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Thorn Red 5

And here is the data plate.



Showing the Y422 paint code, and the 10/75 build date - although RJ in the VIN implies September, 1975 build. Either way, interesting, considering the 1975 Bathurst race was on 3rd, October that year.

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Data changes

Our staff has completed the 18 months of work on time and on budget. We have gone through every line of code in every program in every system. We have analyzed all databases, all data files, including backups and historic archives, and modified all data to reflect the change. We are proud to report that we have completed the "Y-to-K" date change mission, and have now implemented all changes to all programs and all data to reflect your new standards:
Januark, Februark, March, April, Mak, June, Julk, August, September, October, November, December
As well as:
Sundak, Mondak, Tuesdak, Wednesdak, Thursdak, Fridak, Saturdak
I trust that this is satisfactory, because to be honest, none of this Y to K problem has made any sense to me. But I understand it is a globalproblem, and our team is glad to help in any way possible. And what does the year 2000 have to do with it? Speaking of which, what do you think We ought to do next year when the two digit year rolls over from 99 to 00? We'll await your direction.

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Setting goals

SETTING GOALS – a great way to start each year

Nothing is more frustrating than a team with no goals. Sports teams have it easy: their goal -- winning the championship -- is built in. Are our goals in schools as easy to identify? The tricky part is that each individual teacher will have goals that sit upon three different hierarchical layers…

• School-wide goals. These should be obvious, but they're not. It takes time to isolate and elucidate an all-systems goal. The questions we ask of the staff during the process should include
--- What is non-negotiable to us?
--- What will we do no matter what?
--- What do we expect to accomplish through our work?
--- What is our "Hedgehog Concept"? (Jim Collins, in Good to Great, defines this as the clarity and drive with which the organization will produce long-term results.)

• A Team and B Team goals. These (preordained and ordained) teams have their own challenges, their own focal points, and their own interests. Their goals, while aligning with the school-wide, hedgehog-concept goal, will likewise have a particular slant. This is good, and this is where the real action is. If the teams have focus and clarity of vision, they can move mountains. (Vesuvius, for example, which, according to dated rocks, is at least 300,000 years old).

• Individual goals. As unique and special human beings, every member of the teaching staff brings different experiences, preferences, training, strengths, weaknesses, and vices to the job. It is our responsibility to work with each individual to connect the dots between the school-wide goal, the team goals, and the needs of that individual to belong, improve, and perform within those frameworks. So individuals have their own, duly related goals.

FLUID GOALS

In reference to goals, we have all heard the acronym SMART -- Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-oriented, and Timebound. We know what the terms mean, but the one that frequently muddles our goal-setting process is the T. Timebound. In the school setting, our mindset is to assign designated lengths of time to goals -- often a full 10-month school year. The problem there is that, though tidy for record-keeping purposes, rarely is there a goal that requires precisely 10 months of development, work, support, tinkering, evaluating, and revamping to be successfully achieved. Effective goals are unique, fluid, flexible, and shifting. If an A Team only needs to drill deeply into problem-solving strategies for six weeks to complement the school-wide "Math Hub" goal, then let them work together for six weeks, analyze their results, and extend or select a new goal. There are more goals buried in the nether-lands of poor time-framing than there are bodies adorned with concrete boots at the bottom of Lake Tahoe (and that is a lot, according to local legends).

The true issue is the development of individuals, teams, and teaching staffs to better meet the needs of our students. We, as school leaders, can demonstrate that we share those goals, and that we have the flexibility and with-it-ness to allow for teams to chart their own course and navigate their own waters, even if they flow like the Sebaskachu River in central Labrador (which meanders like crazy but follows one undeniable hedgehog concept: gravity).

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Thorn Red 4

Will has the following photograph.



Another www.autopics.com.au photo which appears to show ‘five’ racecars, but perhaps only one was real, and the rest were for promotion purposes for City Ford.

Or was Will’s car ordered by a devoted Moffat fan ?

