I may not be able to give you directions to La Habra, or readily find it on
the map, but I can get there without either. Read I can get there, maybe not
you. For example, Wayne and I had gone ahead to a meeting then a picnic and
Theresa would drive up later. After arriving at the picnic grounds, from the
other direction, I gave her directions that were easier than the route I took,
“just come up the 405, get off at Beach Blvd., and go right for about 4 miles,
park is on the right. Can’t miss it.” An accomplished traveler, she followed
them, and then I got the phone call, “where are you, I’m at the beach. There is
or was no park like you said.” She had followed my directions exactly, good
directions I thought with one exception, they were wrong. I didn’t know the
exit off the 405 at Beach took you under and then brought you not going east,
not west. She had followed them exactly, her right was my wrong. Today when I
pass that exit I laugh, but that day.....
But La Habra, in particular Beach Blvd. has a claim to fame many don’t know
about. A direction that established the 1/4 mile distance for racing, the
benchmark for performance today. “What’ll she do in the quarter?” tells us how
fast the car or bike is, but in 1949 the quarter set the standard for time and
distance instead of running from telephone pole to pole. The story goes, and
pictures and those in attendance back it up, a man with a horse that was fast
off the start, would go around looking for races for money. His horse was
trained to bolt at the drop of his hat, it truly was fast, and had won many
races against hot rods. But this day all was to change, as the hot rod
challenger was sober, part of the scenario was get him drunk and bragging,
setting him up to lose, and the race was on. Between poles about a 1/4 mile
apart, they raced, the horse had him to 35 mph, then the deuce passed him and
won, by a nose. Previous races had been held to 50-60 yards in which the horse
could win, but in the quarter, it all changed. The car won, if only by a nose,
and the unofficial distance became official. Such is the legend, backed by the
truth. Today the car lives on, changing owners many times as hot rods do, was
fully restored and resided in a museum for years. Now it is coming up for
auction, fully restored, and expected to bring between $160-180,000. No report
of what ever happened to the horse...or its owner. Such is the origin of drag
racing....
Drag racing and speed contests are nothing new, and continue today at every
red light. All it takes is two guys over loaded with testosterone and a big
ego, fast car or bike, and the desire to sacrifice their license. I still get
the feeling, like when I had a project bike, a Rocket 3 with a Carpenter head,
normally aspirated. It dynoed at 220 hp, stock was 150, and sounded like a
NASCAR car. When at the first light Mr. Loud Pipes save lives Harley comes up,
blips his throttle in his pathetic show of manhood, and, looking me in the eye.
So I revved the Rocket back, and when the light turned green, he putzed out on
me, just pulling way slow. There is fast and then there is fast, he gave in
just by the sound, if only he knew its twin sister ran a 1/4 in 8.99 seconds@
155 mph. I’m sure he will tell the story different, if he tells it at
all...
We all have a story to tell, God calls it our testimony. It belongs to us,
and no other, and even though we are encouraged to share it, it will always be
ours and ours alone. Scripture gives it value, as it tells us “the word of your
testimony and the blood of the lamb saves.” But rather than share something
personal, many rather engage in theological arguments over scripture. Some
claim it has changed over the years and translation, painting God as forgetful.
Some claim it is fiction, but yet when historians such as Josephus who was there
in New Testament times confirms the events, they them try another argument.
They fail to see how all scripture is inspired by God, the authors were just the
recorders, not the origin. No one was there in the beginning, it took the
spirit to reveal it to Moses, just as it did to reveal it to Paul, John, Luke,
and all the Old Testament prophets. Inspired by God, directed by his spirit,
they wrote the Bible, THE Bible, not a religious book, but a book about God,
showing how he worked and works through his people. Unlike the origin of the 1/4
mile, Jesus is verified in history by it, and was read and written when those
contemporaries who were there could have disputed its truth. But didn’t,
because it is the truth. And a funny thing about the truth is revealed, it is
the truth whether you believe it or not, the truth doesn’t change, we do. And
just like the Harley rider changed his attitude when he heard the Rocket, our
lives change when we read the Bible, inspired by the spirit. Who reveals the
mysteries of Christ to us. Without the spirit, it is still the truth, you just
won’t get it. And will continue to make excuses for your sin.
Without witnesses the story of that day on Beach Blvd. would be more legend
than fact. God knows about those that doubt, and calls us to be his
representatives on earth, telling people about Jesus, sharing our testimonies
and seeing lives changed. The one who inspired the book is also the one who
affects the change, we are just the messenger. Let God do his job, you do
yours. Share. Or end up giving or taking directions like I did to Theresa. I
meant well, I was wrong. Don’t you make the same mistake.
The change for a quarter took place on the road, and along the side of the
road where the horse ran along, see the picture. On the road, or along the
road, the power of your God inspired testimony has great strength. No
preaching, but telling of Jesus in your life. He gives us new testimonies
everyday, use them and live them. Pass them on. No story is told of after the
race the jockey’s reaction. He had never lost, but when they changed the
distance, it all changed forever. You may be in it for a sprint, but know life
is an endurance race, to the end, or which we don’t know where or when. So know
who, and know where you will spend eternity. Don’t lose by the length of a hood
like the horse did, be in it for the distance. “Change for a quarter?” Now you
know the real story.
Pete Henderson drove the deuce to victory establishing the 1/4 mile as the
standard. God sent Jesus to be the standard. And they’re off...living life a
1/4 mile at a time. Still.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com