The case of the missing ellipsis. You may recall from grammar class that an ellipsis is a series of three periods used as a place holder for missing text in a quote. What?! Take for example “O say can you see … home of the brave.” The three periods tells us that something is missing from the quote. Or lyrics in this case. Single periods can end sentences, or be used in abbreviations. Etc. and Mrs. would be examples. Periods are not used in pairs, but they can do double duty. An illustration of this would be closing a sentence with an abbreviation.

This came to mind on the recent Amtrak trip. When we boarded the train in Chicago, the conductor took out his felt marker and wrote ‘SOB’ on the back of my ticket. Well, that’s pretty rude. I was ready to punch him in the nose. I thought that he had just omitted the three periods (though technically not an ellipsis) and was calling me an (double duty on this last period) S.O.B. Finally Jake pointed out that SOB was actually shorthand for South Bend, or So. B, our destination for the Studebaker Museum. You can read more about the trip elsewhere in this issue.

Vintage Motorsport
The Can-Am Series
By Pete Lyons, 1994

This month’s addition to the library is not a book, but a set of six editions Vintage Motorsport Magazine covering the entire Can-Am road racing series from the 1960s and 70s, the ultimate racing series ever. Remember going up to Elkhart Lake to watch (and listen to) some of these races? How much hearing was lost due to the ‘rolling thunder’ as the cars went on the downhill straight into turn 5? Back then fans could go into the pit area and get up close to the cars. Back in 1971 several friends and I were in the right spot to help push Jackie Stewart’s Lola from a grass paddock area onto the false grid during one of the practice sessions. Wow! Can’t get much closer that that.

Each issue is complete, printed on glossy stock with loads of color photographs. Step back 20 odd years and see what was going on in the vintage racing world. A seventh (Nov ’92) issue is also included that has a feature story on Ken Miles and the Flying Shingle. Finally something to do with MGs.

-- ~~ Bill Mennell