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Donation

Answering the phone, the priest was surprised to hear the caller introduce herself as an IRS auditor.
“But we do not pay taxes,” the priest said. “It isn’t you, Father, it’s one of your parishioner, Sean McCullough. He indicates on his tax return that he gave a donation of
$15,000 to the church last year. Is this, in fact, the truth?”
The priest smiled broadly. “The check hasn’t arrived yet, but I’m sure I’ll have it when I remind dear Sean.”

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Pathways

"The future is not some place we are going, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made. And the activity of making them changes both the maker and their destination." - John Schaar

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Thorn Red 3

Will is still chasing the history of his car, but to date he has found out -

Thorn Red is the colour used for Allan Moffat’s race car - confirmed by the man himself - and it was named after his race mechanic.

Ford Australia have confirmed this paint code.

The car was purchased new through City Ford, of Rockdale, Sydney, which was the major sponsor of Allan Moffat Racing in 1975.

The car originally had a John Goss style fibreglass front spoiler - which has sadly not survived the past 28 years - and had gold painted 6inch 12-slot wheels - which have become rusty and will be refurbished.

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Interview question

Job Interview Question

You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night. You pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for the bus:

1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect man (or) woman you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car?

Think before you continue reading. This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.

You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first; or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back. However, you may never be able to find your perfect dream lover again.

The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer.
He simply answered: "I would give the car keys to my old friend, and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the woman of my dreams."
Never forget to "Think Outside of the Box."

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Live your own life

"We don't always know what makes us happy. We know, instead, what we think SHOULD. We are baffled and confused when our attempts at happiness fail...We are mute when it comes to naming accurately our own preferences, delights, gifts, talents. The voice of our original self is often muffled, overwhelmed, even strangled, by the voices of other people's expectations. The tongue of the original self is the language of the heart." -- Julie Cameron

We are each unique beings with a unique path in life. If we wish to be fulfilled, we need to go to our own hearts for direction. We might regularly ask ourselves:
- "What do I really want to do?"
- "What brings me greatest happiness?"
- "How can I bring more of these into my life?"

Life wants us to go for what brings us most joy and meaning.

"It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. ...I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing." -- Oriah Mountain Dreamer

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Thorn Red 2

Perhaps the most famous, and continuing the success carried over from racing the XW and XY, was Allan Moffat who drove some quite awesome looking hardtops at Bathurst.

This is the car Allan Moffat drove in the 1975 Bathurst race.



And this is the XB hardtop that is privately owned.



The car is a 1975 XB Falcon 500 hardtop, fitted with a 302ci Cleveland V8, three speed automatic trans, and factory ordered GT/GS options - dash, steering wheel, bonnet, grille and rear wing.

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Will

Seems an elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years.
He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%. The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, "Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased you can hear again."
To which the gentleman said, "Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will five times!"

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Build a Positive Team

No one creates a joyful, successful life and career in a vacuum. We all depend on the support, energy and love of others to succeed. That's why it is so important to realize that there are many people in our circle of friends, co-workers and family that can sabotage us of our hopes and dreams and drain us of our energy. Instead of helping us build a life, they contribute to tearing it down.

No one knows this better than Pete Carroll, USC Football Coach and two time national champion. Pete knows the importance of building a positive team and from the moment his young players join the program he cultivates personal and collective team positive energy. Pete believes positive energy is so important that he has ingrained it in their culture, systems and processes. It's no wonder Pete has built one of the most successful college football programs ever.

There's an abundance of research that shows that positive people and positive teams produce positive and superior results. Everyone performs at a higher level when they are surrounded by a positive and supportive team. And as college football coaches scamper around the country trying to recruit the most talented high school football players, who wouldn't want to come play for a coach who brings out the best in them? When you build a positive team you attract more people who want to be on your team.

So now it's time to think about who's on your team? Then ask yourself, "Who do I want on my team and who needs to be off the team?" Who increases your energy and who drains your energy? Who will help you succeed in the game of life and who is sabotaging your success? Who is helping you be the best you can be and who are you helping to be the best they can be? Build a team of friends, family, and co-workers who support you, encourage you, and uplift you. Tell them of your goals and ask for their support. Ask how you can support them in their life and career.

Team members help each other. There is an exchange of positive energy. Once you have your team in place, consistently infuse your players with positive energy and watch your success and happiness soar. It works for Pete Carroll and USC and it will work for you.

