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Long Time Fan Receives Foyt Treatment
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87 year old Ray Parish spends some quality time with 4 time Indianapolis 500 Winner A.J. Foyt. |
INDIANAPOLIS - For one 87-year-old ex-racer, A.J. Foyt proved it's never too late to realize a dream.
Contacted by Bob Haverstick of the "Never Too Late" organization, Foyt agreed to meet Ray Parish, a resident of the Wildwood Healthcare nursing facility, who used to race midgets in the 1930's around Indiana.
Parish watched every Indy 500 from his seat in turn one until the devastating crash in 1964 which claimed the lives of Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald. He never came back for the race but he brought his daughter and granddaughter out to the track for qualifying and practice in the ensuing years.
Through special access granted by the staff of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Parish made the trip Tuesday morning for his private meeting with Indy's first four-time winner at his garage in Gasoline Alley.
Foyt stepped out of his garage and walked over to Parish who was sitting in his wheelchair outside the care facility's bus. Upon recognizing Foyt, Parish opened his arms and said, "Give me a hug."
Foyt leaned down to embrace the man who said, "I love ya, I just love ya."
A.J. replied sheepishly, "Well thank you."
"I used to watch you, oh boy did I watch you all the time!" said Parish.
"Well, I had a lot of fun through the years," A.J. replied.
"Yeah, I got your book," said Parish, chuckling, "I know what fun you had, at least some of it."
Foyt took him into the garage and showed him the race cars that were prepared for Foyt's son Larry and grandson A.J. Foyt IV who will qualify this weekend.
"Before, you had to build everything, now you buy everything," A.J. explained. "Like I tell my mechanics now...most of the stuff they do is R&R: remove and replace!"
"Is that right! Things sure have changed, huh?!" Parish replied. The two men spoke for about ten more minutes when Ray said, "Well, I don't want to take up your time."
Foyt then gave the gentleman a couple of ABC Supply team shirts and an autographed hat. As Ray was wheeled out of the garage, A.J. extended an open invitation, saying, "Ok, look, anytime you want to come out here and raise hell, you make them bring you here!"
Parish replied, "It's been a thrill and I'll always remember this, I'll always remember this...and I'll be watching for you on race day."
Afterwards, his adult granddaughter Stacy said, "It was like a dream...a dream come true. Growing up, A.J. Foyt was always the King...the God! I think my grandpa was elated, especially when A.J. came out of the garage and my grandpa said 'give me a hug.' I mean, grandpa doesn't hug us! He loves you and you know that, but he's not a touchy feely type of person. So when he looked up and opened his arms and wanted a hug from A.J., it was awesome."
