MIKE SYKES MEDICAL BENEFIT FUND
-RacersReunion® OUTREACH
Johnny,I want it to wear. If it doesn't fit me then I won't be bidding!!!
Forum Activity for @tim-leeming
-RacersReunion® OUTREACH
MIKE SYKES MEDICAL BENEFIT FUND
-RacersReunion® OUTREACH
Yesterday I learned that one of the items to be auctioned is one of The King's actual cowboy hats. I want that hat (if it fits me) and because I have very little money with which to bid, I am asking everyone else to stay away from the event on the 16th so I can successfully bid on that hat. HEAR ME???????
MIKE SYKES MEDICAL BENEFIT FUND
-RacersReunion® OUTREACH
I'm commenting on this Forum post today to bump it back to the to of the page. I feel this is an important endeavor. Thank you.
MIKE SYKES MEDICAL BENEFIT FUND
-RacersReunion® OUTREACH
As Jeff reported on the Forum here in an earlier post, Mike Sykes has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Mike met with this doctors this past Wednesday and it was decided that Chemo and Radiation would be immediately commenced and I understand the first treatment will bet his coming Wednesday. Mike is confident with his doctors and was in good spirits when I talked with him last week.
As most of you know, Mike has always been very active in support for the pioneers of the sport of stock car racing, being a major force behind the Old Timers Racing Hardship Fund. In addition to that, Mike has dedicated a large part of his life to seeing that the history and heritage of the sport of stock car racing is preserved and honored in the manner to which it is entitled. In short, Mike is, and has been, a vital part in RacersReunion and in the efforts of all of us who support the cause.
Some of the members of the Old Timers group got together and have set up a fund to help Mike with the medical expenses he will incur while fighting this cancer. I am going to provide the information below for contributions to that fund, but please note that contributions made to Mike's fund are IN NO WAY, inferred to be made to the Old Timers Fund. The fund about which I providing the information is a fund established specifically and solely for Mike's medical expenses. Contributions of any amount will be welcomed.
I do not have the information for contributions by credit card or paypal or any of that cyber technical stuff I don't understand. I do, however, have the name and address of the administrator of the fund which is, as follows:
Hal Surratt, CPA
10948 North Main Street, Suite C
Archdale, NC, 27363
Checks should be made payable to: Mike Sykes Medical Benefit Fund
For any of you who may not know Mike, ask me about him. I have only good things to say about this man and I've known him since 2009 when RacersReunion was fully active in events around South Carolina and North Carolina. Men don't come much better than Mike. I hope everyone will consider what they can contribute to this worthwhile cause.
If anyone has questions, e-mail me or call me. I know any cancer is serious business. I have been given a very non-medical report on Mike's diagnosis, which I would not begin to attempt to outline here. Mike is facing a tough fight, but Mike is the kind of person who will do what it takes to defeat this demon.
Thank you for reading.
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/03/16 07:51:32PM
Mike Sykes
-RacersReunion® OUTREACH
I talked with Mike this afternoon and he is in good spirits. He goes back to the doctor this coming Wednesday for further examination. He is very confident in his doctor and is really positive. He asked me to let everyone know how much it means to him to have so many friends involved here on RacersReunion. I will be staying in touch with Mike and keep everyone updated.
Bud Moore's Right Hand Man by Perry Allen Wood (a review)
Administrative
Thanks for permission to use that paragraph as the basis for next Tuesday's contribution to the show. I know those words from Greg are heart-felt and that is the same sentiment I have expressed many times, though not in the same words. I'll be banging out my thoughts on those lines this week.
My comment about paying full price for your books was intended to show that I was giving my honest opinion of your book, not to complain about the price. I'm asking now that you please reserve a copy of the book about Bud for which I will also pay full price.
I do appreciate the fact that you and I have the kind of friendship where it is ok to not have to pull punches. I have to say that you and I have always spoken frankly and openly to each other on every topic. That, as you know, is an ultimate tribute to friendship.
Thanks again for permission to use Greg's quote.
Bud Moore's Right Hand Man by Perry Allen Wood (a review)
Administrative
In the interest of full disclosure , I must state that Perry Allen Wood and I are friends. I must also disclose that with the exception of the $5.00 discount Perry gave me on his second book, I have paid full price for the other two. When I first saw "Silent Speedways of the Carolinas" advertised, I ordered it, read it, and tracked down Perry at his workplace to tell him what a fantastic record of racing history he had compiled. I never really expected to meet him in person, but he and I have attended several of the same events. I have a deep respect for Perry and his writing, although sometimes the exposure of things not previously known about certain competitors brings reactions from readers quite the opposite of reactions expected. Nevertheless, I own "Silent Speedways of the Carolinas", "Declarations of Independents" and now Perry's latest, "Bud Moore's Right Hand Man: A NASCAR Team Manager's Career at Full Throttle" which is the story of Bud Moore's son Greg and, essentially, the story of Bud Moore Racing. Perry has another book coming out soon all about Bud Moore. Now, my review of the book.
I actually bought this book back in September and tried several times to read it cover to cover but other things kept getting in the way. Finally, after writing the Legendtorial Sunday, I switched off the computer, turned off my cell phone, and settled down in my favorite reading chair and started over on page one. The first sentence grabbed me this time. Greg Moore speaking "From the time I was born Daddy was a pretty big name in NASCAR". Immediately my mind rewound over all my years around the sport and I could certainly back up that statement from personal knowledge, not that I would doubt Greg's statement to begin with.
As I continued my journey through this history of Bud Moore racing, I had vivid flashbacks of the day Joe Weatherly was killed at Riverside in 1964. As I read about the Billy Wade accident in which he was also killed in one of those black and red Mercurys, my thoughts were more about the four straight races Billy had won on the northern tour the year before. Billy was killed in tire tests at Daytona so the only recollection I have of that accident is what the newspapers reported back then. However, reading about it from Greg's point of view gave powerful insight to the feelings of the man who build those cars.
The book continues through the successful years on Bud Moore racing, always including insight from Greg and comments from Perry which add so much to the reader's involvement in the book. The final chapters deal with efforts to continue Bud Moore Racing until finally there are no options left and the team is sold and the shop closed. My memory of that happening calls up a sadness in me to have lost a great team I watched growing up in racing. The way Greg sets out the story, it gives me a better feeling that what was done was done for the good of the Moore family and although the team is gone, the impact is not, and never will be gone from NASCAR racing. Bud Moore was a force that helped to build NASCAR into a worldwide sports power.
So, thank you Bud Moore for all you did. Thank you Greg Moore for giving us a personal insight into what it takes to run in the big leagues. Thank you Perry Allen, for bringing all this history to the fans like me. Do I recommend this book as reading for a fan of racing history? You bet I do! I have proudly added it to my racing library here in The Lair and I am sure to re-read it in the future. I will be looking forward to Perry Allen's new book about Bud Moore, written with Bud Moore, coming out soon.
Perry, I know you'll probably read this so I have a favor to ask. The next to last paragraph on page 215 just screams at me to use in a Legendtorial. May I have your permission, and Greg's of course, to do so?
updated by @tim-leeming: 12/05/16 04:02:57PM
Henley Gray blog posts
Stock Car Racing History
Great job Chase, as always. Some things I didn't know. Always like that.
'69 Plymouth Roadrunner (Grandpa's Dream #1)
General
That Road Runner in the picture looks exactly like the one I had. One fast piece of iron.