Gordy Hmiel

Nick · #1 09-28-2006, 04:52 PM

I used to shoot a lot of black and white stuff in the early 1990's because most of these pictures accompanied a weekly drag racing column that I wrote for my hometown newspaper.

This was one of my more memorable assignments: The Gordy Hmiel interview - which I still have on audio cassette. After our interview for the paper I shot a few pictures of Gordy in his shop - which ironically was in my own hometown of Lenoir, NC.

Gordy liked the story I wrote about him, especially the title, "Yankee In a Rebel Land". The day it was published, Gordy and his wife Sharon took me out for pizza. I was probably 18 years old. 8 months later I was writing the story of his tragic death.

---Van Abernethy

promod1963 · #2 09-28-2006, 06:15 PM

Thank you for the great photos. Gordy was a real sweetheart. He was always teasing me saying he was going to take one of my sons home with him(like we had so many we wouldn't notice). Your pictures brought tears to my eyes.

Van Abernethy · #3 09-28-2006, 07:28 PM

The day I took these pictures was the same day I met Gordy. I liked him immediately, and his death was a tremendous low point. I looked forward to Gordy living in Caldwell county for many years to come. To this day, I've never listened to the interview that I have on tape. I tried once, but it was disturbing for obvious reasons.

Van

KP40 · #4 09-28-2006, 08:10 PM

Van..Are those pics at Sam Snyders?

Van Abernethy · #5 09-28-2006, 08:17 PM

I actually shot these at Gordy's engine shop on the corner of hwy 18 & 90. Do you remember the old nightclub called the 1890 club? After they went out of business, Gordy bought the building and set up shop.

Van

KP40 · #6 09-28-2006, 08:24 PM

I do remember that. Great stuff. Keep sending it. KP

white elephant · #7 09-29-2006, 02:42 AM

Wann't Gordy's Brother in Nascar as a engine builder/crew chief?

Van Abernethy · #8 09-29-2006, 06:47 AM

That would be Steve Hmiel, and he was actually Gordy's cousin. Steve was crew chiefing for Mark Martin when Gordy living in Caldwell county.

Van

wccwillys · #9 09-29-2006, 04:18 PM

Great shots Van, Gordy H Mile is what we used to call him in New York when he worked for Scott Schafiroff. Cool thing with Gordy was he shared his knowledge with anyone. He taught me how to rebuild a Lenco..
Great Guy and God Bless Him.

Van Abernethy · #10 09-29-2006, 05:39 PM

wccwillys,
You're not the first person I've heard that from. It's been said of Gordy that he'd work on your car if you needed help - it didn't matter if you were a customer of his or not. The 8 months I knew him was a real pleasure.

Van

yellowpm1963 · #11 10-01-2006, 10:27 PM

I miss Gordy. I remember, he told me at Farmington he was going out flying, I asked him if I could go with him (I was about 10 I guess) he said sure and I followed him down the staging lanes... he turned back laughing and said 'You know you can't go with me, go back to your mom...' he picked me up, put me over the fence, I went back to the trailer to my mom who was laughing. I found out from her a couple days later what had happened to him. Mom, you said the pictures brought a tear to your eye, well I hadn't thought about the last time I had seen him in years, and its just so sad. I'm sorry to bring everyone down. Gordy was an awesome dude, and I wont forget him.

Nos ProMod · #12 08-22-2007, 12:13 PM

Van do you remember whose car Gordy was pictured with?