Big John Dortch............

**F-12** · 06-21-2010

Good news, Gene......Sounds great. Thanks

**Gene East** · 06-22-2010

Update 6/22/10

John called this afternoon. He's going home 1:30 PM Friday!!

He will continue therapy as an out patient, but he'll be sleeping in his own bed!

John's address is the same as it's been for 56 years:

10420 Driver
Overland, MO

Home phone:

314 428 9918

Welcome home John!!

See you at DePue!

**jrome** · 06-22-2010

I talked to john today also and he did sound great. He is happy about going home. Great news.

**Tim Chance** · 06-30-2010

6/30/10 Just back from visiting John at his home. Home as in his house where he has lived for the past 50 years or so. He is doing very well and looking forward to going to the Nationals next month.

**Gene East** · 06-30-2010

I've been off line for several days due to a storm.

Friday Norma and I went to St. Louis on a bus tour to see "Beauty and the Beast". I was the only man on the bus. Even the driver was a woman.

We passed the nursing home where John had been living about 5:00 pm. Knowing he had gone home just hours earlier I called the house. With all those females on the bus I couldn't hear a thing.

Called back when we got to the theater and found a nice quiet place to call from (the men's room)!

Little John answered. Big John was on the cell phone. They traded phones and I got to talk to one of the happiest men on the face of this planet.

JOHN IS HOME!!!

**Master Oil Racing Team** · 06-30-2010

I'm so glad to hear what you say about John and how he's doing Gene. I been fighting a storm myself and will try to call Johnny tommorrow.

What I want to know is about your bus trip to "Beauty and the Beast". Were you doing Community Service?

**Gene East** · 07-01-2010

Marriage is a 2 way street.

I tolerate her craft shows and theater trips. She tolerates my fishing and boat racing.

Fortunately we both are Cardinals fans.

**Master Oil Racing Team** · 07-01-2010

Good attitude. Good tradeoffs.

**Gene East** · 07-31-2010

John was at DePue today just like he said he would be. He really seemed to have a great time visiting with old friends.

Ray Rodda announced John was in the pits and gave the spectators a little history of John's racing career.

Lot of the old guys there today including Charlie Strang looking not a day older than he did 25 years ago.

Artie Neadeck was helping in the pits for Kugler today even though he's scheduled for back surgery on Monday.

I understand where he's coming from however. I believe my racing involvement is now "spectator only" due to my back. That's something I'm having trouble dealing with.