From the desk of Michael Iven (aka "Skittles")
Madness Team Manager, age 13
October 2004
John Hipwell
was a great friend. Every day I talked to him I felt better as the time passed.
John made my life what it is today. I can remember many memories of John.
In Waco I wasn't that good of friends with the team but as the
weekend progressed me and John became better friends. John made me forget about
how shy I was and remember how boat racing was supposed to be. We even had
nicknames for the whole team and too mention a few: Uncle Ron, Uncle John,
Cousin Darrin, and Brother Daryl. But nothing will ever make me forget that
weekend in Waco. In Augusta after John had won, John and I talked about what we
were going to do for my birthday the upcoming Friday (Test and Tune in Gadsden).
We decided on ice cream cake, which we ate at dinner that night.
Something else comes to mind when I think back to that weekend.
I talked to Ron and John's wives and they both were very nice to me. Also, I
became Team Manager of the Madness Organization. When we went to Marble Falls, I
came earlier and made the coffee. John and I talked and found out what time to
be at the track. Well that never happened they were always late. The last
conversation I had with John was about how many times I called him in a day.
I am so sad to see John go but we all have to sometime. A quote
I remember John by is "You want me to come down there and bust a cap on u
Iven?" Well John is now in heaven but he will always be in our hearts. We
love you John, Ron, Jo-Ann, and the rest of the Team and GOD SPEED HIPPY GOD
SPEED.
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