The Baytown Sun from Baytown, Texas • Page 20

Sunday, May 7, 1967 lifltonm Barbers Hill Seniors Tour Anahuac County Courthouse NEWSMAN WALTER CRONKITE zooms along, enjoying what he calls the "exhilaration which never wears off" when he's behind the wheel of his car. Other Image The Walter Mitty of TV News By BOB COCHNAR and DAVE BURGIN Newspaper Enterprise Assn. NEW the very least, newsman Walter Cronkite is a man for one season: the racing season, And it all started because of a used sports car lot near the right-of-way of the Jersey Central Railroad, "It was in the early '50s," Cronkite explained in between writing and editing the CBS-TV Evening News, "and I was vacationing at the Jersey shore when the mailman brought me a lecture check. "With the hot little check in my hand, I asked my wife to drive me up to Red Bank, I ran across the tracks to the car lot and asked the owner, 'What have you got for Cronkite drove home in a four-banger Austin-Healey and he was on his way. When the racing bug bites, the wound never heals.

The CBS newsman, who also narrates The 21st Century, ventured carefully into racing, He started by reading the enthusiast magazines, watching races and then attending a driving school, "My friends," he admits, "thought I was nuts but my family, strangely enough, took it quite calmly, My wife was so calm, in fact, that'I was beginning to think I was overin- sured." Cronkite's racing career took him to Sc- bring in a Lotus and circuits in the East in Lancias and Austin-Healeys. "I guess I wasn't too bad," he says. "My car won a Sports Car Club of America regional championship." He's also had a couple of close shaves. At Lime Rock, with his family looking on, his brakes locked in a turn and he spun through the stewards' area and was hit by another car. "I finished the race, though," he adds.

As a Triumph team member in the 1960 International Rally, he drove off the road in the middle of the Great Smokies. The car tumbled 150 feet and landed in a lake. "There we were, full underwater with the headlights shining," Cronkite recalls. "Since I remembered reading somewhere that the water pressure pushes inward on the door, I lunged at it as hard as I could and wooshed up like a Polaris missile. So much for old wives' tales, We got the car out of the water and, believe it or not, in two hours we were running," The rally ended for Cronkite 20 miles later when the waterlogged car ground to an irrevocable halt.

Cronkile's last competition was the 1960 Sebring endurance run. "It was an election year and, besides, I realized I was spending all my weekends away from the family. And the network wasn't particularly happy about my hobby." He confesses, however, that he hasn't lost interest in the sport. "I took Betsy, my 16- year-old daughter, to see 'Grand And, naturally, during the marvelous racing sequences I was shifting with the driver in the movie, "During a hairy moment on the screen, Betsy turned to me and said, rather loudly, I thought, Walter Mitty, every time you shift you're banging my As a man whose career is reporting and interpreting the news, Cronkite can offer a good description of the joy of racing; "The fear builds up as you move closer to the race. You begin to think of 'maybe I'll catch cold, maybe the engine will blow up during And as the car is being prepared, you're thinking of what might happen.

It's reason to get out of driving will do. "But as soon as you're in the cockpit and you roar off the grid, all the fear is gone. It's replaced by exhilaration which never wears off until you finish. And what pleasure there is in finishing a If you win, of course, but just finishing is enough." Cronkite believes that racing is the perfect sport for young people. "Everybody needs a challenge," he says, "and, obviously, kids are looking for one.

What a marvelous outlet they have in racing, Sure, there's danger, but maybe we should have some danger in our lives." SPINOFFS: Your Wheeling It reporters will be in Europe for the beginning of the International racing season. We'll be bringing you interviews with a. number of top racing drivers and car manufacturers as well as a report on European interest in electric cars Maybe your letters to General Motors did some good; GM recently announced that it still plans to produce the Corvair next year, despite a number of rumors Lo the contrary. French Club Play Planned At LC By JANET ENOCH Lee Students voted Thursday and Friday to etect the president, vice president and secretary of the student body. On the ballot lor president were Dennis Williams and Gordon Hoffpauir, On the ballot for vice president were Terry Gordon and Steve Lnshlec.

