Author Topic: The ties that bind (Read 609 times)

Nash · « **on:** March 31, 2006, 09:34:26 PM »

(yeah, I'm listenin' to Bruce right now)

Last week Daddog got ahold of me. Asked where I got the "Are you ready to Rumble" clip from... 'cause he's putting one of those Rumbles together this year. I've gone through like, three cities, three hard drives and four ISP's since then.

So I had nothin'.

A few emails later, and he sends me the link to the 2nd Rumble site:

Rumble 2001

I don't know how he found it, and I cannot comprehend how a website I built in 2001 is *still* on the Internet despite the fact that it's been five years since I was with them. Your guess is as good as mine.

Those were heady times. AH was as fresh then as the moves you practiced on some high school chick whilst parked overlooking some odd romantic panorama - it didn't much matter where. Full of new faces (we were all new), and full of possibilities. Look at some of the names on the "Roster" section for a small sojourn down memory lane. Immediately Hangtime and Hristo jump out - obviously. Born leaders, they didn't meekly step into their roles so much as force us to create an outlet for them to get on with it and fight.

And bring everyone of us along for the ride.

And I think it was a good ride.

Anyways... It was a nice reminder. Community has always trumped technology. It's primary. We don't rally behind the code as much as rally behind eachother as we make sense of, then master the code.

And there's gotta be some reason why I'm still paying attention to this BBS long after I became fed up with it.

I hate you. I love you. I hate you. I love you.

And.... I hate me for loving you.

But wotev. As different as we are, we all ended up here. There must be a reason.

In the immortal words of Springsteen: "Oh, and that's alright by me."

Urchin · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2006, 09:41:52 PM »

Hehe... the names... it is scary how I know them.

God, I actually remember dropping in on an Assassin's squad FFA in the DA (when I was in my 'thinking I'm hot **** but really only know how to BnZ phase)... Hblair chased me around for like 5 minutes taunting me lol.

I wanted to fly just like him when I grew up

. Wonder what happened to him...

SOB · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2006, 09:52:00 PM »

I love you too, man! Aw geez, I think I'm tearing up...

Hangtime · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2006, 10:07:46 PM »

Egads.. I remember that!!!

Wot a freakin hoot! I got our clocks cleaned on the first rumble.. (1999?) Bad comms, got a dropped connect; formation fell apart; bad merge.. the 190's and 109's cut the allies up.

Second time around Nuttz developed the perfect 'cage fight' terrain; with victors moving into a final kill zone. We briefed a good engagement profile; good wingie tactics and this time we pounded the much favored axis team... and I was hugely pleased to see Hristo's flaming plane auger into the cage floor; one of the very last to go down.

Was a great time, and Nash you were instrumental in pulling off the battle with the registration, event orginization and staff support. Thank you again for a superb effort and an outstanding job.

The first one was a good time too... the one with the Hogan's Hero's characters. Side splitting stuff, world class taunting; damn, but those were some pretty fun times.

texace · « **Reply #4 on:** April 01, 2006, 04:52:59 AM »

Boy if that ain't nostalgia all wrapped up nice an' pretty.

I remember being a part of the Axis squad (I found my name there, too! semprfi) and having a damn good time even if I couldn't fly for crap back then. (Still can't now.

) Hang, I think you were the one that shot me down every single time. Boy, you were ruthless, too. Gets tough on a 16 year old kid who thinks he's all that.

rpm · « **Reply #5 on:** April 01, 2006, 06:14:46 AM »

I told you Nash would return.

Heater · « **Reply #6 on:** April 01, 2006, 06:28:24 AM »

Damn...we are getting old...

Bluedog · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2006, 08:12:50 AM »

Time flies when yer havin' fun eh?

Ripsnort · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2006, 08:40:23 AM »

Thanks for the memories Nash!~:aok I wasn't at thi particular rumble due to a fishing trip, but I remember hearing about the event, vaguely...

I remember when Hristo and I believe Hangtime?....had a big one vs one duel, anyone remember that? Hristo was on my JG2 squad at the time, and I was in his cockpit while he had this fight. He was so nervous, kept asking me what he should do on the merge, what the P51 weaknesses were...I kinda laughed to myself because I always thought Hristo was twice the pilot I am, yet here he is babbling nervously to me in text. LOL!

I don't remember who won/lost.

Hangtime · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2006, 11:33:44 AM »

Hristo was an alt monkey that flew from Bubbi Hartmann's play book. Getting a 'level' fight was difficult.. requiring insults, negotiations and a referee.

He was a extremely good flyer.. a chess player-pilot that had a counter move and evasive for just about anything you threw at him. He specialized in stripping energy from ponies and then bagging them from the vertical. He was also an incredible deflection shot with that damn cannon in the G-10.

On the first merge I did a max-g pull to the verticle and then roll-reversed sharply as the view went dark, pulled to black again and there he was... a fast snap shot and his engine was hit. Took a me a bit, even then; to line him up for the coup de gras.

Next merge, I came in at best manuvering speed intending to pull down... he didn't even turn.. musta been wepping in because he zoom climbed up on to the perch and parted me out with B&Z's... I remember running his film and being astounded at the shooting.. he couldn't even see me when he shot & killed me, I was so far under his nose!

Last merge was viscious.. we were both fast and I was expecting the flypast to a perch.. and did the same. Fight stated at 10k.. we went up to almost 20... then back down to the deck; neither one of us could get an opening. I finally ran outta fuel on the other side of a 10' off the deck stalling, shuddering descending circle.. he plugged me as I ditched. 2-1 Hristo.

Was a huge blast.. and he was the games best in that plane at that time. My penalty for losing that duel was flying that damn g-10 in the MA for 100 kills. Kill number 97 was Hristo... caught him on a vultch fest I heard he was in over ch100.

Still hate that plane.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2006, 12:03:35 PM »

Wasn't really fair, Hang, I was a "2nd pair of eyes" for him.

Hangtime · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2006, 12:19:12 PM »

I kinda figured he'd 'cheat'... but that was Hristo.. "if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying hard enough". I had an observer too, but he kept his trap shut outside of 'oh ****!' when the engine quit.

The Rumbles that grew from that match were 'team' projects.. neither one of us much affected the outcome; the guys we had flying with us decided the outcome. And the core pilots flying lead on each section were very sharp sticks. Was an excellent object lesson on teamwork; both times.

a big to all those guys.. was huge blast.

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #12 on:** April 01, 2006, 03:59:45 PM »

Heh Even let me Register.

I'll see yas 5 years ago;)

straffo · « **Reply #13 on:** April 01, 2006, 04:38:14 PM »

He I was even on Hangtime side

I was flying as smurtz with the Firebird at this time.

Hangtime · « **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2006, 04:52:12 PM »

No kiddin! If I remember correctly, yah cleared my six... saved my bellybutton in the first round. That damn fight was wild.. musta had a team of guardian angels to survive.. and you wuz one of 'em.

Thanks Straffo.. was a damn good time.