Hi there,

You have read about me and Harry, and you have read Sue's marvelous report about my getting Jeff Gordon's autograph on the back of my scooter. 
Now let me tell you my side of the story.

First of all, when I wrote the e-mail to Tina at Jeff Gordon Newsletter I never really thought that I would get an answer. I mean she must get a zillion requests a week from people requesting the how to's of getting an autograph. Here is one from some kook who wants an autograph on the back of a wheelchair? I figured she would glance at it and hit the delete button. To my astonishment I got a very nice reply from Tina telling me that she usually gave people an address to send their articles to to be signed but she didn't figure that would work for an electric scooter. Instead she said that she had been in touch with someone that might be able to help me and gave me Sue's screen name and told me to put it on my "Buddy List" on AOL and when I saw her online to "IM" her. At that time I didn't have the slightest idea what she was talking about but I started reading the things about chats and IMs and learned all I could about them and made a "Buddy List" with Sue's name on it.

Sure enough that night there she was! I was very apprehensive about it but I figured " what the Heck" and typed in something witty like "Hello?" Tina must have read her my entire e-mail because she knew more about what I wanted to say than I did, thank goodness, because I am a lousy typist. Any way she said she would check into the problem and get back to me. I thought that that was a super thing already. I really liked this girl! She didn't say one word about my slowness or my lousy typing or my real slow- wittedness or anything!

Lo and behold! she did get back to me and asked about my plans for going to the September race, and asked me to e-mail her all my vitals. (full name, address, etc.)

Sue gave a real good depiction of what happened at that race, except that I think that she was more disappointed than I was because at about that time I was really getting good with dealing with things that weren't going right. Like hearing from the doctors that I would never be able to walk again. After news like that, not getting an autograph wasn't much.

I had read in Sue's newsletter about her having a disastrous virus attack so I wasn't surprised when she asked for the story about Harry again and all of my info over. During the year I had started getting really excited about maybe this would really happen. Especially the way that Sue was talking that it really would!

I have had a very blessed life and my share of exciting things happen but there have been very few that I can remember that I have looked forward to as much as I was anticipating Saturday. Sue had told me to meet her at one o'clock at the NASCAR Trailer and not to worry if she was a little late. That was fine but I assure you that I was not going to be late! When my daughter who is my companion on all my race trips (I only live about 5 miles from the track so they aren't really "trips") was ten minutes late getting to my house I was ready to have a conniption. We got to the track on time though and right away I had to set off to find the trailer. I got there at 12:25. I parked my scooter right in front in the full sunshine and when someone suggested that I go over to the side of the trailer in the shade I was reluctant because I didn't want Sue to miss me. I was really that worried that something had to go wrong.

After what seemed an eternity but was only a few minutes, a man and woman came out of nowhere around the trailer. I looked up and made another witty remark - "SUE?". She came right over to me and gave me a HUG! I am a BIG believer in hugs, especially when they are from lovely younger women! I knew we were going to hit it off even more than I had thought. I got a big handshake from Dave and it was right to the business of getting me into the garage area.

The first thing was Dave handing me a shirt and asking if I would mind putting it on over my shirt. (WHAT? Cover up my beautiful Jeff Gordon t-shirt and my rainbow suspenders with a white shirt??) But of course I said "Sure, anything you say!" I put on the beautiful shirt (Victory-lap.com and Racin.net shirt) and it really is a nice one, another trophy of my weekend. I "forgot" to ask them if they wanted it back). The very nice gentleman that I had been talking to while waiting took my paperwork from Sue and went inside and brought me out a card to sign and handed me A GARAGE PASS! I really had it in my hand! After a couple of pictures with my daughter, Sue, Dave and I started off through the tunnel. It's not a very big tunnel and I figured if I was to hold anybody up from getting through they would probably take my pass away so I looked over my shoulder and said "See you on the other side" put my scooter in high gear and went through.

