1 full name James Michael Runyon Jr.
2 age 39 and holding until 3/15
3 location Asheville NC via, WV, NC, WI, OH, MI, IN, NC, NJ, WA,
4 married Happily To a wonderful woman named Michelle who can give me back everything I dish out LOL
5 children Yes my beautiful daughter Shelby Saleen Starr Runyon, (yes named after two mustangs, if we had had a boy I guess he would have been called Boss Cobra)
6 how long a race fan Since I was five, Back when you HAD to listen to the races on the radio. I still remember the Petty/Pearson battles.
7 how long collecting Well that's complicated. When we lived in New Jersey (82-86) we would go to Dover both races every year (in the infield). After the race we would go to the pits and meet the drivers. I started collecting the driver handouts and the victory lane hats ( I still have two). Upon my discharge from the NAVY and meeting Michelle I noticed this diecast at KMART. They were crude but I could not get enough of them.
8 what or who got you into racing That would be James Michael Runyon Sr. He would listen to them on the radio. When VCR's came out he bought one to tape races. He would only keep the ones Bill Elliott won. To this day racing is the only thing we have in common.
9 what or who got you into collecting My compulsive personality, I bought the first diecast and it just took off. I first tried to get one of every car made (1/64 only) including variations. Then it became too much. I opened them up and started getting the card signed. I have varied what I collect in racing but I have never stopped.
10 your biggest influence in your life. My mom for a few years she was a single Mom and when she and my dad got back together it wasn't great. She did it for us. Looking back it was the wrong decision but she did it for the most unselfish reason.
Also my wife she has led a life a lot like mine and her emotions are intense. Without her I would be miserable. It's corny and it is from a movie but she COMPLETES me.
Last my daughter she makes me try to be a better person, Christian and father. I get at least one lecture a day from her.
11 favorite driver past and present David Pearson, but not only because of my dad. It is because he could race any car on any track and win. He could show up hop in and take it to the front when needed. Out of 4 times running for the championship he won it three. He has a better starting and finishing position than Richard or Dale. Richard drove against both and still says David was the greatest he ever raced against. He is not remembered for being as great as he is but that's because he did it his way with no regrets.
Current is Stephen Leicht simply because he is from the same zip. He is a talented driver who will hopefully get another ride and show his stuff. I also really like tony, I haven't always but the more I watch him the more I think we have the same personality.
12 favorite racing moment I would love to say David winning the Daytona 500 but I do not remember that. It would be Awesome Bill Elliott winning the Winston Million. He was incredible during that run and so nervous. When it was over he could not have been more relieved or gracious.
least favorite moment I was at the race where Tiny Lund died. I still remember them taking his car out.
13 what u like best about nuts mike enjoys the closeness of our community, he said he feels he knows some of us better than some of his own family.
14 hobbies outside of racing Collecting autographs especially on books. One of my favorites is Tom Clancy signed The hunt for Red October
15 collecting habits I am trying to collect every David Pearson card made (and have him autograph them) I am missing two (not counting the plates). I also collect all of the Asheville area drivers. I have started collecting the 1 24 diecast but only if I can get them signed. Then of course there is my memorial lane which is a display case filled with 1 64 cars of drivers that have passed on.
16 favorite piece in your collection 1. card - My David Pearson/Jeff Gordon dual autograph If it had not been for the PIMP I still would not have it.
2. Diecast - 1 24 Chattanooga Chew Bank signed by David
3. Book - 21 Forever signed by both David Pearson and Author now NASCAR VP Jim Hunter
17 nuts testament I love NUTS. I started out on Beckett reading posting but not a lot of trading. That is where I first met a lot of the people here. Chris sent me a Pearson card or two I needed. I still remember making a post saying beating a dead horse (my Pearson want list) Chris came back with a witty remark about the horse being beyond dead or something. I loved it, Long story short a lot of us are now here.
NUTS allows me to be me. I can not always do that in person. I tend to distance myself from people in the real world. My quote is I have buried more people than a mortician. I can be more confident here behind the cloak of the computer. What you get here is the real me.
I started a collection and Chris especially has helped me make it one of the best of its kind in the world. That's great but it's the friendships on here I value more. I can come on here and spill my feelings when I cant even say them out loud here.
NUTS is more than a trading site, it's a community. This is why NUTS is the best site of its kind anywhere on the net. My trade versus post ratio shows why I am here. I will just now pass 10, but I have almost 1000 posts. To all you N.U.T.S I Thank you.