This past weekend I appealed via Twitter and Facebook for people who would be happy to share some pictures of either themselves and Dan Wheldon, or some personal pictures that they have taken over the years. Pictures very often say more than words and a lot has be said about Dan these past twelve months, one overriding memory is how he used to interact with fans. I was grateful to meet him a couple of times travelling to watch Indycar racing all over America, some unique memories to carry with me.

Carrie (@indycarrie) with Dan at Nashville in 2006. He took the time to chat with me and ask about my favourite drivers because he liked my Jimmie Johnson hat.

This set comes from Isabelle (@indyfan1994), taken around the 2011 Indy 500, from the downtown parade and also the first time she met him.

These two photos come from Brenda (@Nytewynd18), the first one was the first time she met and spoke with Dan, Brenda asked for a second hero card to send to a friend in the United Kingdom.... Dan replied "I wished I had a friend". The second was from Las Vegas, and after meeting him throughout the weekend he was his usual vibrant and funny self, and even though he wasn't considered one of my favourite drivers, still misses him and has a tribute tattoo done in his memory.

These next two picture collects were sent by Patsy (@patsylwhite) and Jeff (from SSM). First set is from Kentucky race weekend, the second from Las Vegas. Many thanks for passing these on.

After Dan's second Indy 500 win, he and other Indycar drivers came to the Goodwood Festival of Speed as part of a celebration of the centennial anniversary. Matthew Spencer (@Hudders_Matt) took these pictures

Kelsey (@KelseyUSA) took this picture at Kentucky in 2009, and had this to say, "He always had a way of making everyone feel like a friend - even for a ten second stop for a photo on pit lane"

Now to mine, I can honestly say that I have never met anyone who after a few brief conversations, treated you and made you feel like you had known them forever. My pictures are from 2010 Indy 500, Texas Motor Speedway in 2011 and from Las Vegas. After a few discussions he remembered that I spoke to him about my somewhat epic road trips following Indycar all around America, he said thank you to me, it really meant a lot to him. On the Friday practice session, I bumped into Dan in the garage, I had a Union flag I was trying to get fully signed by all the drivers, he, as always, happily signed and we briefly spoke. Just as we heard a bang both turning around, James Jakes had crashed in turn two, without a split second though Dan was apologising to me, he said he needed to go to his team and make sure who it was who crashed was ok. Last time we spoke, thank you for the time you gave me.

My final set of pictures are very special, sent to me by Darren Jack (@Dazincanada), a Brit living abroad in Canada first saw Dan drive in Formula Ford at Brands Hatch competing with amongst others, Jenson Button, in 1998. After moving Darren continued to follow Dan's career in the States, in the end becoming friends with him and his family. His pictures range from flag which he handed to Dan in victory lane at the '05 Indy 500, to his famous new teeth (and smile)!

Strangley enough Darren and myself paths have crossed, although we did not know it, but thanks to twitter the world is a much small place. Later this week, there will be a fuller story with Darren with more stories to share.

I would like to thank everyone who got in contact these past few days, for sharing your pictures and memories and please carry on using #lionheart

Go back several months to a time, a day, an event, which for those who were there, for those who saw on television, and for those who read after one of the darkest days in IndyCar, maybe motorsports history... 16th October 2011 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

Previously I had already been in contact with people on twitter, (travelling alone on long road trips you have to do these things!) fans of IndyCar from all around the USA who were going to the Las Vegas race arranging to meet up at the track or go out in the evening, none of whom prior to the race weekend had I met in person before on my last trips to America. Throughout the weekend I had met a group of these people by chance, winning a draw or some other way as it seems to happen quite a lot! 

I don’t need, or really want to go into details about the race that Sunday, but the motor racing family lost a driver, a star and a friend in Dan Wheldon.

During the days that led up to the race I was offered a ticket to the Sam Schmidt Paralysis fundraising party to go with Robin and Chris which was to take place that Sunday evening at a nearby hotel.   I think, understandably, I didn’t really feel like going out that evening, just wanted to stay near to my hotel.  So I put a message out on Twitter inviting any IndyCar fans still in Las Vegas that night if they wanted to meet me for a drink I would be in the hotel bar at 8pm. So after a few Wi-Fi issues and‘which bar are you at again?’ people found me and the way to the bar. Chris and Robin from Indiana, Kieran from California, John from Washington, Ross from Texas, and me... from England. For what was a very difficult day for all of us, it was a great chance to sit back, relax, talk racing and remember Dan over a few drinks.

One slightly funny way to end the night, I made it back to my room to see a tweet from John to everyone... “Has anyone lost a set of keys for a  mustang?”..... I checked... oh s**t, me... so a big thank you to John for  driving back that night, from the north side of the city, with my keys!

Go forward seven months, we had all kept in touch through Twitter and Facebook, talking about racing, life (including births), the  usuals and put yourself in a car park of a local restaurant with over a thousand  other people present, and to get the opportunity to all meet up again nearly 2,000 miles from the Nevada desert.

So under very different circumstances to the last time, we all arranged to meet up again. 

I had heard through many contacts, that one of the pre-race events for the Indy 500 worth going to was the Burger Bash. Which is part radio show, part fan gathering, and part chance to get a burger type of social  gathering at 96th Street Steakburgers, located on the north side of Indianapolis, which is now in its 5th year. The event does not have a set format or guest list, other than an hour long live radio show hosted by NBCSN reporter Kevin Lee and Indianapolis Star writer Curt Cavin. Invites are sent out to drivers and a few turn up for a quick Q&A session with the fans, with raffles and auctions throughout the evening,  to raise money for local charities.

On the evening after Carb Day at the track, we were sitting down on the kerb eating burgers and drinking milkshakes, we were all back together again. Some of us taking part in the auctions, listening to the live radio show, enjoying the question and answer sessions with drivers Katherine Legge (British female driver), Alex Tagliani (2011 Indy 500 Pole Winner), Pippa Mann (British female driver, and first female to win pole at Indy in any race), as  well as the new IndyCar Race Director Beaux Barfield. It was a great evening, a chance to meet up again, talk, remembering the past seven months, and looking forward to the race weekend ahead.

Life is full of ‘ifs’, it would be fair to say that if I had not been bumped off my flight in June, I wouldn’t of been in Las Vegas, if the events in Las Vegas did not happen I would not of been back to watch IndyCar racing in May and June of this year. So a few mentions to Chris (@Crumpacker),   John (@JohnBrughelli), Kieran (@acrossthebricks), Ross (@therossbuynum) and Robin (@RobinCrumpacker), thank you for being around for two of the most  memorable moments from my travels. For somewhere so big, it is amazing how small America can be at times! This last trip to America lasted nearly four weeks, over 12,500 miles of travels in planes, trains, boats and Nissan’s, so many memories these two will remain with me for a very long time. 

So, until next time...

 *technically speaking, the baby Chris is holding, was also in the first picture!

 “Of all things which wisdom provides to make life entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship” Epicurus