1995 ADBA Annual
Awards Winners
Best Crew Chief of the Year, John Hipwell
Best Asst. Crew Chief of the Year, Rocky
Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of Heaven is a place
called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been
especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all our special friends so they can run
and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine and
our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been
ill or old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or
maimed are made whole or strong again, just as we remember them in in
our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and
content, except for one small thing: they miss someone very special,
someone who was left behind. They all run and play together, but
the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance.
His bright eyes are intent; his eager body begins to quiver.
Suddenly, he breaks from the group, flying over the green grass faster
and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special
friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be
parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands
caress the beloved head, and you look once more into those trusting
eyes, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross the rainbow bridge
together..............
In 2001, Marty Logan lost a dog by the
name of Boo-Boo at an ODBA boat race in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. Marty
had Drag Boat Review Magazine
publish an article titled "Tribute to a Dog" that included the
above excerpt and touched John's heart because it reminded him of his
deeply felt loss over Rocky. True to form, John reached out and
wrote Marty the following letter despite not knowing him
personally. Marty cherished this letter from a stranger that he
felt he knew instantly. When the news broke about John's accident
Marty wanted to make sure the world knew this side of John and knew that
John & Rocky were finally reunited as they crossed the rainbow
bridge together.
From the Desk of John Hipwell,
June 8, 2001
Marty,
I am very sadden to read about your buddy boo-boo.
I know some people don't understand how you can be so attached to a fur
child. I lost my best buddy rocky 12/28/97 and I have to tell you
it was the worst experience I have ever been threw. He went
everywhere with me and I even had to shut my auto repair business down
for 6 days and it took some time for me to be able to function. I
will tell you that time does help the pain but there is not a day that
goes by that I always think of him and if you take the happy times you
have had with boo-boo (I don't believe there are any bad times) it helps
you get threw your day. We have since adopted two shepard/akita
mix fur babies and no-one will ever take the place of rocky (or boo-boo
in your case) but it really helped fill the void. I said at first
I would never adopt another fur child again but I love them to much not
to have one or more at my side. I see in the paper they put the
rainbow bridge story and I have to tell you I am looking forward to the
time I go over the bridge and see rocky smiling at me again. I am
not sure if you use the internet but there is allot of help on their for
pet grieving and I have to say it really helped me threw it. There
is a Monday night candle ceremony that we will continue to do for the
rockster until the day I die. This Monday I will say a prayer and
I am sure rocky will meet up with boo-boo and take care of him till the
day you meet with him again. I know no words help but if you ever
need someone to talk to I would be more than happy to talk 973-398-xxxx
once again I am very very sorry.
John Hipwell
TFH 128 tripledigit racing
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