Godspeed Bill. I was fortunate enough to know Bill for quite a while, and he was one of the toughest people I've ever known. He faced his battle with cancer head on , and never gave up. When he knew the end was coming he also faced that unflinchingly. He truly was brave in the face of the inevitable.
He kept us all in check here, and reined us in when it was needed. He was a friend you could count on when the chips were down, and he never met a stranger. He also gave us in open wheel racing a place to call home. It is also a place were we make friends worldwide. To a lot of us here it's our first stop in the morning and the last stop before bedtime. All I can say is I'll miss him , and thanks for what you did for all of us.
To Mrs.G , and all of Bill's friends and family, you have my sympathy. Just know that those of us here will always remember him.
As the old saying goes," We shall not see his like again".
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Originally Posted by brettgrace:
I, like many posters was never fortunate enough to meet Bill before his passing and I'm disappointed with myself about that. Here's why - I'm a sprint and midget fanatic from Auckland, New Zealand. Bill's site is without doubt the best of the few windows into the wingless world you Hoosiers are blessed to call your daily lives. It was because of the gossip, banter and reminiscing on this website that I started my annual holidays to coincide with your racing calendar. I'm disappointed because I never made a point of seeking Bill out telling him all this. We say often that no-one is bigger than racing, and now I know that's simply not true - because if Bill wasn't before, he sure is now. Godspeed Bill, gone but certainly not forgotten.
Brett Grace
This is a shining example of how Bill Gardner's work and his creation have effected being a fan of this sport. The community that he built has not only brought so many of us local race fans together and helped us know who one another are, but it has also touched people half way around the World. And inspired them to travel great lengths to be a part of our little slice of the World.
Thanks for that post, Brett.
Jerry
A man is about as big as the things that make him angry.
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Originally Posted by Jerry Spencer:
Bump, this needs to stay on top. I have no idea how long but out of respect for Bill I am bumping him back on top.
Jerry
Amen Jerry
Bill had become such a big part of our lives it should stay on top of our normal banter for quite some time to give even the very casual reader the sad news, and allow the regular posters more time to reflect on Bill's life.
Bill was a amazing man! Inspired a lot of people in our racing world! I cannot come up with enough words to say at this point in time. RIP Bill, From each and everyone of us from Lawrenceburg Speedway!
Can't even begin to tell you how many conversations Bill and I had either private message or in person over the past few years, he was a rare person who truly "gets" it from all sides; fan, promoter, competitor, official and owner. There are few like him and he could serve as example to so many. I will miss our chats.
