When I was looking up 1973 Fleer AHRA drag racing cards to send out, I came across one that was very interesting to me, because it was someone who built engines of several cars that ran against my dad back in the late 1980s. I'm sure I met Scott Shafiroff personally back then, but I don't remember it. I do know that he knew my parents personally, which made this TTM success pretty cool. I also fondly remember one of the drivers he was most closely associated with, the late Gordy Hmiel. I did know Gordy personally, and relayed a story about him in my autograph request letter to Shafiroff.
Shafiroff signed my card in silver Sharpie. He began drag racing in the late 60s in the New Jersey area. He raced Pro Stock in the 70s, before becoming a successful car owner/engine builder in Top Sportsman/Quick Eight era prior to the formation of the Pro Modified class. His car, piloted by Hmiel, was the first nitrous-injected car to break the 7-second barrier. I still remember Gordy, and I miss him. He was a great guy. I hope Scott liked my letter and story about Gordy that I told him. Essentially, the story was this:
At Farmington one race, Gordy was talking to my mom and was about to leave. He was going to go off and fly his plane, and I followed him, telling him I was going to go with him. He let me believe that for a bit, letting me walk with him along the fence as he left. He turned to me and said "Boy, you had better go back to your momma", and picked me up and put me over the fence. I said bye to Gordy and ran back to Dad's trailer. Gordy died in a plane crash with his father and a friend a few days later.
Shafiroff responded to my note with a note of his own: "William, Thanks for the kind words and great memories..."
I mailed to Shafiroff on November 3 and got the card back on November 21, for an 18-day TAT,
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