Part III: Goals and Dreams - continued from Part II.
As I talked with Greg there is this one nagging issue and that's having an interpreter on the show if Greg gets selected.
Greg Gunderson: The TV producer and I haven't talked about this yet. I will make sure that we will have an ASL interpreter.
Greg goes on to elabarote the changes in technology that can help future deaf professional race car drivers.
Greg Gunderson: Yes! A new communication system is being developed by certain companies and tested by a few drivers. The reason is because noises on tracks bother some drivers, and with the system drivers could plug their ears to preserve their hearing. Speech recognition and cell technologies are used to transmit messages to drivers' visor on their helmet - display with arrows and messages. Speech recognition would allow me to speak specific words to communicate with pit crew and spotters. This is something I expect to use when I get on the show. A deaf driver has shared his experience with radio TDD device starting back in 1991. It is very fantastic to be able to communicate with pit crew and spotters during long races! This definitely level the playing field for me among a pool of fifty drivers, and I want the opportunity to show deaf people can do anything except hear!
And so we go onto another discourse on Greg's hopes and dreams for future professional deaf drivers and results he has had on other people.
Greg Gunderson: People have come up or emailed asking me some questions. I told them that I have 4 simple but powerful reasons why I want to be on TV show. 1) I want to show that deaf people CAN do anything except hear! 2) I want to encourage deaf children everywhere to pursue their dreams! 3) I want the hearing world to feel comfortable with the world of deaf people! 4) And I wish to pursue my long-time interest in car racing.
Kokonut Pundits: And there are many ways to do that. You might get that chance! Continue with the car racing and maybe become the first deaf NASCAR driver ever.
Greg Gunderson: I hope so!! I have received unbelieveable numbers of emails from all over the world.
Kokonut Pundits: Yes, I can imagine the popularity you are experiencing right now.
Greg Gunderson: And some emails from deaf kids like 11 years old told me that they wish that they could be first deaf NASCAR driver. I told them that you will become YOUNGEST DEAF NASCAR DRIVER! Because I am old!! (38 years old) Wink. And they like that!
Kokonut Pundits: You said you get lots of emails. How many have you been getting lately ever since word got out about the Racin for a Living?
Greg Gunderson: First day of voting, I got over 200 emails. Then 2nd week of voting, I got an average of 40 emails per day.
Kokonut Pundits: Wow! Support emails? Were they supporting you, I mean?
Or jealous emails?
Greg Gunderson: Oh yes, all of them are supportive and positive. I got 2 or 3 saying "Stop this spammer" so they must thought that was one of junk mails.
Kokonut Pundits: ha ha
Greg Gunderson: Oh well. And I got like maybe 10 emails asking me if I am really deaf.
Kokonut Pundits: Ha ha...asking if you were really deaf...not surprised.
Greg Gunderson: And other maybe 15 emails from hearing people asking me how can I communicate with the spotters/pit crews if I win the spots on TV show. That is when I thought why not put the video on website to prove them that I am really deaf. and that helps a lot. And now I get about 25 emails per day
Kokonut Pundits: Has anybody else contacted you to do a story on you?
Greg Gunderson: Yes, several different media did the story on me. Mostly are local news. No magazine so far
Kokonut Pundits: You must be very humbled by all this.
Greg Gunderson: I have learned about much about this reality TV show that I never realized before.
Kokonut Pundits: For example?
Greg Gunderson: I never thought that could be very emtional and very hard work. Took a lot of time
Kokonut Pundits: Emotional? meaning happy? Angry?
Greg Gunderson: Everything. Exciting, nervous, upset, happy, confused, etc. Excited about great opportunity. Nervous being away from family for three months. I will miss my family so much.
Kokonut Pundits: Yes, and you'll be MORE nervous in front of a camera with maybe several million people watching the show.
Greg Gunderson: Yes that too. Upset that voting rules have been changing all the time. Confused after what many people telling me what to do. So many different opinions. Can't please everyone.
Kokonut Pundits: Well, don't worry about the voting because you're in an unique situation where you have a very large deaf community in support of you and will continue to vote for you. This is something that other drivers do not have. Success is hard to come by in the deaf community.
Greg Gunderson: My biggest joy is to see any deaf people success in any thing they dream to be!
Kokonut Pundits: So true! Thank you Greg, for the interview. Good luck with your “Racin for a Livin”.
Folks, please visit "Racin for a Livin" website and vote for Greg Gunderson as many times as you can for as long as you can until July 31 when the voting ends and votes are tallied up. Right now, Greg is #15 and has slipped from #8 only a few weeks ago. Please vote often and as many times as you can in support of Greg Gunderson.
Thank you!
Previous interviews
Lucky 39 - A Greg Gunderson Interview. Part I of III
Lucky 39 - A Greg Gunderson Interview. Part II of III
Check out past and current Greg Gunderson blog reports by Kokonut Pundits.
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