February 15, 2000 A Bunny Tale Update!

GREETINGS! I can't believe that it is only a few weeks until March...almost spring....as I look out at the piles of snow. I have been buried again in too many projects at one time, some of them I will tell you about below. I just want to thank all of you for visiting my site and I really enjoy your comments. I need to give extra thanks Chris Miller for taking care of my site for me, I do not even have a computer. He takes care of everything and faxes me my guestbook comments. Take a moment to visit my souvenirs and take a peep at the great job that he did on the photos of each item for sale. Chris is really on the ball, he is not the reason that my web site is still not finished, it is all me! I hate making promises that I cannot keep, but I will try to stay in touch more often.

BUNNY AND THE BOYS RACING UPDATE! Yes, I am going to drive another year or ??? Poor "Bear" has given up! Although, I have promised him that "he will get to drive some day!" I have not had the "feeling" to hang up my driving suit yet; and I always said that I would quit when I was not having "fun."  Most of you know that "Bunny and the Boys" had a lot of fun in 1999. We really proved that faith can move mountains with our performance and 10 year old equipment. It is our desire to improve this season with some new parts. We know it will take time to find the right combination, because we take small steps at a time - trying to avoid unnecessary breakage. Take a look at my first printing of my 2000 schedule and you will see that we are already 3/4 booked. Keep in mind that my match racing is my first priority and I fill in the other open dates with IHRA, NHRA and NHRA Divisional Races, meaning...if I get a paid match race, I will give up an open event.

GOOD NEWS ABOUT RACING! I am positive that my guardian angels are named "Dennis," or begin with a "D." Dennis Moore and Dennis Whitestone decided that I should run a Veney/Newberry engine this season, after many "I Can't Affords" from Mo and I, guess what I have in my garage!!??!! YES, thanks to my "D's," I will be running a 526 cubic inch Newburry combination. It is no secret that I wanted a BAE engine because of his support system and I love the service that I receive when I call Leigh Ann. We had to do something, because NHRA put a limit of 528 cubic inches on our class and all of my old "junk" was 540 cubic inches. Of course, I can still race match races and run for "Good old IHRA." Our dear friend for over 30 years, Dennis Whitestone, will assist in the overall building and tuning of our new venture. I would not have switched to Newberry without his knowledge. At least I won't be left out in the cold after I bought a new combination with no support system. His self owned repair/auto body shops will not allow him to travel with us to all of our races, but he is going to tune us up and turn us loose!!! (Now that is a scary thought) We are very happy that "DW" came out of racing retirement for a while to help us. It could have been at the urgings of his new wife, Lois, who laid down the "law" or it could have something to do with the hiring of Mo at his shops last May 99. Now, my other Dennis, Dennis Moore, Diane Moore, and Damian Moore from Baltimore have decided that "Bunny and the Boys" should have a back up car also. GUESS WHAT!!! Gordy is completing a new 2000 Camaro Funny Car as I write this. The Moore's have devoted part of their body shop space to a race cars shop, complete with plenty of room to work on all the cars and office space for Damian to conduct his future racing business. You can see where this is all going, "Bunny and the Boys" plan on being around for a very long time.....One way or another.... Now that Damian and "Lil Bear" have a hankering to go faster, they are growing like weeds and the junior class is slowly becoming just a stepping stone to bigger things to come. Mo, Bear, DM, and Damian have spent many long hours building a Super Comp type car for Damian to start training in. This car with have everything in the same position that the new Funny Car at Gordy's will have. I mean, every single thing, clutch pedal, hand brake, fuel shut off, kill switch, parachute handles, B&J transmission, air shifter buttons, fire bottle releases, butterfly type steering wheel, a funny car body that lifts up and etc. I think you have the message. The car will be complete with all safety equipment and Damian will be outfitted in SFI approved items for the funny car class. Of course, this car has a small block chevy engine that won't get out of its own way, but Damian will have the complete feel of competing in a full blown car, when the time comes. I plan on drilling him relentlessly that race cars are not toys. That they will hurt you if you do not respect them. You must be ready for anything to happen. He will learn everything he needs to know before the engine fires. He will be expecting the worst to happen any second with repeated blindfolded cockpit commands. I do not think I can be too "tough" on these young future funny car drivers. Who knows, maybe I will have my own "match race" circuit, consisting of "Bunny and Her Boys!"

