I was thirteen years old in July, 1967.  It was race week and I was in the hospital with pnemonia.  Worse yet, the hospital was on Jefferson Ave. (Detroit) and only minutes away from the race course.  I could see the rigs coming into town and I could hear the roar during qualifying and testing.

Our good friends and neighbors, Gerry and Kay Gunn, knew what I was going through.   Gerry had introduced our family to hydroplane racing.  Gerry, at that time, was the official starter for all of the Detroit races.

Gerry and Kay attended the Ranger's pool party.  Kay had told the story about this pitiful kid (and I was truly pitiful.)  and asked the party-goers to sign the napkin.  When she dropped by the following day, I just about went through the roof.   My brother Jim and sister, Karen, were all hydroplane fanatics and we were all just STUNNED.  This was just about the coolest thing I had ever seen and I will NEVER forget that moment.

Jeff Dunn
January, 1999