:  As 2012 has arrived, so has the cycle of car events. The first event, for the Fords in the Florida area of Galaxieland, is the annual ALL FORD show, January 7th-8th at Ocala, Fla.'s Silver Springs. But, being this early in the year, this news wasn't going to be just about Galaxie car events, it was going to include a Galaxie HISTORY event. A sort of a dedication to someone for their part of Galaxie racing history. This Galaxie newsletter is now being dedicated for two reasons, to two people who were a part of our car's history. Ironically, their paths crossed in the history of the 1963 1/2 Ford Galaxie.
 I want to start with our first dedication recipient. His career with Ford, and racing has placed him on the pages, of NASCAR's history, right under the word GALAXIE. As a driver during the early days of Galaxie racing, he gave up that seat for part ownership he formed, of one of the most famous racing teams in NASCAR, AND..the longest running to this day. That legend, is GLEN WOOD. Mr. Wood, is being inducted into NASCAR's Hall of Fame January 2012, as part of their 3rd class, thus, being part of this dedication story. The Galaxie was a major part of his career, and in 1963. The Daytona 500 is really where this begins.
 Most of you know the story, of that famous race, with their main driver, Marvin Panch, being injured during Speed Weeks '63. Their replacement driver was a young driver, who assisted with Mr. Panch's rescue, and thus, begins the next link of this whole thing. DeWayne "Tiny" Lund was that young driver, and for his reward, was placed into that famous '63 GALAXIE and won that Daytona 500..the first for the Wood Brothers, that year, and was adored in victory lane with all involved, including his wife Wanda. On August 17th 1975, the NASCAR world lost Tiny Lund, in a crash at Talladega, Ala. Wanda Lund continued to carry the flag of history for her late husband, and the links of this dedication continue.
  Speed Weeks 2012 starts the beginning of a new year in NASCAR racing, yet it also embarks the 20th year, of a toy car company, that has brought us many years of memories, in the die-cast collector car world. In 1992, Racing Champions was well into their second year of die-cast race cars, of several scales. A new die-cast company debuted at the CIRCLE TRACK TRADE SHOW, in Daytona Beach, during Speed Weeks '92. The RACING COLLECTIBLES CLUB of AMERICA (RCCA) debuted a VINTAGE series of die-cast cars in 1/64th scale, to be produced based on, of all cars, the 1963 1/2 GALAXIE. There were two cars, that debuted at first, with many to follow that year, using the Fastback Ford, but the first was a red PROMO car, with #92 and Circle Track on it. The second car was.... you got it....the #21 Wood Brothers Galaxie with Tiny Lund's name on it. There were 2 famous marks, both women in NASCAR history, to endorse the new adventure and both of their husbands had make their mark in Galaxie history. The late Doris Roberts, widow of Glenn "Fireball" Roberts, had carried the match that kept the "Fireball's" history flame lit since his passing in 1964, was at that trade show in 1992, along with none other than Wanda Lund. A few years ago, the late Pamela Roberts Trivette, daughter of that famous Roberts family, told me personally, that is was WANDA, that pointed out the wrongly colored roof number of that little '63 Galaxie. RCCA had debuted the car with a white number. It was supposed to be red, as it was on the '63 Daytona 500 winning car, and the links continue.
 For the last 20 years, the die-cast world, has made millions of dollars, even spurring one driver, the first, to create his own, That driver was the late Dale Earnhardt. But all of the RCCA die-cast that, in vintage particularly, was from that famous few days in Daytona Beach, February 12-14th, 1992. I remember that event as if it was last year's Daytona 500.... when Trevor Bayne took the Wood Brothers BACK to Cinderella Finish class 101, since Tiny Lund, in 1963. And the links are about complete.
 The 1963 1/2 Galaxie within another team of the late John Holman and Ralph respectively made the most marks in the record books, with their drivers, but was resolved so long ago. Yet Glen Wood, along with his brother Leonard, and their offspring, has continued a tradition longer than any NASCAR team in history....over 60 years, and the GALAXIE was with them in it's highlights. For this, Mr. Wood's achievements has placed him into the Hall of Fame this year, and this article is dedicated to him for what he did, with one of the most famous Galaxies in history, that  1963 1/2 "fastback  Ford" as Mr. Marvin Panch calls it. But then, that closes the final link of dedication. As the opening link was placed, it was the beginning of a flame of NASCAR history, that has been put out. For over 30 years, Wanda Lund has carryied the torch of her late husband's NASCAR history, but on January 5th, 2012 Wanda Lund's life ended tragically in Waynesville, NC and that is the final closing of this link... as we dedicate this article to her as well, for her part in Galaxie history.
 That will do it for this lap, but remember..Galaxies are 'XL'lent..........Wayne Haynes........Galaxieland Director.........