Well, here's my personal "Gary Story"...........

actually a compilation of Gary Anecdotes..........

But, let me first say, that throughout my life I've looked for people of high integrity to associate with since it leads to mutual admiration, learning and a quality of life that enriches ALL that are touched by them. Gary was all that and some.

The first time I saw him, we didn't meet, he brought his newly acquired Challenger to a local beach for a cruise-in. As I checked out his, then green, Challenger I looked up and saw someone from afar watching me. That was in about 1998 when my oldest son was around 2 and the wife and I took my 69 Rr up there on a whim.

Later, when talking to a mutual friend, Russ, he mentioned Gary and the Challenger. He also mentioned Moparts and how much fun Gary had on that website. Curiousity got the best of me and I had to check it out. I've been addicted to the site and his input ever since.

We never formally met, but from the first instant we talked in person I felt welcomed and accepted already.

"More the Merrier".............

On Woodward a couple of years ago, at the Northwoods shopping center, we all gathered one evening, Gary, myself & another Mopart's guy (sorry I can't remember who) were standing around chatting and I noticed a fellow member's car (Sassy Grass Green Duster) and said "Hey there's MurfMan"! Gary instantly said "Call him over here we haven't met him yet". As MurfMan walked up another row of cars I looked at Gary and he smiled. So I yelled out "Hey MurfMan"! And then we both suddenly just started yelling it out like crazed lunatics. I recall MurfMan spinning around to see who could be calling out his Moparts name. We waved him over and the rest of the evening was spent meeting/talking to friends.

Around our house, Gary was known as "Gary the Policeman" since I have 2 young sons, it was great to know such a positive figure of authority. He was an American hero here.

I used to kid Gary about not mentioning me in his article in Mopar Muscle when they featured him and "UNLAWFL" his Challenger. I'd say, "yeah, you mentioned everyone else but the guy that lent you the $5 ring compressor. How good do you think your car would run w/o rings on the pistons??" He would laugh and kid me about putting a "Fart pipe" on my daily driver Escort.

At the Nats, Gary picked up his Goodie bag and we ran into him at someones hospitality tent. He instantly handed over the official Mopar Nat's Squirt Gun to my oldest son w/o hesitation. My son jumped out of his chair and hit the ground running around the tent like a banshee. I thanked Gary and he just smiled w/o a word.

When I was unemployed...........

after 16 years of consistant/same employment I was laid off from a great automotive engineering job I had. My dream job. Gary, w/o provocation, gave me more suppport than anyone in my life at that time (oops, excluding my wife of course). More than my family. He offered to help set me up with a job through his in-laws and hooked me up with several of his friends with more automotive related contacts. I actually had to put him at ease and assure him that my financial situation was just fine and with unemployment benefits we didn't even have to touch our saving for at least 6 months or longer. He was deeply concerned since I was a family man. I got a job within 3 months and all has been well since. He had a heart bigger than a Hemi.

A dragrace event at Milan.........

Russ called me outta the blue last summer. He said, "Hey, we've got a spare ticket to a IHRA event at Milan if you're interested in going down there with Gary and I?". I needed to mow the lawn and didn't want to leave my family behind for a whole day but my wife said "Go for it" and I got up early that weekend morning and spent the day with Gary, Russ & John watching some dragracing and walking the pits. More or less uneventful but I'm sure glad I went now.

The last time we talked.........

Gary called me about a parts deal that he was upset with. While I won't get into it, I tried to go to bat for the other party such that a friendship would not dissolve. Gary & I talked for quite a while. Gary later complimented me as "Being someone he can always count on to look at things from both sides rather than just siding with him". I sincerely thanked him and felt we had a great rappoire.

My only regret.........

for the last 2 years I have pulled back from the Moparts BBq's and gatherings due to my car not being back together and my 2nd son made things too cumbersome to travel and cruise/race.

I was thinking........."there'd be time" to hang out with the Moparts guys (Gary) more when my boys are older.

And as many know........

The last UNLAWFL Moparty was held at my place. I'm so glad we did that now.

Dean