Copeland
03-26-2008, 02:34 PM
#23
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03-26-2008, 02:40 PM
#24
Allergic to Nonsense
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Granite Quarry, NC
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Peter Hledin narrated for me once - so did George Linder, Bill Click and Kathy Latham - depends on which event - of Course TtrippleX did it as well -
Allan - when filming that event in Sarasota - it was difficult to leave it - think we spent 20 minutes on those two boats - one of the Still shots we took was on Al's Yacht - a 50 footer airborne like a 21 footer ! Great fun - great people -
PHIL
[email protected]
Allan - when filming that event in Sarasota - it was difficult to leave it - think we spent 20 minutes on those two boats - one of the Still shots we took was on Al's Yacht - a 50 footer airborne like a 21 footer ! Great fun - great people -
PHIL
[email protected]
...(inside joke).The funniest moments we ever shared usually started when Phil began a conversation with " Richie......at the risk of annoying you...........". In truth we argued at times ( a lot), but it was always about making the product better and we are both passionate people. In the end I hope that passion came across in the tapes. I can assure you that we threw everything we had into them and, in some cases, risked our lives, to raise the bar to a point that had never before....nor since... been reached. Phil and I have tremendous respect for each other because we both went through some amazing adventures and , in truth, neither of us ever really blinked.
That amazing footage in Sarasota was one of those times where we all agreed to stay on those two boats, regardless of how many other boats might not have been covered that day. We were all about the story and that was one for the ages. We didn't compromise to make "numbers". In truth, at most races, you had to earn your way onto NNRT by being competitive and exciting. That's why we caught so much history and why a lot of also rans had limited clips. Something had to give.
T2x
Last edited by T2x; 03-26-2008 at 02:53 PM.
03-26-2008, 03:18 PM
#25
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Thread Starter
i have just finished and submitted a nice Al story to HB. They need a pic to go with the story. I don't really have anything worthy. If you have a pic that you think is worthy, scan it and send it to me at: [email protected] . we will credit you for it.
03-26-2008, 04:38 PM
#26
Allergic to Nonsense
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Granite Quarry, NC
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i have just finished and submitted a nice Al story to HB. They need a pic to go with the story. I don't really have anything worthy. If you have a pic that you think is worthy, scan it and send it to me at: [email protected] . we will credit you for it.
03-26-2008, 05:48 PM
#27
OSO OG
Gold Member
Al Copeland story time...........
Early 90's and the level of excitement at the Key West World's had definitely faded from the "glory days"..... The bars were quiet and the streets half empty. A favorite hangout of the true racers was always the beach bar in the Pier House..... We were sitting there one evening with about a half dozen people lamenting the fact that in past years there was always so many more people at the place, when Copeland and his entourage showed up...... at about Midnight. Al yelled "Where's the PARTY?" and proceeded to settle in and join the B.S. Within maybe 15 minutes the place was crowded almost to the old levels. Al was eyeing a baseball hat with a blond ponytail sticking out the back that I had found in some dive on Duvall Street. He wanted to buy it for $100 and I declined the offer. Later he spotted a young couple who had been sitting off by themselves. After a few questions, he found out that they were newlyweds enjoying their honeymoon. Now let me state that these were a couple of clean cut midwest kids who had nothing to do with Al, the races or anything beyond being in a place they had dreamed of probably for years. After a few more questions it became clear that these were very simple people who were more than a little overwhelmed by Al and his approach. Al turns to the rest of us and says "How much you wanna bet , I can get her ( the young bride) to dance topless on a table within 15 minutes?".........
Within what seemed seconds the betting had swelled to about $15,000.....and my hat. Anyone sitting there could not possibly have pictured this simple homegrown young bride doing anything but slapping him in the face.
After all the bets were in, I can't recall who held the pot
............maybe Dave Gilmore........ Al proceeded to have a quiet conversation with the young couple. As we watched, both the bride and the groom looked at times angry, shocked, confused, upset, desperate.......and then, suddenly, they seemed to change. The husband began to talk in a plaintive way to his wife, she giggled a little, and responded hesitantly but then with some enthusiasm.
Bottom line the next thing we know....she's up on the table......topless and dancing to beat the band....(stereo actually).
After this display Al walks over to them has a quick word and they walk away...."Thanking" us all.....???????
Al came back and took the cash...and my hat..... and explained. .......
He split the pot with them and they wound up with $10,000 for a deposit on a house they were saving for..... The 10 grand put them over the top.
Like Barnum....Copeland had a grasp of the human condition and was the supreme hustler.....
That is one of dozens of Al Copeland adventures that I got to witness and participate in first hand.......and certainly they were only a tiny percentage of the fun Al had during his life.
Someday we can talk about his wife's birthday party cum press conference on another thread.
God Bless you Mr. Copeland.
Early 90's and the level of excitement at the Key West World's had definitely faded from the "glory days"..... The bars were quiet and the streets half empty. A favorite hangout of the true racers was always the beach bar in the Pier House..... We were sitting there one evening with about a half dozen people lamenting the fact that in past years there was always so many more people at the place, when Copeland and his entourage showed up...... at about Midnight. Al yelled "Where's the PARTY?" and proceeded to settle in and join the B.S. Within maybe 15 minutes the place was crowded almost to the old levels. Al was eyeing a baseball hat with a blond ponytail sticking out the back that I had found in some dive on Duvall Street. He wanted to buy it for $100 and I declined the offer. Later he spotted a young couple who had been sitting off by themselves. After a few questions, he found out that they were newlyweds enjoying their honeymoon. Now let me state that these were a couple of clean cut midwest kids who had nothing to do with Al, the races or anything beyond being in a place they had dreamed of probably for years. After a few more questions it became clear that these were very simple people who were more than a little overwhelmed by Al and his approach. Al turns to the rest of us and says "How much you wanna bet , I can get her ( the young bride) to dance topless on a table within 15 minutes?".........
Within what seemed seconds the betting had swelled to about $15,000.....and my hat. Anyone sitting there could not possibly have pictured this simple homegrown young bride doing anything but slapping him in the face.
After all the bets were in, I can't recall who held the pot
............maybe Dave Gilmore........ Al proceeded to have a quiet conversation with the young couple. As we watched, both the bride and the groom looked at times angry, shocked, confused, upset, desperate.......and then, suddenly, they seemed to change. The husband began to talk in a plaintive way to his wife, she giggled a little, and responded hesitantly but then with some enthusiasm.
Bottom line the next thing we know....she's up on the table......topless and dancing to beat the band....(stereo actually).
After this display Al walks over to them has a quick word and they walk away...."Thanking" us all.....???????
Al came back and took the cash...and my hat..... and explained. .......
He split the pot with them and they wound up with $10,000 for a deposit on a house they were saving for..... The 10 grand put them over the top.
Like Barnum....Copeland had a grasp of the human condition and was the supreme hustler.....
That is one of dozens of Al Copeland adventures that I got to witness and participate in first hand.......and certainly they were only a tiny percentage of the fun Al had during his life.
Someday we can talk about his wife's birthday party cum press conference on another thread.
God Bless you Mr. Copeland.
Keep on rockin.....
03-26-2008, 07:03 PM
#28
PHIL
VIP Member
They were wonderful times
PHIL -
[email protected]
