What kind of guy
is Ron Fellows?
He wins an
historic race in Montreal on Saturday - the first NASCAR (or at least
Nationwide, ex-Busch Series) race to finish on grooved rain tires. Flies home
Sunday. Catches an ugly bug on the plane.
He has to wake up
stupid-early Monday because he has promised to do a photo shoot for my charity
photography calendar in support of SmartRisk at Mosport that day.
His personal Ron
Fellows Designer Edition Corvette (Number 001 of 399; they're all sold - sorry)
is at Legendary Motor Car in Milton - ironically, about five minutes from my
house - but he has to wash it first, then drag his tired, wheezing, sneezing
body out to the track.
His BlackBerry is
ringing off the centre console - every motorsport writer in North America wants
to talk to him. He patiently answers every one of them.
The Toronto
Chinese Motorsport Club has rented the track for the day - they have graciously
allowed us to borrow it for half of their lunch hour for our shoot (thank you,
guys). But as soon as many of the members and track marshals see that it’s Ron,
requests for autographs and photos with their kids start to pour in; they are all equally graciously
answered.
We find some Advil
Cold and Sinus caplets. Ron is ready to film an endorsement commercial.
We end up shooting the car just past the exit for turn 5A, as the track starts its uphill climb towards Turn 6 (I have never driven a car at Mosport where Turn 6 is actually a "turn" - it's a slight bend to the right.)
Ron notes that he has
never actually set foot on the track surface at Mosport - he is normally
driving in a car at this point. This is also testimony to the fact that he
never has to get out of a car when he's racing except in the pits - he doesn’t
crash, and he doesn't break his cars.
We finish the
shoot, and he heads back home, his head and sinuses somewhat clearer, to try
and beat the holiday Monday traffic.
All because he
said he would be there.
Who said nice guys
finish last?
Thank you, Ron Fellows.
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