Adam’s Make-a-Wish Foundation Daytona Trip

February 2002

Make-a-Wish Foundation of Iowa funded a trip to the Daytona 500 for Adam (age 16 at the time) and 3 family members. Adam, the race car fanatic, regularly watches any races he can find on television cheering for his favorite drivers and oogling any new car models or “sweet” designs. He eagerly hollers out to anyone nearby to come over to the TV and see any cool new cars he spots. Pretty amazing for a boy who is considered legally blind and will never be eligible for a driver’s license. Okay, he has a really large TV screen and uses a number of vision-assists, but he continually surprises his family with the things he sees that other people miss.

There were a lot of surprises awaiting Adam on this trip, including a big one at the airport. When Adam & company got off the airplane in Florida, they found a bright red Ford Mustang rental car waiting for them. Okay, it was a bit of a tight squeeze fitting in 4 people and luggage, but Adam was positively ecstatic at his “hot ride.”

Musco Lighting (the Iowa-based company who designed the Daytona racetrack lighting to allow night races) provided box seats at the racetrack, a trip to the pit area before the race, a tour of the garage section where he could see custom-decorated semi-truck trailers full of tools and gear for each driver, and arranged for Adam to meet his favorite driver, Jeff Gordon. Adam received star treatment and was escorted by one of the Musco V.P.’s and his wife, who made sure that Adam did not miss a thing at the raceway. When they heard it was Adam’s first trip to Florida, they also arranged for an all-expense paid side trip to Orlando – with free lodging and tickets to a variety of amusement parks.

Surprise! Adam meets motorcycle cops in the pit area.

Way cool!

Jeff Gordon’s pit area

Jeff Gordon meets Adam before the race and gives autograph.

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View from Musco Lighting box seats on the backstretch.

The racetrack was much larger than it looked on TV!

In the center of the racetrack was a lake and campground full of RVs.

The people in the campgrounds sat on top of their RVs to watch the race.

It was hard to imagine watching the race from inside the track –

they must have been really dizzy turning in circles to watch the race!

Adam’s older sister, Amanda, and Mom (Doreen) relaxing in the box seats

before the race. And yes, Manda is on the phone, again –

“You won’t believe where I’m sitting right now!”

View at start of race

There were many attempts at getting a picture

of the Jeff Gordon car during the race.

His car just moved too fast – Gordon was about

10 feet ahead of the car the camera caught!

Adam enjoying the race from the Musco Lighting box.

The headphones allowed fans to listen in on pit crew conversations

with various drivers. Amanda, was stunned to hear one driver

(who shall remain nameless) cursing his pit crew big time.

Adam, of course, chose to listen to Jeff and his pit crew.

End of race results & campground in the center of the racetrack.

The only low-point in the trip – Gordon didn’t win.

Number 24 was ahead a number of times, but came in 9^th at the end.

Hotel Room with a view on Daytona Beach

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

It’s a Bug’s Life 3D glasses required – what fun!

Chip, Adam & Dale

Amanda, Eeyore & Adam

Disney-MGM Studios

Backlot ride complete with explosions and waterfalls

Epcot Center at Night

SeaWorld – feeding the dolphins.

Adam still wearing one of his 4 new Jeff Gordon caps.

It will be a long time before the excitement of this trip wears off!