So it's been a long time, right? And a few of you (those who aren't already shifting in their seats) may have wondered if I'd fallen off the edge of the earth. Not to mention what's up with me, beloved wife Carol, our kids in California and, my magazine writing and the new books, reprints and special editions I've been promising. And promising. So let's dig in

On the magazine front (also relates to the short story book I've been working on...honest I have...you'll see). Many people have asked what's up with me and VINTAGE MOTORSPORT, and the answer is "you tell me." Although I'm still shown on the contributor listing on the masthead, they haven't run any of my work or asked me to write anything for the usable lifespan of a junk car, and they still owe me a semi-substantial sum for work already published. And I mean a couple thousand bucks and for going on three years. Know I'm not the only contributor in that particular leaky boat, but also want to mention that I still love the magazine, even if it's moved away from its focus on the North American vintage scene and has the look, feel and content of a British old-motorsports mag. Which is not all a bad thing, as the articles are good and well written and presented in fine quality...if a bit meager on page count. More as I learn more. If I ever do...

All that said, I've been writing quite a bit of late. I went through my usual late-fall/early-winter doldrums (Carol says it inevitably happens whenever I'm working on a new book...and right now, I'm working on two) and there was additional malaise thanks to this damnable, thyroid-related thing that sets my eyes a-tearing even when I'm not watching the end of a sappy movie. Speaking of which, Turner Classic had on two of our favorites, MOONSTRUCK and THE APARTMENT the other night, and I recommend them highly. Wonderful stuff. But back to my eyeballs (actually, my tear ducts). Every once in awhile (and not that long a while), my eyes, all by themselves, will start leaking tears. It comes and goes and while most times it's just a little moisture, other times it's a bit of a flood. There are no other symptoms of which I'm aware and we have some very good people, who even went to college and medical school to learn about such things, working on it, but so far a solution has evaded us. It doesn't get so bad that it interferes with my vision doing normal things like writing, driving, playing way too many games of backgammon on my computer, etc. But I can't in good conscience climb into a racing car--something I still dearly love to do--flip my helmet visor down and venture out onto a racetrack with other cars and racers all around me. It just wouldn't be the right thing to do. And, as you can imagine, it's been eating the living hell out of me. Every racing driver comes to a point in time when, either temporarily or permanently, it's time to hang up the old helmet. And you don't much like it, believe me. It eats at your heart.

But, like I say, we may find a way through and out of this, and as Carol and I have seen friends and relatives go through far worse, far more dangerous and debilitating situations all around us (getting older is definitely NOT for sissies), we're tremendously appreciative of our general state of health and fitness (not to mention our marriage, which marks it's half-century mark next month), and give thanks for it every day. That's the end of the sermon. We'll pass the collection plate around shortly...

Back to magazine writing. As you on my proof-reading team know, I've been [mostly] doggedly working on stories for my POTSIDE II short-story collection, and, as it rounds into shape, it's as close to a coming-of-age (if not maturity) autobiography as I will ever do. And one of the stories is about my ad-hoc, long hours and incredibly underpaid experience as a second-string stunt driver when THE BLUES BROTHERS movie was shooting here in Chicago during the summer of 1979.

I won't bore you with the scintillating details, but I was able to interest upscale & chic CHICAGO magazine in a chopped, channeled and less gearhead-oriented version of the story, and they published it in the current, January 2024 issue (cover below). They were great to work with, too. Click on the cover image below and it will take you to a web copy of the story. But, better yet, go buy a copy, so they'll think publishing my work will boost sales...