Galloway to clap, and they were off for a 180-mph ride.

Galloway, an Army sergeant, was in Iraq on his second tour of duty in 2005. In the southern part of Baghdad, his Humvee ran over a trip wire, and an explosive device sent the Humvee into a canal, on its side, with Galloway unconscious. He lost his left arm and his left leg.

But on this weekend, Galloway and a half-dozen other wounded warriors not only got a ride around Talladega with Keselowski or Dodge teammate Parker Kligerman, they were at the track for the race, hosted like VIPs. “Instead of celebrating and having fun, he's back here on Monday to be with us,” Galloway said. “It's hard to express how much we appreciate that.”

Families were included, and those getting the ride around the track included one other person each wounded vet selected.

Race 2 Recovery is funded by Keselowski's Checkered Flag Foundation, which he started in 2010. It is dedicated largely to helping former military members in need. The program carries two Penske Dodges, outfitted with the latest speed and safety equipment, to give rides to wounded warriors selected by area Veterans Affairs offices. There are donors, and Penske Racing supplied the cars, but a lot of the funding comes out of Keselowski's pocket.

Besides Talladega, the Race 2 Recovery program hosts veterans for three-day programs at Michigan, Charlotte, Richmond and, in August, at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120711/NASCAR01/120719964

I'm renewing my subscription (that I just started to see if I'd like this magazine, and I do!) because they ran this special issue with these two articles, plus a couple others. Nuf said?

CNN did a story about the Race 2 Recovery program that Keselowski has, and with more info...

his foundation, run by former Navy Lt. Andrea Ross, work with local Veterans Affairs hospitals to bring vets and their families to the track for a VIP experience.

Hospital staff recommends the honorees -- many amputees or in wheelchairs -- as either deserving of special praise or being in need of a morale boost.

"A lot of our honorees haven't been out of the house in quite some time. So it's a great way to get them out and get them on their feet," Keselowski says.

The highlight of the program happens after the race's final lap. When the grandstands empty out and race crews have headed home, Keselowski gets back behind the wheel for an extra day to give his honorees a once-in-a-lifetime experience -- a high-speed joy ride around the track.

He gets help from his Penske Racing teammate Parker Kligerman. Kligerman drives a second car for honorees' family members who also might feel the need for speed.

"I hope they take a glimpse of what we do but almost at the same time a glimpse of getting away from some tumultuous experience they've had as a veteran of war," Kligerman says. "And hopefully racing is something that they can become a fan of through this experience and have something to look forward to week in and week out."

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/25/us/impact-nascar-keselowski-foundation/index.html

Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation was incorporated in late July of 2010 and received its 501(c)(3) status a few short months later. The Foundation strives to support those individuals who have sacrificed greatly for America, including military members, veterans, first-responders and their families, among others.


 Since its inception, CFF has hosted or participated in events with the Wounded Warrior Project, the Armed Forces Foundation, The Paralyzed Veterans of America, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Detroit F.I.R.E. benefit team and the federal Veterans Administration. 


We will continue to aggressively seek out organizations and individuals who support America’s heroes and recognize them and their families for the sacrifices they’ve made through grants, special events and more. For more information, or to volunteer to help the CFF at events, please send a detailed e-mail info@checkeredflagfoundation.org expressing your needs or interests.

http://checkeredflagfoundation.org/Checkered_Flag_Foundation/Welcome.html

If you know of a story that needs some additional word spread to let people know, like these two, send it my way jbohjkl@yahoo.com . If you know of a program, association, club, or business that helps out the US military vets that didn't come back from the war with all the body parts that they brought to it... I want to let the other readers know about these good people, programs, etc etc. So email me about them too! jbohjkl@yahoo.com

I found a new website that celebrates cool photography, airplanes, celebs, motorbikes, race cars, etc.. Silidrome.com very cool stuff, not much info, but cool photos

 The coolest, the Fonz. On a Triumph

 A Corsair getting used during down time as a hammock

 Steampunk looking monorail

 Don Yenko in 1960 or 61

 BMW bike, great photo

 What board tracks were... huge gaps between the boards! Looks just like the 1922 Indy racing Frontenac
I posted last November... wire wheels, not that common

 Drifting around a corner in a Delage

 1910 Brighton Beach

 1903 Renault

 Generva Mudge, the first woman to have a drivers license, and was a race car driver

 Mooneyes on the helmet and headlight area, and a straight six

 the Abernathy kids, age 13 and 9, drove across country on their Indian in 1913
... notice the banner hanging from the handlebar, it says US Tires
there is a lot about their story, so late in life the youngest kid's wife and daughter put together a book. The boys were raised by their dad, and somehow got hooked on being exploited for cash prizes, ala the cross country ride, drive, or whatever - craze that newspapers were using to sell papers... beginning at age 5 and 9. http://www.amazon.com/dp/0966216601/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=giftbasketsfr03-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0966216601&adid=1DDBRAT23E67XAH6S6N3&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vanishedamericana.com%2Fkids%2Fmore-information-on-the-abernathy-kids%2F

Sliding around a corner one handed, and shifting with the other

 A Flying Merkel

 Amelia Earhart

 1906 steam shovel and locomotive, near Boston

 Burt, 1970. A better resolution image than the one like it I've posted before

 Australian that is holding his dog, sitting on what's left of his Harly with a can of VB on the tank. It burnt in the horrible wild fires that struck down so much of Australia in 2009

 Le Mans 1959, the year Carroll Shelby won

 Coolest series of amphib planes ever

The Vincent year by year visual identification guide... now why doens't Harley make one? Anyone have a link to one?

