Don't get me wrong folks, I wasn't your typical girl growing up. I had Tonka trucks, and car models I'd built all over my bedroom. I grew up around cars and men and women who loved them, restored them and raced them. I took auto shop, and not home economics. And I had my first street race in an El Camino at the age of 14. At 15 while riding with a friend, our car was hit by a Nova. I ate the dash and windshield of the Camero and spent almost 2 years in the hospital. Having your jaws wired shut is interesting, at best. A few months after the accident I suffered a stroke and lost (obviously) temporary use of the left side of my body. I had Evel Keneval stats on broken bones. The first thing I said after fully recouping was, "I need to go for a ride!" I lost a good friend the other night to a car crash. A boy who could have done anything he put his mind to and many times really did. Being the mother of 3 sons, (18 yrs, 17 yrs, and the youngest almost 4) I send my deepest respects to his family, and promise to never give up my dreams. Marcus, my friend, you will be missed. I dedicate this page to him. Marcus Houston Upchurch R.I.P.