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I have lost my dearest friend this week!! I met Mel 5 years ago. When i was working on getting the lease for Lawrenceburg Speedway, everyone i talked to about the track mentioned a guy by the name of Mel Johnson. They all told me i needed to get him and his son Tim, to help with the track. So i looked up the phone number for Mel and low and behold he lived just down the road from my home. So i gave him a call, and met with him and told him my plans, and he was on board. From that point on we became very close friends. We traveled the country researching dirt tracks, going to conventions and trade shows and learning all we could to prepare for the 2007 season as promoters of Lawrenceburg Speedway. I quickly fell in love with the entire Johnson family, and they became my second family. Mel has taught me sooooo much about everything there is to know about anything. I could write a book about him and my 5 years of learning from him. His entire family has been involved with the speedway since i took over the lease in 2007. In that time we have grown very close and i am honored to have met such a wonderful family.
I have spent more time the last five years with Mel than anyone else. And i will cherish my time with him forever.
Mel's legacy will carry on for many many many more years, in what he has taught me and the thousands of others he has touched.
This is just a brief message of a my feelings at this point, i will add more memories as we move forward.
I ask anyone of you that has been touched by Mel to tell your story here. I know there are thousands of people who have met Mel over the years and have stories....I know this because everywhere Mel and i traved people knew him.
Please let me here your stories and memories of Mel.
Sincerely, Dave Rudisell
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