Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Saw this on Racing One's message board, and my heart broke:

Sprint car legend Jan Opperman died 10 years ago, but his 89-year-old father, Jim "Griz" Opperman is still around. He is in a Florida nursing home. He could use some mail and phone calls. He said he hasn't received a phone call or a visit in over a year.
jim is mentally sharp and very much wanting to leave the nursing home. He said he was saving his money for a bike, but he only gets a few dollars a month after the nursing home takes his social security.
Jim's address is The Bay Center, 1336 St. Andrews Blvd., Panama City, Fla. 32405. He can take calls. His phone number is 850-763-3911.
(Reprinted in part from NSSN, written by Tom McGeehan)

Please, pass this information along to everyone you know who loves sprint car racing. Send him a little something, or better yet give Griz a call.

This man's son was more than a legend in our sport, he was a god!!

We have to do something about this tragedy!!!

Edited to add: I've already had a couple of people contact me. 1 mentioned that since he is in a nursing home, we need to be careful what we send him. Money may affect his social security, and make him worse off than before.

I have someone calling tomorrow to find out more information. I'll pass that along as soon as I get something concrete.

I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks 
anywhere.

Didn't Jan have a son? I kind of remember seeing in some magazine years ago his son was trying to get started racing. I would hope any grandchildren would stop in or call their grandparents once in a while.

Hopefully Griz is just mistaken on how long it's been since he's had company. I have no doubt that time cna really drag in a nursing home. It's too bad that we have to put loved ones in places like that. Think you've got it bad or having a bad day? Go walk into any nursing home and look around. Got to be one of the most depressing places on earth.

Maybe a race fan down his way could take him out for a drive every once in a while.

www.Numbersusa.com  

I am interested in helping, keep us informed on the social security deal. We can help but we don't want to hurt the situation.

Question- If they don't go through his mail, why can't I just send cash?

Like many, I am convinced there are going to be a lot of phone calls, I would like an update as to how this is working out.

Not sure if it's the case down there, but I know that in most nursing homes (my father-in-law was in 1 until he passed on) they DO go through their mail.

I'll be posting more tomorrow for sure.

I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks 
anywhere.

Brian,

Friends of Jack Miller have helped him out, cash is King in America. Lets help Griz out if we can. My concern is that if seriously Griz has not had a phone call in a year, there some serious family problems going on and we don't have all info needed to help. Please lets hope and pray this not the case.

If I am not mistaken, Jans son was arrested while in Knoxville quite a few years ago on a drug charge.

Grandpa deserves help, but a person wants to make sure the help goes to the right person.

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There is a limit to how much a person can have at one time financially or it will effect their Medicare. My mother is in a nursing home in Indiana and she can't have any more than 1500$ in her bank account or she will be dropped from the Medicare program.

http://www.raceimages.net

I think the $1500, applies to MediCal, not Medicare.

Just a quick update on this. We're still waiting to hear back from the people at the home.

As soon as we do, I'll post again to let everyone know where we're at.

We want to be very careful doing this the correct way so that we don't hurt more than we help. Hope everyone understands.

For those who just want to call or send a card, please do so!! It's a start anyway.

I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks 
anywhere.

I applaud the efforts of Tom McGeehan and Eagle Pit Shack Guy to help out Grizz and would have replied to this thread earlier but wanted to see if it was going to turn into a drama deal with finger-pointing and second-guessing. I'm glad it hasn't. As much as I deplore the thought of an independent man like Grizz being in a nursing home, I'm afraid that's the only option at this time. The last time I saw him (regretably a few years have passed) he really wasn't able to keep up with everything in maintaining his home. As for not having any visitors, he's not exactly located in the heart of sprint car country and it has been very difficult to locate him. His grandchildren live on the west coast. Yes, Jan Jr was arrested for smoking pot at Knoxville, but that was in 1990and as far as I know he's kept out of trouble since. Grizz and his late wife, Mops took wonderful care of Jan and it definitely took its toll on them. He was the focus of all they did. Their story is certainly a tragedy.I know he'll be pleased to know that he hasn't been forgotten by the racing community.

4x,99

Still no return phone call from Griz's social worker. Sorry to drag this thing on so long with no news, but it's out of our hands right now.

Just updating you all.

As I said before though, please send all the cards and letters you want.

I am lucky enough to work at one of the best tracks 
anywhere.