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Topic: Shawn Patrick McDonald Sept1, 1969 - June 29, 2020 R.I.P. Email this topic to a friend | Subscribe to this TopicReport this Topic to Moderator
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MSPN
June 29, 2020 at 09:55:43 AM
Joined: 11/23/2004
Posts: 3943
Reply

Man this is tough. 

Let me tell you a bit about the greatest human I’ve ever known, my hero Shawn McDonald.

We met in TJ Slideways Chat Room over 20 years ago and became quick friends.  Him in Cali and me in OH.  When I first told him I would be out West in a few months, chasing the W of O’s and couldn’t wait to meet him.  I said I had recently become single and looked forward to getting out there and schmoozing with some of those fine California girls as Brian Wilson sang about.  He answered with an lol and I was confused.  He said he was handicapped, this time I pulled an lol and told him I would Push, Pull and do whatever we needed to do to get him up to speed.  He lol’d and said OK Champ we’ll see.  The time flew that summer and the next thing I know is I’m meeting Shawn and his Dad in the pits at San Jose.  Oops, Shawn was Handicapped (physically only), he was in a fancy wheelchair and couldn’t walk, talk or do about anything, but as you will learn that meant nothing to him and I.

I spent the next week with him and his Parents and I swear when I left my side hurt from laughing so hard and so often, dang we had a blast.  Anyone that ever met Shawn knows what I am talking about.  He had a small box that he could put letters/words in and actually speak, we shared a lifetime of stories and I don’t think I can repeat any of them in this forum.  The one highlight of the visit and a story that will bring our laughter to tears even after all these years had to do with his Step Father Vic.

Vic, who was a Saint of a man and loved by all had a real love for Vodka, always after supper until bedtime.  Shawn and I have decided to rearrange his bedroom just a little bit and forgot to tell Vic.  In comes Vic with his nightly ‘glass of water’  and trips/stumbles over a newly placed cord, he bounces off of the wall and then a bathroom door, followed by an exercise bike (not sure why it was there) and ends up landing on Shawn’s couch.  He holds up his drink, states “never spilled a drop” and walks out with a totally empty glass, I swear and I am laughing now way more than I should be…..

Shawn got the way he was due to a simple botched operation of inserting a pacemaker, at Stanford who have the best medical facilities on the entire West Coast.  He went into Cardiac Arrest and was considered Dead and had it not been for a passer-by (Dr.) he was brought back.  The problem was the fact that he had no oxygen to his brain for many minutes and it left him without most of his bodily functions for the rest of his life.  But eventually his brain came back to normal, well his sense of humor was off people thought, but trust me it was as sharp and wicked as anyone I have ever known.

Shawn was a very good athlete, he was a Champion Mountain Bicycle Racer, raced Motorbikes and jumped in a bomber on more than one occasion (As a teenager).  When he was destroyed in the Hospital he was Managing a Golds Gym at the time.

Shawn and his family eventually moved halfway between LA and San Diego to be nearer his beloved Sprint Car Racing.  He then became a regular at The PAS as well as Fan No. 1, everybody knew who he was and they loved him.  Then there were the Drivers, oh my.  Ask Robert Ballou about Shawn, he knew him and he got him.  Shawn would go into the pits after the races and tell each and every driver about a mistake they had made that night and laugh and laugh and so did they.  Rickey Gaunt has been Shawn’s hero (actually they all are) since forever.  He is simply the best, he hit back at Shawn every time Shawn picked on him, these two guys were made for each other. Shawn did not like sympathy, he wanted to be treated like one of the boys.  Super Ricky may have been the first to catch on to that but others did as well, what a great group of guys and Shawn always had a blast with these guys.  PAS Announcer Scott Dalosio is in that group as well, what a great man he is.

My last brief story about Shawny Boy is the Des Moines Airport fiasco.  I am at my booth at Knoxville during the Nationals and I get a call from the Des Moines Airport asking me if I would come and help them with a Shawn McDonald.  I head out immediately and when I arrive there I am told that Shawn is stuck and they can’t get him off the airplane, on top of that he seems to be in terrible pain.  I start to grin and this does not go down well with the Airport people.  What they don’t know and most people are in the same boat with this is that when Shawn laughs he has to inhale to do it and man does that make some noise.  I get out to the airplane and it’s empty except for about 4 Stews, Couple of Big Shots and a pilot.  When I see him he laughs so damn loud he scares them all again, now we’re both laughing and I mean laughing.  His Wheelchair is stuck and he needs to be lifted out of it and this is no easy trick.  I yank him up from under his arms and he is making his laughing sound and they think I am killing him.  I holler at them to grab his chair and unhook it and when they do I almost drop his rather large body into it, once again laughter at jet engine decibels and more yakking from the locals.  I finally explain that he is laughing not crying out in pain and the big inhale starts again, this is what happens when you spend time with this man.

One quickie here, one of the last times I visited, he had all my photos (40 or 50) hung upside when I walked in and every single POSSE photo hanging upright.  He had the single greatest sprint car room I have ever seen, trust me I redecorated it about every time I visited, he loved to see me sweat…..

