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1 year ago, I happened to record a rare conversation between three Drag Racing Legends. This fly on the wall recording features: Gary Watson (Texas Wheelstand King), Randy Curtis (Fugitive Corvette), and Carl Magee (Flying Red Baron).
In the late 1960's through 1970's these three drivers built and raced high powered exhibition wheelstanders. These crowd favorites would routinely run side by side quarter mile passes on two wheels, showering sparks, and entertaining thousands with their driving feats.
This recording is unedited and simply a interesting trip down memory lane for 3 drivers that traveled the US, Canada, and Mexico, putting on drag racing shows over nearly two decades.
There are several interesting interludes as the drivers discuss Randy Curtis' accident in 1979, as well as a host of travel and racing related stories. In particular, listen for the various interactions with other legendary drag racers of the era.
For fans of drag racing, this is a glimpse back into an era when drivers were car owners, builders, crew chiefs, and architects of their own racing businesses.

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I really enjoyed this interview. In the late 1950's, early 1960's, a rare breed of automotive hot rodders were born. One of the greatest of these is a man named Gary Watson. Gary raced A-Fuel dragsters back in the 1960's and ultimately went on to build and innovate exhibition race cars call "Wheel standers." These were high power race cars designed to entertain drag racing fans with 1/4-mile wheel stands.
Have you even run your car up to 120 mph? Remember that thrill and excitement of speed? Imagine doing that on two wheels, door to door with a competitor.... that's wheel standing during the barnstorming days of the 1960's-1970's.
Gary Watson, now 83 years old, was a mentor of my father, Randy Curtis, another of the OG Wheel standing driver cadre from the same era. I always love hearing stories from their racing careers. Traveling all over the country, into Canada and even Mexico, Gary Watson was the consummate showman. Gary ran multi-car racing operations and taught his drivers to always strive to remember why they are driving, to make a living and entertain their customers. Gary always had a talent for innovating the business of racing and giving the fans a great show.
This interview traces back over the touchpoints in Gary's career as a racer. Even if you are not a race-fan or nostalgic drag racing buff like me, Gary's career is an example of what it takes to be successful in anything.
I especially enjoyed the pearls Gary shared during this interview on preparedness, not just for racing but in life generally.
Gary was warm, and gracious with his time. He is a great storyteller and is a huge reservoir of racing experience and automotive racing history.
I hope you will enjoy this interview with Gary Watson, The Texas Wheelstand King.

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"My way is to seize an image the moment it has formed in my mind, to trap it as a bird and to pin it at once to canvas. Afterward I start to tame it, to master it. I bring it under control and I develop it. "
— Joan Miro

In this episode, Dr. Curtis delves into common thinking traps that impair our ability to think clearly. When it comes to Self-Mastery, the quality of our thought can make or break our long term success. This episode encourages listeners to reflect on the content and origin of thought. Dr. Curtis shares insights into five very common patterns of thinking that lead to false conclusions.
Thinking Traps Discussed

• All or Nothing Thinking
• Jumping to Conclusions
  • Type 1 - Mind Reading
  • Type 2- Fortune Telling
• Emotional Reasoning
• Over Generalizing
• Ignoring the Good

Episodes Mentioned
EP 48 Thinking Traps

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When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures of emotion.

-Dale Carnegie

At a young age, most people begin to realize how "smart" they are in relation to their peers, friends, & family members. However, most objective measures of intelligence focus on standardized test scores, grades, or Intelligence Quotient (IQ). This is an important measure to determine admission into certain charter schools, advanced classes, and ultimately universities. However, IQ and admission to special programs/universities don't always determine long-term success. A lesser discussed, but equally important measure is a person's Emotional Quotient (EQ) or Emotional Intelligence.

According to Healthline.com :

Your emotional quotient (EQ) generally refers to your ability to sense emotion in yourself and in other people. It also refers to how you use that awareness to guide your behavior. In general, if you have a high EQ, you may find it easier to:

• identify emotions in yourself and others
• empathize with other people
• adapt your feelings and behavior to different situations
• control your impulses
• withstand temptations and delay gratification
• resolve conflicts with others
• communicate effectively

In Episode 126, we discuss our perspectives on EQ and how important it can be in our personal and professional lives.

LISTEN HERE

Books Discussed:

The Happiness Equation -- Neil Parischa

How to Master Your Emotions--Luke Hamilton

The Infinite Game--Simon Sinek

David vs Goliath--Malcolm Gladwell

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