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Johnny Smith · 04-11-2011, 09:43 PM

Linda,Amanda,&family.
I cant begin to tell you how sorry i am & how much john meant to me.As a friend, a mentor, and a racer.It truly was moving today to see how many peoples lives he touched,and how much his friends and family loved him.I lived ten minutes from john and i meet him 25years ago,&already at that time i was inspired by him knowing from a little kid that all i wanted to do was race.It was a few years later i went to him for advice and to express my passion for wanting to drive his race car.john in his gentle and sarcastic way said kid get out of the street car build a race car and go race and we will see some day,it was then i first heard of someguy named biondo driving his car,then there was morehead,then s.kipp,&i think maybe ribiero etc.etc. that was only 12 short years,thanks guys,ohh & how the hell are you supposed to follow that lineup..but in 2003 i got a call if you can get a s/s #in two days you can take my car to gators,ten minutes later i showed him my #that was almost expired ,he looked laughed and said your on your own good luck. I won my first wally in g-ville,it was only class but that wally means as much to me as my national.The next race we blew up,the end of my s/s. career,I went from my happiest to saddest moments at that time.It killed me to see the disappointment in his eyes,i left right away that day and i dont think i slept for days after that,john called said he was sorry if i was upset that he was proud of me, & lets go to lunch,as we did a thousand times.I realized after that weekend it was more than a race to both of us.For me it was a lifelong goal,an obsession if you will of the sport and i finally meet somone who truly understood excactly what i was feeling.Theres so many people i meet thru john the memories,stories,times, we spent together,and something tells me that my favorite ones will be the next time we see each other.It will be then i will tell him how much he meant to me,even though i think he already knows.I miss him so much already.And one thing for sure when we do meet again,I will still ask to drive for you!!but not before he will come out with one of his favorite lines,O.M.G. the dead do walk!!..I just hope that they also race too.,im sure your setting records, winning races. With your family and friends who've been waiting for you.R.I.P. my friend,thanks for everything..
John Smith

04-11-2011, 09:43 PM	#4
Johnny Smith Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: John Gunn RIP Linda,Amanda,&family. I cant begin to tell you how sorry i am & how much john meant to me.As a friend, a mentor, and a racer.It truly was moving today to see how many peoples lives he touched,and how much his friends and family loved him.I lived ten minutes from john and i meet him 25years ago,&already at that time i was inspired by him knowing from a little kid that all i wanted to do was race.It was a few years later i went to him for advice and to express my passion for wanting to drive his race car.john in his gentle and sarcastic way said kid get out of the street car build a race car and go race and we will see some day,it was then i first heard of someguy named biondo driving his car,then there was morehead,then s.kipp,&i think maybe ribiero etc.etc. that was only 12 short years,thanks guys,ohh & how the hell are you supposed to follow that lineup..but in 2003 i got a call if you can get a s/s #in two days you can take my car to gators,ten minutes later i showed him my #that was almost expired ,he looked laughed and said your on your own good luck. I won my first wally in g-ville,it was only class but that wally means as much to me as my national.The next race we blew up,the end of my s/s. career,I went from my happiest to saddest moments at that time.It killed me to see the disappointment in his eyes,i left right away that day and i dont think i slept for days after that,john called said he was sorry if i was upset that he was proud of me, & lets go to lunch,as we did a thousand times.I realized after that weekend it was more than a race to both of us.For me it was a lifelong goal,an obsession if you will of the sport and i finally meet somone who truly understood excactly what i was feeling.Theres so many people i meet thru john the memories,stories,times, we spent together,and something tells me that my favorite ones will be the next time we see each other.It will be then i will tell him how much he meant to me,even though i think he already knows.I miss him so much already.And one thing for sure when we do meet again,I will still ask to drive for you!!but not before he will come out with one of his favorite lines,O.M.G. the dead do walk!!..I just hope that they also race too.,im sure your setting records, winning races. With your family and friends who've been waiting for you.R.I.P. my friend,thanks for everything.. John Smith