It can’t be fall already, Can it? I was just getting use to our California summer and now its time to change gears and get into the fall. Of course that means the fire season is in full force and it looks to be a very nasty one if we do not take care of business. Last year was bad enough however officials are saying that this year will be worse since the forests and surrounding areas are super dry. It is hard enough to breathe here with the smog but when you add smoke and soot to the mix it is almost impossible.

It’s been fairly quiet on the sci-fi front. No conventions in the area to speak of and television in repeat mode. It was nice to see that Enterprise was picked up for another season. After seeing the cliff hanger last season I am not sure what they are up to now. Word has it that this will be the last season, however time will tell. Locally Enterprise will premiere on Friday October 8th. Keep watching!

I was traveling on the information highway a couple of months ago looking for sci-fi or celebrity shows when I stumbled upon the Universal Autograph Collectors Club convention. This autograph show was to feature several American and Russian astronauts. Over 20 of these legends would be under one roof including 5 American astronauts that walked on the moon!

The Universal Autograph Collectors Club held their annual convention and autograph show September 4th & 5th in Burbank. This was one of the more expensive shows that I have attended. The cost for autographs went from $20 to $150+ per autograph. Given the chance to meet these heroes it was well worth the cost after all, how many times can you say that you had the chance to shake the hand or stand in a picture with men who walked on the moon! Yes friends, a chance of a lifetime.

Alan Bean, above, along with Pete Conrad, walked the moon during the Apollo 12 mission, November 14 -24, 1969. He was the 4th person to walk on the moon.

Eugene Cernan was the last man to walk on the moon during the Apollo 17 mission, December 7 – 19, 1972. Along with Harrison Schmitt, commander Cernan explored the lunar surface for the final time in the 20th Century.

Charles Duke was the lunar module pilot on Apollo 16. Along with Commander John Young, there mission held from April 16 – 27, 1972 walked the moon and was the 8th man to do so.

The mission that caught the attention of everyone was that of Apollo 11, Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin along with Neil Armstrong were the first men to land on the moon, July 20, 1969. This was one of those moments which you could ask anyone who witnessed this event, “What were you doing when they walked on the moon? And they could relay exactly what they were doing.

Dave Scott was the commander of Apollo 15 which ran from July 26 – August 7th 1971. He was the 7th man to walk on the moon and along with lunar module pilot James Irwin were the first astronauts to drive on the moon. Yes, they brought along a car with them.

Along with the moon walkers in attendance were 3 of the surviving 4 Mercury astronauts.

Pictured above is Leroy Gordon Cooper, who flew the last Mercury mission May 15th 1963. He also flew in the Gemini program.

Scott Carpenter’s only space mission was on May 24, 1962. He flew in space after the historical flight of John Glenn.

Wally Schirra, is the only astronaut to fly in Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. Wally commanded Apollo 7 which was the first time the Apollo craft was manned in space flight.

Tom Stafford flew in both Gemini and Apollo. He also commanded the final flight of Apollo during the Apollo-Soyuz test mission in 1975.

Alexei Arkhipovich Leonov and Valeriy Nikolayevich Kubasov were the Russian pilots who participated in the mission. Alexei Leonoy is also the first man to walk in space back in 1962.

Pictured above left is Walter Cunningham who flew with Wally Schirra in Apollo 7. Pictured right is Russell L. "Rusty" Schweickart who was the first man to fly the lunar module in space during the Apollo 9 mission.

Bruce McCandless flew during the shuttle program. He was one of the first to fly strictly on a portable back pack which is now in common use in the shuttle program.

Jack Lousma, left and Paul Weitz both flew aboard Skylab. Paul flew during the first mission and Jack flew on the second.

Skylab flew manned from 1973-1974.

Pictured above, along with me, is Guenter Wendt. Guenter was the pad leader during most of the manned missions. He was the last person the the astronauts saw before they were launched into their missions. I was able to spend some time with him during this convention and I wish I could have spent more. His stories are famous and very entertaining.

Dee O’Hara was the nurse to the astronauts. She started with the Mercury astronauts through Apollo. The astronauts, I am told treaded lightly around her. One bad entry into their health record could me the difference between flying and not.

Also attending was comedian Bill Dana. Bill "JOSE JIMENEZ" Dana, the unofficial 8th Mercury astronaut became famous during the early 1960’s with is reluctant astronaut bits.

This was an opportunity of a lifetime to be in the same room as these legends. I have been a fan of the space program since I was a young kid and to have the chance to visit with and just be in the presence of these men and women is something I am not soon to forget.

Finally, on a personal note, on September 16th I had a major heart attack! I was rushed to the emergency room where they had to clear a completely blocked artery. This was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. I am on the road to recovery but I am looking at a radical lifestyle change not to mention several weeks of cardio-rehab. I have several weeks of recovery ahead of me but I will be back to work!

I know that Stompy must have been thinking he was on the way to a heart attack as well, but he fortunately started to lose weight before his health got too bad. Now we both have to lose weight and I know that both of us will be successful.

I will keep you posted on my progress but I will be back! I am feeling great and looking forward to the holiday season and beyond.

That’s all for now, as always thanks for your support of Chase and her endeavors, I know she appreciates it.

Till next time, The Dabo Wheel is Closed!

Bill Welch
Vice-President
Bill@chaseclub.com