[Gary Smith]

First trip to Lions in 1966 as a pre-schooler planted the seed. Was surrounded by it my entire youth (coming from Long Beach it was hard to avoid). Dad, uncles, school teachers, and many neighbors were drag racers. Richard Bays, Gene Conway, Randy Humphrey, George Schreiber, and a host of other sportsman racers all within walking distance from where I grew up. Dad went to high school with Doug Cook. Next door neighbor bought one of Gary Hansen's old Camaros, restoring it back to a street car. When Lions closed several racers would test at Veterans Stadium or in McDonnell Douglas parking lots, only 1/2 mile from home. Weekends I would tag along with dad to Clark Cagle's shop, Reath Automotive and various other cool places.