The Garage Area. As we were walking through, (I was really in there!) my neck probably looked like it was on a swivel. I wanted to see Everything! That's not all that easy with all those people around and trying not to run over anyone's toes at the same time. Sue and Dave were looking for Jerry Nadeau and his wife Jada ( more about them in a bit) but I was looking for everybody. I saw about ten drivers and when Mr. Mayfield walked up and held out his hand, I was struck dumb. Another witty remark: " ". Just when I thought that we would never find the 24 car, there it was! And there was Jeff Gordon up at the front of the car VERY BUSY!

Sue has got a lot of guts! After asking one crew member and being told that it would be better if we came back in about an hour and a half, after "Happy Hour", she walked up to another crew member and asked him if he could ask Jeff if he could step out there for just a minute? HE DID IT!
All of a sudden JEFF GORDON was walking toward me. By the time he got to me I must have looked like a real dunce with a huge painted smile across my face. He walked right up and shook my hand and I handed him the special Magic Marker that my wife had gotten me that is guaranteed not to come off of metal, plastic or anything. I started to turn around to pull the back of the seat forward so he could get to it and he said "No, no you just sit there."

I had with me: my daughter's tee shirt, my wife's hat and my grandson's hat which just happened to be thrust upon me that morning when it really looked like I might meet Jeff. I also had my Rainbow warrior jacket which I was sitting on. You can see it in the pictures. All of these were for autographs if it were possible.

Jeff went for the jacket which was sticking up there and I said, "No, no, the back of the chair!". He pointed at the right spot and when I nodded he sort of shrugged and STARTED WRITING HIS NAME! I really can't remember the last time that I was that thrilled. It really was the culmination of a six year long dream.

When he finished he handed back the pen and took my hand to shake it again and I told him that it had taken six long years to get that to happen. Sue told him that she would make sure that he heard the full story and he was off to Happy Hour.

For the rest of the day I rode around pointing to the back of my scooter and grinning like some kind of an idiot. Of course all of the regulars in the handicapped section where I sit had heard me talking about getting that autograph for four years and they were all thrilled as well.

When Jeff took the checkered flag in first place that night, I actually stood up and whooped so loud that he probably could have heard me over the roar of his engine. I didn't feel the pain in my feet until an hour later. Of course, one of the big reasons that he won was because he signed the luckiest electric scooter in the world that afternoon! HAHAHA.

Now. From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank all of the people that helped to make this fabulous Saturday that I will never forget happen. 
Tina of the Jeff Gordon Newsletter for starting it all off.

Jada Nadeau; I didn't get to meet the lady to thank her personally but for arranging for me to get the Garage Pass I think was a truly generous thing to do and I am eternally grateful. 

Jerry Nadeau for relinquishing one of his allotted passes to me on his birthday makes him one of my heroes.

JEFF GORDON! For taking the time out from the busy minutes right before going out on the track for Happy Hour and making my year! Thanks a MULTIZILLION!

Dave, Sue's husband, For taking the great pictures and tagging along and listening to me babble. a quiet, great guy!

And SUE!!! I really would like to have a witty remark to say here but I don't have any words to describe my feelings about this truly remarkable human being. She really went to the mat for me and she really delivered. I was with her for a total of maybe two hours but I feel that I have known her for a lot longer. You talk about heroes! She is definitely way up there on my Hero list! I hope that she remains my friend for a long time because her kind don't happen along very often.

I apologize if I ran off a little or became too corny in this narrative but you have to understand that I don't get around much anymore and writing this allowed me to relive in a way the fabulous Saturday in September that is burned in my fondest memories forever. Thanks to all. AND HE WON THE RACE TOO!!!

MUCH More from Richmond ..... 
Main page from Richmond!

This was Tom's initial email, that got this all started ... ((this was for you Harry!))
Toms Heartwarming story from Richmond!

The second reason we headed up to Richmond was FRIENDS! Many of them, and here is the info on that ...... The Get Together from Richmond!

This links has EVERY Picture taken through out the weekend.... Click on images for larger version! Images from Richmond