Original Message

Had the opportunity to have breakfast with the great Gil Hearne and Phil Speno a couple of days ago. I first met Gil sometime in '67 or 68, when he was working at Irv Emory's Garage in New Egypt.  Since then, I've always followed Gil's racing career and rooted for him when I went to a track he was running. I built models of Gil's asphalt Pinto and iconic Ford hauler but I felt it fitting that I build a model of one of Gil's 60s hot  rods that ran, and won, both on dirt and asphalt.  The photos are of my build of Gil's hot rod affectionally known as "Raggerty Anne".  Her carreer was in the later half of the 60s.  I gave the model to Gil.  At first he declined, but after I told him I've got everything to build another (which I plan to do), he accepted with a smile.  Gil's career may have generally been on a smaller stage of racing.  But to me, he will always be modified star and a racing hero!  Scott Ely