So what is the name about? A silodrome is the "Wall of Death" like the one that Fearless Elbert and his Racing Lion rode on... and that was one of his first posts... he has a lot of cool stuff I've posted years ago, like Elbert and the lion, Burt Munro, the Fonz, old race cars, old motorcycles, and so on... so much cool stuff, that the above is just a glimpse at the ones I liked the most when browsing through http://silodrome.com/ enjoy!

I just learned that there is a WW2 warbird museum in Palm Springs at the airport

The Museum contains one of the world's largest collections of flying World War II military aircraft, many courtesy of Mr. Robert Pond. There are also aircraft on loan from the US Navy, and private owners. An average of 29 aircraft are on display on a daily basis.

The vast antique automobile collection of Robert Pond is also on a rotating display 

The Flying Collection includes:

• Bell P-63 Kingcobra
• Boeing Stearman PT-17 Kaydet
• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (which visitors can walk through, as well)
• Consolidated PBY Catalina
• Curtiss P-40 Hawk
• Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
• Douglas B-26 Invader
• Douglas C-47 Dakota
• Douglas SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber
• General Dynamics F-16 Falcon
• Grumman A-6 Intruder
• Grumman C-1A COD Transport
• Grumman F4F Wildcat
• Grumman F6F Hellcat
• Grumman F7F Tigercat
• Grumman F8F Bearcat
• Grumman F-14 Tomcat
• Grumman TBF Avenger
• Grumman OA-13/G-21 Goose
• Lockheed T-33 Trainer Shooting Star
• McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom
• McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet
• North American B-25 Mitchell
• North American P-51 Mustang
• North American T-6 Texan
• Piper J-3 Cub Grasshopper
• Republic P-47D-40RA 45-49205 Big Chief
• Ryan Sport
• Supermarine Spitfire
• Chance Vought FG-1D 92629 S 301 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Springs_Air_Museum

http://palmspringsairmuseum.org/about.htm 

it was also the location for the 2009 Desert Classic Concours de Elegance http://www.classicaldrives.com/50226711/palm_springs_concours_begins_with_a_blast.php

Comparison of WW2 fighter planes speed, range, and bullet size

from WW2 magazine, by Max Gadney
found on  http://remove-before-flight.tumblr.com

cool photos from Urban Hunter Tumblr

http://urban-hunter.tumblr.com 

Beautiful women seldom are photographed looking gorgeous with vehicles in the photo by chance

both images from http://urban-hunter.tumblr.com

two of the most memorable beautiful women ever... looking very good. I have seen hundred of Marilyn photos where she doesn't look beautiful... lighting, her mood, the composition of the photo, her age... but this  one finally got it, and included a military truck (Dodge Power Wagon?)

Raquel is what the young celebs with reality tv shows wish they could look like, simply pretty without a marketing plan

2nd reason I posted these is to let you know that I'm still (though seldom) adding to http://isonlyskindeep.tumblr.com/ 

there are 12 perfectly preserved Spitfire airplanes buried in Burma

The planes were shipped in standard fashion in 1945 from their manufacturer in England to the Far East country: waxed, wrapped in greased paper and tarred to protect against the elements. They were then buried in the crates they were shipped in, rather than let them fall into enemy hands

August 1945, the Mark XIV aircraft, which used Rolls-Royce Griffon engines instead of the Merlins of earlier models, were put in crates and transported from a factory in the West Midlands to Burma. Once they arrived, however, the Spitfires were deemed surplus to requirements. The order was given to bury 12 Spitfires without even unpacking them.

The Spitfire Mark XIV planes are rare for more than one reason: They used Rolls Royce Griffon engines rather than the Merlins used in earlier models to achieve tremendous speeds. Griffon-powered planes could reach 440 mph thanks to the hefty, 2,050-horsepower engines. When production of the planes ultimately ended in 1947, 20,334 Spitfires of all versions had been produced, but just 2,053 of them were Griffon-powered versions

 Read more:
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/04/19/buried-treasure-in-burma-squadron-lost-wwii-spitfires-to-be-exhumed/
and http://www.smh.com.au/world/burmese-treasure-weve-done-some-pretty-silly-things-but-the-silliest-was-burying-the-spitfires-20120415-1x1kn.html

Hey, if you've come across a story that is this incredible, share it. Send me an email with the story, or link, or use the comment function... because this stuff is amazing, and so rarely ever shared
jbohjkl@yahoo.com is my email

All stop, all engines stop, hold everything, nobody move til you see this... a WW2 P40 was just found in the Sahara desert. So intact the bullets are still in the wing guns, it crashed in 1942

Park of the Royal Air Force of England, it's a Curtiss P40 Kittyhawk

Not much story, just that no human remains were with the plane, the parachute was deployed next to the plane, so you can guess that the pilot landed well enough to use it for shade, then tried to walk out of the desert.

Full gallery (but I sure didn't leave much you didn't see here) at http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/05/pictures/120524-world-war-ii-plane-egypt-desert-science-p-40-lost/#/lost-ww2-fighter-plane-found-desert-egypt-propellor_53834_600x450.jpg via a photo posted at http://remove-before-flight.tumblr.com