Now it’s all over, even though it’s be 15 years since we’ve been together it all seems like yesterday and I am totally crushed.  For a long time I said he would outlive me and he damned near did it with all my health issues the last few years.  Feeling that my day to see him again is not far off it gives me some consolation to be honest.  Shawn, I love you, my kids love you, Kimmy loves you as much as I do, thanks for the ride, Take It Easy…




Paintboss
MyWebsite
June 29, 2020 at 10:43:19 AM
Joined: 12/02/2004
Posts: 2098
Reply

You were a good friend to him Nelly. May he Rest in Peace.



MandGRacing96
June 29, 2020 at 12:52:46 PM
Joined: 01/19/2009
Posts: 583
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: Paintboss on June 29 2020 at 10:43:19 AM

You were a good friend to him Nelly. May he Rest in Peace.



Rest in Peace!!




dirtracer74
June 29, 2020 at 06:46:22 PM
Joined: 01/29/2007
Posts: 174
Reply

Talked to him many times back then, and had no idea os his condition. Then there was a meet up, or something like that somehwere and photos surfaced. The last few years I got to thinking about him again, but had no idea how he was, and was kind of afraid to ask. 

Sorry to hear this, and even more sorry I never had the honor to meet him in person. 



crk410
June 30, 2020 at 12:16:38 AM
Joined: 09/30/2007
Posts: 114
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: MSPN on June 29 2020 at 09:55:43 AM

Man this is tough. 

Let me tell you a bit about the greatest human I’ve ever known, my hero Shawn McDonald.

We met in TJ Slideways Chat Room over 20 years ago and became quick friends.  Him in Cali and me in OH.  When I first told him I would be out West in a few months, chasing the W of O’s and couldn’t wait to meet him.  I said I had recently become single and looked forward to getting out there and schmoozing with some of those fine California girls as Brian Wilson sang about.  He answered with an lol and I was confused.  He said he was handicapped, this time I pulled an lol and told him I would Push, Pull and do whatever we needed to do to get him up to speed.  He lol’d and said OK Champ we’ll see.  The time flew that summer and the next thing I know is I’m meeting Shawn and his Dad in the pits at San Jose.  Oops, Shawn was Handicapped (physically only), he was in a fancy wheelchair and couldn’t walk, talk or do about anything, but as you will learn that meant nothing to him and I.

I spent the next week with him and his Parents and I swear when I left my side hurt from laughing so hard and so often, dang we had a blast.  Anyone that ever met Shawn knows what I am talking about.  He had a small box that he could put letters/words in and actually speak, we shared a lifetime of stories and I don’t think I can repeat any of them in this forum.  The one highlight of the visit and a story that will bring our laughter to tears even after all these years had to do with his Step Father Vic.

Vic, who was a Saint of a man and loved by all had a real love for Vodka, always after supper until bedtime.  Shawn and I have decided to rearrange his bedroom just a little bit and forgot to tell Vic.  In comes Vic with his nightly ‘glass of water’  and trips/stumbles over a newly placed cord, he bounces off of the wall and then a bathroom door, followed by an exercise bike (not sure why it was there) and ends up landing on Shawn’s couch.  He holds up his drink, states “never spilled a drop” and walks out with a totally empty glass, I swear and I am laughing now way more than I should be…..

Shawn got the way he was due to a simple botched operation of inserting a pacemaker, at Stanford who have the best medical facilities on the entire West Coast.  He went into Cardiac Arrest and was considered Dead and had it not been for a passer-by (Dr.) he was brought back.  The problem was the fact that he had no oxygen to his brain for many minutes and it left him without most of his bodily functions for the rest of his life.  But eventually his brain came back to normal, well his sense of humor was off people thought, but trust me it was as sharp and wicked as anyone I have ever known.

Shawn was a very good athlete, he was a Champion Mountain Bicycle Racer, raced Motorbikes and jumped in a bomber on more than one occasion (As a teenager).  When he was destroyed in the Hospital he was Managing a Golds Gym at the time.

Shawn and his family eventually moved halfway between LA and San Diego to be nearer his beloved Sprint Car Racing.  He then became a regular at The PAS as well as Fan No. 1, everybody knew who he was and they loved him.  Then there were the Drivers, oh my.  Ask Robert Ballou about Shawn, he knew him and he got him.  Shawn would go into the pits after the races and tell each and every driver about a mistake they had made that night and laugh and laugh and so did they.  Rickey Gaunt has been Shawn’s hero (actually they all are) since forever.  He is simply the best, he hit back at Shawn every time Shawn picked on him, these two guys were made for each other. Shawn did not like sympathy, he wanted to be treated like one of the boys.  Super Ricky may have been the first to catch on to that but others did as well, what a great group of guys and Shawn always had a blast with these guys.  PAS Announcer Scott Dalosio is in that group as well, what a great man he is.

