a really great gift came my way
 

I recieved a 'gift' tonite.
I was at an old friends new house and he gave to me, the actual helmet that my Mentor, George Nicholas Krnaya wore in all motorsports compititions he participated in while I was coming of age.
I have seen that helmet many times, but this is the first time it brought a tear to my eye.
I was carefull not to scrub the Bedford Speedway mud off of the visor, but scrubbed all the scuffs and cobwebs from the scratched up white gelcoat.
'Nick' has been gone for 15 years now. I didn't even know that the helmet still existed till Robbie mentioned it at the 4th of July run at Cumberland.
I still have all my old retired helmets lined up on a shelf in the garage/ mancave. 'Nicks' Bell will be placed right next to the red metal flake one that I used 'way back then'.
He then gave me the 15 minute 'tour' of the room with Nicks old Hemi parts all over it.
When I saw the white valve covers and the NASCAR intake it was like 'going home'.
The last time I saw that intake, I was running through the stands, at Port Royal, begging to get back into the pits with it on my sholder cause the car backfired and split the 'RatRoaster'. When I told the track steward that it was for the Hemi Cuda, he let me back across the track.

Thank you, Robbie!

Re: a really great gift came my way
 

Jerry,
WOW, that was a special and unexpected moment :),
thanks for sharing it

Re: a really great gift came my way
 

I've been on the phone all night with other 'old friends' talking about the 'good ol days'!!
When they did Nicks garage sale, I couldn't even stop by to look.
Robbie said that he didn't want to go either, but the guy running it said that he might as well, since the stuff had to GO. Robbie sold a 1970 Plymouth Super Bird to get the money to buy as much Hemi stuff as he could.
The Hemi stuff used to belong to Richard Petty.
Yes, tonite, I put my hand on a 1969 Petty NASCAR Hemi. (and the helmet that Nick wore while driving it)

Re: a really great gift came my way
 

As I mentioned on the upcoming meets thread, I WORE Nicks helmet today at The 'harvest AX!!

I took the camera to Robbies house to show him what he missed today. He went inside and came back out with a trophy that Nick had won in 1978. It was for 1st place in a demo derby. He asked If I remembered that derby. I told him that I did. Nick beat ME for that trophy!
I took second that day! He was driving a 66 Imperial and I had a 67 Newport.
He managed to get 6 INCHES out of the Imp after our last 'contact'. I couldn't move because the driveshaft was jambed 12 inches into the tailshaft.
That derby is fodder for another 'long' story!!
Robbie told me to put that trophy with the helmet on the retirement shelf.

I LOVE that guy!!