[BLACKJACK]

I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT ALL THIS.

MOST OF THE QUESTIONS I GET ABOUT THE COBRAS AND THE GT-40 ARE FROM TEENAGERS; AND THEY KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE CARS. I'VE BEEN KNOWN TO SIT IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THEM AND CHAT FOR AN HOUR ABOUT THE CARS.

I RARELY GO TO THE GAS STAION OR "JUST AROUND THE BLOCK" WITHOUT HAVING ONE OF THEM IN THE PASSENGERS SEAT. IT'S SOMETIMES A LITTLE SCARY JUST HOW MUCH THEY KNOW ABOUT COBRAS AND GT-40's. IN FACT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN A FATHER AND TEEN AGE SON HAVE WANDERED INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE GARAGE DOOR IS OPEN AND THE FATHER IS ASKING THE QUESTIONS AND THE SON IS ANSWERING MOST OF THEM BEFORE I CAN.

NOT EVERY TEENAGER IS GOING TO GROW UP TO BE A COBRAPHILE - BUT HELL - NOT EVERYONE OF OUR GENERATION IS A COBRAPHILE EITHER.

I'VE OFTEN WONDERED EXACTLY WHAT PERCENTAGE OF CLUB COBRA MEMBERS WERE ACTUALLY EVEN BORN AT THE TIME THAT THE LAST COBRAS WERE PRODUCED. (OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T WANT TO STIR EVAN UP. I MEAN THE CSX 3000,s AND CSX 2000,s).

THE TIME WE TAKE WITH THEM, THE RESPECT WE SHOW THEM, AND THE EFFORT WE PUT INTO EXPLAINING IT TO THEM THE GREATER THE LIKLIHOOD THEY WILL BECOME COBRA FANATICS.

WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER (A LONG. LONG, TIME AGO - ON A PLANET FAR, FAR, AWAY) MY GREATEST LOVE - NEXT TO MOLLEY M. - WAS MY 1940 FORD COUPE. IT WAS CERTAINLY A LOT OLDER THAN I WAS.

WHEN I WAS A KID - ON THE NORTH SIDE OF PITTSBURGH - THE GUY IN THE APARTMENT ABOVE US HAD BEEN A NAVIGATOR IN THE RCAF. HE WOULD SPEND HOURS TALKING TO US ABOUT AIRPLANES AND FLYING. DON MARSHALL WAS ONE OF THE BEST MEMORIES I HAVE OF MY CHILDHOOD - - AND IN VERY LARGE MEASURE - - THE REASON I BECAME INTERESTED IN FLYING, JOINED THE AIR FORCE AND SPENT 26 YEARS FLYING FOR THE AIRLINES. OBVIOUSLY - - I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN HIM OR THE GRAND STORIES HE WOULD TELL US UNTIL WE WERE "CALLED IN" FOR THE NIGHT.

I GUESS THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T APPRECIATE DON MARSHALL WERE A COUPLE OF MIG PILOTS WHO GOT THEIR ASSES KICKED BY ONE OF DON'S PROTEGES.

TODAYS TEEN AGERS ARE WHAT WE WILL MAKE OF THEM - - EITHER BY OUR INTEREST OR BY OUR NEGLECT.

MY FONDEST HOPE IS THAT I CAN BE A "DON MARSHALL" TO SOME KID WHO NEEDS A LITTLE "NUDGE" OR A FRIEND.

Y'ALL HAVE A REALLY GREAT DAY.

BLACKJACK