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Thorn Red

As the inventors of the Australian muscle car with the GT Falcon, Ford were very keen to use the GT as its weapon of choice in the hard fought battles of the Australian Touring Car Championship and Series Production racing. Visible success in these motorsports boosted sales and marketability of GTs and Fords in general. While it can be argued that the Phase cars, in all their forms, were perhaps the most successful at this, the later racing hardtops of the seventies were perhaps equally as visible.

The stillborn XA Phase4 was developed as a four door homologation racing car, and it was to be followed by the Phase5 which was to be based on the hardtop chassis. There were several good reasons for progressing to the hardtop, most notably that its was over an inch lower in windscreen height than the four door, and the rear wings were bulged - adding three inch extra width to a hardtops - to accomodate much wider racing rubber.


The hardtops then fought Ford’s racing battles through the decade of the seventies, from 1973 to 1979. The teams racing them received factory support for 1973 only and then they were basically on their own, and facing fierce competition from the V8 powered Holden Toranas, which were smaller, lighter and more nimble. It is great credit to the teams that the hardtops triumphed in 1973, 1974 and 1977 at Bathurst, and brought us the driving excitement of Allan Moffat, John Goss, Kevin Bartlett, Murray Carter and Dick Johnson.

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Lack of sleep

For a couple years I 've been blaming it on lack of sleep and too much pressure from my job, but now I found out the real reason: I'm tired because I'm overworked. The population of this country is 237 million. 104 million are retired. That leaves 133 million to do the work. There are 85 million in school, which leaves 48 million to do the work. Of this there are 29 million employed by the federal government, leaving 19 million to do the work. 2.8 million are in the Armed Forces, which leaves 16.2 million to do the work. Take from the total the 14,800,000 people who work for State and City Governments and that leaves 1.4 million to do the work. At any given time there are 188,000 people in hospitals, leaving 1,212,000 to do the work. Now, there are 1,211,998 people in prisons. That leaves just two people to do the work. You and me. And you're sitting at your computer reading jokes.

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Generosity

"Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever."" - Margaret Cho, American comedian

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EL GT

The three EL GT’s together:- Navy Blue, Sparkling Burgundy and Heritage Green.

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Where is God?

Two brothers were always getting into trouble in their neighborhood. The people in the neighborhood started complaining to the parents about the boys. So the boys parents decided to have their priest talk to the boys. The priest asks to speak to the boys alone, requesting to see the youngest first.
The young boy comes in and sits at a large table across the room from the priest. The priest looks at the boy, points at him and, trying to emphasize that God is in everyone, asks, "Where is God?"
The boy looks around the room and back at the priest and says nothing.
Again, the priest points at the boy and in a louder voice asks, "Where is God?"
The boy says nothing. The priest walks around the table, pointing inches from the boy’s face and asks again, "Where is God?"
The boy jumps out of his chair and runs out the door.
The boy runs right home, grabs his older brother and says to him, "We are in BIG trouble!"
is brother replies, "We haven't done anything!"
The younger brother replies, "God's missing, and they think we did it!"

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Good Things Come to Those Who Ask

By Jack Carnfield

Asking for what you need is probably the most underutilized tool for people. And yet, amazing requests have been granted to people simply because they've asked for it! Whether its money, information, support, assistance, or time, most people are afraid to ask for what they need in order to make their dreams come true.

They might be afraid of looking needy, ignorant, helpless, or even greedy. More than likely, though, it is the fear of rejection that is holding them back. Even though they are afraid to hear the word no, they're already saying it to themselves by not asking! Do you ask for what you want? Are you afraid of rejection?

Consider this: Rejection is just a concept. There is really no such thing as rejection! You're not any worse off by hearing no than you were before you asked. You didn't have what you asked for before you asked and you still don't, so what did you lose?

Being rejected doesn't hold you back from anything. Only YOU hold yourself back. If you are told no, ask for what you'd have to do to get it, or ask again at another time when the circumstances have changed. Ask if they know someone else who might say yes. When you realize that there's no merit to rejection, you'll feel more comfortable asking for things. But you may need a bit of help learning how to ask for what you want.

