Dan "Chipwich" Blake
SimHQ Contributing Editor

The son of an USAF Vietnam era fighter pilot, I was fortunate to grow up to the sound of after-burners being lit as the cold war necessitated intercom system in our house was broadcasting that this was another Practice Alert. Probably my first experience with simulators was trying out the F-4 trainer at Seymour Johnson AFB about the time that dad was getting ready for his second tour to SE Asia. Sometimes on Sundays, if the simulator was empty, pilots would get their dependents a ride so that the family could experience a bit of what dad did at "the office". Being raised in this environment made it a given that my brothers and I would have an interest in military aviation. Sadly, not being able to pass the vision part of an air force flight physical would prevent me from following in my father's footsteps. Happily, having a PC and access to some great flight simulation software would allow me to experience at least something of what he did.

Dad also helped me develop a second keen interest, that of motor racing.

Although he hailed from a small town in South Carolina, his passions were seated in persons and places far away. Consequently, he would speak to his sons more of Sterling Moss, Jim Clark, and Dan Gurney, than of Richard Petty and Junior Johnson. In our household Brands Hatch, Silverstone, and Le Mans would have precedence over Darlington or Bristol, although he told us about those race tracks too. Being based in England in the late 50s and early 60s meant that dad could not only see some of his heroes first hand, but also he could also bring his man-children with him. He took me to my first F1 race, where like most, I was instantly smitten by the sound. Years later we would make the trip together from Atlanta over to Talladega. The race taking place before the term "restrictor plate racing" had been coined, two F1 fans had the time of their lives watching the spectacle of 40 brightly colored cars running nose-to-tail at over 200 miles per hour. A Chevrolet won that day, dad said, because "Junior makes good engines." It was no surprise that the Southern boy in him was revealing itself.

Atlanta seemed a pretty good place to hole up, so much so that even though scattered to the four winds, my three brothers and I all ended up making their homes here. Against the recommendations of those involved in family businesses, we would found an IT outsourcing company together, and ten years down the road, having weathered the dot-boom, the company is still around. Fortunately, none of us have been charged with murdering another, although I've been tempted a few times. Not long after the company was started I would meet a pretty young thing named Claudia, who much to my mother's consternation was an Ohioan transplant. Mom has since accepted the fact that there are indeed some good Yankees, and good looking ones too. What my wife sees in this 50 year old simulation addict I'm not quite sure, but I am glad that she lets me indulge in my passion a couple of times a week.

Being a sim-head would eventually lead me to the Internet Mecca of all fun things simulated, SimHQ of course. To say that I've enjoyed being part of this community over the last six years is a huge understatement. This is such an outstanding bunch of individuals, that I am very proud and honored to be asked to join those who contribute so expertly.

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