"Third Time's a Charm"

     Hello Fellow Castle Creeps:
   You know the old saying, "You can't go back!"  It's all hype, don't believe it.  I wrote a blog about this 6-7 years ago in a different context but lightning has struck twice so I do believe the old saying bears repeating.  Believe me when I tell you..."You CAN go back." :)))
   Okay, now let me explain.  Back in 2004, as the clock struck midnight on November 20th, changing over to November 21st (my birthday), I got a real sucky first present; the race track I'd been going to for nearly forty years (since I was a kid) was closing for good.  I was one of the last to leave Sunshine Speedway, though with me, I greedily took all my good memories of racing over the years at the 1/4 mile oval
   Oh it wasn't like I never saw any races again.  I had gone to Lakeland Speedway a few times (even twice when it was a 3/4 mile track) and the last three years saw me haunting East Bay Raceway Park (a 1/3 mile dirt track) over in Riverview (a suburb of Tampa).  I even went to Citrus County Speedway once in 2008 and spent a couple evenings at DeSoto Speedway in Bradenton.  Still, I longed for the track that I always called home.  I even raced out there for 2 1/2 seasons in the late seventies in the Thundercars, a hobby class for novice racers.  I think part of the reason I often thought about the track was because the facility was still there.  The grandstands and a couple of the buildings had been removed but the track found new life as a testing facility for Sun Pass toll booth advancements.
   Well, this year the track that I loved so much had a second lease on life with new track owners Robert and Danielle Yoho.  Robert was no stranger to the track having both raced out there and further supporting the track by supplying some of his trucks from his towing service.  His racing name was Robert "Showtime" Yoho.  Now the track will re-open as "SHOWTIME SPEEDWAY!"  The reason I say will re-open is because the grand opening will be on July 28th with a 75 lap Late Model feature and a 50 lap Modified feature.  You can bet your bottom dollar I'll be there to see it.
   But...if you act now, there's more.  The speedway has had a soft opening over the last three weeks to work some of the kinks out of a new, growing system.  I've been there every week and I can tell you the racing is already heating up with many phenomenal performances already committed to memory.

   Like a Phoenix taking flight, Showtime Speedway will now replace Sunshine Speedway.  May it create as many great memories as its predecessor.  I'm looking forward to every minute of it, and if the last three weeks is any indication, I'm sure it will.
   So if you live in Pinellas County or just visit, make sure you put Showtime Speedway on your list of options.  It's Saturday night racing once again in Pinellas County.  "Racers...Start Your Engines!"
   Have a Great Day!!!
   The "Creature"
   P.S.  Always remember; "You can go back."  C-Ya!!!

I finally saw "Conan The Barbarian" 2011

     Hello Fellow "Castle Creeps":

   I finally saw the new "Conan" the other day.  I found it on Netflix so I watched it in the middle of the night when no one was awake to bother me.  I wasn't expecting much as most everyone I know had seen it in the theaters and said that it was a slightly below average to poor movie.  Very few of them really liked it which is what ultimately kept me from going and watching it myself.
   Well, I was surprised to say the least.  I actually thought it wasn't too bad.  Now don't get me wrong, the characters could have been developed a bit better, but overall I think the movie was fine.  There was enough action and fighting to make it worthy of being a true "Conan" story.  Also, somebody on the team must have looked at lot's of B&W Conan magazines because this Conan movie had more than it's fair share of topless "wenches."

   Jason Momoa made a pretty good Conan though I became annoyed with his head down positioning and looking up.  To me Conan was so confident of his abilities that it would seem to me that his pride would cause him to hold his head high.  Still, he looked good as Conan, reminding me of the younger Conan of John Buscema fame rather than the massive warrior presented by Frank Frazetta.  Ron Perlman was excellent as Conan's father Corin, and though brief, possibly had the best role in the movie.  Stephen Lang and Rose McGowan fit their roles as the murderous Warlord Khalar Zym and his half-witch daughter Marique.  They were pure evil through-and-through.  Nonso Anozie was excellent as Conan's Zamoran Pirate friend, Artus.  The only thing missing here was Belit, Queen of the Black Coast for the pirate ship.  Oh well, you can't have everything.  Unfortunately, the role of Tamara, played by Rachel Nichols, seemed to get lost in the shuffle a bit, probably leading some to give the movie a lower rating.  Though she played the part well, there was a lot more to this essential character than could be seen on screen.  I mean this girl is the last pure blood descendent to the Sorcerers of Acheron.  She should have been able to light the screen up and not act as a supporting character.  After all, the murderous Khalar Zym and his Sorceress daughter have plundered village after village to gather pieces of the "Mask of Acheron," which holds untold power.  They are seeking the last pure blood descendent to the Sorcerors of Acheron in order to sacrifice her, bringing the mask back to life with Tamara's blood.

   Anyway, enough of the people, what good is a Conan movie without "MONSTERS."  I mean, Robert E. Howard created some really neat beasties for Conan to fight and the first part of this movie version didn't even hint at any monsters.  Well, I wouldn't be disappointed for long.  Just about the time I noticed the lack of monsters, Marique called upon some really cool Sandmen for Conan to fight.  These weren't your ordinary Sandmen built on the beach, nor were they like the Golden Age Sandman, the modern age Sandman, or villain turned good-guy Sandman.  Nope, these guys were like Sand Demons and they were out to get Conan and Tamara and...well watch the movie and see for yourself.  And don't forget to keep watching for the Cthulhuesque tentacled terror that appears later on.  Yes, Houston, we do have MONSTERS!!!

   Anyway, I thought "Conan the Barbarian" (2011) was a pretty fair movie so why don't you check it out for yourselves.  I give it 2 1/2 screams on the "Creature Scale."

   Have a Wonderfully Action Packed Day!!!

   John (aka, The "Creature")