CATCH UP TIME! We have already been out two times this season. The first was to the ISCA World of Wheels, in Hampton, VA, with both the big and little funny cars. What a neat display, we had a crowd around us at all times and had a blast with all of our fans. The second time was with our "VA Corn Growers," our annual outing in Williamsburg, VA. That is like a vacation, after racing all season. I enjoy the farmers, they are just like drag racers. The next year is going to be the "good" one. I do have a problem getting up as early as they do and I can't hang at night like they do.

FUTURE PLANS! I may have mentioned most of what we are going to try to do in our 35th year of racing. But along with my "Ethanol Promotions and Fair Appearances for the MD Grain Producers and the VA Corn Growers," I want to add that I want to try to get more recognition for all the companies that continue to help our team every year. Their continued support should not go unnoticed. Although my budget does not allow me to be in the winners circle as much as I would like to be, they see the true "Die Hard" racing team in "Bunny and the Boys." For anyone to do anything this hard, without a major sponsor, on their own buck for 35 years shows the fortitude, courage, and determination that the boys have. They must love the sport because all they get is constantly repeated maintenance procedures, hours of labor in all types of weather, a "bunny" t-shirt and maybe a hot dog every now and then. They have to remind me sometimes..."will work for food!" I believe, that is the sole reason that these loyal sponsors keep on lending a helping hand, when they can, because they see the image that our team projects overall. We are just like their business, you have to make a commitment to be the "best" that you can and be willing to take that extra step when necessary... even when times are hard.

PLEASE HELP ME...SHOW MY APPRECIATION! So many people wish they could help in some small way. Well, now you can. Fellow racers, why not help all of us and buy the products from the companies that care about us? Tell them where you have seen their name and why you are calling. Let them know that you are buying from them because they care about us racers. WHO KNOWS? One day they might be helping you make ends meet. Fans, when you need a service that is advertised on a race car, tell them where you got their name. In a small way, you are a part of our team when you buy from our sponsors. Check out my sponsor/product list on this site. Help "Bunny and the Boys" go racing. A few of our loyal supporters to check out are Holbrook Performance Parts, Mopar Performance Parts, Ethanol Performs, J & J Custom Painting, Ladd's Porting Service, World Wide Racing Fuels, Competition Photos, C&C Motorsports Specialists, Olympic Auto Parts and MIFCO. Hedman Hedders, Penzoil, AFT, Littlefield blowers, B&J Transmissions, Taylor Safety Equipment, Brook Rods and Mr. Gasket are the products we depend on for top performance. 

PRESENT ACTIVITIES! Our Quartermasters Racing Team is busy with our annual seminar and banquet on February 19 and 20. Check out their web site for more information on what "We Quartermasters" do.  Their site is www.quartermasters.com. The public is welcome to our free seminar.

HOPPIN UP AND DOWN THE "BUNNY" TRAIL - JUST RAMBLING ALONG!

1.Still do not have a place to live. Anyone want to give a "nice" bunny a home? Of course, I need a big house and garage in the woods, for all my "Boys" and all of our "Junk." 

2.Mo has lost 20 pounds and I may have found most of it!!!! He is feeling GREAT, and I need more exercise.

3.We are getting a new Dodge Avenger. Whenever Hairy Glass gets my body done and Gordy can work me in his already busy schedule...maybe next year!!!

4.Still trying to sell our little "red truck." A good truck for a smaller race team. We just out grew her. She is like me, looking for a home! =)

5.Still trying to sell our/Mo's/Jenny's Pro Street Camaro. Good street or strip car. Can be tagged in MD.  Street legal, auto show quality, we must sell all of this to find a place to a place to live...real soon.

6.Good news... Johnny Lightning just released a 1/64 scale die cast of my 91 Dodge Daytona. Get yours now in the stores or visit my souvenir sales on this website.

