History Lesson: Ringtown / Catawissa Railroad and why we need to know.

Thoughts of jumping a train, starting a new life and going off to work in a foreign land seem like much simpler times. Simple they were not, just different. Today marks a new challenge of preserving some of America's rail heritage. Railroad buffs from all around the word are doing their parts by putting thoughts into words and placing them in a public spotlight. ( The internet ) Here is one of my contributions leave whatever knowledge that you have of this branch in the comments.

Today's history lesson is about the Ringtown / Catawissa railroad and the large trestle bridge that spanned gorge near Trexler Run Creek. Much of the bed still exists today but there are many parts where you would never have know a railroad was there except the grey line on your map. More information on the entire branch can be found at Catawissa Railroad In search of this old rail bed I went down Fetterman lane in Ringtown, Pa and stopped and talked to the fellow who lives at the end of the road. He told me that the rail bed was actually where the lane now exists. During the railroads approx 100 years of operation (1860- 1953), a huge trestle bridge left the ledge on his property and spanned from mountain to mountain.

Pictured is a photograph from the time which he brought me inside to see.




I didn't not catch the gentleman's name but I would only assume that he was a Fetterman. He told me stories about working in the fields and picking potatoes while passenger train cars clicked bye with onlookers hanging out the windows. The trestle was a magnificent sight but father time would get the best of any wooden structure at some point. Sometime in the future the trestle was demolished and dirt was hauled in to build the rail bed in it's place. The area was now known to the locals as Ringtown Fill.


What exists today of a once flourishing rail road is nothing but a few cement pads in the woods. Trees that you couldn't believe are 66 years old adorn the fill and it would be hard to imagine driving anything over top of the area let alone a locomotive. A small boy scout camp sits at the bottom of the fill and I can only hope that the pack leaders are telling these kids about an industrial era where a train used to run on top of the very ridge they are next to. Fetterman commented that after the demise of the rail line, some of the "Ringtown Fill" was hauled back out and spread on the local roads for cinders in snowy weather.

Some of the other famous tunnels on the line are Lofty tunnel and apparently a Ringtown tunnel. I have yet to see the Ringtown one but the history of all this is fascinating to say the least.

Where the Catawissa Railroad entered onto the bridge portion:


Panoramic photo of the Ringtown Fill Today


The bridge over Trexler Run Creek is the only evidence that some serious work was put in here.

Cause for alarm: The state of America's 20-30 somethings.

For me starting in mid 2011 I started noticing a slight change among my friends and peers. As I was departing my 20's and opening a new chapter on my life. I started to feel my friends ( some close and some distant ) change. They were changing in a way that I didn't quite understand at the time. The more time past I just wrote it off as people getting married off, having kids and opening new doors themselves.

Now it's 2013 and I see this pulling back spreading into the slightly younger generation. I'm talking about the people who have become so socially inept that the only outlet they have is Facebook or other electronic outlet accessed by a device. They converse by typing, they communicate by IM, SMS, EMAIL and a bunch of other acronyms that 10 years ago meant nothing. This type of social decline, I feel, is ruining the worlds youth. The people who accelerate in life will most certainly have a well rounded communications skill set. Kids listen up: It is important to know how to communicate face to face, be able to convey emotion and passion for whatever you are talking about. You will not achieve this skill set sitting behind a computer, playing video games, texting your friends or being a recluse to society. I urge you PLEASE go out, talk to a teacher, a peer, a hitch hiker or even a bum for god sakes.

Just the other day I nice elderly woman called into the shop to make an appointment for her grand-son. We chatted it up literally about nothing for a good 10 minutes. The day of the appointment the young man came in and I found out he was almost 27 years old! He was the product of 15 years of playing video games and having very little interaction with the 'outside world'. The comfort zone for him certainly was not looking me in the eye and telling me what weird noise his car was making that day. Fortunately for him, I got the 411 on his car from his grandmother. After handing over his keys out came the cell phone and gaming noises started to fill the room quickly. I really felt bad for this chap. Somehow along the way between my Atari 2600, my 286 PC and my Nintendo my parents taught me to limit my time on these things.

It's not just video games harboring these people. It's anyone who solely uses an emotionless type of communication. Somehow I've made a connection from these socially awkward people to their commitment levels also. More people will say maybe 100% of the time to any commitments so that in the event that a World of Warcraft showdown is going on they have the opportunity to do absolutely nothing with their day. Somehow via electronic communications it has been socially acceptable to be flaky as hell.

People of technology based communications (This means you!): Be a better person, eliminate 'maybe' from your Facebook event responses. Commit and be a reliable person. Yes or no and then execution, it's really that simple. Your friends will thank you and you can be that guy or gal who is rewarded with a great relationship with your peers. ( and maybe even a call from Jail to bail them out )

Lets help these people by picking up the phone next time. Go out and do something......ANYTHING

/Rant

To my fans, enemies and for general announcement.