First, ask as though you expect to get it. Be confident in your request coming from a perspective that there's no reason why you wouldn't get it. Or they say no, you can ask them why, or what you would need to do to get a yes. You might need to form a better business plan before you will get a loan. You might need to take a course in computers before you will get a promotion. You might need to spend more quality time with your family before you will get the loving support you need. By getting this feedback you are able to make adjustments and ask again with better chances of getting a yes.

Second, assume you can get what you want if you only ask for it. You want a window seat? Assume all you have to do is ask for it. You want an ocean view? Cheaper tickets? A scholarship? A better deal? Just ask for it as if that's all you have to do to get it.

And finally, be specific about what you want or need. Do you want to make $5,000 more a year? Then don't just ask for a raise. Ask for $5,000 more a year. Vague request produce vague results. Don't just ask for more time with your spouse, ask for a date on Friday night. Don't ask for help on a project, ask for what you want that person to take care of. Getting a good perspective on rejection and learning how to ask will make a world of difference for you as you work toward your goals. Practice asking and you'll get very good at it! You'll even speed your progress by getting what you need, or improving yourself in order to get it later. Make a list of what you need to ask for in all areas of your life, then start asking!

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EL GT

Navy Blue EL GT

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Congratulations

Four best friends met at the hospital since their wives were giving births to their babies. The nurse comes up to the first man and says, "Congratulations, you got twins." The man said "How strange, I'm the manager of Minnesota Twins." After awhile the nurse comes up to the second man and says, "Congratulations, you got triplets." Man was like "Hmmm, strange I worked as a director for the "3 musketeers." Finally, the nurse comes up to the third man and says
"Congratulations, you got twins x2." Man is happy and says, "Ironic, I work for the hotel "4 Seasons." All three of them are happy until they see their last buddy jumping all over the place, cursing God and banging his head on the wall. They asked him what's wrong and he answered, "What's wrong? I work for 7up"!

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Freedom helps fuel innovation

As South Charlotte Middle School Principal Christine Waggoner walks the eighth-grade hall, she finds five boys sprawled on the floor. No worries. They've just found a new place to work equations. Moving around is supposed to jump-start the male brain. Waggoner is among 48 Charlotte-Mecklenburg principals recently granted new academic freedom in what has been a top-down district. She made one of the boldest opening moves, launching single-sex classes.

The guys, who wear dress shirts and ties on “Manly Mondays,” get a little more noise and activity. The girls in the classroom next door have an array of coloured markers and decorated papers on their desks, which are arranged for face-to-face discussion. Teachers say both groups ask and answer questions more freely, without fear of looking dumb in front of the opposite sex. Public scrutiny often shines on failing schools. Leading a suburban school like South Charlotte – where gifted kids are abundant, test scores high, poverty rare and parents engaged – might seem like a breeze.

Not so, says Waggoner. Her challenge is to push the academic stars while helping a growing number of kids who left low-scoring urban schools for a better opportunity. She is driven not only by her own vision, but by district officials who scrutinize her data and parents who, in the words of the PTA president, “don't tolerate ‘adequate.'”

She was honoured to make Superintendent Peter Gorman's “freedom and flexibility” list last spring, a distinction granted to principals with a history of strong results. The goal: Unleash innovation and recognize that different schools have different needs. But Waggoner, a 62-year-old cancer survivor who believes her work keeps her healthy, didn't wait for permission to take charge of her school. In six years at South Charlotte, she has created electives that let students delve into World War II, develop leadership skills and design their own science experiments. She has kids researching such topics as disease in Africa. Separating girls and boys to see if they learn better is just the latest twist.

Waggoner is spurred by her belief, backed by recent research, that middle school sets adolescents on the path to success or failure. Her message to students is the same, regardless of their background: “If you do it our way, we can almost guarantee you will be successful when you get to ninth grade.”

‘Like a CEO'

Five days before school opened, parents poured into South Charlotte. While her bosses were still pondering single-sex classes, Waggoner had selected students, notified their parents and lined up a national expert to explain the concept. She wanted to try the technique with different types of kids. Some classes would tap top-scorers, others decent students who might flourish in a new setting. Some parents took umbrage at the letter explaining why their kids had been chosen. Were they being stigmatized?

