BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Through a small favour to someone they had
never met, Jim Dolson and his son, Ken, would get the
experience of a lifetime.
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Ken Dolson met NASCAR great Jeff
Gordon last year in Dover, Delaware. |
About six years ago, the Dolson family
started making trips to the United States to take in NASCAR
events.
Jim had always been a big fan, and after
making a promise to bring his family to an event, the Dolsons
became regulars at Dover International Speedway in Dover,
Delaware.
A few years down the road, Jim contacted the
Dover Post, a newspaper, about how he could get copies of one
of their NASCAR publications.
A woman returned his call, impressed over the
fact a family from Northern Ontario in Canada was interested in
NASCAR.
"The woman, Kathy, asked if we had any
photographs of my son with the Miller Lite #2 Rusty Wallace
car," said Jim. "I did. We sent them, and the woman used them
for a huge advertisement in the Dover Post. She wanted our
pictures to show just how far people come from to enjoy NASCAR
races. Then Kathy said she would make this up to us."
Kathy and Jim remained in contact.
In August of 2001, the Dolsons headed down to
Michigan for another NASCAR race. Again Kathy asked if they
could take a few pictures at the event for her.
"It was no big deal for us, so we did it,"
said Jim. "Again, she told us she would make it up to
us."
The family didn't know it then, but they were
about to get a big deal thrown their way.
"The next year, when we headed down to Dover,
Kathy made good on her promise," said Jim. "She got us into a
VIP dinner with Rusty Wallace. We got to meet Wallace and
NASCAR legend Bobby Allison. Wallace autographed a replica hood
for Ken, as well as a die-cast car and baseball hat."
"It was cool," said Ken with a great big
smile ripping open his face. "It was unbelievable."
Meeting the legendary drivers was only the
beginning for the Dolsons.
Last year, the Dolsons got to walk around on
Dover International Speedway with Richard Petty, one of the
most well known and respected NASCAR drivers of all-time. They
also met his son Kyle. The two fathers and sons shared a
magical day around the track.
Again, Ken received all kinds of personalized
autographed memorabilia.
But then came a really big moment for the
13-year-old racing enthusiast. He was introduced to one of his
heroes, current NASCAR superstar Jeff Gordon, at a big press
conference.
"We were late for it," Jim said. "Kathy held
up the press conference for 10 minutes until we got
there."
Again, Ken basked in preferential treatment
as he chatted with Gordon, which sent the media in attendance
into a buzz.
"NBC was there and they interviewed Kenny,"
said Jim. "It was bizarre. You can't get close to these guys,
but here was my son talking with drivers like Gordon and
Petty."
The whole experience has left Ken
euphoric.
"It shows that nothing is really impossible,"
said Ken. "I still can't believe it. These guys are really
busy, but they took the time out to talk to me. They were nice
and friendly."
Ken is most proud of meeting Gordon.
"Getting Jeff's autograph and talking to him
was the best," said Ken. "It was the last thing I expected that
day."
Overall, Ken now has autographs from 20
drivers, on a variety of artifacts and memorabilia, from the
NASCAR circuit.
The Dolsons even have a tire from a Dale
Earnhardt Sr. car that was used in a race. It's stored in a
special place.
"It all started by doing a small favour for
someone we didn't know," said Jim. "Never in my wildest dreams
could I have imagined this would happen as a result of that
favour. This is stuff my son will remember for the rest of his
life."
The Dolsons will continue to make yearly
trips to NASCAR events.
"A lot of people don't understand NASCAR
races unless you have been there and experienced one," said
Ken. "There's a lot of action and intensity.
After my first race event, I was
hooked."
