September 9, 2009
Fan Shannon Gilmartin Meets Patrick Dempsey
Okay- So I am wondering when my turn will come. You know???? 
Okay. I am still happy my friends are meeting Patrick but COME ON!!! I want my turn too! I have entered El Grado’s Name that Marguerita contest…just maybe????
Okay. I am still happy my friends are meeting Patrick but COME ON!!! I want my turn too! I have entered El Grado’s Name that Marguerita contest…just maybe????
I bought my husband tickets to the race at Mid-Ohio for “his Father’s Day present”. Honestly, I swear, we have both been fans of racing for many years, so this is not the first time I have taken him to a race for Father’s Day. I took him to an F1 race in Montreal his first Father’s Day and Richard Petty Racing school another time (I did the ride along program). He has also done a course at Skip Barber Racing school.So, let’s start with the fact that early practices on Friday started at 11. So, I made my hubby get up nice and early, we packed up the car and left at about 6AM. It was only 58 degrees and cloudy, supposed to be chilly (I think mid 60’s high) in Buffalo all day. So, I put on my skinny jeans, that I could now wear because of all the biking, and summer cashmere sweater. Don’t want to be cold watching the cars. This comes into play later in the story, so be patient with me….We head out and arrive at the track about 4 1/2 hours later. We decided to walk through the paddock to get to the track, as it was actually the most direct route anyhow, and the GT practice was about to start.
We were walking through, and what backs out of the garage in front of me, but the #40. Joe was driving, Patrick was already out at the track. So, we walked over to the next row of garages, which was right behind the pits and watched from the upper deck of that garage.
We parked ourselves almost right behind the #40 pits. I got some good pictures from there…Now, it occurred to me that I never checked the Ohio weather, and well, it was starting to get a little warmer, especially when the sun would peek out. I watched practice and the #40 seemed to be holding their own. Things looked good. After, we walked back through the paddock, and there were some people gathered outside of the Dempsey Racing Trailer. I talked to a couple of people, who said Patrick was inside and was going to come out to take pics/sign stuff soon. So, I decided to wait, with my camera. I had nothing to sign, as really, I didn’t ACTUALLY expect to meet him. So, I waited. Hubby waited a few minutes, then decided to go watch the DP practice and wander around to get the layout of the track in his head.
So, he leaves. I am still standing there, feeling slightly idiotic as I was trying to hide in the shadow that the trailer was making because now it was about 85 degrees, and I am still wearing jeans and a sweater, and feeling light headed and wobbly. I don’t take heat too well, or the sun. I am a redhead, we burn. It thought about going back to the car (where our luggage still was) to change, but unfortunately, the keys were with my husband, half way across the track. So, I continued to wait…Eventually Patrick came out. He went up to some kids who were there and started talking to them. I was kind of at the tail end of the line, so I waited while he signed things and took pictures (which by the way I figured out was NOT why he was coming out, he was trying to go do something race related I believe) As he was walking away, I got my voice to work enough to say, “Can I take a quick picture?”. He said “Sure”. Ummmmm…Problem being, my husband/photographer had walked away, and so had all the other fans, like I said, I was at the end of the line. So I tried to hold my camera out with one hand and take the picture of both of us…except that my hand was SHAKING like a leaf. Very nicely, Patrick took the camera and took the picture for me, and we had a brief discussion about me riding in the Dempsey Challenge (he seemed very excited about the ride when he talked about it).
You can see Patrick’s arm in the reflection of Shannons glasses here.
Then he left to go to do what it was that he had to do. I frantically texted my husband telling him that A) I had met Patrick Dempsey, and B) he needed to get me the keys so I could change before I passed out (which amazingly I did not do in front of the Dempsey Racing trailer).
Next day, we came prepared with a schedule, that included and actually autograph session (this was my first ever GT race, so I wasn’t sure how it worked and now felt guilty standing outside the trailer to get a pic when there is an actual session for it!) Anyhow, I printed out the picture of me with Patrick and another of just his face close up that I managed to get at Walgreen’s Friday night and brought them with me on Saturday to the autograph session. Got there early and there were people lined up already, all Dempsey fans.