This my official resignation from any organized form of professional drifting. All things must come to an end. I am at a point in my life where drifting for sponsors is no longer fun or appealing in any way. I am sorry to my followers and fans for my departure but this kind of circus-hobo life only is good for so long.
Will I still drift? Yes.
Will I still compete? Yes.

In a very serious effort to 'Keep Drifting Fun' I am resigning from any scheduled drift events. I'm going back to the way things used to be; When I wanted or when it can be afforded. I realize the desire to run at the top level of the sport. It is a great accomplishment that i am proud to say i have done, but unfortunately sponsor money does not grow on trees, everyone in the drifting industry is bleeding money and to top it all off I feel like drifting in America is extremely politically biased. The people who make drifting non-political know who they are and deserve a pat on the back for fighting a good vs. greed battle. Today in drifting there are more politically charged decisions happening than ever, most of the die hards know it.

I have met great people in my travels and hope to stay in touch with them from now until forever. To drifting fans world wide; now your chance of a ride-along is much better! Keep supporting drifting and please find your local organizations. Go hang out, help out, chase cones and get Involved; you will meet some of the most humble and down to earth people ever here.

I'm still going to post here but it may seem a bit random at times. Stick with me, it will still be an interesting ride. The adrenaline junky in me is only stoking the fire. ;)

Late ECB video

This video kinda remins me of the 'ol skateboarding videos. The music makes you want to break stuff, the cadence explains this whole event to a tee.

Club Loose: East Coast Bash 2011 from Mike Spock on Vimeo.

[ FLASHBACK ] The Best of 2010.

Here are some highlights from 2010 DMCC season. More updates coming soon,

Enjoy!

BEST OF DMCC 2010 from Driftmania on Vimeo.

HELIX Drinks Signs Matt Waldin for the 2011 Formula Drift Season

HELIX Drinks Signs Matt Waldin for the 2011 Formula Drift Season

(Little Rock, AR - January 3, 2011) - HELIX Drinks is excited to announce their
title sponsorship of the Matt Waldin Racing professional drift team for the
2011 Formula Drift Series. This sponsorship combines the energy of HELIX Drinks
with the skill and power of two-time DMCC champion drift racer, Matt Waldin
and brings that partnership to the eighth season of the world renowned Formula
Drift series.

HELIX Drinks will support Waldin and his 2008 Nismo 350Z for all Formula Drift
events in the United States allowing him to be a true contender in the series.
HELIX Drinks and Matt Waldin Racing will team up for the entire series and for
other industry events and programs throughout the 2011 season.

"HELIX Drinks is a great new energy drink and I couldn't be more excited
about this partnership. It's an honor to be pairing up with such a forward thinking
company," said Waldin. "Plus, I really love the product and I can't
wait to share it with the drifting community. With HELIX coming on board as
our title sponsor, we have everything we need to be competitive in the Formula
D series and we can't wait for the season to start."

Waldin, who is well known in the drifting community, has won back to back championships
in the Drift Mania (DMCC) series in Canada and is now poised to make a huge
impact on Formula D, the world's leading drift series. Waldin is known for his
aggressive driving style, charismatic personality, and his down-to-business
2008 Nissan 350z.

"Matt's skill, energy, and passion for drifting made him the perfect choice
to bring HELIX to the sport. Matt has shown that he will act as an innovative
partner that will help propel Helix to the next level," said Mike Englisch,
Marketing & Product Development Manager for Helix Drinks. "We are looking
forward to a successful season with Matt Waldin Racing."

The Formula Drift series starts in Long Beach, California in April and continues
across the US through October. TV coverage of the entire series is provided
by Versus. For more information, visit www.FormulaD.com.

About HELIX Drinks
HELIX Drinks was founded in 2008 with the mission to create a line of drinks
that consumers not only want to drink for energy but for taste and quality as
well. HELIX Drinks first product offering is HELIX Energy + Ginseng powdered
energy drink mix. For more information visit www.helixdrinks.com

About Matt Waldin
Matt Waldin is an accomplished professional drifter with two back to back DMCC
series championships. (09-10). Industry insiders, series owners, and sponsors
alike, all consider Matt Waldin, in his cutting edge 2008 Nissan 350z racecar,
the driver to watch over the next few years. For more information please visit
www.mattwaldin.com.

Drift, break, rebuild... History repeat itself?

As the 2010 draws to a close we have to be thankful for all the wins on and off the track we have accomplished this year. I am extremely thankful for another DMCC championship season as well as great support from my partners. Thanks, without you it would not be possible.



At the end of the year I like to take a vacation. It's just the type of break I need before my team and I get ready to re-build and plan for 2011. I only do this because it's fun. When it stops being fun I swear I will quit.



(Actual picture above)