7.I also want to thank all my "Boys" for a great 1999 season. They hung in there, when most of the time, they knew that we did not have a chance. I am hoping that I get every one of them back and that they did not become a "Bunny Burnout." Thanks for everything, first my faithful husband, "Mo." Every woman should have one! Next, our "Bear," who does it all. Even when he acts like a grizzly bear and we all stay out of his way. "Chop and Jo Ann," the cool, calm and collected part of my team (by the way, Jo Ann is my only "girl"). "Chopper" sees to every single detail on the top half of then engine. He also "dives" when needed. There is not a ranking order on my crew. They are all important and everyone has their job. "Joe," my fugitive, has learned almost everything that needs to be done and "Hank" the crank is his best friend. The two of them can definitely get the job done. They travel hours on their own dollar to help us out. Dale, better known as "Nipple" (and we won't go there) is the best clutch man that I have ever had. It was nothing for our car to 60 foot along with the top dogs. He always made my clutch exactly the same every week. Sure took a lot of pressure off me. Poor "Lil Bear" is the youngest on the team and he gets it from all directions. But he knows that he is my future driver (after Bear)...so he takes it, most of the time. I could not forget my "Little Man in the Boat." Boat is my behind the scenes man, he does a lot of the maintenance at home in the garage after the races. But he hardly ever comes to the track because it would interfere with his "love life" on weekends. He is always there, especially when we have to thrash!  

IN ORDER TO STOP ALL RUMORS...HERE IS THE TRUTH ABOUT MY CURRENT HEALTH PROBLEMS. Over all every day is a "great" day, especially since I can get up and walk around.  Thanks to my wonderful doctors, Dr. Hess and Dr. Lauerman, my back is the lesser of all the evils left over from my accident four years ago with Carl Ruth. Am I pain free? Never, and I can not go like I used to. Both hands and arms are almost perfect, little or no pain - but I do not have much of a grip. The right ankle and leg are giving me fits with various problems, such as swelling (I walk with a limp, but happy to do so), seems like I need to be aligned up....you know, the foot to the ankle, ankle to the chin bone, chin bone to the knee, the knee to the thigh bone and etc, etc, etc. It causes me a lot of pain and causes havoc with my reaction times (at least that is what I blame it on!!!) My greatest handicap has been the total loss of all normal body functions. The nerves were severed in the crash, and to date we do not have the knowledge to repair the spinal cord nerve damage. Other things that are missing is the muscles in the groin area, tummy area and buttocks. I constantly have to be reminded to stand up straight and quit slumping. The hardest battle that I have had to fight is trying to be normal in diapers, in front of all my fans, as my intestines have a mind of their own. I try to keep my Bunny smile as my insides are coming out, excuse myself, and tell them I will be right back and go clean up. No one has a clue what happened. Self catheterizing is a real burden. Also, can you imagine? The way I travel?  What would I do if I forgot my catheter tubes...what would happen? Would I burst wide open? You can bet that I hope that I never have to find out. I must drink a gallon of water a day to avoid constant bladder/kidney infections. Every one that I get scars the kidneys more. The expense of catheter tubes are $4.00 each, times 6 or more per day = $24.00, each day which equals $9,000.00 per year for the privilege to do something that is given to us at birth and we all take for granted. This is out of my own pocket. When Mo lost his job, we had to cancel my insurance that was paying 80%. We could not afford both if us and I have a HMO for major problems. They just won't cover any at home care and I cannot run over there every time I have to go "tinkle." Yes, I can joke about my handicap and I do not want anyone feeling sorry for me. Remember, the secret of life isn't what happens to you, but what you do with what happens to you. This is true with both good and bad things.

NOW...YOU ARE WONDERING WHY DID I BARE MY SOUL AND GIVE YOU MY DEEP DARK SECRETS? I did not intend to sound negative or bitter, but I did intend to get your attention and give you some advice to live by now....NOT LATER. I want you to be aware of what we humans can do - If we have to! I did not do it alone, I had a lot of help, but most of all I had faith. I want to be a personal inspiration to young and old, rich and poor, all nationalities, male or female and people of all walks of life. I want to be a spokesperson to anyone that will listen, to make more of every second of your life...it is so precious. Do not wait until a terrible tragedy takes place like I did. The world is a beautiful place and all that is around you is there for you to enjoy. Trust me, when I tell you that "Things that used to be important to me every day, do not even cross my mind now-a-days." No, it is not easy on the REAL bad days, but it does not take me long to remember "I know for a fact....that it could have been worse..:

I am going to "hop" on out of here, ad my red-headed woodpecker out back reminded me that I have not fed him today. See, you must count your blessings. Now that I am handicapped, my wonderful husband, Mo, did not make me go back to work and I have time to enjoy my birds!! I wake up every morning, wiggle my toes, move my legs and say...

"Thank you Lord, I know I am a blessed lady!"   Until I "hop" back....here's some food for thought....

"The key to happiness......belongs to everyone on Earth..."     Use It!!

Till Next Time... "Run A Bunny"

...and the Boys, too!