[BLACKJACK]

"LET ME SAY THIS - ABOUT THAT" - - - -

I THOUGHT THAT MR. SHELBY WAS A BONIFIDE, CHROMIUM PLATED, A$$HOLE WAY BACK IN THE MID 1950'S. HE SEEMS TO BE GOING OUT OF HIS WAY TO PROVE THAT HE STILL IS.

THAT'S ENTIRELY HIS BUSINESS. IF I WERE IN HIS SHOES I'M NOT ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT I'D FEEL/ACT ANY DIFFERENTLY.

HE WAS RESPONSIBLE - ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS - FOR A HOBBY THAT I THOROUGHLY ENJOY TODAY. FOR ALL OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS - - I SINCERELY APLAUD HIM.

I GENUINELY ADMIRE THE "SHELBY LEGEND" AND THE HISTORY OF THE CAR AND THE MAN. (IF OCCASIONAL "EDITORIAL LIBERTIES" ARE TAKEN - SO WHAT. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME). I JUST WISH THAT HE WOULD LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE AND BASK IN THE CREDITS THAT ARE DUE HIM AND STOP TARNISHING HIS OWN IMAGE WITH "CHEAP SHOTS". MY DAD ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT "WHEN YOU 'THROW DIRT', YOU ONLY 'LOSE GROUND'".

LET ME MAKE JUST TWO MORE POINTS HERE:

1. I HAVE MY OWN REASONS FOR CONSIDERING MR. SHELBY AN A$$HOLE. I'LL SERIOUSLY WAGER THAT "IF HE EVEN REMEMBERS ME" HE WILL TELL YOU THAT I'M AN A$$HOLE. (WE BOTH HAVE PERFECTLY GOOD REASONS).

2. I REALLY LOVE MY ERA AND EXCALIBUR REPLICAS. HAVING SAID THAT - ANY OF YOU GUYS THAT PRESENTLY OWN A CSX-4000 SERIES COBRA AND WANT TO SWAP FOR AN ERA OR EXCALIBUR (EITHER BUT NOT BOTH), PLEASE SEND ME A PRIVATE E-MAIL.

IN THE WORDS OF THAT EMMINENT BRITISH STATESMAN, NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN, AT THE OUTSET OF WORLD WAR II - - - "SH1T, WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST 'GET ALONG'".

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY,

BLACKJACK