By MONTE DUTTON Click here. When writing about stock cars became my principal way to make a living, one of the surprises was Howard Augustine “Humpy” Wheeler Jr., known for his flamboyant promotion of events at Charlotte Motor Speedway. I was expecting P.T. Barnum. What I found was the Wizard of Oz, a mild-mannered fellow …
Category: Writing
Thoughts that have infected me recently
By MONTE DUTTON Click here. Latest trends in the world of sports: Length and size have replaced height and weight. Groups have been replaced by rooms (“the quarterback room”) that I suspect do not actually exist. Some words have flip-flopped meanings to the point where anything goes. Citizens want governments to be “transparent” so they …
Trying to keep my head above water
By MONTE DUTTON Click here. So … … I’ve quipped for months that I hoped to live long enough to see the sale of my land go through so that I could make a new start in a new place and become successful again. It’s not as much of a joke as it used to …
Not much worth reading
By MONTE DUTTON Click here. I have become obsessed with how bad journalism has become. It’s become a hobby to read Internet stories with lurid headlines if only to see what nothing burgers they are. This morning I saw a headline on “NASCAR’s deadliest tracks.” Truth be known, there aren’t any. I don’t think a …
Decent movies about auto racing are rare
By MONTE DUTTON Click here. There’s a frequent local TV commercial that encourages people to have “staycations,“, i.e., build a pool and stay home. My “staycation” is a bit more reasonable. Until my financial situation improves – the latest estimate is August or September, or perpetually two months ahead, depending on level of optimism – …
… And I feel like it’s time to travel on
By MONTE DUTTON Click here. As the curtain falls on “Blue, Green, Purple & Red,” I wanted to express my appreciation to everyone who has supported the site. It’s hard to keep up with technology. I thought I was ahead of the curve when I was behind it. What I hoped to do was fill …
All I have to do is dream
By MONTE DUTTON Click here. It’s been a while since I’ve let you know what I’m doing. That’s because it’s been a long time since I’ve known what I was doing. I’m getting closer. The biggest reason for my professional slowdown is the sale of my property, which remains in a government and regulatory holdup. …
Weird doings on the diamond
By MONTE DUTTON Click here. I spent a lot of time Friday watching NCAA baseball playoff games, mainly because I’m presently too broke to do much else.. I had the usual South Carolinian’s interest in Clemson, and some underdog’s affection for USC Upstate, which won the Big South Tournament out of which Presbyterian quickly retired. …
Not just another war novel
By MONTE DUTTON Click here. Millions fought in World War II. Thousands were taken prisoner. Thousands of works of fiction have been written. Silver Wings, Iron Cross by Tom Young thus becomes plausible amid the sheer numbers of the conflagration. If such a story never happened, perhaps it should have. In the waning days of …
Here ‘n’ there, this ‘n’ that
By MONTE DUTTON Many things in life are predictable. When a major golf tournament is on TV, and coverage shifts to a player who is out of contention, the shot is going in. They don’t have to mention all the “possible side effects” of prescription drugs. It’s obvious from the commercials that almost all of …
Nightrider's Lament 