Written by Gary Smith Jr.
I have just acquired my most prized materialistic possession. As many of you know my dad was killed racing cars back in 1969. Subsequently the racetrack created an annual Gary Smith Memorial Race in dedication to my dad.
Anyway one of his fellow drivers and friends,
the person who won the very first Gary Smith Memorial Race while driving the Doug Ingram #95( the pic is actually hanging in Sonnys BBQ of said victory )for TQ Midgets, Don Heckman, who is feeling under the weather beckoned for me to come see him.
I had no idea he was going to give me the trophy up until recently when Sandi Heckman Huber and Michael Franklin started reaching out to me saying that he wanted to see me. It was such an
honor and humbling experience that a person not feeling very well at all and whom I
haven't seen but a handful of times over the last 30 years, and who has met literally thousands upon thousands of people while racing across the country for the last 50 years or so would think of me. He was one of the six that walked my dad to his final resting place.
This trophy will be placed with me in my final resting spot. I don't even have nearly the mental capability of putting into words how much this means to me. Don also told me that he is right with the Lord his family and friends. The world needs more people like Don Heckman....#CANCERSUCKS
Here is Don Heckman in the Doug Ingram #95. Getting some time with the trophy girl on June 26, 1971.
Gary Greenwood Sr. won the mini stock portion of the Gary Smith Memorial held on December 12, 1974.
Ron Webb
Cool story, I'm happy he thought of you
·
Gary Smith
Ron overwhelming
·
Ron Webb
Gary Smith I imagine, and a flood of memories I'm sure
Fred Borgardt
Heckman is good people he a good guy
·
Gary Smith
Fred we spoke about you. And several others.
·
Monica Morlans
❤That's awesome!!!❤
Gary Smith
Monica thanks buddy. It was a very overwhelming moment.
Monica Morlans
Gary Smith I bet!! I'm happy for you..
Rocky Gentile
Great story brother! Thank you for sharing
David Williams
Wry cool 👍
Sandi Heckman Huber
Gary he always wanted to give you that trophy. I can remember him saying that. I don’t think there’s anybody who deserves it more than you. Thank you for the kind words about my dad and thank you for going to see him. Your story was so sweet. Thank you again my friend. ❤️
Gary Smith
Sandi very emotional. Hr told me some stories about my dad that I never heard before. I've learned where my love for cheeseburgers came from and he said that him and my dad went to the Royal Palm Cafe there on 8th Street and Krome back in 1966 or so an… See More
·
Joy Rowley Day
Sandi Heckman Huber , Don helped my dad, Jerry, a lot with his TQ. Please tell him hello. And Gary Smith, that's wonderful to have that!
Image may contain: people sitting and shoes, text that says 'ROY'S'
Sandi Heckman Huber
Lol. He is full of stories and they are always interesting and funny. I remember going to Royal Palm café with my grandparents all the time when I was younger.
Sandi Heckman Huber
Joy Rowley Day that’s cool. I will make sure I tell him.
Debbie Ingram Binder
Sandi, That was so sweet and thoughtful of your Dad. What an amazing act of kindness! Please tell him I said hello.
Sandi Heckman Huber
Debbie Ingram Binder Thank you. I will definitely tell him. ❤️
Michael Franklin
Joy, Don actually built the chassis for your dad. When I say build I mean take a 20’piece of tubing, design it, bend it and shape it into a midget. Not like in today’s terms where a guy claims to have built his car, which means order everything alread… See More
Michael Franklin
If u have some more pictures of the #65, please post a few here. As a little shithead, growing up around what I consider real racers I was taught right. Don and your dad we’re a huge part of that
Joy Rowley Day
Michael Franklin , I remember taking my cars to your shop. I remember Don being at our house working with Daddy.
Joy Rowley Day
Michael Franklin , I've got some pictures I'll post. Dont have any of the car actually racing though.
Joy Rowley Day
Michael Franklin , I believe that's Don.
Joy Rowley Day
Michael Franklin , was Don Nautilus Welding?
Joy Rowley Day
Michael Franklin
Michael Franklin
Yes, that was Dons welding shop. Awesome pictures. Your dad built the car with a corvair motor. Never cd get it to run right, so he switched to a V6, as the picture shows. The car was an eye catcher for sure. That’s your dad, Don Heckman, and not sure.… See More
·
Dustin Rabin
Just to let you know, Patrick and Danny's Father(Of Pig Floyd), Raced the U12 Hydroplanes, and was in the First Miamu Grand Prix. He was The "Dude", Also. Much Respect for The "BadAsses".