Eventually all the racers showed up (at this track they were all in one picnic pavilion and you could go from one to the next to get signatures. I was standing about 20 people back from the front of the line, went straight to Patrick and Joe when I got my turn, following the lead of the person directly in front of me. So, we talked briefly again about the Dempsey Challenge (I couldn’t muster any other conversation, I was a little bit like a 12 year old back stage at a Jonas Brothers Concert), I made a few stupid comments, asked him how long he had ridden so far in practicing for the ride, and stared like an idiot while he was signing my pictures. Then I asked if I could come around and take a picture (and as my husband noted, was already standing next to him before he had a chance to answer really). That is where the picture that I have been using on all of my Dempsey Challenge fund-raising stuff came from. I also took a picture with Joe, and got a #40 car picture signed by both which my 3 year old has hanging on his racing themed bedroom wall. As I was leaving Patrick said that he would see me in Maine in October.
Dempsey Racing finished the race 6th in the GT Class. At that point it was their best finish ever. It was a great race to be there for. 
I was also at the second race in Watkins Glen this year (no Patrick) when the #40 was leading the GT class, before the car unfortunately disappeared from the track out of first place. So sad! I had met up with Christy C. there and we hung out and were SO excited that our favorite team was leading the race, and then suddenly the car was gone. No explanation from the announcers, and the people in the #40 pit looked as confused as us. But, that is another race….
I must say that the WHOLE Dempsey Racing team is exceptionally nice and very tolerant of all of the gawkers that seem to surround them wherever they go (at least when Patrick is there!). I was kind of worried that if I met him, it would be a let down. I have met celebrities before and then never really felt the same about them or their shows because they were kind of jerks (don’t get me wrong, I understand how they could be far less tolerant, it’s not easy being followed around and having people take pictures of your every action I would imagine!).
But, I have been a HUGE fan of Patrick Dempsey since I was 13 when I had the “Can’t Buy Me Love” poster hanging in my Jr. High locker. What if the guy I had been a fan of turned out to be a real tool? Well, that wasn’t the case. He seemed to me like the most down to earth and personable celebrity EVER. So, I was NOT disappointed. I just wish I hadn’t reacted like I was still in Junior High. I am still a bit embarrassed about how giddy and tongue tied I was. Oh well…Life goes on…
=)
Shannon
Shannon
Popularity: 3% [?]
Written by: Cindy
Filed Under: General Patrick stuff
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jeepifer
September 9, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I’m with Cindy, living vicariously through all these reports. Maybe Laguna Seca next May. Who knows?
Stephanie
September 24, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Shannon – loved reading about your meeting w/ PDemp — my meeting with him went very much the same last May at Laguna Seca. Hot weather, tongue-tied (me), but thrilling! Like you, I am also a mother of 3 (my youngest named Finn as well) who will be at the Dempsey Challenge in October. That is so great you’ll be doing the full century! Really enjoyed reading about your connection to cancer and all your fundraising efforts. Best of luck — I’ll look for you there!
McDreamyBiker
September 24, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Hi Stephanie. Are you riding the century too? I have never done one before, and just started riding in April really, but have been training REALLY hard since I signed up and can’t wait now! I’ll be around from Friday evening on, so maybe I will see you there ! (funny the similarities we have!)
Stephanie
September 25, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Shannon – I won’t be doing the century because I’m renting a bike in Auburn, ME and they only had mtn bikes left to rent out. I think I can only do 25 miles on a mtn bike. I am training though – I recently did the Tour of Napa Valley to prepare. FYI -my participant name is Stephanie Wegner (Maine State Troopers). My email address is steph.kanno@gmail.com. I fly in from San Francisco on Fri. night at 11 p.m. Are you going to the Champions for Hope Banquet Sat. night? I hope so — you’ve really worked hard for this!
McDreamyBiker
September 26, 2009 at 11:39 am
I emailed you Stephanie.