garrell.770 Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 NOT SURE THAT I AM IN THE CORRECT PLACE FOR AN INTRO, FORGIVE ME IF SO. I AM A 62 YEAR OLD MALE THAT HAS BEEN A GEARHEAD SINCE I WAS 12 YEARS OLD. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE OWNED OVER 35 OF SOME OF THE GREATEST MUSCLE CARS AND HOT RODS EVER, SOME PURCHASED NEW AND LOTS ONLY 5 TO 10 YEARS OLD WHEN PEOPLE DID NOT DRIVE LOTS OF MILES IN A RURAL AREA. I DRAG RACED REGULARLY IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES, AND EVEN RACED A CAR OWNED BY MY BROTHER IN LAW'S DODGE, CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. THREE YEARS AGO I HAD A SERIOUS HEART ATTACK, AND A FEW WEEKS AFTER I CAME HOME FROM MY HOSPITOL MY FAMILY NOTICED I SAID ALMOST NOTHING, I COULD NOT WALK, OR EVEN SIT UP WITHOUT FALLING OVER. AFTER GOING BACK TO THE HOSPITOL AND SEEING MY NEUROLIGIST IT WAS DISCOVERED I HAD HAD THREE STROKES. I WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR UNTIL FALL OF LAST YEAR AND I HAD TOTAL MEMORY LOSS. I DID NOT KNOW MY WIFE OF 42 YEARS, MY TWO DAUGHTERS, OR MY FIVE GRANDCHILDREN. I HAD NO INTEREST IN CARS AT ALL UNTIL I PICKED UP A HOT ROD MAGAZINE FROM A STACK THAT HAD ACCUMILATED AND READ IT INCLUDING THE ADS. MY FAMILY ROLLED ME UP TO A BUILDING BEHIND OUR HOME. IN THE BUILDING WAS A BLACK 1998, 20,000 MILE, NEVER RAINED ON CORVETTE, A 1969 INDY PACE CAR CAMARO, AND A BEAUTIFUL, BLACK, 43,000 MILE 2003 SS SILVERADO TRUCK. MOVING AHEAD, I STARTED USING A WALKER LAST FALL AND DRIVING MY TRUCK IN THE HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT. BY FEB. THIS REAR I HAD STARTED DRIVING ON RURAL COUNTY ROADS. I GOT VERY INTERESTED IN RACING AGAIN, AND IN MAY OF THIS YEAR MY FAMILY AND I WENT TO A DRAGSTRIP 60 MILES FROM HOME WHERE ONE OF THE OWNERS RHODE WITH ME WHILE I MADE EIGHT PASSES. THE TRACK WAS CLOSED THAT DAY AND THEY ARE SELABRATING THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR. I READ AN ARTICLE AGAIN IN HOT ROD ABOUT THE MAXTON MILE LAND SPEED EVENT IN N.C, I STARTED IN MAY GETTING MY TRUCK TO RUN THERE IN MAY. I GOT REAQUAINTED WITH AN OLD FRIEND THAT OWNS A HOTROD SHOP. WE ADDED A COLD AIR INDUCTION, PERFORMANCE EXHAUST, A HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTOR TUNEUP, AND A TONNO COVER. I RAN AT MAXTON AT THE SEPT. EVENT AT A BEST SPEED OF 125.6 MPH, VERY CLOSE TO MY TRACK RECORD. I WENT BACK TO THE OCT. EVENT AND AFTER RAISING THE REV LIMITER AND SHIFT POINTS AND PUTTING 48 LBS OF AIR IN THE TIRES EACH MORNING BETWEEN THE MOTEL AND THE AIRFIELD. I RAN A BEST OF 127.999 MPH AND SET A NEW TRACK RECORD IN MY CLASS. I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I SWITCHED FROM A WALKER TO A WALKING STICK IN AUGUST AND IN ADDITION TO RECOVERING FROM THEHEART ATTACK AND STROKES I ALSO HAVE PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND R.A. I SUFFER FROM GREAT PAIN, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT IN MY LEGS AND SLEEP VERY LITTLE. I DRAGRACED MY TRUCK THE WEEK AFTER I GOT BACK FROM MAXTON AND HAVE MORE PLANS FOR IT NEXT YEAR. I WORK OUT TWO HOURS EACH NIGHT DOING CRAZY, THERAPY EXERSIZES I DEVELOPED MYSELF. I OWE MY RECOVERY TO GOD, MY FAMILY AND THE LOVE OF CARS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL, GARRELL PATTERSON Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_FUrious Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 Pretty amazing stuff man! I'm glad to read that your on the path to recovery. I'd imagine it's a real eye opener to have all this happen at once... Welcome!! :pepsicheer: i hope things stay on the up n up for you! post some pics, when you can, of all your toys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Roknic Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 Pretty amazing stuff man! I'm glad to read that your on the path to recovery. I'd imagine it's a real eye opener to have all this happen at once... Welcome!! :pepsicheer: i hope things stay on the up n up for you! post some pics, when you can, of all your toys! X2....... couldn't have said it any better..... welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissfans03ss Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 First off welcome to the site, second I don't want to sound corny but thats an great story and its amazing what the human body can do when the mind sets and sticks to a goal.I am glad you are on a path to recovery and back in the drivers seat(I think I would miss driving the most).Good luck with your progress. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverado777 Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 First off welcome to the site, second I don't want to sound corny but thats an great story and its amazing what the human body can do when the mind sets and sticks to a goal.I am glad you are on a path to recovery and back in the drivers seat(I think I would miss driving the most).Good luck with your progress. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk Welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krambo Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 Welcome to the site! I am sure you will find a ton of info to help you with your modification plans! Good luck with everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggerdan11 Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 Welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDmanSS Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 wow cool. i am new also from cali but am about to move to nevada and will be looking for am ss there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueAKSSS Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 Wow that is quite the story! Welcome to the site that sounds like a nice truck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmJake Posted December 15, 2011 Report Share Posted December 15, 2011 Great story! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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