Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Those of you not from the Central PA area, may not be aware that each year a group of very dedicated fans raise money for our local racing heroes. The fund raising is done at the Williams Grove National Open as a Chili Cook-Off and includes raffles, silent auctions, driver autograph sessions, etc. This year, the recently deceased Billy Kimmel had plans to add a very special item to the auction.

Details from the Williams Grove Message board follow.

Before Billy's tragic death, he had a dream that he wanted to fulfill. This dream was to get as many race teams as possible to donate a t-shirt that he was going to put into a basket. After all t-shirts were collected, this basket was going to be auctioned off at the National Open Chili Cook Off at Williams Grove Speedway, prior to the September 29 race. All proceeds were going to be donated back to the drivers.

We want to make Billy's dream happen. On Saturday Night at Port Royal, during the Tuscarora 50, Mark Coldren and Jordan Givler will be coming around with this basket, asking for t-shirt donations. We want to make this huge. We are asking any driver, in any division, in any part of the world, please help Billy's dream become a reality. If you have a t-shirt that you'd like to donate, you can give it to Mark or Jordan, or mail it to:

Jordan Givler
945 South 29th Street
Camp Hill, PA 17011

Billy was just about to start collecting t-shirts for the National Open, and we're going to make sure that we do this for our fallen friend.

Please join in by donating a shirt to this worthy cause and help fulfill the vision of a racer who gave his all for the love of the sport that we so love ourselves.

For people outside central PA, the National Open Chili Cookoff really is an amazing event put on by the local fans to raise money for the teams that race the Grove weekly. Last year, $6,400 was raised at the event. The money was used to give cash awards to the top four local teams that did not qualify for the National Open.

First NQ: Todd Shaffer $2,500

Second NQ: Jim Siegel $1,500

Third NQ: Niki Young $1,000

Fourth NQ: Craig Keel $500

The remaining $900 was split in two equal donations of $450 each to the Kevin Gobrecht Memorial Scholarship Fund and the York County Racing Club.

Where is that Red Shirt Kasey Kahne was wearing at Dingus Tuesday night before the Nationals in 2005? He was walking around and like every person in the bar was signing HIS shirt. I signed Kasey's Left sleeve as I helped him from the Bathroom. I remember seeing him before he left and he had atleast 200 signatures on that thing from fans, on his own personal shirt. That thing has to be worth some dough. I have been waiting for Kasey to show up on TV with it and be like, "Yeah, Those crazy SOB's all signed MY shirt.

Besides that I wll see what I can do to help...Even if it is mailing some cash.

-----------------------------------------------------
A healthy diet of dirt in my nachos and beer.

This years event should be a special one thanx to Bill and his friends. Many thanx to the Kimmel's and everyone who participates.

"The Outlaws have people out here that don’t know 
anything about racing. I don’t understand how they 
come up with some of the calls they do. It makes me 
think that they just might be that stupid. It’s 
scary."     -Steve Kinser

a couple of kids shirts on the way Ed

I posted this on www.nwracetalk.com 1 person has already responded saying a shirt has been sent from the northwest hope it helps this is very cool what you guys are doing.

Thanks for helping to spread the word. Anyone looking for more info can find it here:

Billy Kimmel: http://www.billkimmel.com
Chili Cook-off: http://www.nationalopenchilicookoff.com/

my self and Ibracn are working on getting shirts from the drivers here in Nebraska got 3 so far comming your way. I will hit up some more drivers at the ASCS show friday night at Cameron Mo.

"Just a hack with a camera" :) Yea Right!!

www.baphotos.myphotoalbum.com 

this is just to get this back on the front page come on people lets see if we can get a couple hundred shirts for this

WOW...you guys are awesome. The racing family is one of the most awesome things that one could find themselves apart of. So many times we take for granted the racers, tracks, and fans of the races we attend. This past Sunday at WG the reality of the sport hit us all very hard. It was by far the toughest thing I've witnessed and unfortunately it was right in front of me. But this past week has been unbelievable. Through this sad time, it has been one of my proudest times to say I'm apart of a group of drivers, fans, sponsors, photographers, owners, and track employees from all over the country that have stepped up. A very humbling time that on an instant can bring tears to your eyes.

I know Billy will be looking down upon us all at the Natty Open as we raffle off his dream idea, with a huge smile on his face.

And I can honestly say that for one moment, no matter where you are from, that anyone who sends shirts, money, flowers, or just their prayers is truly PA Posse!!!

God Bless You All.

.

Another great post, Skinner. I find myself visiting www.billkimmel.com a couple times a day just to read where people are posting from and to see some of the names that have signed the guestbook. Since Sunday night, over 25,000 hits to Billy's website and over 800 signatures in the guestbook.

I know there is also going to be a collection of shirts during Saturday's Freedom 76 at Grandview (Pa.) Speedway as well.

There is also a thread about the collection on www.dirttrackdigest.com, which is a big New York dirt Modified website.

I know that I've been....a little less than PA Posse friendly however, the irony in the timing of the death of Billy is bizarre.

I've started a collection here in CA, will be "passing the hat" this weekend with the help of several friends, and challenge others at similar events this weekend to do the same. I've already received a box of t-shirts from local racers, sponsors, beverage companies (not all sprint car related, but definitely racing)...and haven't yet hit full stride asking for donations.

I lost two of my dearest friends to racing accidents (2 wheelers), both at Ascot where I met my own destiny in 1982. I may be mean as a snake, but there is nothing more humbling than being reduced to 140lbs, walking via a walker, being catheterized for a year plus...but I recovered. I can't even imagine what the Kimmel family must be going through.

I would not have recovered without the help of friends like Billy's. If someone (maybe several some ones) is willing to assist, we can turn this event into a memoriam bearing Billy's name.

Feel free to send me an email, and I'll pass along my contact info...Thanks!

"As long as I can have a fast boat, a margarita 
machine and can light my hair on fire, I'll be just 
fine."

Jason Giambi

I will make sure I get one of my companies shirts out that way. Not exactly a driver shirt but I do paint a lot of drivers helmets. You guys are great for doing this for a fallen driver.

picked up 13 t-shirts last night at us36 speedway to send off....

thanks to all who donated these to me

RMS

Team Dover

Jay Russell

Jesse Hockett

Toby Chapman

Mike Chadd

Mark Burch Motorsports

"Just a hack with a camera" :) Yea Right!!

www.baphotos.myphotoalbum.com 

Thanks to all the posters in this thread from outside central Pennsylvania who are going out of their way to collect items in honor of a driver I am sure they had never heard of prior to last week. Also, thanks to the teams donating items. I can't wait to see how many items have been collected by the time the National Open finally arrives.

i bet your gonna fill a truck bed with shirts

Thanks to all....you are indeed an awesome group of people...!!!!

.

I hope to send off a box here by the end of the week I have a few more to pick up b4 I do....

"Just a hack with a camera" :) Yea Right!!

www.baphotos.myphotoalbum.com 

Nothing new to add here, just want the topic back to the top.

T-Shirts and other items coming in...

Special Thank Yous to:

Elite Racing (Jason Meyers/Guy Stockbridge)

BR Motorsports (Blake Robertson)

VMAC Racing

Coors Light

XXX Race Co

Monster Energy

Kenny Bernstein

Gary Scelzi

Steve Kinser Racing

Joey Saldana Racing

Paul McMahan Racing

Jac Haudenschild Racing

World Racing Group

Sides Motorsports

"As long as I can have a fast boat, a margarita 
machine and can light my hair on fire, I'll be just 
fine."

Jason Giambi