Less than 24 hours before the 24 Hours!

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is nigh upon us!

The fine work of Andy Blackmore of http://www.spotterguides.com  You can download the latest version of the Dunlop 2017 Le Mans Spotter Guide HERE (three page PDF).

Full 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours entry list

Trying to watch it last year was frustrating because it seemed Fox looked for any excuse they could find to preempt the coverage.  I finally found a live stream on YouTube so I watched the race on he computer.  This year, if Fox tries any funny business I have a Fire Stick, the YouTube app and I’m not afraid to use them…

Per roadandtrack.com the broadcast schedule will be:

· June 17 – FS1 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
· June 17 – FS2 1:00 PM to 1:00 AM (June 18)
· June 17 – FS1 1:00 AM to 9:30 AM (June 18)
· The entire race is streamed live on FOX Sports GO

I’ll keep an eye out for YouTube live streams just in case.  Once I find a good stream to follow, I’ll post that up as well.

UPDATE 1 –  From the Ford Performance Channel on YouTube: 2017 Le Mans 24 Hour – LIVE Ford GT Onboards and Garage Cam

UPDATE 2 – I finally figured out how to use the FOX Sports GO app on the Fire Stick.  That may be the only way to fly

Enjoy and happy racing!

Of morale patches, terror attacks, second tier football and the British sense of decency

I’m not into the whole morale patch collecting scene because my OCD won’t tolerate yet another category to organize and mentally track when I’m at a show or browsing online but that doesn’t mean I don’t get a chuckle out of the more clever patches.

jerkingthetrigger posted this up this morning and I may just have to grab one at the risk of being sucked into yet another item to collect: Millwall Fist Patch from Wilde Custom Gear

The story of Roy Larner’s bravery surfaced in the media earlier this week. According to reports, he took on three knife wielding terrorists with nothing but his fists all while shouting his allegiance to Millwall FC – a football club in the second tier of English football. That kind of bravery will earn a man a pint or two… and a morale patch in his honor.

WildeCustomGear.com

Like I did when I saw the post, you’re probably wondering who, what, when, where and why?  Read on: London attack: Football fan shouted ‘F*** you, I’m Millwall’ and took on knife-wielding terrorists with bare fists

Now out of the intensive care ward of St Thomas’ Hospital, where he was treated for knife wounds all over his body including his neck, the father-of-one has told The Sun how he reacted when the killers burst into the restaurant shouting “Islam, Islam” and “This is for Allah”.

“Like an idiot,” he told the newspaper, “I shouted back at them. I thought, ‘I need to take the p*** out of these b******s’.”

“I took a few steps towards them and said, ‘F*** you, I’m Millwall’. So they started attacking me.”

Mr Larner added: “I stood in front of them trying to fight them off. Everyone else ran to the back.

“I was on my own against all three of them, that’s why I got hurt so much.

“It was just me, trying to grab them with my bare hands and hold on. I was swinging.

“I got stabbed and sliced eight times. They got me in my head, chest and both hands. There was blood everywhere.

“They were saying, ‘Islam, Islam!’. I said again, ‘F*** you, I’m Millwall!’

“It was the worst thing I could have done as they carried on attacking me.

“Luckily, none of the blows were straight at me or I’d be dead.”

And the British sense of decency?

“I can handle myself. But I was out with an old person and it was out of order.”

Well played my good man and yeah, I’m probably ordering a couple of patches as soon as this is posted…

Slow Motion Remington Model 11

I just got my project Model 11 up and running so it was nice to run across this video from Ian at Forgotten Weapons

149 years ago today – General John A. Logan’s Memorial Day Order

Today is about the members of our military who gave their lives for our country, not saving on household goods.

General Order
No. 11

Headquarters, Grand Army of the Republic
Washington, D.C., May 5, 1868

I. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose, among other things, “of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion.” What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their death a tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the Nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation’s gratitude,–the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.

II. It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this Order, and lend its friendly aid in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.

III. Department commanders will use every effort to make this order effective.

By command of:
JOHN A. LOGAN,
Commander-in-Chief

N. P. CHIPMAN,
Adjutant-General

German armor going back to the future?

I saw this on laststandonzombieisland: Germany ups tiny tank force by 40 percent

A quote from one of the sources piqued my not-quite-right sense of humor:

All told, the Bundeswehr stands to get 104 used Leopard 2 battle tanks out of storage that manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann will upgrade under a contract with the German Defence Ministry from the A4 configuration to the newest A7V standard.

Newest A7V standard?  Like this?

I know, it’s a goofball sense of humor…

81 years ago today – T.E. Lawrence

6 days after coming off his Brough Superior motorcycle in a crash while avoiding two boys bicycling on a road T.E. Lawrence, aka Emir Dynamite for his skill in railroad and bridge demolition dies, never having regained consciousness.

Here’s a very good article worth checking out: The True Story of Lawrence of Arabia

Happy Easter!