Running for secretary were LaJan Me- Alister and Cindie Kennedy. Candidates made posters and for the first time campaign speeches were given during breaks. FRENCH CLUB PLAY The second year French class presented a one act play Thursday entitled Franches Lippes (Free Loaders), The play was a humorous skit about two couples who go out to dine after a movie and both try to stick the other couple with the bill. Alan Acosta played Monsieur Lemu; Pat Moore was Madame Lemu; David Beckman was Monsieur Lechapeau; Arvin was Madame Lechapeau; Yvonne Kadjar was Le Serve- use; Carrie Cartwright was Caissiere and Brenda Bowers was the mistress of ceremonies, Mrs. Lynn O'Hagan was ihe director.

REBEL CHATTER Sandy. Hance wanta Eddie' Bough enjoying a weekend on snow skiis Pat Wendell offert everybody a' "Coke awhile" Linda Ellis laughs at a strange coincidence Marilyn Marshall avoids washing cake plates Carolyn Donnelly discusses her weekend Ronnie Hail samples a garden hose delight Bill Chalenger has a beautiful set of surfer's knots Wayne Richards bestows a compliment Terry Gordon conducts a new demonstration on campus Debbie Adams avoids a phone call LaJan McAllster can't translate a message Carol Miles conducts a discussion in botany, but not about botany Sammy Hancc passes ri cartoon around Cheryl Greene, turned green BRENDA THOMAS Barton HID HlfhSdtool The senior students of Barbers Hill High will go to the Anahuac County Courthouse Thursday for a tour. The tour will be conducted by Jlmbo Wooldridge who will explain the duties of each office. J. W.

Grimes will accompany the seniors on this trip. INTRAMURAL8 The intramural basketball team has had its first playoff. The playoff 1 was between the Blue team and White team. This was the first game in a two out of three playoff. White team defeated blue team.

White team players are Jimmy Ray, George Taylor, Gene David Stock and Don Maxwell. Burnt and Ray wevc high men with a total of 10 points each. Blue team players are Gary Gotten, Jeff Coward, Steve Cochran, Sammy McQueen and Mark Blythe with Coward high point man with Wt 10-polnt total, MEDICAL CENTER TOUR W. Rodgert took hU advanced science class to the Houston Medical Center on a field trip Tuesday. His consists of James Daniel, Martha Sea), Jimmy Farmer, Dennis Cordray, Barbara Jackton.

Mike Jonei, Jeanette Rhodet', Debbie Quick and Brenda Thorn- at. The student! were accompanied by Rodgen and J. W. Grimes. HOMZMAJUNO TOUR The homemaklng in glrlt went to Town House Furniture Store for a tour recently.

The guide explained the different of furniture to the girls. He also took them through the drapery, carpet, and accenortet sections of the store, Fronr the store the girls toured an open that wag completely furnished. Mrs. Jean Laughlln is the glrlt' teacher. JUNIOR PROM The Junior prom entitled "Showboat" was a big affair at the high school auditorium latt Saturday.

Entertainment consisted of students talent. High School. The after prom entertainment was a dance with music provided by the Dueces Wild. Junior class tponiorisC, NHS INDUCTION The National Honor Society hnd its Induction of new members Installation of Thursday. Presentation of was made by the Student Council.

Marsha Seal gave the invocation, and James Daniel the welcome. Barbara Jackson gave history and presented the emblem of the honor society, Jh candlelight service, the awardt for scholarship wan given to Connie Blythe, for leadership. CHEERLEADERS Junior high cheerleaders been voted on; they are: Jody Barrow, Kay Watson, Charlotte Hancock and Erine Dunlnp. COUNCIL PRESIDENT Linda Brown an eighth trader next year will be the Student Council president tor 1967-68. The Junior High and elementary placed third in area taiter- scholastic competition last Thursday, Sharon Fnrrell, tixth grader, won a second In number and a second In ready writing.

Dedan Stubtx, tixth trader, won third In number tense, Mary Jackton, eighth grader, won in spelling and plain writing. Warren Lauglfo, eighth grader, won firit In spelling. MIckl Sorrellt, second grader, Won second In ttory telling, WHAT IS THE LARGEST DENOMWTON OF CURRENCY ISSUED BY THE US, itlnttm SMARTEST RYJB LHMNM Prcdbeiy townd PrMeriptloM IwwM Iky YMW EYE Docfert FRAMES BE. PAIRED JMJr- UCATCD. Mw MWW to John Kilter CXPTIOZ.AJNr DRIVE IN COOL COMFORT Why tmetiwr In pwtonml inttftl new on yew otr, NOW CLIMATIC AIR FORD AIR 224" AM Models American Automobiles.

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