EAST FAREWELL NEWS
Thursday, March
6, 1952 Vol. C351
LOCAL
NEWS
ICE RACE ENDS IN
NEAR DISASTER
East Farewell – Lake Charles is
still frozen solid enough to support of autos and trucks but it is not
completely frozen. In some areas like Wardens Cove and over near Hollywood
Beach the ice is dangerously thin, barely supporting skating activity. The weak
areas are fairly well marked and the word has been passed among skaters,
fishermen and hockey players where to danger areas are. There are no written
restrictions on whom or what can go on the ice, common sense has always been
the determining rule or law, if you will. Last Sunday that rule was challenged by
three young men with very fast motorcycles. Artie Banner, Charlie O’Mara and
Max Doyle, all Korean War vets recently returned, took their Harley Davidson
and Indian motorcycles down to Lake Charles for a race. All three had modified
the tires on their motorcycles with short studs that would grip the ice and
make riding on it possible, not safe, possible. The three towed their bikes to
the shore of the Fun Plaza beach where the pier reached out into the lake far
enough to reach a very solid area where they could unload their machines and
get on the ice.
Once they were
on the ice they went out to an area they had secretly pre-marked the night
before where they had a line that was apparently a “start/finish” line. The men
had been busy late Saturday night by walking or sliding their way around the
lake to mark out a course. They traveled up past the ice huts and all the way
around the lake placing stakes in the ice with small ribbons around the tops.
They also had enlisted a small group of friends to help and that group was also
on the lake starting line when the fellows lined up to start.
It was around
noon on Sunday and the three started their motorcycles and with the drop of a
red handkerchief they were off in a thunderous cloud of ice and snow.
Surprisingly, they all stayed up and roared off toward the first curve, about a
quarter of a mile down. O’Mara got off to a quick lead, perhaps because his
Harley was heavier and a little more stable. He went into the first turn, a
sort of sweeping left, and was able to negotiate it cleanly. Both Banner and
Doyle had trouble, slipping and sliding but they did not fall and continued
down the route. The second turn was a bit more difficult, being sharper and
slicker. The racers had closed when they approached the turn. All three went
into the turn and tore up a lot of ice but were able to negotiate it
successfully. They then went into a long straightaway and all built up speed.
The third turn was a wide sweep back to the right and Doyle’s Indian was
starting the slide back and forth. He went into the turn and his bike slide out
from under him. He slid for about ten yards and hit a snow bank. He immediately
jumped up, grabbed his bike and got right back on the track but was in last
place. After another straightaway the final turn led into the final
straightaway. Both O’Mara and Banner had difficulty on the turn. O’Mara went to
the inside and Banner swung wide. Banner started to slide and drifted toward
Hollywood Beach. He knew he was in trouble and he put his bike down trying to
keep from sliding off the thin ice. It didn’t work. Banner and his Harley slid
onto a thin patch of ice right off Hollywood Beach. The ice broke and racer and
machine fell into Lake Charles. O’Mara was ahead and did not see Banner go down
but Doyle was right behind him and he skidded to a stop and ran over to assist.
Luckily for Banner the depth of the water at that point was only about five
feet and he could stand up and walk to the beach. He was able to drag his
motorcycle out with the help of one of his fans. Doyle was standing back on the
safe ice and when he saw Banner was safe he went back, got on his machine and
finished the race.
Eventually,
Banner got back to the start/finish line and joined the other two who had
already started their post-race celebration. It wasn’t long before the police
arrived, interestingly after the race was over, and started to question the
group. Since there is no law forbidding driving or racing vehicles on the lake,
no citations were issued. The police did warn the gentlemen of the noise limit
that was enacted to keep loud speedboats quitter in the summer that restriction
was enforceable all year round.
“We were just a couple of pals, we all served
together, and we wanted to have a little fun. Unfortunately, my bike lost
traction a slid off over at Hollywood beach and I got dunked,” said Mr. Banner
after the race, “It was
great fun, it sure beats getting shot at, that’s for sure.”
Banner, Doyle and
O’Mara are local boys who served together from 1950 until January of this
year. They were all graduates of the Regional High School. Banner’s father,
Bill Banner, owns a garage where the boys were able to work on their
motorcycles.
Upon hearing
about this unorthodox race several town council members suggested that an
ordinance against ice racing on the lake be put forth. There was very little
support for the ordinance as of the writing of this article.
Artie Banner starts to slide
SPORTS
COUGARS PULL OFF AN UPSET
East Farewell – In what may be the most exciting
game of the season, the Cougars pulled off a last second upset of the league
leading Southport Hawks, 34-33 on Saturday night. The Cougars were riding a two
game losing streak and were struggling to regain their early season form. The
Hawks were cruising on a four game win streak and looked very strong coming
into the game.
The
Cougars changed up their game plan and returned to their fast paced, run and
shoot style that had worked for them earlier. They also set up a full court
press from the outset. They used center, Bill Donahue, to direct the ball
around and the forwards, Warner and O’Shea set up a strong zone defense that
stifled the Hawks offense. The backcourt of Welch and Fitzgerald were very
effective, shooting from the outside and working the press effectively. The
Cougars were able to hold the Hawks to only 14 points in the first half which
is 6 points below their average and went into the locker room at the half with
a 18-14 lead.
The
second half saw some adjustments by the Hawks and they were able to break the
press much easier and resulted in not only taking the lead but causing the
Cougars to lift the press all together. The lead went back and forth with
neither team able to establish control. Time was running down and the Cougars
held a slim 1 point lead but Hawks guard, Reggie Arthur, made a slick steal
from Warner and was able to dash down, make a layup and give the Hawks a 1
point lead with less than a minute left. The Cougars tried to inbound the ball
but it was knocked into the open floor and Arthur picked it up tried to dribble
out of trouble. Bill Donahue was able to swat the ball out to Fitzgerald who
made a beautiful lead pass to a darting Jimmy Welch who got the pass under
control with 2 seconds left, took one dribble and laid the ball up and in as
the buzzer sounded. The Cougars were able to pull off an upset, 34-33.
“That
was a very exciting game. I think the boys found their early season swagger and
style, I was glad to see that. We will see as we close out this season. I think
this win assured us a place in the tournament,” said Coach Wilson after the
game.
The
Cougars stay at home next week as they host the Slate Mountain Miners. The game
is a Friday night game and will start at 7:30 in the Regional High School
gymnasium.
NATIONAL NEWS
IKE WILL STAY IN EUROPE FOR NOW – TRUMAN MAY
NOT RUN – BATTLESHIP WISCONSIN SHELLED BY COMMIES – RKO DOES NOT BACK JARRICO –
ACADEMY AWARDS GIVEN
Gen. Eisenhower informs his supporters that his European job is too important for him to come home “during the next few months” and campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination.
Democratic Chairman Frank McKinney suggests that President Truman may not run for reelection if a “satisfactory” truce is reached in Korea. He said the Korean situation is a “paramount” factor in Truman’s consideration.
Korea – Communist guns shell the battleship Wisconsin, causing minor damage to a deck and injured three crewmen. The Wisconsin was shelling enemy rail lines along the East Korean coast when she was hit.
RKO says the refusal on the part of film writer Paul Jarrico to inform a Congressional committee whether he was ever a member of the Communist Party becomes the basis of a suit filed by RKO to keep from giving the writer screen credit.
Academy
Awards –
Best
actor – Humphrey Bogart – “The African Queen”
Best
actress – Vivien Leigh –
“A Streetcar Named Desire”
Best picture – “An American In Paris.”
Many, many
thanks to www.mrpopculture.com for
contributing to this section of the East Farewell News.
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