Happy Birthday Turk!

[Jamo]

Assright, tomorrow is the Turkmeister's birthday...April Fool's Day!

The following is Turk's profile from the Gashole site...

Born in Izmir Turkey December 7th. 1945. (What else would you expect?) Celebrated that as my birthday and used that date on every document I filled and signed all through my youth. It wasn't until I was 17 years old and decided to spend summer in Europe and had to apply for a passport I discovered my birth date to be April 1 1946. (Again why would anyone be surprised with that date either?)

Inquiring why I had a different birthday than the one I have been celebrating, my parents decided I should know the truth. They felt I was old enough to be able to handle it. You see, I was the first born in the family before my two younger sisters. I was given life not in a hospital but at home by a midwife.

In Turkey at that time it was the responsibility of the parents to apply for the birth certificate within a given period of time. The jubilations of my birth was such that, my parents had forgotten all about that little official documentation of my arrival and not wanting to face the wrath of the state and pay the associated fines, they had decided they would report my birth as April 1 1946. Good 5 month after the original arrival. You could call it the second coming if you like.

Unaware of these details I had celebrated December 7th. As my birthday since. All I have done differently upon my discovery, was to add the other date as a date to celebrate as well. So, I have two birthdays every year, and celebrate both.!

Arrived in US as a young man, attended college in Oklahoma City, and decided education was not what it was cracked up to be and it was highly overrated and dropped out of school forfeiting full scholarship to pursue a passion to be movie theatre manager???

My job brought me to Colorado, where I met my wife of 34 years. She had just gotten out of high school and was looking to get out of her parent's home. I was looking for a way to stay in US since I no longer had a valid student visa. It was a match made in heaven.

We met on a Friday evening for the first time. Saturday we went to a movie, Sunday we went horseback riding. Monday we decided to get married. Wednesday we did!

Have two children that we love very much. A daughter who left home three years ago 22 years old, to pursue other adventures and a 19 year old son who has made himself scarce upon turning 18.

Currently employed as general Manager of a GM dealership in Northern California. Our 34 year marriage has taken us from Colorado to Southern California, then to Florida, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, then to Upstate New York, and back to Colorado. Last six years have been spent in California, and it was like coming back home again.

I spent 10 years of my life driving a Greyhound Bus, and 4 of it as a Union Shop Steward. Where was Jamo when I needed him? Tried my hand at selling cars in the late 60s' and got out of it after a short stint. Engaged in many odd occupations and decided cars were where I belonged. One cold day in 1984 during our 4th. Union strike, I left the passengers the busses, the dispatchers 6 days before being vested in the Union Pension Fund and went to work as a car salesman at a Chevrolet Store in Broomfield Colorado. Within a few years I was in management, and have been working as a General Manager for the last 11 years.

Boating, flying, fishing, photography and cars seem to be my current passions. Have played with radio controlled cars, airplanes and helicopters in the past.

My fascination has always been witty and sharp people with whom I can exchange some friendly barbs. I am allergic to stupidity, intolerance, and French.

Being linguistically challenged, I always look for ways to get around what I lack in verbal skills with hand gestures. Some of my fingers are used more often than others.

Politically I find myself to the right of Attila the Hun.

The Cobra has given me an opportunity to meet people who would not ordinarily be in my running circles. If nothing else, I am eternally grateful to Carroll Shelby for making it possible for me to meet The Semkos, Buckleys, and Jamos…


HAPPY BIRTHDAY TURK!!


As I've told you many times, we've always been friends...we just had never met before. Love ya man.


Turk and U2 at speed during VICE. Photo taken by exceptional photojournalist with one freeking hand.