My last brief story about Shawny Boy is the Des Moines Airport fiasco.  I am at my booth at Knoxville during the Nationals and I get a call from the Des Moines Airport asking me if I would come and help them with a Shawn McDonald.  I head out immediately and when I arrive there I am told that Shawn is stuck and they can’t get him off the airplane, on top of that he seems to be in terrible pain.  I start to grin and this does not go down well with the Airport people.  What they don’t know and most people are in the same boat with this is that when Shawn laughs he has to inhale to do it and man does that make some noise.  I get out to the airplane and it’s empty except for about 4 Stews, Couple of Big Shots and a pilot.  When I see him he laughs so damn loud he scares them all again, now we’re both laughing and I mean laughing.  His Wheelchair is stuck and he needs to be lifted out of it and this is no easy trick.  I yank him up from under his arms and he is making his laughing sound and they think I am killing him.  I holler at them to grab his chair and unhook it and when they do I almost drop his rather large body into it, once again laughter at jet engine decibels and more yakking from the locals.  I finally explain that he is laughing not crying out in pain and the big inhale starts again, this is what happens when you spend time with this man.

One quickie here, one of the last times I visited, he had all my photos (40 or 50) hung upside when I walked in and every single POSSE photo hanging upright.  He had the single greatest sprint car room I have ever seen, trust me I redecorated it about every time I visited, he loved to see me sweat…..

Now it’s all over, even though it’s be 15 years since we’ve been together it all seems like yesterday and I am totally crushed.  For a long time I said he would outlive me and he damned near did it with all my health issues the last few years.  Feeling that my day to see him again is not far off it gives me some consolation to be honest.  Shawn, I love you, my kids love you, Kimmy loves you as much as I do, thanks for the ride, Take It Easy…



Very nice post Mike.  Glad to see you're still around.  Maybe I'll see you in pa again one day. 

 

Charles 


The nine scariest words in the english language 
are ,"i'm from the government and i'm here to help" - 
Ronald Reagan

MSPN
June 30, 2020 at 01:54:03 AM
Joined: 11/23/2004
Posts: 3943
Reply

The following was written by my wife, Kim (KCKIM), as a tribute to Shawn.  Just thought I'd share so you all could enjoy....   and, see how greatly he touched us all.

For Shawn:

Today’s the day, the earth lost an ally
With some folks none the wiser
Of the canyon you carved, with just your heart
A force tenfold, any geyser

In silence, your presence could fill any room
Your light, a beacon to all
We basked in the glow, you freely emitted
Our bastion, our last port-of-call

The stories, the laughs, the memories made
The wake of your presence, now mourns
Like a punch in the gut, or slap in the face
A flower that stings with its thorns

I’m glad you’re at peace, no longer in pain
It was selfish to ask you to stay
So with heavy hearts, and tears in our eyes
That are closed, for now we pray

May your journey be an easy one
Your guide, someone you love
To show you all the spenders that await
As you venture to up above

I raise my glass, one final time
And, nod my head, and smile
Just knowing that you’re looking down
But, grinning all the while

We know you wouldn’t want us to wallow
But, how can we be as strong
A hero seldom will cross our path
Or, invite us all along

So, now we must say, a final adieu
As we continue to fill life’s plan
May your shadow follow us throughout our days
A signal… from our “Superman”.

Like

 




carol14
June 30, 2020 at 04:55:01 AM
Joined: 12/01/2004
Posts: 633
Reply

Mike - now I know why you fell in love with Kim.   This is beautiful.  I am so sorry to have never met Shawn but I have always enjoyed  your comments here.

Many of you have contributed to the fulfilling life that Shawn had.   Thank you.



DonHubbard
June 30, 2020 at 08:21:27 AM
Joined: 11/30/2004
Posts: 354
Reply

Had the privelege of meeting this fine gentleman through Mike at Knoxville and enjoyed his stories and humor. RIP dear friend. Thanks Mike for the recap of his life it was wonderful.

 



jdfaster
July 01, 2020 at 11:28:53 AM
Joined: 10/16/2015
Posts: 18
Reply

Thank u above for sharing, I never met Shawn but he was always a fixture at PAS for some many years, always an inspiration.  U could tell he was well taken care of by his friends, family and caregivers, and his beverages were taken care of.

God Speed, u will be missed at the PAS, won't be the same, prayer to his friends and family Smile




brewer1s
July 04, 2020 at 10:06:20 PM
Joined: 05/31/2014
Posts: 237
Reply

Rest in peace!



stubb
July 06, 2020 at 04:50:16 AM
Joined: 12/05/2004
Posts: 529
Reply

Mikey, not on here much any more. Couldn't sleep this morn & came here......WOW.  Wasnt ready for this news.if any of the these fans didn't know Shawn, they should after reading u kind words. It was as a ball meeting him & wen we left his copany we had a different outlook!  RIP bud!!



MSPN
July 06, 2020 at 06:47:28 PM
Joined: 11/23/2004
Posts: 3943
Reply

Thanks Stubb, been too long my friend.  Shawn was something and the thing I've emjoyed the most especially the FB responses was how much fun and how many laughs others had with him as well  He was most assuredly one of a kind....





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