·
Carol Hancock
What an wonderful gift! Love to all .
·
Joe Ladrie
Very nice.
·
Vernie Rohrer
Wow Gary that is just awesome and hats off to Don Heckman that’s what racing families are all about
·
Kurt Zechel
Thats so awesome! Congrats,and my hat is off to Don Heckman.Great story!
·
Debbie Ingram Binder
How wonderful that this trophy now belongs to you, I know that you will cherish it always. So happy that Don gave it to you knowing how much it would mean to you! Bless him for this kind gesture. ❤️Love this so much.
Gary Smith
Debbie driving your Dads? 95 car.
Debbie Ingram Binder
Gary Smith Yes. ❤️
Darryle Kilgore
Nice bro, God is good all the time!!!!!!!
Gary Smith
Darryle he continues to bless and show grace to a wretch like me.
Darryle Kilgore
Gary Smith Amen 🙏
Vicki Fields
Awe! That’s extra cool!
Robert O'Shields
Awesome
Suzette LaFlamme Breaux
What a beautiful and thoughtful thing for him to do. Im sure it was with overwhelming thankfulness. Im so happy for you. Id be willing to bet that your dad is smiling from above.
Suzette beyond humbling.
Suzette LaFlamme Breaux
Gary Smith absolutely.
Sue Kilgore
THAT'S BEAUTIFUL AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL CHERISH THIS, LOVE YOU Gary Smith
Gary Smith
We love you too Sue.
Erica Hamrick Roller
That is truly awesome..
Michael Franklin
I will tell u this. When I was with him Friday night and just shooting the bull about any and everything he was addiment about me or sandy getting ahold of you so he cd give it to u. Mans in his last days and still has enough compassion to want u to get it from him personally. Glad it all worked out and was able to play a role in putting it together. Cool ass man that has been a second dad to me my entire life. Tough to see him like this, but like life he’s doing it his way.
Sandi Heckman Huber
Michael Franklin He loves you too Mike. Thanks for the sweet words. You guys are all so wonderful. Thank you.
Gary Smith
Michael thanks for increasing the urgency. And Sandi Im sorry I delayed.
Scott Maddox
Awesome!!
Mabel Garcia
That is so beautiful.
April Wilkins Simpson
How cool is that !
Gary Smith
April the coolness is all Don. Im just the recepient. It was overwhelming.
Michael Franklin
William Ingram
David Dufour
That's awesome
Gary Smith
David thanks Bud...go #2
Brian Gramley
Thats a great achievement enjoy the trophy buddy
Resa Blue
That’s wonderful Gary you should be so happy n proud.
Gary Smith
Resa I am. But honored and humbled is more appropriate.
Eric Zechel
That’s awesome
Jan Orinstein
So Awesome!
Jackie Forest
I'm so happy you got it! I knew Don briefly when I was married to Jeff Boyd. Jeff loved hanging out with him.
Gary Smith
Jackie he is an incredible story teller...damn cigarettes 😡😡
Jackie Forest
Gary Smith I agree
Gary Smith
Jackie yeah many people very dear to my heart have held that trophy. Including my grandparents my aunt Sherla who was the trophy girl that night and of course Don Heckman.
Jackie Forest
Gary Smith my heart smiled when I read this post. I know this means the world to you to get it and makes it more special in the way you got it.
Teresa Acevedo
So very special indeed! I remember your dads accident and this trophy being given out. We use to go to the Florida City Speedway every weekend for years .
Sylvia Meza
awesome gary
Dana Barlow
Don is an was a top tier man!, Enjoyed knowing him also. Great racer,talking with him was and is always awesome, trading info about racing,even for many years and at other tracks.. I raced Florida City Speedway an got to know a lot of super good folks. Your Family being some of them. God bless all those that are in need!!
Sherla Smith Stanton
Gary so glad you got to see Don and get the trophy. I think I am the one who presented it to him. My love and prayers to Don and family.
Don Heckman
You were
John Patterson
too cool my brother
Pilar Evans
Wow very cool!! Yes cancer does suck big time!!
Jennifer Hernandez
Such a wonderful story!!!
