Auto Racing Fans....

[lewster]

I was just on an extended service call at the Miami-Homestead Speedway to service a race team bus. While I was there and working on a heating manifold from an Aqua-Hot diesel heating system, I noticed a couple of older gentlemen watching me as I worked at the back of my service van.

I looked at them and said 'hi', which they returned. Then the crew chief that I was doing the work for came over and asked me if I knew either of them. I didn't so I said no...to which he said.....'let me introduce you '.

I took off my surgical gloves and came down from the van and the crew chief (from the Target Indy car team) said...' this is Johnny Rutherford and Al Unser Sr.'

I said ' I think I've heard those names' which cracked up both of them! We chatted for a few minutes as I explained what I was doing and a little about myself (they were very interested), and they went on their way around the infield area of the track. Super nice guys and real gentlemen!!!!! Made the 5 hour roundtrip drive to Miami worth it!

You just never know who you might run into.......................

[balrgn]

All I can say is WHOA!

[RIstream'n]

That's too cool

[safari57]

DON"T wash that hand . It might be worth something on eBay.

Very neat stuff. I don't suppose anyone was offering you tickets to the next race were they?

Barry

[catson4]

Lewster,
Very cool.

Not every day you get meet a pair of legends.

As stated above, do not wash that hand.

happy racing.

[lewster]

Originally Posted by safari57

DON"T wash that hand . It might be worth something on eBay.

Very neat stuff. I don't suppose anyone was offering you tickets to the next race were they?

Barry

Actually, THEY DID!! It's in Miami at the end of March, and they even suggested that I bring my Airstream and a van-load of RV parts and stay to attend and 'work' the race.

Even better, they suggested that I seriously think about following the Indy Pro race circuit just to work on the big, expensive Newells, Prevosts and other MoHos (which I mainly service anyway) that the teams and drivers use when they work. It just might be an interesting way to spend the summer!!

And no, I haven't washed the hand yet. In fact, I put a surgical glove right back on and haven't removed it yet!!

[Chief]

Lewster,

Both of those gentlemen are "class acts." I watched them race at Indy during the glory days before IRL screwed up American open wheel racing.....Al Sr. won the first race that I attended. It is amazing how approachable American drivers are vs. the F-1 crowd. I attended the return of F-1 to the U.S. in September, 2000 at Indy.......never again will I support that elitest crowd.

Chief

[Camper Dave]

Lew that was a treat to meet those guys. I'm mostly a NASCAR fan but I have watched those guys race on tv back in the late 60's thru 80's. Meeting two Indy 500 winners would have been a monumental experience for me being a diehard race fan.

camper dave

[Alumatube]

That's awesome, Lew! I got to meet Johnny at an IRL race in Dallas and he is an absolute class act. VERY nice, very interested in the people he talks with, and was very amenable to meeting fans. That is fantastic that you got to meet him and Al, Jr.!!!! Following the circuit sounds like a GREAT way to spend the summer!

Susan

[Alumatube]

Oops, meant to say Al Sr. above...

Susan

[safari57]

Originally Posted by Alumatube

Oops, meant to say Al Sr. above...

Susan

Susan

Are you suggesting Al Sr. has passed away and is now looking down on us ?

Barry

[balrgn]

Man the best we did at the track was hang with Truex his first season, before he was famous...

Oh yeah and Bentley Warren, anyone from the North East should recognize his name