PTA President Jill Balick describes South Charlotte families as “an academically motivated population,” where many can afford private school and expect public schools to be just as good. Parent involvement is a plus. The PTA is currently raising $50,000 to put Promethium boards, a high-tech interactive whiteboard, in every class. But it means Waggoner must always be ready to explain herself. She's known for giving parents candid answers, Balick says: “Whether they like her decisions or not, they respect her knowledge.” At the August meeting, Waggoner apologized for any confusion created by the letters, assured parents they could opt out of single-sex classes and let the expert make his pitch.

Sarah Murphy, whose daughter was picked for an all-girl class, asked to get her son into an all-boy equivalent. She, too, says Waggoner has parents' respect: “She is extremely warm and friendly with students and parents, but she's a bottom-line person, like a CEO.”

New kids, old standards

First semester, all South Charlotte seventh-graders wrote grant proposals for easing disease in Africa, a task that combined writing, math, science and geography. Jessica says friends at other schools don't do that kind of work.
“I feel challenged,” she says. “It's a good feeling.”

South Charlotte's 900-plus students include more than 100 who transferred in, mostly from the high-poverty Albemarle Road and Cochrane zones. This year's poverty level hit 16 percent – low by CMS standards, but up from 12 percent last year. Waggoner is chagrined to report that her 2008 pass rate on state exams dipped to 89.6 percent. It's a score most principals would kill for, but just shy of the usual “School of Excellence” label. Based on last year's scores, Waggoner has about 70 students at risk of failing this year's reading exams and 35 behind in math. They'll use that 45-minute extra period to beef up their skills.

For the first time this year, South Charlotte recruited mentors for struggling students, a common step at high-poverty schools. Here, the PTA stepped in and found about a dozen adults eager to help. No matter where kids come from, Waggoner says, they can meet high standards. She and the eighth-grade teachers are about to crack down on late work: After a week, there will be no credit, a move designed to prepare the kids for high school.

After Christmas break, a new student showed up in an oversized T-shirt and sagging pants. Waggoner told him he was welcome – after he went home to change clothes. “Do you know,” she recounted with a smile, “the mother thanked us!”

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EL GT

Heritage Green EL GT

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New license

A deer hunter at a hunting camp bagged two deer, one more than the limit. He called his wife ask her to go to the local sporting goods store to get a hunting license in her name and bring it to the hunting camp.
While getting the license she took up conversation with a man who happened to be the Game Warden. "A wonderful thing happened to my husband...he shot two deer, and he wants me to bring this license up to his camp," she said.
"What say, Mam, that we go up there and we'll BOTH congratulate him," he replied.

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Egg beach

Pretty.

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EL GT

271 EL GT’s were built.

248 were for the Australian market and 22 were for export.

156 were Sparkling Burgundy in colour, code B5. 14 of those were for export.

63 were heritage Green in colour, code E3. 5 of those were for export.

52 were Navy Blue in colour, code N9. 3 of those were for export.

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Wife Wanted

A man placed an ad in the classifieds: "Wife wanted."
The next day he received a hundred letters.
They all said the same: "You can have mine."

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Now, THAT'S a big toad

Caught in the Northern Territory, this is a big toad!

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EL GT

Factory shots

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Parking

At a traffic court, the judge asked the motorist: Tell me, why did you park your car here?
The man said: “Well, there was a sign that said “fine for parking.”

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Ten Commandments For Effective Teams

Source: Larry Davis, Principal, Doctors Inlet Elementary School in Middleburg, Florida
1. Help each other be right -- rather than wrong.
2. Look for ways to make new ideas work -- rather than for reasons they won't.
3. If in doubt, check it out -- rather than making negative assumptions.
4. Help each other win, and take pride in each other's accomplishments.
5. Speak positively about each other and about our school.
6. Maintain a positive mental attitude no matter what the circumstances.
7. Follow the agenda -- don't get off subject.
8. Do everything with enthusiasm -- it's contagious.
9. Believe in what you are doing -- always persist.
10. Have fun!

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EL GT

Numbered door badge.