Missy Lou
That is so amazing for you. I couldn’t be happier for you my friend ❤️🎼❤️🎼❤️
·
Gary Smith
Missy 😁😁 Im cheesin
·
Paula Spina
❤️❤️❤️
·
Christine R. Shumate
That is beautiful. 💕
·
Heidi Nicole
Wow.....I'm not crying!! What a wonderful man and a breathtaking gift for you ❤ 🙏
·
Gary Smith
Heidi I felt Gods Grace today.
·
Heidi Nicole
Gary~ Amen Brother 🙏
·
Gary Greenwood Senior
Very awesome gift!! Don was and is a very good man ! Sad to hear he is not well though! I won the Gary smith memorial race once also in my Renault mini stock! Was prob my best win at Florida city ! I will try to find the picture in winners circle for you. Congrats Gary!
·
Gary Smith
Gary thanks Gary... it was a pretty awesome day. I'd love to see the pic if you can fknd it.
·
William Ingram
Don was a fearless driver he pretty much took the #95 Black Bandit to another level when he started driving it! Remember my Dad talking with him before races trying to calm him down he wasn’t nervous just wanted to get to the front in a hurry after a couple laps he settled in and was almost unbeatable. We still have the 95 in a barn at the nursery, I restored it about 20 years ago to the same condition as when Don drove and maintained it. I had no idea Don still had the trophy so glad you got . God bless Don & family.
·
Gary Smith
William I remember as a kid, 3 4 or 5 years old? Going over to the shop with my Grandfather Smitty, collecting the bottle caps out of the soda pop machine first then sitting in that very car. I am honored to own the trophy. It will die with me
·
Sandi Heckman Huber
William Ingram thank you Doug. ❤️
·
Susie Menendez
Thats awesome!
·
Mike Miller
That's awesome Bro!!
·
Cheryl Cobart
·
Gary Smith
Cheryl yes
·
Scott Brown
That’s awesome
·
Gary Smith
Scott it was a very special day for me. I have like 3 pictures of my dad. Only 1 pic of us together. The rest of his stuff I had was lost in Hurricane Andrew...today was priceless.
·
Scott Brown
Gary Smith, I was at those races almost every weekend just a little kid... I think I told you this story before... Warner Graham was the midget racer and his wife and 4 kids were my second home
Gil Fernandez
Awesome!
Spyke Micheal Yurchak
Very cool brother. I’m happy for you bro
Tonn Davis
That's awesome
Lisa Snow
WOW❣️ BEAUTIFUL 🥰
Chrystle Marie Gorham
Awesome story, very happy for you to have this in your possession.
Alex Gomez
Amazing such a heart felt story.
GARY CHERISH THIS MOMENT MY FRIEND. ITS A HONOR N A GREAT MEMORY OF YOUR FATHER!!!!
Gary Smith
Alex it was a tremendous day.for all involved.
Jean Canicatti
This is a truly beautiful story. I remember that night that Don won this trophy. I'm so glad that he gave it to you Gary. Don has always been a wonderful caring person and the best father to our daughter Sandi. May god bless him and his family.
Sandi Heckman Huber
Thanks mom Jean Canicatti. I love you.
Rachel Midyette Benton
That is awesome Gary Smith! I remember Smitty being the flag man when I used to go there, and spent many Saturday nights with them and Sheila at Hialeah Race. Great memories
Debbie Ingram Binder
Mary Cantu please show this to my Dad when you get a chance!
Jeanne Willis
What an honor and a beautiful 🎁gift and trophy 🏆
·
Gary Smith
Jeanne you have no idea what it means. Many people very dear to my heart have held that trophy. Including my grandmother and grandfather. My aunt Sherla and Don Heckman.
Jeanne Willis
Gary Smith thats wonderful, enjoy it. And always keep those memories close to your ❤
Gary Greenwood Senior
Gary I believe this is the photo. Not sure who lady and man on each end are maybe u do.
Michael Franklin
Bad ass combination right there!!!!
Scott Desane
Don and I spent a lot of time together love him like a brother. Great man.Great friend
Sandi Heckman Huber
Scott Desane A lot of time together! Great times. ❤️
Scott Desane
The best
October, 2020
Double click here to add text.
Gary Jr. posted this amazing story on Facebook,and it generated a ton of comments. Here is the first 100 or so. Sorry, I am missing the pictures.
I am sure this comment thread is still growing!
